Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-9
Child Restraints
.......................................1-31
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-51
Restraint System Check
............................1-61
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-18
Mirrors
....................................................2-33
OnStar
žSystem
......................................2-37
HomeLinkžTransmitter
.............................2-39
Storage Areas
.........................................2-43
Sunroof
..................................................2-44
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-45
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-22
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-28
Message Center
.......................................3-40
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-49Trip Computer
.........................................3-52
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-53
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-31
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-55
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-56
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-60
Tires
......................................................5-61
Appearance Care
.....................................5-85
Vehicle Identi®cation
.................................5-93
Electrical System
......................................5-94
Capacities and Speci®cations
...................5-103
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
....5-105
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
CustomerAssistance Information...................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-10
Index.................................................................1
2003 Chevrolet Impala Owner ManualM
L(Remote Alarm):Press this button to activate an
alarm. The ignition must be in OFF or ACC for the
remote alarm to work. When you press the remote
button, the headlamps will ¯ash, the horn will sound
repeatedly and your interior lamps will turn on attracting
attention if you need it. The alarm will continue until
one of the following occurs:
·The remote alarm button is pressed a second time,
·the vehicle's ignition is turned to ON or
·an alarm period of 110 seconds has elapsed.
V(Trunk Release):Press the button to release
the trunk.
Operating the remote keyless entry transmitter may
interact with the content theft-deterrent system, if your
vehicle has this option. See
Content Theft-Deterrent
on page 2-16.
Transmitter Veri®cation
This feature provides feedback that a command has
been received by the vehicle. The headlamps and
back-up lamps will ¯ash on every lock and on the ®rst
unlock command. The horn will also sound once
for every lock and twice for the ®rst unlock command.
Silent operation and other options may be selected
for this feature. See
Vehicle Personalization on
page 2-45.
If your vehicle has the optional content theft-deterrent
system, the ®rst time the remote unlock is received,
three ¯ashes from the headlamps will be seen and three
chirps will be heard to indicate an alarm condition has
occurred since last arming. See
Content Theft-Deterrent
on page 2-16.
2-5
Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may have the optional content
theft-deterrent alarm system.
With this system, a light on the radio will ¯ash.
This light reminds you to activate the theft-deterrent
system. Here's how to do it:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or
the remote keyless entry transmitter. The light on
the radio should come on and stay on. If you
are using the remote keyless entry transmitter, the
door does not need to be open.
3. Close all doors. The light on the radio will slowly
¯ash once the system is armed.
Once armed, the alarm will go off if someone tries to
enter the vehicle (without using the remote keyless entry
transmitter or a key) or turns the ignition on with anincorrect key. The horn will sound and the headlamps
and back-up lamps will ¯ash for approximately
two minutes.
When the alarm is armed, the trunk may be opened
with the remote keyless entry transmitter. If you use the
key to open the trunk, the alarm will sound. The
power door lock switches are also disabled. You must
use your remote keyless entry transmitter or your key to
unlock the doors when the system is armed.
Arming with the Power Lock Switch
Your alarm system will arm when you use either power
lock switch to lock the doors while any door or the
trunk is open and the key is removed from the ignition.
The light on the radio ¯ashes quickly to let you know
when the system is ready to arm with the power
door lock switches. The light on the radio will stop
¯ashing and stay on when you press the bottom of the
power lock switch, to let you know the system is
arming. After all doors and the trunk are closed and
locked, the light on the radio will ¯ash slowly to let you
know the system is armed.
2-16
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
To reduce glare from headlamps behind you, pull the
lever at the bottom of the mirror toward you (to the night
position). To return the mirror back to the day position,
push the lever away from you.
There are two lamps located on the bottom of the
mirror. Press the button next to each lamp to turn it on
and off.
Manual Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
ž
If your vehicle has this feature, this mirror has a lever
located at the bottom of the mirror between the two
lamps. It is used to change the mirror from day to night
position. To reduce glare from headlamps behind
you while driving at night, pull the lever toward you. To
return the mirror to the day position, return the lever
to its original position.There are two map lamps located on the bottom of the
mirror. Press the button next to each lamp to turn it
on and off.
There are also three OnStar
žbuttons located at the
bottom of the mirror face. See your dealer for more
information on the system and how to subscribe
to OnStar
ž. SeeOnStaržSystem on page 2-37for
more information about the services OnStaržprovides.
2-33
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
Your vehicle may be equipped with an automatic
dimming rearview mirror. Push the center button below
the mirror to turn this feature on. The mirror will
darken gradually to reduce glare from headlamps behind
you. This may take a few moments. The mirror will
lighten whenever you shift to REVERSE (R).There are two lamps located on the bottom of the
mirror. Press the button next to each lamp to turn it on
and off.
One photocell on the front of the mirror senses when it
is becoming dark outside. Another photocell, facing
rearward, senses headlamps behind you. To turn the
automatic dimming feature off, press the center
button again.
To keep the photocells operating well, occasionally
clean them with a cotton swab and glass cleaner.
2-34
Vehicle Personalization
Some of the convenience features can be reset or
customized to perform according to your preference.
Features you can program depend upon the options that
came with your vehicle. The following list shows
features that can be reset or customized along with the
options.
·Settings (Available for All)
·GM Oil Life System Reset (Available for All)
·Low Tire Pressure Reset (If Equipped)
·Delayed Headlamp Illumination (Available for All)
·Automatic Door Lock and Unlock (Available for All)
·Remote Visual Veri®cation (Available with Remote
Keyless Entry)
·Remote Audible Veri®cation (Available with Remote
Keyless Entry)
·Content Theft Operation (Optional with Content
Theft System)
·Trunk Jamb (Optional with Content Theft System)
·Horn Chirp On Timer (Available with Remote
Keyless Entry)
·Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter Programming
(Available with Remote Keyless Entry)
·Return to Original Factory Settings (Available
for All)
·Exit Vehicle Customization Mode
Programmable Modes
To reset or customize the features, ®rst enter the
vehicle customization main menu. To enter the main
menu, do the following:
1. Turn the ignition to ACC or ON. The radio must be
off.
2. Press and hold the TUNE or DISP knob on the
radio for at least ®ve seconds until SETTINGS is
displayed.
3. Press the SEEK or PSCAN up or down arrows to
scroll through each available feature on your main
menu.
4. Press the PREV or NEXT buttons to scroll through
the lower menu. An asterisk (*) will appear next to
the item that is the current setting.
The following information shows how to reset or
customize features after entering the main menu.
SETTINGS (Display Current Settings)
This feature displays your vehicle personalization
settings.
2-45
LT DELAY (Delayed Headlamp
Illumination)
This feature allows the headlamps and parking lamps to
stay on for a ®xed amount of time after you exit the
vehicle, or for them to turn off immediately.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:OFF
Mode 2:30 SEC
Mode 3:60 SEC
Your vehicle was originally programmed to Mode 2. The
mode may have been changed since then. To
determine the current mode, or to change the mode, do
the following:
1. Scroll, using the SEEK/PSCAN up or down arrows,
until LT DELAY appears on the display.
2. Press the PREV or NEXT button to enter the
submenu. The current selection will have an
asterisk (*) next to it. If you do not wish to change
the current mode, you can either exit the
programming mode by following the directions later
in this section or program the next feature
available on your vehicle.
3. Scroll, using the PREV or NEXT buttons, through
the modes to change the current mode.4. With your preference displayed, press the
TUNE/DISP button to select. A chime will be heard
to verify the new setting. The new selection will
be displayed with an asterisk (*) for one second.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.AUTOLOCK (Automatic Door Lock and
Unlock)
With the ignition in ON and the doors closed, this
feature allows the vehicle doors to automatically lock
and unlock when the driver shifts the transaxle into and
out of PARK (P), or to turn the feature off.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:OFF
Mode 2:LCK ONLY Ð Automatic door lock
on/automatic door unlock off.
Mode 3:DRVR UNL Ð Automatic door lock
on/automatic door unlock on (driver's door only).
Automatic door lock on/automatic door unlock on
(driver's door only).
Mode 4:ALL UNL Ð Automatic door lock on/automatic
door unlock on.
2-47
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 on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
·Turn Signal and Lane-Change Indicator
·Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
·Flash-to-Pass
·Windshield Wipers
·Windshield Washer
·Cruise Control
For more information on the exterior lamps, see
Exterior
Lamps on page 3-14later in this section.
3-7