2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA wiper blades

Flash-to-Pass
With the turn signal lever in the low-beam position, pull
the lever toward you momentarily to switch to
high-beams (to signal that you are going to pass).
If you have the headlamps on, they will return to
low-beams when you release the lever.
This feature operates even when the headlamps are off.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wipers will operate with the ignition 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 up to LO for a steady
wiping at a low speed.
HI (High Speed):Turn the band up to HI for a steady
wiping at a 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. 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.
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. See
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement on page 5-60for more information.
3-9

The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your
windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy
rain can make it harder to see road signs and
traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road
and even people walking.
It's wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in
good shape and keep your windshield washer tank ®lled
with washer ¯uid. Replace your windshield wiper
inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing
areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to
separate from the inserts.Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems,
too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid
puddles. But if you can't, try to slow down before you
hit them.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won't
work as well in a quick stop and may cause
pulling to one side. You could lose control of
the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water
or a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly
until your brakes work normally.
4-18

The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh Ð such as after a day's
work Ð don't plan to make too many miles that ®rst
part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll ®nd experienced and able service experts in GM
dealerships all across North America. They'll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.Here are some things you can check before a trip:
·Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
·Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
·Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
·Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
·Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all in¯ated to the
recommended pressure?
·Weather Forecasts:What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
·Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-22

Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected at least
twice a year for wear or cracking. See ªWindshield
Wipers, Blade Checkº under
At Least Twice a Year on
page 6-11for more information.
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. For proper type and length,
see
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts on
page 5-105. Here's how to remove the wiper blades:
1. Turn on the wipers to the low wipe setting.
2. Turn off the ignition while the wipers are at the
outer positions of the wiper pattern. The blades
are more accessible for removal/replacement while
in this position.
3. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield.4. While holding the wiper arm away from the glass,
push the release clip from under the blade
connecting point and pull the old blade assembly
down toward the glass to remove it from the
wiper arm.
5. Push the new wiper blade securely on the wiper
arm until you hear the release clip ªclickº
into place.
5-60

Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the
paint ®nish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. See
Vehicle Care/Appearance
Materials on page 5-91.
Your vehicle has a ªbasecoat/clearcoatº paint ®nish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat
paint ®nish.
Notice:Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint ®nish may
dull the ®nish or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc.,
can damage your vehicle's ®nish if they remain
on painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as
possible. If necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that
are marked safe for painted surfaces to remove
foreign matter.Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a
period of years. You can help to keep the paint ®nish
looking new by keeping your vehicle garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or if the wiper blade chatters when running,
wax, sap or other material may be on the blade
or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with a full-strength
glass cleaning liquid. The windshield is clean if beads do
not form when you rinse it with water.
Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper blades
and affect their performance. Clean the blade by
wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked in full-strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the blade
with water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;
replace blades that look worn.
5-89

Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Part Number
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter A1614C*
Passenger Compartment Air Filter GM Part No. 10406026
All EnginesPF47*
Automatic Transmission Filter 24206433*
Spark Plugs
3400 (Code E) V6
3800 (Code K) V641±101*
41±101*
Windshield Wiper Blades
Length
Type22.0 inches (56.0 cm)
Shepherd's Hook
*AC Delco
žpart number.
5-105

At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages
are working properly. Look for any other loose or
damaged safety belt system parts. If you see anything
that might keep a safety belt system from doing its
job, have it repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety
belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag
system does not need regular maintenance.)
Wiper Blade Check
Inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking. Replace
blade inserts that appear worn or damaged or that
streak or miss areas of the windshield. Also see
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle on page 5-88.
Weatherstrip Lubrication
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth. During very cold,
damp weather more frequent application may be
required. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-16.
Automatic Transaxle Check
Check the transaxle ¯uid level; add if needed. SeeAutomatic Transaxle Fluid on page 5-24. A ¯uid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
speci®ed in Part D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all hinges and latches, including those for the
body doors, hood, secondary latch, pivots, spring
anchor, release pawl, rear compartment, glove box door,
console door and any folding seat hardware. Part D
tells you what to use. More frequent lubrication may be
required when exposed to a corrosive environment.
6-11

Care of (cont.)
Your CD Player...........................................3-92
Your CDs ...................................................3-92
Cassette Tape Messages.........................3-63, 3-86
Cassette Tape Player Service...........................6-10
CD Adapter Kits.....................................3-63, 3-87
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-43
Center Front Passenger Position,
Safety Belts................................................1-23
Chains, Tires..................................................5-71
Change Engine Oil Message............................3-44
Check Engine Light.........................................3-37
Checking Coolant............................................5-28
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-16
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-61
Check...........................................................3-37
Engine Light...............................................3-37
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-91
Child Restraints..............................................1-37
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-37
Infants and Young Children...........................1-33
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-43
Older Children.............................................1-31
Securing a Child Restraint Designed
for the LATCH System..............................1-45
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position...................................1-45Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-48
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-42
Top Strap...................................................1-41
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-40
Chime Level Adjustment..................................3-94
CHIRP (Horn Chirp Timer)...............................2-51
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-21
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-90
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-88
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-85
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-87
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-87
Cleaning Leather............................................5-87
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-87
Cleaning Tires................................................5-90
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-87
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades..............5-89
Cleaning........................................................5-85
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-85
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-88
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-91
Weatherstrips..............................................5-88
Climate Control System...................................3-26
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-26
Dual..........................................................3-22
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-25
Compact Disc Messages..........................3-75, 3-89
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