2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Owners Manual

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
headlamps system when you need it.
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 later described 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 3-96.
3-15

Fog Lamps
If your vehicle has this
feature, the fog lamps
button is located on
the instrument panel next
to the exterior lamps
control wheel to the left of
the steering column.
To turn the fog lamps on, press the FOG button. A light
will glow 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 in ON and your parking lamps
must be on for your fog lamps to work.
The fog lamps will go off while you change to high-beam
headlamps.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
The knob for the instrument panel light is located on the
exterior lamps control. Pull the knob out halfway and then
turn the knob clockwise to brighten or counterclockwise to
dim the lights.
Courtesy Lamps
When a door is opened, the courtesy lamps
automatically come on. They make it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle. You can also manually turn
these lamps on by turning the exterior lamps control
clockwise all the way to DOME.
The reading lamps, located on the rearview mirror,
can be turned on or off independent of the automatic
courtesy lamps, when the doors are closed.
3-16

Entry Lighting
Your vehicle may have the entry lighting feature.
Your courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a
set time whenever you press UNLOCK on the remote
keyless entry transmitter.
If you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it’s open
and then turn off automatically about 25 seconds after
you close it. If you press UNLOCK and don’t open
a door, the lamps will turn off after about 40 seconds.
Illuminated entry includes a feature called theater
dimming. With theater dimming, the lamps don’t just
turn off at the end of the delay time. Instead, they slowly
dim after the delay time until they go out. The delay
time is canceled if you turn the ignition key to ON
or press the power door lock switch.
When the ignition is on, illuminated entry is inactive,
which means the courtesy lamps won’t come on unless
a door is opened.
Delayed Entry Lighting
Delayed entry lighting illuminates the interior for a
period of time after all the doors have been closed.
The ignition must be off for delayed entry lighting
to work. Immediately after both doors have been closed,
the delayed entry lighting feature will continue to work
until one of the following occurs:
The ignition is moved to ON,
the doors are locked or
an illumination period of 25 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened,
the timed illumination period will be canceled and the
interior lamps will remain on.
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Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature illuminates the interior for a period of time
after the key is removed from the ignition.
The vehicle’s ignition must be off for delayed exit
lighting to work.
When the key is removed, interior illumination will
activate and remain on until one of the following occurs:
The ignition is moved to ON,
the power door locks are activated or
an illumination period of 25 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened,
the timed illumination period will be canceled and the
interior lamps will remain on.
Parade Dimming
The instrument panel has an added feature called
parade dimming. This feature prohibits the dimming of
your instrument panel displays during the daylight
while the headlamps are on so that you’ll still be able to
see the displays.
Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the rearview mirror.
These lamps and the interior courtesy lamps come
on when any door is opened. Press the button to turn
them on and off while the doors are closed.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp will come on when you open a door.
You can also turn this lamp on by turning the exterior
lamp control clockwise to DOME.
3-18

Battery Rundown Protection
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery in case you accidentally leave on the
interior courtesy lamps, reading/map lamps, visor
vanity lamps, trunk lamp or glove box lamps. If you leave
any of these lamps on, they will automatically turn off
after 10 minutes, if the ignition is off. The lamps
won’t come back on again until you do the following:
Turn the ignition on or
turn the exterior lamps control off, then on again.
If your vehicle has less than 15 miles (25 km) on
the odometer, the battery saver will turn off the lamps
after only three minutes.
Battery rundown protection will also work if the
headlamps are left on. After having been left on for
10 minutes, the headlamps and the parking lamps will
ash three times. They will remain on for one more
minute before turning off automatically.
Accessory Power Outlets
Your vehicle has a 12-volt outlet which can be used to
plug in electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone,
a compact disc player, etc.
It is located at the rear
of the console.
Lift the cover to access the outlet. When not using the
outlet, make sure the protective cover is in place.
Notice:Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain the battery. Always turn
off electrical equipment when not in use and do
not plug in equipment that exceeds the maximum
amperage rating.
3-19

Certain accessory power plugs may not be compatible
with the accessory power outlet and could result in
blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience
a problem see your dealer for additional information on
the accessory power plugs.
Notice:Adding any electrical equipment to your
vehicle may damage it or keep other components
from working as they should. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Check with your
dealer before adding electrical equipment.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow
the proper installation instructions included with
the equipment. Check with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment, and never use anything that
exceeds the amperage rating.
Notice:Improper use of the power outlet can cause
damage not covered by your warranty. Do not
hang any type of accessory or accessory bracket
from the plug because the power outlets are
designed for accessory power plugs only.Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Notice:If you put papers or other ammable items
in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other smoking
materials could ignite them and possibly damage
your vehicle. Never put ammable items in the
ashtray.
Your vehicle may have a cigarette lighter and ashtray
located on the console. The ashtray is removable
and has a cupholder and liner underneath. To remove
the ashtray, lift it up with the liner and pull it out.
Notice:Holding a cigarette lighter in while it is
heating will not allow the lighter to back away from
the heating element when it is hot. Damage from
overheating may occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold a
cigarette lighter in while it is heating.
To activate the cigarette lighter, push it into the heating
element. When the lighter is ready it will pop out.
3-20

Climate Controls
Dual Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling,
defrost, defog and ventilation for your vehicle.
Manual Operation
Turn the right knob clockwise or counterclockwise to
direct the airow inside of your vehicle.To change the current mode, select one of the following:
H(Vent):This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
)(Bi-Level):This mode allows for approximately a
50/50 split of air to the instrument panel outlets and
to the oor outlets.
6(Floor):This mode directs most of the air to the
oor outlets, with some of the air directed to the
windshield and side window outlets. In this mode,
the system will automatically select Outside Air.
The right knob can also be used to select defog or
defrost mode. For information on defogging and
defrosting, see “Defogging and Defrosting” later in this
section.
By positioning the right knob between two modes,
a combination of those two modes is selected.
It should be noted, that the air conditioning compressor
will be engaged unless the outside temperature is
40° F (4°C) or below. Recirculation cannot be selected
when in Floor Mode.
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Selecting the Fan Speed
9
(Fan):Turn the left knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.
Turn the knob to OFF to turn off the fan. The fan must be
turned on for the air conditioning compressor to operate.
If the airow seems low when the fan is at the highest
setting, the passenger compartment air lter, if equipped,
may need to be replaced. For more information, see
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-27and
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
Selecting Outside Air or Recirculation
The outside air mode is used to bring outside air into your
vehicle; also use this mode to remove excess moisture
from the inside of the windows. The recirculation mode is
used to recirculate the air inside of your vehicle; also use
this mode to help prevent outside odors and/or dust from
entering your vehicle or to help heat or cool the air inside
of your vehicle quickly.
:(Outside Air):Press this button to turn the
outside air mode on. When this button is pressed, an
indicator light in the button will come on to let you know
that it is activated. During daylight hours, you may
have to adjust the instrument panel brightness control to
the highest setting in order to see the indicator light.
SeeInterior Lamps on page 3-16for more information.
When this mode is on, outside air will circulate
throughout your vehicle.
?(Recirculation):Press this button to turn the
recirculation mode on. When this mode is on, inside air
and a small percentage of outside air will recirculate
throughout your vehicle. This selection will reduce
the entry of outside air and odors from entering your
vehicle, it may also help heat or cool your vehicle more
quickly. When this button is pressed, an indicator
light in the button will also come on to let you know that
it is activated. During daylight hours, you may have
to adjust the instrument panel brightness control to
the highest setting in order to see the indicator light.
SeeInterior Lamps on page 3-16for more information.
The recirculation mode can be used with vent and
bi-level modes, but it cannot be used with oor, defog,
defrost or outside air modes.
This system will default back to the outside air setting,
so you will have to re-select this setting every time
that you start the vehicle.
If the weather is cold and damp, the system may cause
the windows to fog while using the recirculation
mode. If the windows do start to fog, do the following:
1. Select the defog or defrost mode.
2. Select the temperature.
3. Select the highest fan speed.
4. Operate the system in the outside air mode, 4to
help prevent a recurrence.
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