2004 CHEVROLET SSR battery

Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position — that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice:Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. At 15 seconds, the
starter will automatically be disengaged. Wait
about 15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn’t start within 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the oor, while you
hold the ignition key in START. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and let up on the accelerator
pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between each try.When starting your engine in very cold weather (below
0°F or 18 °C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START and hold it there up to
15 seconds. When the engine starts, let go of
the key.
2. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), it could be ooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
oor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briey but then stops again, do the
same thing, but this time keep the pedal down
for ve or six seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
Notice:Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine
might not perform properly.
2-15

Programming the HomeLink®
Transmitter
Do not use the HomeLink®Transmitter with any garage
door opener that does not have the “stop and reverse”
feature. This includes any garage door opener model
manufactured before April 1, 1982. If you have a newer
garage door opener with rolling codes, please be
sure to follow steps 6 through 8 to complete the
programming of your HomeLink
®Transmitter.
Read the instructions completely before attempting to
program the HomeLink
®Transmitter. Because of
the steps involved, it may be helpful to have another
person available to assist you in programming the
transmitter.
Keep the original transmitter for use in other vehicles as
well as for future HomeLink
®programming. It is also
recommended that upon the sale of the vehicle,
the programmed HomeLink
®buttons should be erased
for security purposes. Refer to “Erasing HomeLink®
Buttons” or, for assistance, contact HomeLink®on the
internet at: www.homelink.com or by calling
1-800-355-3515.
Be sure that people and objects are clear of the garage
door or gate operator you are programming. When
programming a garage door, it is advised to park outside
of the garage.It is recommended that a new battery be installed in
your hand-held transmitter for quicker and more
accurate transmission of the radio frequency.
Your vehicle’s engine should be turned off while
programming the transmitter. Follow these steps to
program up to three channels:
1. Press and hold down the two outside buttons,
releasing only when the indicator light begins to
ash, after 20 seconds. Do not hold down the
buttons for longer than 30 seconds and do not
repeat this step to program a second and/or third
transmitter to the remaining two HomeLink
®buttons.
2. Position the end of your hand-held transmitter about
1 to 3 inches (3 to 8 cm) away from the HomeLink
®
buttons while keeping the indicator light in view.
3. Simultaneously press and hold both the desired
button on HomeLink
®and the hand-held transmitter
button. Do not release the buttons until Step 4
has been completed.
Some entry gates and garage door openers may
require you to substitute Step 3 with the procedure
noted in “Gate Operator and Canadian
Programming” later in this section.
4. The indicator light will ash slowly at rst and then
rapidly after HomeLink
®successfully receives the
frequency signal from the hand-held transmitter.
Release both buttons.
2-27

Cargo Cover
Opening the Cargo Cover
Press this button located in
the glovebox to release
the cargo cover.
You can also open the cargo cover using the remote
keyless entry transmitter. SeeRemote Keyless
Entry System Operation on page 2-4for more
information. The tailgate must be open for you to close
the cargo cover. SeeTailgate on page 2-8for more
information.
If you cannot open your cargo cover area using your
remote keyless entry transmitter you should rst
check the battery. See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-4.
If changing the battery does not work, you may
need to replace the fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-84for more information.To open your cargo cover area manually, do the
following:
1. Locate the control box under the rear of the vehicle
on the driver’s side, behind the rear tire.
2. Insert the convertible top release tool and turn it to
activate the emergency release. The convertible top
release tool is provided by the dealer and stored
in the glovebox.
Convertible top release tool shown
2-31

If you are unable to raise or lower your roof tonneau
using the convertible top switch, verify that the
cargo cover is closed. The roof tonneau will not raise or
lower if the cargo cover is open. SeeCargo Cover on
page 2-31and for more information. There will also be a
message displayed on the on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-48for more information on possible DIC
messages and how to clear them from the display.
If the cargo area is closed and you still cannot operate
the roof tonneau, check to see if a fuse is blown.
SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-84for more
information.
Contact your dealer if you are still unable to operate the
roof tonneau.
You may need to raise the roof tonneau manually in the
event of a power loss. See “Convertible Top Operation”
for instructions.
Convertible Top Operation
Notice:If you operate the convertible top switch
continuously while the ignition is in ACCESSORY,
the battery will drain and you might not be able
to start your vehicle. Do not use the convertible top
switch for extended periods of time when the
ignition is in ACCESSORY.The ignition must be in RUN or ACCESSORY and your
foot must be on the brake in order to raise or lower
the convertible top. The cargo cover must also be closed
for the convertible top to work properly.
Operate the convertible top by pressing the convertible
top switch located on the console switchback. See
Center Console Switchbank on page 3-17for more
information on location.
{CAUTION:
Moving parts of the convertible top can be
dangerous. People can be injured by the
convertible top and its mechanism. Keep
people away from your vehicle when you are
lowering or raising the top.
a(Top Open):Press and hold this symbol on
the convertible top switch to open the convertible
top. The windows will lower automatically when the top
begins to lower. Two chimes will sound when the
convertible top is fully opened.
b(Top Closed):Press and hold this symbol on
the convertible top switch to close the convertible
top. Two chimes will sound when the top is fully closed.
2-46

Exit Lighting
With the exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on
when you remove the key from the ignition to help you
see while exiting the vehicle.
Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits the dimming of your instrument
panel displays during daylight while your headlamps are
on. When the light sensor reads darkness outside,
you will be able to dim your instrument panel displays
once again.
Perimeter Lighting
When the button with the unlock symbol on the remote
keyless entry transmitter is pressed, the DRL, parking
lamps and back-up lamps will come on if it is dark
enough outside.
This feature can be personalized for up to two drivers.
SeeDIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-55for
more information.
Front Map Lamps
If your vehicle has front map lamps, they are located on
the inside rearview mirror. They will automatically
come on for about 40 seconds when the doors are
unlocked with the remote keyless entry transmitter or
until the ignition key is turned to RUN or ACCESSORY.
The lamps will also stay on for about 40 seconds
after you exit the vehicle unless you lock the doors with
the remote keyless entry transmitter.
You can also turn the lamps on and off by pressing the
button near each lamp.
Battery Rundown Protection
This feature shuts off all lamps that are left on for more
than 10 minutes when the ignition is off. This will
keep your battery from running down.
3-16

Center Console Switchbank
The following controls are located on your center
console switchbank:
A. Driver Power Window. SeePower Windows on
page 2-10.
B. Traction Control System (TCS). SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-9.
C. Convertible Top. SeeConvertible Top on page 2-45.
D. Power Door Locks. SeePower Door Locks on
page 2-7.
E. Passenger Power Window. SeePower Windows on
page 2-10.
Accessory Power Outlets
With accessory power outlets you can plug in auxiliary
electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone or
CB radio.
There is an accessory power outlet located on either
side of the ashtray on the instrument panel, and
there is an outlet in the rear cargo area. A small cap
must be removed to access an accessory power outlet.
When not using an outlet be sure to cover it with the
protective cap.
The accessory power outlets will only operate when the
ignition is in ACCESSORY or RUN and for 10 minutes
after turning the ignition to OFF.
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.
3-17

{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on
when you have turned off the passenger’s
frontal air bag, it means that something may
be wrong with the air bag system. The
passenger’s frontal air bag could inate even
though the switch is off. If this ever happens,
do not let anyone whom the national
government has identied as a member of a
passenger air bag risk group sit in the
passenger’s position (for example, do not
secure a rear-facing child restraint in your
vehicle) until you have your vehicle serviced.
SeeAir Bag Off Switch on page 1-51.
Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come on briey when
you turn on the ignition,
but the engine is not
running, as a check to
show you it is working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays
on, or comes on while you are driving, you may have a
problem with the charging system. It could indicate
that you have problems with a generator drive belt, or
another electrical problem. Have it checked right
away. Driving while this light is on could drain your
battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
3-29

Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
Gasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality will
cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed.
You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling
when you put the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation
on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the
light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
your dealer can check the vehicle. Your dealer has
the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to x any
mechanical or electrical problems that may have
developed.Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help your
vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the check
engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle
still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD
system readiness, your GM dealer can prepare the
vehicle for inspection.
3-35