2004 CHEVROLET IMPALA ignition

Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag systems in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual
have information about servicing your vehicle and the air
bag systems. To purchase a service manual, seeService
Publications Ordering Information on page 7-12.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an
air bag can still inate during improper
service. You can be injured if you are close to
an air bag when it inates. Avoid yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the air
bag system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualied to do so.
The air bag systems do not need regular maintenance.
Restraint System Check
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, 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.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
1-60

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-4
Doors and Locks.............................................2-8
Door Locks....................................................2-8
Power Door Locks..........................................2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks..............2-10
Lockout Protection........................................2-10
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-10
Trunk..........................................................2-11
Windows........................................................2-13
Power Windows............................................2-14
Sun Visors...................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-15
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-15
Passlock
®....................................................2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-17
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-17
Ignition Positions..........................................2-17
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-18
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-20
Automatic Transaxle Operation.......................2-22
Parking Brake..............................................2-26
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-27Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-30
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-30
Engine Exhaust............................................2-31
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked. . . .2-32
Mirrors...........................................................2-33
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-33
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®..............2-33
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-34
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®............................................2-34
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-35
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-36
OnStar
®System.............................................2-36
HomeLink®Transmitter...................................2-38
Programming the HomeLink®Transmitter.........2-38
Storage Areas................................................2-42
Glove Box...................................................2-42
Front Storage Area.......................................2-42
Center Console Storage Area.........................2-42
Rear Storage Area........................................2-42
Convenience Net..........................................2-42
Sunroof.........................................................2-43
Vehicle Personalization...................................2-44
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. They
could operate the power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. The
children or others could be badly injured or
even killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle
with children.
2-2

One key is used for the
ignition, the driver’s door
and all other locks.
If you need a new key, contact your dealer for
assistance. In an emergency, contact Chevrolet
Roadside Assistance. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 7-6for more information.
Notice:If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,
you may have to damage the vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have spare keys.
If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar
®system,
with an active subscription and you lock your keys inside
the vehicle, OnStar
®may be able to send a command
to unlock your vehicle. SeeOnStar®System on
page 2-36for more information.
Remote Keyless Entry System
The remote keyless entry system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
2-3

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. SeeContent Theft-Deterrent
on page 2-15.
Transmitter Verication
This feature provides feedback that a command has
been received by the vehicle, if your key fob has been
programmed to Mode 3: Full, see Fob Horn (Remote
Audible Verication) underVehicle Personalization
on page 2-44for more information. The headlamps and
back-up lamps will ash on every lock command 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.
If your vehicle has the optional content theft-deterrent
system, the rst time the remote unlock is received and
the alarm has been previously activated, three ashes
from the headlamps will be seen and three chirps will be
heard to indicate an alarm condition has occurred
since last arming. SeeContent Theft-Deterrent on
page 2-15.
2-5

Illumination on Remote Activation
The interior lamps will come on when either the
UNLOCK, the trunk release or the remote alarm button
is pressed. The interior lamps will remain on for
40 seconds or until the ignition is turned to ON or LOCK
is pressed. Locking the doors with the power door
locks will also cause the lamps to turn off. If a door is
opened during the 40 second period, the interior
lamps will remain on while the door is open.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your
Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can
be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring
any remaining transmitters with you when you go to
your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock
your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four
transmitters matched to it.
If you prefer, you can complete this procedure yourself.
SeeVehicle Personalization on page 2-44for more
information.
2-6

Programmable Automatic Door
Locks
Programmable automatic power door locks are a
standard feature that is intended to provide enhanced
security and convenience by automatically locking
and unlocking doors.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:No automatic door lock or unlock.
Mode 2:Automatic all-door lock when the transaxle is
shifted out of PARK (P); no automatic door unlock.
Mode 3:Automatic all-door lock when the transaxle is
shifted out of PARK (P); automatic unlock for the
driver’s door only when the transaxle is shifted into
PARK (P).
Mode 4:Automatic all-door lock when the transaxle is
shifted out of PARK (P); automatic all-door unlock
when the transaxle is shifted into PARK (P).Your vehicle was originally programmed to Mode 4.
The mode may have been changed since then.
To determine the current mode, or to change the
mode, seeVehicle Personalization on page 2-44.
Disconnecting the battery for up to a year will not
change the programmed mode of the programmable
automatic power door locks.
Lockout Protection
To protect you from locking your key in the vehicle, this
feature stops the power door locks from locking while
the key is in the ignition and a door is open.
If a power lock switch is pressed while a door is open
and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors will
lock and then the driver’s door will unlock. A chime will
sound continuously until all doors are closed.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.
2-10

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 an
incorrect 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.
2-15