2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA warning light

Engine Overheating
There is a coolant temperature gage and a warning light
on the instrument panel that indicate an overheated
engine condition. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 3-33andEngine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light on page 3-32.
In addition, you will nd an ENGINE OVERHEATED
IDLE ENGINE and an ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE message displayed on the vehicle’s Driver
Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-45for more information.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood.
Stay away from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle until it cools
down. Wait until there is no sign of steam
or coolant before you open the hood.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If you keep driving when the vehicles engine
is overheated, the liquids in it can catch re.
You or others could be badly burned. Stop
your engine if it overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode on page 5-31for information on driving
to a safe place in an emergency.
Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. SeeOverheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode on page 5-31for
information on driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
5-29

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder
reservoir is lled with
DOT-3 brake uid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level
in the reservoir might go down. The rst is that the brake
uid goes down to an acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the uid
level goes back up. The other reason is that uid is
leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you should have
your brake system xed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes will not work well, or will not
work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you add uid
when your linings are worn, then you will have too
much uid when you get new brake linings. You should
add or remove brake uid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has too much brake uid, it can
spill on the engine. The uid will burn if the
engine is hot enough. You or others could be
burned, and your vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake uid only when work is done on the
brake hydraulic system.
When your brake uid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-30.
5-40

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving, except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That could
lead to an accident. When you hear the brake
wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque specications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return
to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your
vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality GM
brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system — for example, when your brake linings
wear down and you need new ones put in — be
sure you get new approved GM replacement parts. If
you do not, your brakes may no longer work properly.
5-42

failure. Under-ination also reduces fuel efficiency and
tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling
and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-ination has
not reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
When a low tire pressure condition is detected, the
TPMS will illuminate the low tire pressure warning
symbol on the instrument panel cluster, and at the same
time a message to check the pressure in a specic
tire will appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC)
display. The low tire pressure warning symbol on
the instrument panel cluster and the check tire pressure
message will appear at each ignition cycle until the
tires are inated to the correct ination pressure. Using
the DIC, tire pressure levels can be viewed by the
driver. For additional information and details about the
DIC operation and displays seeDIC Operation and
Displays on page 3-39andDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-45.
The tire pressure warning light may come on in cool
weather when the vehicle is rst started, and then
turn off as you start to drive. This may be an early
indicator that the air pressure in the tire(s) are getting
low and need to be inated to the proper pressure.A tire and Loading Information label, attached to your
vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle’s original
equipment tires and the correct ination pressure for
your vehicle’s tires when they are cold. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-29, for an example of the
tire information label and its location on your vehicle.
Also seeInation - Tire Pressure on page 5-60.
Your vehicle’s TPMS system can warn you about a low
tire pressure condition but it does not replace normal
tire maintenance. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation
on page 5-64andTires on page 5-54.
Notice:Do not use a tire sealant if your vehicle
has Tire Pressure Monitors. The liquid sealant can
damage the tire pressure monitor sensors.
The TPMS will not function properly if one or more of
the TPMS sensors are missing or inoperable. If the
system detects a missing or inoperable sensor, an error
message SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM will be
shown on the DIC display. If you have replaced a
tire/wheel assembly without transferring the TPMS
sensors, the error message will be displayed. Once you
re-install the TPMS sensors, the error message
should go off. See your GM dealer for service if all
TPMS sensors are installed and the error message
comes on and stays on.
5-62

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which grades
tires by treadwear, traction, and temperature
performance. This applies only to vehicles sold in the
United States. The grades are molded on the sidewalls
of most passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG) system does not apply to deep
tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver, or temporary
use spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
Warning:The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does
not include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.
5-68

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlet(s)...............................3-17
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-68
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-93
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-22
Air Conditioning..............................................3-19
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-28
Readiness Light..........................................3-27
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-55
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-68
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-61
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-63
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-67
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-61
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-62
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-60
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-57
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-85
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System......................................................3-86Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-31
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-89
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-87
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-90
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-87
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-84
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-85
Finish Care.................................................5-88
Finish Damage............................................5-90
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-86
Leather......................................................5-86
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-90
Tires..........................................................5-89
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-90
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-91
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-87
Weatherstrips..............................................5-87
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-88
Ashtray(s)......................................................3-18
Audio System(s).............................................3-58
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-83
Backglass Antenna......................................3-85
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-85
Care of Your CDs ........................................3-85
1

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Radio with CD....................................3-62, 3-67
Setting the Time..........................................3-60
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-83
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-84
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-86
Automatic Door Lock.......................................2-11
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-23
Operation...................................................2-25
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-85
Battery..........................................................5-43
Run-Down Protection...................................3-17
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-21
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-7
Emergencies................................................ 4-9
Parking......................................................2-28
System Warning Light..................................3-30
Brakes..........................................................5-40
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-20Bulb Replacement...........................................5-48
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-48
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-47
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-48
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-52
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps.................5-50
Buying New Tires...........................................5-66
C
Calibration.....................................................3-44
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-3
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications............................5-99
Carbon Monoxide...................2-13, 2-32, 4-24, 4-36
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-87
Your CD Player...........................................3-85
Your CDs ...................................................3-85
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-43
Center Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts....1-25
Center Seat..................................................... 1-9
Chains, Tire...................................................5-71
2

Charging System Light....................................3-30
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-34
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-90
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-38
Infants and Young Children...........................1-34
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-43
Older Children.............................................1-32
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-49
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Front Seat Position...................................1-51
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-52
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-42
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-18
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-89
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-87
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-85
Finish Care.................................................5-88
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-84
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-86Cleaning (cont.)
Leather......................................................5-86
Tires..........................................................5-89
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-90
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-87
Weatherstrips..............................................5-87
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-88
Climate Control System...................................3-19
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-23
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-22
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-10
Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt.....................1-29
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-83
Compass.......................................................3-44
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-17
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-6
Convenience Net............................................2-43
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-33
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-32
Heater, Engine............................................2-24
Cooling System..............................................5-31
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-15
Cruise Control................................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-38
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-42
3