towing CHEVROLET IMPALA 2011 9.G User Guide

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
9-20 Driving and Operating
Engine Heater
The engine coolant heater can
provide easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine
warm‐up in cold weather conditions
at or below−18°C (0°F). Vehicles
with an engine coolant heater
should be plugged in at least four
hours before starting.
To Use the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The cord is
attached to the underside of the
diagonal brace, which is located
above the engine air cleaner/
filter assembly.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{WARNING
Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause an
electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could
overheat and cause a fire. You
could be seriously injured. Plug
the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet.
If the cord will not reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine parts,
and prevent damage.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer in the
area where you will be parking the
vehicle for the best advice on this.
Shifting Into Park
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9‑41.

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
9-22 Driving and Operating
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight
of the vehicle puts too much force
on the parking pawl in the
transmission. This happens when
parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not
done properly and then it is difficult
to shift out of P (Park). To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park). To find
out how, see“Shifting Into Park” in
this section.
If torque lock does occur, your
vehicle may need to be pushed
uphill by another vehicle to relieve
the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).
Shifting Out of Park
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock
The vehicle has an electronic shift
lock release system. The shift lock
release is designed to:
.Prevent ignition key removal
unless the shift lever is in
P (Park).
.Prevent movement of the shift
lever out of P (Park), unless the
ignition is in ON/RUN and the
regular brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock is always functional
except in the case of a an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9 volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See Jump Starting on
page 10‑70. Console Shift
If the console shift lever cannot be
moved out of P (Park):
1. Apply and maintain the regular
brakes.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN position. See Ignition Positions
on page 9‑16 for more
information.
3. Let up on the shift lever and make sure the shift lever is
pushed all the way into P (Park).
4. Press the shift lever button.
5. Then, move the shift into the desired gear.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), consult your
dealer or a professional towing
service.

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-23
Column Shift
If the column shift lever cannot be
moved out of P (Park):
1. Apply and maintain the regularbrakes.
2. Turn the ignition key to the ON/RUN position. See Ignition
Positions on page 9‑16 for more
information. 3. Shift out of the P (Park) position
to the N (Neutral) position.
4. Move the vehicle to a safe location.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), consult your
dealer or a professional towing
service.Parking Over Things
That Burn
{WARNING
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-25
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the automatic
transmission shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
Follow the proper steps to be sure
the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park on page 9‑20.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9‑41.
Automatic
Transmission
The automatic transmission has a
shift lever on the steering column or
on the console between the seats.
There is a display, located on the
instrument panel cluster, that will
indicate the gear the vehicle is in.
Maximum engine speed is limited on
automatic transmission vehicles
while in P (Park) or N (Neutral) to
protect driveline components from
improper operation.
There are several different positions
for the shift lever. P (Park):
This position locks the
front wheels. It is the best position
to use when the engine is started
because the vehicle cannot
move easily.
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9‑41.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-27
driving less than 35 mph (55 km/h)
and D (Drive) for higher speeds
until then.
3 (Third):This position is also used
for normal driving. However, it
reduces vehicle speed more than
D (Drive) without using the brakes.
You might choose 3 (Third) instead
of D (Drive) when driving on hilly,
winding roads, when towing a trailer,
so there is less shifting between
gears and when going down a
steep hill.
2 (Second): This position reduces
vehicle speed even more than
3 (Third) without using the brakes.
You can use 2 (Second) on hills.
It can help control vehicle speed as
you go down steep mountain roads.
You would also want to use the
brakes off and on.
Notice: Driving in 2 (Second) for
more than 25 miles (40 km) or at
speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h)
may damage the transmission. Also, shifting into 2 (Second) at
speeds above 65 mph (105 km/h)
can cause damage. Drive in
3 (Third) or D (Drive) instead of
2 (Second).
1 (First):
This position reduces
vehicle speed even more than
2 (Second) without using the brakes.
You can use it on very steep hills,
or in deep snow or mud. If the shift
lever is in 1 (First) while the vehicle
is moving forward, the transmission
will not shift into first gear until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice: Spinning the tires or
holding the vehicle in one place
on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage
the transmission. The repair will
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. If you are stuck, do not
spin the tires. When stopping on
a hill, use the brakes to hold the
vehicle in place.Brakes
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 comes on briefly when the
vehicle is started.
The warning light is on the
instrument panel cluster. See
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 5‑20.

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-29
Parking Brake
The parking brake is located to the
left of the brake pedal, near the
driver door.
To set the parking brake, hold the
brake pedal down, then push down
the parking brake pedal.
To release the parking brake, hold
the brake pedal down and push the
parking brake pedal. When you lift
your foot off the parking brake
pedal, the pedal will follow it to the
released position.A warning chime will sound and a
brake warning light located on the
instrument panel cluster will come
on, if the parking brake is set, the
ignition is on, and the vehicle speed
is greater than 8 km/h (5 mph).
Notice:
Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the brake
system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system
parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before
driving.
If you are towing a trailer and
parking on any hill, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9‑41.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The vehicle may have a Traction
Control System (TCS) that limits
wheel spin. This is especially useful
in slippery road conditions. The
system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the front wheels
are spinning or beginning to lose
traction. When this happens, the
system reduces engine power and
may also upshift the transmission
and apply the front brakes to limit
wheel spin.
This light will flash when the TCS is
limiting wheel spin.

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-41
Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer.
See the following trailer towing
information in this section:
.For information on driving while
towing a trailer, see“Driving
Characteristics and
Towing Tips.”
.For maximum vehicle and trailer
weights, see “Trailer Towing.”
.For information on equipment to
tow a trailer, see “Towing
Equipment.”
For information on towing a disabled
vehicle, see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑74. For information on
towing the vehicle behind another vehicle such as a motorhome, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing on
page 10‑74.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Pulling a Trailer
Here are some important points:
.There are many different laws,
including speed limit restrictions,
having to do with trailering.
Make sure the rig will be legal,
not only where you live but also
where you will be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or
provincial police.
.Do not tow a trailer at all during
the first 1600 km (1,000 miles)
the new vehicle is driven. The
engine, transmission or other
parts could be damaged. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty.
.Then, during the first 800 km
(500 miles) that a trailer is
towed, do not drive over 80 km/h
(50 mph) and do not make starts
at full throttle. This helps the
engine and other parts of
the vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
.Obey speed limit restrictions
when towing a trailer. Do not
drive faster than the maximum
posted speed for trailers, or no
more than 90 km/h (55 mph), to
save wear on the vehicle's parts.
.Do not tow a trailer when the
outside temperature is above
38°C (100°F).
Three important considerations
have to do with weight:
.the weight of the trailer,
.the weight of the trailer tongue
.and the total weight on the
vehicle's tires.

Black plate (42,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
9-42 Driving and Operating
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Get to know
the rig before setting out for the
open road. Get acquainted with the
feel of handling and braking with the
added weight of the trailer. And
always keep in mind that the vehicle
you are driving is now longer and
not as responsive as the vehicle is
by itself.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires and mirror adjustments. If the
trailer has electric brakes, start the
vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by
hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This checks the electrical
connection at the same time.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid situations
that require heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. Because the
rig is longer, it is necessary to go
much farther beyond the passed
vehicle before returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees
or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
The arrows on the instrument panel
flash whenever signaling a turn or
lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps also flash, telling
other drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows
on the instrument panel flash for
turns even if the bulbs on the
trailer are burned out.

Black plate (44,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
9-44 Driving and Operating
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11‑2for more information.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, belts,
cooling system and brake system.
It is a good idea to inspect these
before and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
on page 10‑19.
Changing a Tire When Trailer
Towing
If the vehicle gets a flat tire while
towing a trailer, be sure to secure
the trailer and disconnect it from the
vehicle before changing the tire.
Trailer Towing
{WARNING
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly.
For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well —or even at all. The driver
and passengers could be
seriously injured. The vehicle may
also be damaged; the resulting
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer
only if all the steps in this section
have been followed.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Ask your dealer for advice and
information about towing a trailer
with the vehicle.
Notice: Pulling a trailer
improperly can damage the
vehicle and result in costly
repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this
section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
The vehicle can tow a trailer if it is
equipped with the proper trailer
towing equipment. To identify the
trailering capacity of the vehicle,
read the information in “Weight of
the Trailer” that appears later in this
section. Trailering is different than
just driving the vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking,
durability and fuel economy.

Black plate (46,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
9-46 Driving and Operating
If towing a trailer, the tongue load
must be added to the GVW because
the vehicle will be carrying that
weight, too. SeeVehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑12 for more information
about the vehicle's maximum load
capacity.
Using a weight-carrying hitch, the
trailer tongue (A) should weigh 10 to
15 percent of the total loaded trailer
weight (B). After loading the trailer, weigh the
trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on the
Vehicle's Tires
Be sure the vehicle's tires are
inflated to the upper limit for cold
tires. These numbers can be found
on the Certification/Tire label. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑12.
Make sure not to go over the GVW
limit for the vehicle, including the
weight of the trailer tongue.
Towing Equipment
Hitches
It is important to have the correct
hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large
trucks going by and rough roads are
a few reasons why the right hitch is
needed. Here are some rules to
follow:
.The rear bumper on the vehicle
is not intended for hitches. Do
not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use
only a frame-mounted hitch that
does not attach to the bumper.
.Will any holes be made in the
body of the vehicle when the
trailer hitch is installed? If there
are, then be sure to seal the
holes later when the hitch is
removed. If the holes are not
sealed, dirt, water, and deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) from the
exhaust can get into the vehicle.
See
Engine Exhaust on
page 9‑24 in the Index for more
information.