CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 2004 Owners Manual

Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on your steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive. You can raise the steering wheel
to the highest level to give your legs more room when
you exit and enter. The lever to adjust it is located on the
left side of the steering column.
To adjust the wheel,
hold the steering wheel
and pull the lever.
Move the steering wheel
to a comfortable level,
then release the lever to
lock the wheel into place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever located on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
Turn Signal and Lane-Change Signals
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
Flash-to-Pass Feature
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
For information on the exterior lamps, see “Exterior
Lamps” later in this section.
3-7

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is nished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until you complete
your lane change. The lever will return by itself when
you release it.
If the arrow ashes faster than normal as you signal a
turn or a lane change, a signal bulb may be burned
out and other drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you signal
a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and then check the
fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-104.
Turn Signal On Chime
If you leave either one of your turn signals on and
drive more than 3/4 mile (1.2 km), a chime will sound
to alert you.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change your headlamps from low beams to
high beams, or from high to low, pull the multifunction
lever all the way toward you. Then release it.
While the high beams
are on, this light will
appear on the instrument
panel cluster.
This light works only while the key is in ON. The fog
lamps (if equipped) are not illuminated when the
high beams are on.
3-8

Flash-to-Pass Feature
With the turn signal lever in the low-beam position,
pull the lever toward you momentarily to switch
to high-beam, (to signal you are going to pass).
If the headlamps are on, they will return to low-beam
when the lever is released. This feature operates even if
the headlamps are off.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wipers will operate when the ignition is
in ACC or ON.WIPER:To operate the windshield wipers, turn the
band labeled WIPER, located on the multifunction lever,
upward or downward.
OFF:To stop the wipers, turn the band to OFF.
The ve marks between OFF and LO are delay settings.
For a longer delay between wiping cycles, turn the
band downward. For a shorter delay between wiping
cycles turn the band upward.
LO (Low Speed):Turn the band upward to LO for
steady wiping at a low speed.
HI (High Speed):Turn the band upward to HI for
steady wiping at high speed.
MIST:Turn the band downward to MIST for a single
wiping cycle. Hold the band at this setting until the
windshield wipers start, then release it. The windshield
wipers will stop after one wipe. If additional cycles
are needed, hold the band on MIST longer.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they’re frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload. If your blades
become damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
SeeWindshield Wiper Blade Replacement on page 5-64
for more information.
3-9

Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever, there’s a paddle
with the windshield washer symbol and the word PUSH
on it. To spray washer uid on the windshield, push
the paddle. The wipers will run for several sweeps and
then either stop or return to your preset speed. The
ignition key must be in ACC or ON for this to work.
SeeWindshield Washer Fluid on page 5-48.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.When you are low on washer uid, the LOW WASHER
FLUID message will be illuminated in the message
center for 60 seconds. When the ignition is turned off,
this message will appear again for three seconds
as a reminder that the uid level is low.
Until the uid tank is relled, every time you start your
vehicle, the LOW WASHER FLUID message will be
illuminated in the message center for 60 seconds.
Be sure to check the uid level and rell the tank
right away.United States
Canada
3-10

Cruise Control
If your vehicle is equipped with cruise control, you can
maintain a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more
without keeping your foot on the accelerator. This can
really help on long trips. Cruise control does not work at
speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control shuts off.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where
you can not drive safely at a steady speed.
So, do not use your 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
needless wheel spinning, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise control on
slippery roads.If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system (optional) begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-10
Traction Control System (TCS). When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise
control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
3-11

1. Push the CRUISE
ON/OFF button
located on the steering
wheel to turn the
cruise control on.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press SET located on your steering wheel and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
The CRUISE light on the instrument panel cluster will
come on after the cruise control has been set to
the desired speed.Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course shuts
off the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset it.
Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
press RES (Resume) on
your steering wheel.
You’ll go right back up to
your chosen speed
and stay there.
3-12

Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Press SET on the steering wheel, then release the
button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now cruise at
the higher speed.
Press ACC (Accelerate) on the steering wheel.
Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want
and then release the button. To increase your speed
in very small amounts, press ACC briey and then
release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle will go
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you set the
cruise control speed by pressing SET on the steering
wheel.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Press COAST on the steering wheel until you reach
the lower speed you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press COAST
on the steering wheel briey. Each time you do this,
you’ll go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle
will slow down to the cruise speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to
keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers nd this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to cancel the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Press CRUISE ON/OFF on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
3-13

Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps control is located on the instrument
panel to the left of the steering wheel.It controls the following systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
The exterior lamps control has three positions:
Off:Push the control all the way in to turn off the
exterior lamps.
Parking Lamps:Pull the control out halfway to turn on
the parking lamps together with the following:
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Headlamps:Pulling the control all the way out turns on
the headlamps together with the previously listed
lamps and lights. SeeInterior Lamps on page 3-16for
information on the instrument panel brightness
control and on the dome lamps. A warning chime will
sound if you open the driver’s door when the ignition
switch is off and the headlamps are on.
3-14

Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp System
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
rst sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn’t covered.
The DRL system’s automatic headlamp control will
make your high-beam headlamps come on at a reduced
brightness when the following conditions are met:
The ignition is on,
the exterior lamps control is off and
the gearshift is not in PARK (P).
When the DRL are on, only your high-beam
headlamps, at a reduced level of brightness, will be on.
The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker and other
lamps won’t be on. Your instrument panel and cluster
won’t be lit up either.When it’s dark enough outside, your high-beam
headlamps will turn off and the headlamps and parking
lamps will turn on. The other lamps that come on
with your headlamps will also come on.
When it’s bright enough outside, your headlamps will go
off and your DRL will come on.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps system when you need it.
Delayed Headlamps
The delayed headlamps feature provides a period of
exterior lighting as you leave the area around your
vehicle. The feature is activated when the headlamps
are on due to the automatic headlamps control
feature later described in this section, and when the
ignition is turned off. Your headlamps will then remain on
until the exterior lamps control is moved to the parking
lamps position or until either a 30 second or 60 second
lighting period has ended.
If you turn off the ignition with the headlamps switch in
the parking lamps or headlamps position, the delayed
headlamps cycle will not occur.
To disable the delayed headlamps feature or change
the time of delay, seeVehicle Customization Settings on
page 3-96.
3-15

Fog Lamps
If your vehicle has this
feature, the fog lamps
button is located on
the instrument panel next
to the exterior lamps
control wheel to the left of
the steering column.
To turn the fog lamps on, press the FOG button. A light
will glow in the button to let you know that the fog
lamps are on. Press the FOG button again to turn the
fog lamps off.
The ignition must be in ON and your parking lamps
must be on for your fog lamps to work.
The fog lamps will go off while you change to high-beam
headlamps.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
The knob for the instrument panel light is located on the
exterior lamps control. Pull the knob out halfway and then
turn the knob clockwise to brighten or counterclockwise to
dim the lights.
Courtesy Lamps
When a door is opened, the courtesy lamps
automatically come on. They make it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle. You can also manually turn
these lamps on by turning the exterior lamps control
clockwise all the way to DOME.
The reading lamps, located on the rearview mirror,
can be turned on or off independent of the automatic
courtesy lamps, when the doors are closed.
3-16