
Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-9
Safety Belts
.............................................1-10
Child Restraints
.......................................1-28
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-46
Restraint System Check
............................1-55
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-18
Mirrors
....................................................2-31
Storage Areas
.........................................2-33
Sunroof
..................................................2-35
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-18
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-30
Secondary Information Center (SIC)
............3-46
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-48Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
........ 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-29
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-40
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-41
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-47
Tires
......................................................5-48
Appearance Care
.....................................5-68
Vehicle Identification
.................................5-77
Electrical System
......................................5-78
Capacities and Specifications
.....................5-85
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-11
Index................................................................ 1
2004 Chevrolet Epica Owner ManualM

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different
rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be
riding in your vehicle, seeOlder Children on page 1-28
orInfants and Young Children on page 1-30. Follow
those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
Driver Position
This part describes the driver’s restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear
it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight.
To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
1-16

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more
likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
Right Front Passenger Position
To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety
belt properly, seeDriver Position on page 1-16.
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same
way as the driver’s safety belt – except for one thing.
If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the
way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature.
If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way
and start again.
Rear Seat Passengers
It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle
up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in
the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those
who are wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be
thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike
others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
1-24

Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers — especially children — can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked,
the handle will not open it. You increase
the chance of being thrown out of the
vehicle in a crash if the doors are not
locked. So, wear safety belts properly and
lock the doors whenever you drive.
Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or
stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can
help prevent this from happening.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your key or the remote keyless
entry transmitter. SeeRemote Keyless Entry System
Operation on page 2-5.
To manually unlock the doors from the outside, insert
the key and turn it toward the front of the vehicle.
To manually lock the doors from the outside, insert the
key and turn it toward the rear of the vehicle.
All doors, except the driver’s door, can be locked from
the outside by pushing down the manual door lock
and then closing the door. The driver’s door lock cannot
be pushed in while the door is opened.
Upon leaving the vehicle, the driver’s door can only be
locked from the outside by using the key or the
remote keyless entry transmitter.
2-7

Rear Door Security Locks
Your vehicle has rear
door security locks on
each rear door that help
prevent passengers
from opening the rear
doors on your vehicle
from the inside.
Using the Rear Door Security Lock
1. Move the lock upward to the lock position.
2. Close the door.
3. Do the same thing to the other rear door lock.
Notice:Pulling the inside door handle while the
rear door security locks are engaged could damage
your vehicle. Do not pull the inside door handle
while the rear door security locks are engaged.
The rear doors on your vehicle cannot be opened from
the inside while this feature is in use.
Opening a Rear Door When the
Security Lock is On
1. Unlock the door from the inside.
2. Then open the door from the outside.
If you do not cancel the security lock feature, adults or
older children who ride in the rear will not be able to
open the rear door from the inside. You should let adults
and older children know how to cancel the locks.
Canceling the Rear Door Security Lock
1. Unlock the door from the inside and open the
door from the outside.
2. Move the lock downward to the unlock position.
3. Do the same for the other rear door.
The rear door locks will now work normally.
Lockout Protection
This feature stops the power door locks from locking the
driver’s door when the driver’s door is open.
2-10

Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective than
braking. For example, you come over a hill and find a
truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out
from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked
cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these
problems by braking — if you can stop in time. But
sometimes you can not; there is not room. That is the
time for evasive action — steering around the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. SeeBraking on page 4-6.
It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a
possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the
left or right depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can turn
it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either
hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as
quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided
the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving
at all times and wear safety belts properly.
4-11

Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or contact
a major oil company that does business in the country
where you will be driving.
Filling Your Tank
{CAUTION:
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel re can
cause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow all the instructions
on the pump island. Turn off your engine when
you are refueling. Do not smoke if you are near
fuel or refueling your vehicle. Keep sparks,
ames and smoking materials away from fuel.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Do not leave the fuel pump unattended when
refueling your vehicle — this is against the law
in some places. Keep children away from the
fuel pump; never let children pump fuel.
To open the fuel filler door,
pull up on the fuel filler
door release lever located
on the floor to the left
of the driver’s seat.
The fuel cap is located behind a hinged door on the
passenger’s side of your vehicle. To remove the
fuel cap, turn it slowly to the left (counterclockwise).
5-7

Check
Engine Light...............................................3-39
Check Engine Light.........................................3-39
Checking Coolant............................................5-20
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-14
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-55
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-75
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-34
Infants and Young Children...........................1-30
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-40
Older Children.............................................1-28
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside
Seat Position...........................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-46
Top Strap...................................................1-37
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-39
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-37
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-18Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-69
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-72
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-75
Weatherstrips..............................................5-72
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-74
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-73
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-69
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-71
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-71
Cleaning Leather............................................5-71
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-71
Cleaning Tires................................................5-74
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-70
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades..............5-73
Climate Control System...................................3-18
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-28
Automatic...................................................3-22
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-28
Clock............................................................3-46
Coinholder(s)..................................................2-33
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-39
Heater, Engine............................................2-21
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-21
3