climate control CHEVROLET IMPALA 2018 Owner's Guide

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
154 Climate Controls
Air Vents
Center Air Vents
Move the thumbwheels (1) left or
right to open or close off the airflow.
Use the slider knobs (2) on the air
vents to change the direction of the
airflow.Side Air Vents
Move the thumbwheels (1) up or
down to open or close off the
airflow.
Use the slider knobs (2) to change
the direction of the airflow.
Operation Tips
.
Clear away any ice, snow,
or leaves from air inlets at the
base of the windshield that could
block the flow of air into the
vehicle. .
Clear snow off the hood to
improve visibility and help
decrease moisture drawn into
the vehicle.
. Keep all outlets open whenever
possible for best system
performance.
. Keep the paths under all seats
clear of objects to help circulate
the air inside the vehicle more
effectively.
. Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
. Do not attach any devices to the
air vent louvers. This restricts
airflow and may cause damage
to the air vents.

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
Climate Controls 155
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The passenger compartment air
filter reduces dust, pollen, and other
airborne irritants from outside air
that is pulled into the vehicle. The
filter will need to be replaced
periodically. SeeMaintenance
Schedule 0293.
Using the climate control system
without an air filter installed is not
recommended. Water or other
debris could enter the system and
result in leaks or noises. Always
install a new filter when removing
the old filter.
For more information on filter
replacement, see your dealer.
Service
All vehicles have a label underhood
that identifies the refrigerant used in
the vehicle. The refrigerant system
should only be serviced by trained
and certified technicians. The air
conditioning evaporator should
never be repaired or replaced by
one from a salvage vehicle.
It should only be replaced by a new
evaporator to ensure proper and
safe operation.
During service, all refrigerants
should be reclaimed with proper
equipment. Venting refrigerants
directly to the atmosphere is harmful
to the environment and may also
create unsafe conditions based on
inhalation, combustion, frostbite,
or other health-based concerns.

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
Driving and Operating 157
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211Driving Information
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep
your eyes on the road, keep your
hands on the steering wheel, and
focus your attention on driving.
. Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
. Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices. .
Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions.
. Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.
. Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
. Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
. Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint.
. Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
Driving and Operating 163
Warning (Continued)
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0174.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 181.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see Towing the Vehicle 0279.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
Driving and Operating 171
.The battery has been recently
disconnected.
. The battery charge is low.
. The interior comfort level has not
reached the required level for
the climate control system or
defog settings. Use the eco
(green indicator on) air
conditioning mode for better
efficiency. See Dual Automatic
Climate Control System 0150.
. The auto stop time is greater
than two minutes.
Engine Heater
The engine coolant heater,
if equipped, can help in cold
weather conditions at or below
−18 °C (0 °F) for easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine
warm-up. Plug in the coolant heater
at least four hours before starting
the vehicle. An internal thermostat
in the plug end of the cord will
prevent engine coolant heater
operation at temperatures above
−18 °C (0 °F).
To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord. The electrical
cord is on the driver side of the
engine compartment, between
the fender and the engine
compartment fuse block.
Check the heater cord for
damage. If it is damaged, do
not use it. See your dealer for
a replacement. Inspect the
cord for damage yearly
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord
or an extension cord can damage
the cord and may result in
overheating and fire.
. Plug the cord into a
three-prong electrical utility
receptacle that is protected
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
by a ground fault detection
function. An ungrounded
outlet could cause an
electric shock.
. Use a weatherproof,
heavy-duty, 15 amp-rated
extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the
recommended extension
cord in good operating
condition, or using a
damaged heater or
extension cord, could make
it overheat and cause a fire,
property damage, electric
shock, and injury.
. Do not operate the vehicle
with the heater cord
permanently attached to the
(Continued)

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
Driving and Operating 207
.Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 mi) to prevent
damage to the engine, axle,
or other parts.
. Then during the first 800 km
(500 mi) of trailer towing, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
. Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts
too often under heavy loads and/
or hilly conditions.
. Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control when towing.
. The Forward Automatic Braking
System should be set to Off
when towing. See Forward
Automatic Braking (FAB) 0197.
. Turn off Parking Assist when
towing.{Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
When towing a trailer:
. Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Also adjust the climate
control system to a setting
that brings in only outside
air. See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0174.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is longer and not as responsive as the
vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
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 heavy
braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so it is

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
Vehicle Care 267
norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and
differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from
highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on
specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.Temperature
The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all
passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and
A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law. Warning: The
temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The tires and wheels were aligned
and balanced at the factory to
provide the longest tire life and best
overall performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire balancing
are not necessary on a regular
basis. Consider an alignment check
if there is unusual tire wear or the
vehicle is significantly pulling to one
side or the other. Some slight pull to
the left or right, depending on the
crown of the road and/or other road
surface variations such as troughs
or ruts, is normal. If the vehicle is
vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels may need
to be rebalanced. See your dealer
for proper diagnosis.

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
284 Vehicle Care
.Aftermarket appearance caps or
covers while the lamps are
illuminated, due to excessive
heat generated.
Caution
Failure to clean lamps properly
can cause damage to the lamp
cover that would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Air Intakes
Clear debris from the air intakes,
between the hood and windshield,
when washing the vehicle.
Shutter System
The vehicle may have a shutter
system designed to help increase
fuel economy. Keep the shutter
system clean for proper operation.
Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield
with glass cleaner.
Clean rubber blades using lint-free
cloth or paper towel soaked with
windshield washer fluid or a mild
detergent. Wash the windshield
thoroughly when cleaning the
blades. Bugs, road grime, sap, and a buildup of vehicle wash/wax
treatments may cause wiper
streaking.
Replace the wiper blades if they are
worn or damaged. Damage can be
caused by extreme dusty
conditions, sand, salt, heat, sun,
snow, and ice.
Clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them. If frozen
to the windshield, carefully loosen
them or thaw them. Damaged wiper
blades should be replaced. See
Wiper Blade Replacement
0235.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the
wipers. If the wiper motor overheats,
the windshield wipers will stop until
the motor cools and the wiper
control is turned off. See Electrical
System Overload 0242.
Weatherstrips
Apply weatherstrip lubricant on
weatherstrips to make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or
squeak. Lubricate weatherstrips at
least once a year. Hot. dry climates
may require more frequent
application. Black marks from

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
Index 335
Child Restraints (cont'd)Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . 147 Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 314
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Connections OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Control Traction and ElectronicStability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gauge . . .115
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147, 150 Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Courtesy Transportation
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Cruise Control, Adaptive . . . . . . . . 184
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Text Telephone (TTY)Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Customer Information Service PublicationsOrdering Information . . . . . . . . 316
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 314
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 2
Data CollectionInfotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 320
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 319
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Diagnostics
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 306
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 192
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 195
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 26
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 161
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 163
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
336 Index
Dual Automatic ClimateControl System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . 178
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 120
Electrical Equipment,
Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 243
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Emergency
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 217
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Engine (cont'd)
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 174
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 319
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 139
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 140
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
F
FeaturesMemory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 141 Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
FlexFuel E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 223
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Forward Automatic Braking . . . . . 197
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Front Seats
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 59
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 123
Requirements, California . . . . . 202