ABS CHEVROLET IMPALA 2009 9.G Owners Manual

Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may be found on
the vehicle and what they mean. For more information
on the symbol, refer to the index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar®
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gage
+:Fuses
i:Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
iv

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Horn .............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-7
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-8
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-8
Windshield Washer.........................................3-9
Cruise Control................................................3-9
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-12
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/Automatic
Headlamp System......................................3-14
Fog Lamps ..................................................3-14
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-15
Courtesy Lamps...........................................3-15
Dome Lamp .................................................3-15
Entry Lighting...............................................3-15
Delayed Entry Lighting...................................3-16
Delayed Exit Lighting.....................................3-16
Parade Dimming...........................................3-16
Reading Lamps............................................3-17
Mirror Reading Lamps...................................3-17
Electric Power Management...........................3-17Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-18
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-18
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter......................3-19
Climate Controls............................................3-20
Climate Control System.................................3-20
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-23
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-23
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-24
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-25
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-26
Tachometer
.................................................3-26
Safety Belt Reminders...................................3-27
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-28
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator...................3-29
Charging System Light..................................3-30
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-30
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light.....3-31
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning
Light........................................................3-32
Electronic Stability Control Indicator Light.........3-33
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-34
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-34
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-35
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-36
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light also comes on when the parking brake is set.
The light stays on if the parking brake does not fully
release. If it stays on after the parking brake is fully
released, it means the vehicle has a brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road and
stop carefully. The pedal might be harder to push, or
the pedal can go closer to the oor. It may take longer
to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed
for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-26.
{CAUTION:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with
the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this light
comes on briey when
the engine is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer. If the system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the
light comes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safely
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on, or
comes on again while driving, the vehicle needs service.
3-31

Setting the Clock
Without Date Display
AM/FM Base Radio with a Single CD
Player
This radio has aHbutton for setting the time.
To set the time:
1. Press the
Hbutton until the hour begins ashing
on display. Press
Ha second time and the
minutes begin ashing on display.
2. To increase or decrease the time, do one of the
following while the hours or minutes are ashing:
Turn thefknob.
Press¨SEEK or©SEEK.
Press\FWD orsREV.
3. Press the
Hbutton again until the clock display
stops ashing to set the currently displayed time,
or wait ve seconds until the ashing stops and the
current time displayed is automatically set.
To change the time default setting from 12 hour to
24 hour, press the
Hbutton until 12H or 24H is displayed.
Once 12H or 24H is displayed, turn the
fknob to the
desired option to select the setting. Press the
Hbutton
again to apply the setting, or let the screen time out.
With Date Display
Single CD (MP3) Player
This radio has aHbutton for setting the time.
To set the time and date:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press the
Hbutton and the HR, MIN, MM, DD,
YYYY (hour, minute, month, day, and year) displays.
3. Press the pushbutton located under any one of the
tabs to be changed.
4. To increase the time or date, do one of the
following:
Press the pushbutton below the selected tab.
Turn thefknob clockwise.
Press¨SEEK.
Press\FWD.
5. To decrease the time or date, do one of the
following:
Turn thefknob counter-clockwise.
Press©SEEK.
PresssREV.
The date does not automatically display. To see the
date press the
Hbutton while the radio is on. The date
with display times out after a few seconds and goes
back to the normal radio and time display.
3-64

Finding a Station
BAND:Press to switch between FM1, FM2, AM, or
XM™. The selection displays.
f(Tune):Turn to select radio stations.
©SEEK¨:Press to go to the previous or the next
station and stay there.
To scan stations, press and hold either arrow for a
few seconds until the radio beeps once. The radio goes
to a station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the
next station. Press either arrow again to stop scanning.
The radio seeks and scans stations only with a strong
signal that are in the selected band.
4(Information) (Radio with CD (Base)):Press to
switch the display between the radio station frequency
and the time. While the ignition is off, press to display
the time.
4(Information) (With XM™ Satellite Radio Service,
MP3, and RDS Features):Press to display additional
text information related to the current FM-RDS or XM
station; or CD, MP3 or WMA song. If information is
available during XM, CD, MP3 or WMA playback, the
song title information displays on the top line of the
display and artist information displays on the bottom
line. When information is not available, No Info displays.
Setting Preset Stations
(Radio with CD (Base))
If the radio does not have XM, up to 18 stations
(six FM1, six FM2, and six AM), can be programmed on
the six numbered pushbuttons. To program presets:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, or AM.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons for three seconds until a beep sounds.
When that pushbutton is pressed and released,
the station that was set, returns.
5. Repeat the Steps 2 through 4 for each pushbutton.
Storing a Radio Station as a Favorite
Drivers are encouraged to set up their radio station
favorites while the vehicle is in P (Park). Tune to
favorite stations using the presets, favorites button, and
steering wheel controls if the vehicle has this feature.
SeeDefensive Driving on page 4-2.
If the vehicle has XM and has a FAV button, a maximum
of 36 stations can be programmed as favorites using
the six pushbuttons positioned below the radio station
frequency tabs and by using the radio favorites
page button (FAV button).
3-68

FAV (Favorites):Press to go through up to six pages
of favorites, each having six favorite stations available
per page. Each page of favorites can contain any
combination of AM, FM, or XM stations. To store a
station as a favorite:
1. Tune to the desired radio station.
2. Press the FAV button to display the page where
you want the station stored.
3. Press and hold one of the six pushbuttons until a
beep sounds. When that pushbutton is pressed
and released, the station that was set, returns.
4. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton radio station
you want stored as a favorite.
The number of favorites pages can be setup using the
MENU button. To setup the number of favorites pages:
1. Press the MENU button to display the radio
setup menu.
2. Press the pushbutton located below the
FAV 1-6 tab.
3. Select the desired number of favorites pages
by pressing the pushbutton located below the
displayed page numbers.
4. Press the FAV button, or let the menu time out,
to return to the original main radio screen showing
the radio station frequency tabs and to begin
the process of programming favorites for the
chosen amount of numbered pages.Setting the Tone
(Bass/Midrange/Treble)
BASS/MID/TREB (Bass, Midrange, or Treble):The
radio may display some or all tones, such as BASS, MID,
and TREB. To adjust the tone settings, press the
fknob
until the tone control tabs display. Press the pushbutton
positioned under the desired tab, then turn the
fknob
clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the highlighted
setting. The highlighted setting can also be adjusted by
pressing either SEEK arrow,
\FWD, orsREV button
until the desired levels are obtained. If a station’s
frequency is weak, or has static, decrease the treble.
The radio may be capable of adjusting bass, midrange, or
treble to the middle position by pressing the pushbutton
positioned under the BASS, MID (midrange), or TREB
(treble) tab for more than two seconds. The radio beeps
once and the level adjusts to the middle position.
The radio may also be capable of adjusting all tone
and speaker controls to the middle position by pressing
the
fknob for more than two seconds until the radio
beeps once.
EQ (Equalization):Press to select preset equalization
settings.
3-69

To return to the manual mode, press until Manual
displays or start to manually adjust the bass and
depending on the radio, midrange, or treble by
pressing the
fknob.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
`
BAL/FADE (Balance/Fade):To adjust balance
or fade, press the
`if the radio has this symbol, or
the
fknob until the speaker control tabs display.
Continue pressing to highlight the desired tab, or press
the pushbutton positioned under the desired tab. Turn
the
fknob clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the
setting. The setting can also be adjusted by pressing
either SEEK arrow,
\FWD, orsREV until the
desired levels are obtained.
The radio may be capable of adjusting balance or fade to
the middle position by pressing the pushbutton positioned
under the BAL or FADE tab for more than two seconds.
The radio beeps once and the level adjusts to the middle
position.
The radio may also be capable of adjusting all speaker
and tone controls to the middle position by pressing
the
fknob for more than two seconds until the radio
beeps once.
Finding a Category (CAT) Station
(XM™ Satellite Radio Service Only)
CAT (Category):The radio may have the CAT button
feature. To select and nd a desired category:
1. Press the BAND button until the XM frequency
displays. Press the CAT button to display the
category tabs on the radio display. Continue
pressing the CAT button until the desired
category name displays.
2. Press either of the two buttons below the desired
category tab to immediately tune to the rst XM
station associated with that category.
3. Turn the
fknob, press the buttons below the right
or left arrows displayed, or press the SEEK arrows
to go to the previous or to the next XM station
within the selected category.
4. To exit the category search mode, press the FAV
button or BAND button to display favorites again.
3-70

Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle............4-2
Driving for Better Fuel Economy.......................4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunk Driving.................................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-3
Braking.........................................................4-4
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................4-5
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-6
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)......................4-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-8
Steering........................................................4-9
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-11
Passing.......................................................4-11
Loss of Control.............................................4-11Driving at Night............................................4-13
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-14
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-15
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-15
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-16
Winter Driving..............................................4-17
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow...................................................4-19
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-20
Loading the Vehicle......................................4-20
Towing..........................................................4-26
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-26
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-26
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-28
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Antilock Brake System (ABS)
The vehicle might have the Antilock Brake System
(ABS), an advanced electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
If the vehicle has ABS,
this warning light on the
instrument panel cluster
comes on briey when the
vehicle is started.
When the engine is started, or when the vehicle begins
to drive away, ABS checks itself. A momentary motor
or clicking noise might be heard while this test is going
on, and it might even be noticed that the brake pedal
moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that the wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each front wheel
and at both rear wheels.ABS can change the brake pressure to each wheel, as
required, faster than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time needed to get
a foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping
distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to apply the brakes if that
vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let antilock work. A slight brake pedal
pulsation might be felt or some noise might be
heard, but this is normal.
4-5

Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation
that requires hard braking.
If the vehicle has ABS, it allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. However, if the vehicle does
not have ABS, the rst reaction — to hit the brake pedal
hard and hold it down — might be the wrong thing to
do. The wheels can stop rolling. Once they do, the
vehicle cannot respond to the driver’s steering.
Momentum will carry it in whatever direction it was
headed when the wheels stopped rolling. That could be
off the road, into the very thing the driver was trying
to avoid, or into traffic.
If the vehicle does not have ABS, use a “squeeze”
braking technique. This gives maximum braking while
maintaining steering control. Do this by pushing on
the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the
brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or
feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal.
This helps retain steering control. With ABS, it is
different. SeeAntilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-5.
In many emergencies, steering can help more than
even the very best braking.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Your vehicle may have an Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) system which combines antilock brake, traction
and stability control systems and helps the driver
maintain directional control of the vehicle in most driving
conditions.
When you rst start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, the system performs several diagnostic checks to
ensure there are no problems. You may hear or feel
the system working. This is normal and does not mean
there is a problem with your vehicle. The system
should initialize before the vehicle reaches 20 mph
(32 km/h).
If the system fails to turn on or activate, the ESC/TCS
light will be on solid, and the SERVICE STABILITRAK
message will be displayed.
For more information, seeDriver Information Center
(DIC) on page 3-42.
4-6