2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Owners Manual

For quick cool down on hot days, do the following:
1. Select the vent mode.
2. Select the outside air.
3. Select A/C.
4. Select the coolest temperature for both zones.
5. Select the highest fan speeds.
6. Once the vehicle’s interior temperature is below the
outside temperature, select recirculation mode for
enhanced cooling.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
may cause the air inside of your vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening, after the air inside of
your vehicle has cooled, turn the recirculation mode off.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling
or after turning off the engine. This is normal.Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of the windows is a result of high
humidity (moisture) condensing on the cool window
glass. This can be minimized if the climate control
system is used properly. There are two modes to clear
fog or frost from your windshield. Use the defog
mode to clear the windows of fog or moisture and warm
the passengers. Use the defrost mode to remove fog
or frost from the windshield more quickly.
Turn the right knob clockwise to select the defog or
defrost mode. Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
-(Defog):This mode directs air equally to the
windshield and the oor outlets. When you select this
mode, the system turns off recirculation and runs the air
conditioning compressor unless the outside temperature
is below 40°F (4°C). The recirculation mode cannot
be selected while in the defog mode.
0(Defrost):This mode directs most of the air to the
windshield, side window vents, and to the oor vents.
In this mode, the system will automatically force outside
air into your vehicle. The recirculation mode cannot be
selected while in the defog mode. The air conditioning
compressor will run automatically in this setting, unless
the outside temperature is below 40°F (4°C).
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Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
<:The rear window defogger will turn off automatically
after it has been activated. The duration the rear window
defogger is on will be longer if the vehicle is being driven.
The defogger can also be turned off by pressing the
button again or by turning off the engine.
The heated outside rearview mirrors will heat to help
clear fog or frost from the surface of the mirror when the
rear window defogger button is on.
Notice:Do not use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Do not attach a temporary
vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similar to
the defogger grid.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the knob located below or to the side of the outlet,
to change the direction of the air ow.
Operation Tips
Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the windshield that may
block the ow of air into your vehicle.
Use of non-GM approved hood deectors may
adversely affect the performance of the system.
Keep the path under the front seats clear of objects
to help circulate the air inside your vehicle more
effectively.
If the airow seems low when the fan is at the
highest setting, the passenger compartment
air lter, if equipped, may need to replaced.
For more information, seePassenger Compartment
Air Filter on page 3-23andScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.
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Passenger Compartment Air Filter
Your vehicle has a passenger compartment particulate
air lter. It is located underneath the hood just below
the windshield wiper arm on the passenger’s side of the
vehicle, underneath the air inlet grille.
The lter traps most of the pollen from air entering the
climate control system. Like the engine’s air cleaner/lter,
it may need to be changed periodically to ensure system
performance. For information on how often to change the
passenger compartment air lter, seeScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4.
To change the passenger compartment air lter, use the
following steps:
1. Turn off the ignition when the windshield wipers are
in the up position.
2. Raise the vehicle hood.
3. Disconnect the windshield washer pump hose from
the fender rail and air inlet grille.
4. Peel back the hood weatherstrip from the
passenger’s side of the vehicle halfway to center.5. Remove the air inlet grille retainers.
6. Remove the air inlet grille.
7. Remove the water deector plate.
8. Remove the old passenger compartment air lter.
9. Reverse the steps to install the new air lter.
For the type of lter to use, seeNormal Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 6-13.
3-23

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to your
warning lights and gages could also save you or others
from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some warning
lights come on briey when you start the engine just to
let you know they’re working. If you are familiar with this
section, you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when there’s
a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly – and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a Driver Information
Center (DIC) that works along with the warning lights
and gages. SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-39.
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Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You will know
how fast you are going, about how much fuel is in your tank and many other things you need to drive safely
and economically.
United States Uplevel shown, Base and Canada similar
3-25

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven in either miles (used in the United States)
or in kilometers (used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer. If you
see ERROR, you’ll know someone has probably
tampered with it and the numbers may not be accurate.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer, then that will be done.
But if it can’t, then it will be set at zero and a label must be
put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage reading
when the new odometer was installed.
Tachometer
Notice:If you operate the engine with the
tachometer in the shaded warning area, your vehicle
could be damaged, and the damages would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not operate
the engine with the tachometer in the shaded
warning area.
The tachometer displays the engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN, a chime will come on
for several seconds to remind people to fasten their
safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is already
buckled.
This chime and light will be
repeated if the driver
remains unbuckled and the
vehicle is in motion.
The safety belt light will also come on and stay on for
several seconds, then it will ash for several more.
3-26

Passenger Safety Belt Reminder
Light
Several seconds after the key is turned to RUN or
START, a chime will sound for several seconds
to remind the front passenger to buckle their safety belt.
This would only occur if the passenger airbag is
enabled. SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-62
for more information. The passenger safety belt light
will also come on and stay on for several seconds, then
it will ash for several more.
This chime and light will be
repeated if the passenger
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither the
chime nor the light will come on.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the airbag symbol. The system
checks the airbag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the airbag sensors, the
airbag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the
airbag system, seeAirbag System on page 1-54.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash for
a few seconds. Then the
light should go out. This
means the system is ready.
3-27

If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your airbag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the airbag system
may not be working properly. The airbags in
your vehicle may not inate in a crash, or they
could even inate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a
few seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN.
If the light does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
Your overhead console has a passenger airbag status
indicator.
When the ignition key is turned to RUN or START,
the passenger airbag status indicator will light ON and
OFF, or the symbol for on and off, for several seconds as
a system check. If you use remote start to start your
vehicle from a distance (if equipped), you may not see the
system check. Then, after several more seconds, the
status indicator will light either ON or OFF, or either the
on or off symbol to let you know the status of the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag and side impact airbag
(if equipped).United States
Canada
3-28