clock CHEVROLET IMPALA 2011 9.G User Guide

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Climate Controls 8-3
Air Delivery Mode Control:Turn
clockwise or counterclockwise to
change the direction of the airflow
inside the vehicle.
To change the current mode, select
one of the following:
H(Vent): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
)(Bi-Level): Air is divided
between the instrument panel
outlets and the floor outlets.
6(Floor): Air is directed to the
floor outlets, with some of the air
directed to the windshield and side
window outlets. In this mode, the
system automatically selects
outside air.
-(Defog): This mode clears the
windshield of fog or moisture. Air is
directed equally to the windshield
and the floor outlets. When defog is
selected, the system turns off
recirculation and runs the air
conditioning compressor unless the
outside temperature is below
4°C (40°F).
0(Defrost): This mode clears
the windshield of fog or frost more
quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield with some air to the side
window vents and the floor vents.
When defrost is selected, the
system automatically forces outside
air into the vehicle. The air
conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting, unless
the outside temperature is below
4°C (40°F).
#(Air Conditioning): Press to
turn the air conditioning system on
or off. An indicator light comes
on to show that it is on. The air
conditioning can be selected in any
mode as long as the fan is on and
the outside temperature is above
freezing. A flashing indicator light
indicates that the air conditioning
compressor is currently not
available.
On hot days, open the windows to
let hot inside air escape; then close
them. This helps to reduce the time it takes for the vehicle to cool down.
It also helps the system to operate
more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days, do
the following:
1. Select the
Hmode.
2. Press the
#button.
3. Select the coolest temperature for both zones.
4. Select the highest
9speed.
5. When the coolest temperature is selected in the A/C mode, the
system automatically goes into
the recirculation mode to
improve cooling.
Using these settings together for
long periods of time may cause the
air inside the vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening,
after the air inside the vehicle has
cooled, turn the recirculation
mode off.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-5
collision. Then steer around the
problem, to the left or right
depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires
close attention and a quick decision.
If holding the steering wheel at the
recommended 9 and 3 o'clock
positions, it can be turned a full
180 degrees very quickly without
removing either hand. But you have
to act fast, steer quickly, and just as
quickly straighten the wheel once
you have avoided the object.The fact that such emergency
situations are always possible is a
good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear safety
belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only
slightly below the pavement,
recovery should be fairly easy. Ease
off the accelerator and then, if there
is nothing in the way, steer so thatthe vehicle straddles the edge of the
pavement. Turn the steering wheel
8 to 13 cm (3 to 5 inches), about
one-eighth turn, until the right front
tire contacts the pavement edge.
Then turn the steering wheel to go
straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts
say about what happens when the
three control systems
—brakes,
steering, and acceleration —do not
have enough friction where the tires
meet the road to do what the driver
has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up.
Keep trying to steer and constantly
seek an escape route or area of
less danger.

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-17
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
In an emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steadypressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to neutral. This can be done while the vehicle is
moving. After shifting to neutral,
firmly apply the brakes and steer
the vehicle to a safe location. 3. Come to a complete stop, shift
to P (Park), and turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF. On vehicles with
an automatic transmission, the
shift lever must be in P (Park) to
turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK/OFF position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 9‑29
The steering can bind with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from left to right while turning the
key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this
doesn't work, then the vehicle
needs service.
B (ACC/ACCESSORY): This is the
position in which you can operate
the radio and windshield wipers
while the engine is off. To use
ACC/ACCESSORY, turn the key
clockwise. C (ON/RUN):
This position can
be used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument panel cluster warning
and indicator lights. The switch
stays in this position when the
engine is running.
If you leave the key in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off, the battery could
be drained. You may not be able to
start the vehicle if the battery is
allowed to drain for an extended
period of time.
D (START): This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for
driving.
A warning chime will sound and the
Driver Information Center (DIC) will
display DRIVER DOOR OPEN
when the driver door is opened, the
ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF, and the key is in the
ignition. See Door Ajar Messages
on page 5‑29 for more information.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-39
The tethered fuel cap is located
behind a hinged fuel door on the
driver side of the vehicle. If the
vehicle has E85 fuel capability, the
fuel cap will be yellow and state
that E85 or gasoline can be used.
SeeFuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on
page 9‑37.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it
slowly counterclockwise. While refueling, hang the tethered
fuel cap on the hook on the inside of
the fuel door.
{WARNING
Fuel can spray out on you if you
open the fuel cap too quickly.
If you spill fuel and then
something ignites it, you could be
badly burned. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly full,
and is more likely in hot weather.
Open the fuel cap slowly and wait
for any hiss noise to stop. Then
unscrew the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not
top off or overfill the tank and wait a
few seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the
nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
“Washing the Vehicle”
in
Exterior Care.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn it
clockwise until it clicks. Make sure
the cap is fully installed. The
diagnostic system can determine if
the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. This would
allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑17.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
10-18 Vehicle Care
How to Add Coolant to the
Radiator
{WARNING
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{WARNING
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn
the surge tank pressure
cap—even a little —they can
come out at high speed. Never
turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the surge tank
pressure cap, is hot.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Wait for the cooling system and
surge tank pressure cap to cool if
you ever have to turn the
pressure cap.
If coolant is needed, add the proper
mixture directly to the radiator, but
be sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done.
1. Remove the pressure cap when the cooling system, including
the pressure cap and upper
radiator hose is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap
slowly counterclockwise.
If a hiss is heard, wait for that to
stop. A hiss means that there is
still some pressure left. 2. Keep turning the pressure cap
and remove it.
3. Fill the cooling system with the proper DEX-COOL coolant
mixture, up to the base of the
filler neck. See “What to use”for
more information about the
proper coolant mixture. Rinse or
wipe any spilled coolant from the
engine and the compartment.
4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the COLD FILL line.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
10-30 Vehicle Care
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps
A. Sidemarker
B. Low-Beam Headlamp
C. High-Beam Headlamp
D. Parking/Turn Signal LampTo replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the hood. See
Hood on
page 10‑5.2. Remove the screw from the headlamp assembly.
3. Pull up on the plastic headlampretainer and remove it.
4. Pull the headlamp assembly away from the vehicle and
remove the electrical connector.
5. Remove the round dust caps to gain access to the bulbs.
6. Turn the old bulb counterclockwise and remove it
from the retaining ring by pulling
it away from the headlamp.
7. Remove the electrical connector from the bulb by raising the lock
tab and pulling the connector
away from the bulb's base.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-31
8. Install the electrical connector tothe bulb.
9. Install the new bulb by inserting the smallest tab on the bulb
base into the matching notch in
the retaining ring. Turn the bulb
a quarter-turn clockwise until it
stops.
10. Reinstall the dust caps.
11. Push the headlamp assembly toward the vehicle.
12. Push down on the plasticheadlamp retainer to reinstall it.13. Reinstall the screw from theheadlamp assembly.

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
10-32 Vehicle Care
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps
A. Rear Sidemarker Lamp
B. Back-up Lamp
C. Stoplamp/Taillamp/Turn Signal
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on
page 2‑10.
2. Remove the convenience net (if equipped). Unhook the net
from the upper wing nut.
3. Turn the upper wing nutcounterclockwise and remove it.
4. Pull the carpet away from the rear of the vehicle.5. Turn the two hex nutscounterclockwise to
remove them.
6. Pull out the taillamp assembly and disconnect the wiring
harness.
7. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove it.
8. Pull the old bulb straight out to remove it.
9. Push the new bulb straight in until it clicks to install it.
10. Reverse steps 1 through 7 to reinstall.

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-33
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Turn the lamp assemblycounterclockwise and pull the
lamp assembly out of the
connector.
2. Pull the old bulb from the lamp assembly, keeping the bulb
straight as you pull it out.
3. Install the new bulb.
4. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to reinstall the license plate lamp.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
Back-Up 921LL
Front Parking/
Turn Signal 3157NAK
License
Plate Lamp 194ll
Headlamps High-Beam H9
Low-Beam H11
Sidemarker 194LL
Stoplamp,
Taillamp, and
Turn Signal 3057
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.
Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload
The vehicle has fuses and circuit
breakers to protect against an
electrical system overload.
When the current electrical load is
too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes, protecting the circuit
until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed.
This greatly reduces the chance of
circuit overload and fire caused by
electrical problems.
Fuses and circuit breakers protect
the following in the vehicle:
.Headlamp Wiring
.Windshield Wiper Motor
.Power Windows and Other
Power Accessories
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.

Black plate (61,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-61
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
The equipment you will need is
located in the trunk.
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on
page 2‑10.
2. Remove the convenience net if the vehicle has one.
3. Remove the spare tire cover.
4. Turn the wing nut counterclockwise and remove it. 5. Remove the compact spare tire.
6. Turn the nut holding the jack
counterclockwise and remove it.
Then remove the jack and
wrench.
The tools you will need to change a
tire include the jack (A), extension
and protection guide (B), and wheel
wrench (C).