2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA warning

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ¯ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will ¯ash on and off.The hazard warning
¯asher button is located to
the right of the steering
wheel on the instrument
panel cluster.
The hazard warning ¯ashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key isn't in.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ¯ash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the ¯ashers off.
When the hazard warning ¯ashers are on, your turn
signals won't work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry re¯ective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
3-6

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:Pull the control all the way out to turn on
the headlamps together with the previously listed
lamps and lights. See
Interior Lamps on page 3-17for
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.
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
headlamp system when you need it.
3-15

Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on brie¯y when you start the
engine just to let you know they're working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there's a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual's advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly ±
and even dangerous. So please get to know your
warning lights and gages. They're a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a Driver Information Center
(DIC) that works along with the warning lights and
gages. See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 3-49.
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Tachometer
Your vehicle may have a
tachometer that displays
the engine speed in
thousands of revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Notice:Do not operate the engine with the
tachometer in the shaded warning area, or engine
damage may occur.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON, a chime will come on for
about several seconds to remind people to fasten
their safety belts, unless the driver's safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for several seconds,
then it will ¯ash for
several more.
3-32

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need
both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
The LOW BRAKE FLUID message in the message
center will also appear when there is a brake problem.
See
Low Brake Fluid Warning Message on page 3-47.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on brie¯y when you turn the
ignition key to ON. If it doesn't come on then, have it
®xed so it will be ready to warn you if there's a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake doesn't
release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
¯oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 3-34andTowing Your Vehicle on
page 4-31.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you've pulled off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service. United States
Canada
3-34

Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
If your vehicle is equipped
with anti-lock brakes, the
anti-lock brake system
warning light should come
on for a few seconds
when you turn the ignition
key to ON.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you've started your engine, turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you're driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset
the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you're driving, the anti-lock brake system needs
service and you don't have anti-lock brakes.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on brie¯y when you turn the ignition key to ON. This
is normal. If the light doesn't come on then, have it ®xed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
Your vehicle may have the
traction control system. If it
does, this warning light
may come on for the
following reasons:
·If you turn the system off by pressing the TRAC
OFF button located on the instrument panel, a
chime will sound and the warning light will come on
and stay on. To turn the system back on, press
the button again. The warning light should go off.
·If there's a brake system problem that is speci®cally
related to traction control, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will come
on. If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction
control system will turn off and the warning light will
come on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
3-35

Service Traction System Warning
Message
If your vehicle is equipped with the traction control
system and this message appears when you are driving,
there is a problem with your traction control system
and your vehicle is in need of service.
When this message is displayed, the system will not
limit wheel spin. The message will stay on for
60 seconds. Four chimes will also be heard. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
When the ignition is turned off, this message will be
displayed again for three seconds to remind you
that your traction control system is not working properly.
Be sure to have your vehicle serviced right away.
Traction Active Message
If your vehicle is equipped with the traction control
system, this message will stay on a few seconds after
the traction system stops limiting wheel spin.
This message will appear when the traction control
system is limiting wheel spin. United StatesCanada
United StatesCanada
3-41

Battery Warning Message
When the vehicle is started
this message will be
displayed for three
seconds.
If the message is displayed when the engine is running,
you may have a problem with your charging system.
If there is a problem with the charging system, four
chimes will sound when the message comes on. The
battery display will also stay on while the key is in
ON until the engine is started.
If the message stays on after starting the engine it could
indicate a problem with the generator drive belt, or
some other charging system problem. Have it checked
right away. Driving with this message on could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this message
displayed, it helps to turn off all your accessories.
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning
Message
This message is displayed when the cooling
system temperature gets hot. A chime will sound
continuously, also.
Check the coolant temperature gage and the coolant
level. See
Engine Coolant on page 5-27,Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-36andEngine
Overheating on page 5-30for further information.
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3-42