2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA Owners Manual

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 5-63
for more information.
3-9

Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever, there’s a paddle with
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 5-46.
{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
to remind you 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 rell the tank right away.United States
Canada
3-10

Cruise Control
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 (option) begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) (3800 V6 Engine) on page 4-8.
When road conditions allow you to safely use it
again, you may turn the cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
The cruise control ON/OFF switch is located at the end
of the multifunction lever.
{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.
1. Slide the cruise control ON lever, on the turn signal
lever, to the right to turn it on.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3-11

3. Press the SET button
located on the 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 the RESUME
button on your steering
wheel. You’ll go back
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 the SET button on the steering wheel,
then release the button and the accelerator pedal.
You’ll now cruise at the higher speed.
Press the ACCEL (Accelerate) button 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 the ACCEL button 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 the SET button on the
steering wheel.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Press the COAST button on the steering wheel until
you reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the
COAST button 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.
3-13

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 three ways to cancel the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Slide the lever on the multifunction lever to the
OFF position.
Press the COAST and ACCEL buttons at the
same time.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
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
3-14

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. SeeInterior 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

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 described previously 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 3-97.
Fog Lamps
If your vehicle is equipped
with fog lamps, the button
is located on the
instrument panel next to
the exterior lamps
control wheel to the left of
the steering column.
Your ignition must be in ON for the fog lamps to
illuminate.
To turn the fog lamps on, press the FOG button. A light
will come on 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 ON and the parking lamps must be
on for your fog lamps to work.
The fog lamps will go off while you change to high-beam
headlamps.
3-16