CHEVROLET IMPALA 2011 9.G Owners Manual

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 (24,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
9-24 Driving and Operating
Engine Exhaust
{WARNING
Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation (parking
garages, tunnels, deep snow
that may block underbody
airflow or tail pipes).
.The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
.The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
.The vehicle’s exhaust system
has been modified, damaged
or improperly repaired.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or after-market
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle:
.Drive it only with the windows
completely down.
.Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation.
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running. But if you ever have
to, here are some things to know.
{WARNING
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed
area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust
contains Carbon Monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area that
has no fresh air ventilation. For
more information, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑24.

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 (26,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
9-26 Driving and Operating
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. You must fully apply the
brakes first, then press the shift
lever button before you can shift
from P (Park) while the ignition is in
ON/RUN. If you cannot shift out of
P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever and push the shift lever all the
way into P (Park) as you maintain
brake application. Then press the
shift lever button and move the shift
lever into another gear. SeeShifting
Out of Park on page 9‑22.
R (Reverse): Use this gear to
back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only
after the vehicle is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle is Stuck on page 9‑11. N (Neutral):
In this position,
the engine does not connect with
the wheels. To restart the engine
when the vehicle is already moving,
use N (Neutral) only. Also, use
N (Neutral) when the vehicle is
being towed.
{WARNING
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Notice: Shifting out of P (Park)
or N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle. D (Drive) :
This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy. If you need more
power for passing, and you are:
.Going less than 55 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator pedal
all the way down.
The transmission will shift down
to the next gear and the vehicle
will have more power.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding, see “Skidding”under
Loss of Control on page 9‑5.
Notice: Driving the vehicle if you
notice that it is moving slowly or
not shifting gears as you increase
speed may damage the
transmission. Have the vehicle
serviced right away. You can
drive in 2 (Second) when you are

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 (28,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
9-28 Driving and Operating
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 wheel.
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 firmly and let
antilock work. You might feel a slight
brake pedal pulsation or hear some
noise, but this is normal.
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 first
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.
In many emergencies, steering can
help more than even the very best
braking.

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 (30,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
9-30 Driving and Operating
The system may be heard or
felt while it is working, but this
is normal.
If cruise control is being used when
TCS begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically
disengage. Cruise control may be
reengaged when road conditions
allow. SeeCruise Control on
page 9‑32.
The TCS operates in all
transmission shift lever positions.
But the system can upshift the
transmission only as high as the
shift lever position chosen, so
use the lower gears only when
necessary. See Automatic
Transmission on page 9‑25.
When the system is on, this warning
light comes on and stays on if there
is a problem.
A SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL
message also appears on the DIC.
When this warning light is on, the
system will not limit wheel spin.
Adjust your driving accordingly.
See Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑32 for more information.
To limit wheel spin, especially in
slippery road conditions, TCS
should always be left on. But the
system can be turned off if needed.
Turn the system off if the vehicle
gets stuck in sand, mud, or snow and rocking the vehicle is required.
See
If the Vehicle is Stuck on
page 9‑11 for more information.
To turn the system on or off, press
the Traction Control button located
on the instrument panel.
When the system is turned off, the
traction control warning light comes
on and TRACTION CONTROL OFF
appears on the DIC. If the traction
control system is limiting wheel spin
when the button is pressed to turn
the system off, the warning light
comes on and the system will turn
off right away.
Press the Traction Control button
again to turn the system back on.
The Traction Control warning light
should go off.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-31
Adding non‐dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle's performance.
SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 10‑3 for more information.
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 first 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
32 km/h (20 mph). 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, see
Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5‑32.
This light will flash on the instrument
panel cluster when the ESC system
is both on and activated.
You may also feel or hear the
system working; this is normal.
When the light is on solid and the
SERVICE STABILITRAK message
is displayed, the system will not
assist the driver in maintaining
directional control of the vehicle. Adjust your driving accordingly. See
Ride Control System Messages on
page 5‑32.
The Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system is
automatically enabled whenever you
start your vehicle. To assist the
driver with vehicle directional
control, especially in slippery road
conditions, you should always leave
the system on. But, you can turn
ESC off if you ever need to.
If the vehicle is in cruise control
when the system begins to assist
the driver maintain directional
control of the vehicle, the ESC/TCS
light will flash and the cruise control
will automatically disengage. When
road conditions allow you to use

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
9-32 Driving and Operating
cruise again, you may re-engage
the cruise control. SeeCruise
Control on page 9‑32.
The ESC/TCS button is located on
the instrument panel.
The traction control system can be
turned off or back on by pressing
the ESC/TCS button. To disable
both traction control and ESC, press
and hold the button briefly.
When the ESC system is turned off,
the TRACTION CONTROL OFF
message will appear, and the
ESC/TCS light will be on solid to
warn the driver that both traction
control and ESC are disabled.
It is recommended to leave the
system on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary to turn the system off if your vehicle
is stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow,
and you want to
“rock”your vehicle
to attempt to free it. It may also be
necessary to turn off the system
when driving in extreme off-road
conditions where high wheel spin is
required. See If the Vehicle is Stuck
on page 9‑11.
ESC may also turn off automatically
if it determines that a problem exists
with the system. The SERVICE
STABILITRAK message and the
ESC/TCS light will be on solid to
warn the driver that ESC is disabled
and requires service. If the problem
does not clear after restarting the
vehicle, you should see your dealer
for service. See Ride Control
System Messages on page 5‑32 for
more information.
Adding non‐dealer accessories can
affect your vehicle's performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑3 for more information.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can
maintain a speed of about 40 km/h
(25 mph) or more without keeping
your foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
{WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle has the Traction
Control System (TCS) and the
cruise control is on, TCS will begin
to limit wheel spin and the cruise