2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA Owners Manual

Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake rmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not
move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, always set your parking brake
and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 121.Ifyou
are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
on page 284.
Steering Column Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot
and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pulling
the shift lever toward you and moving it up as
far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Console Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot
and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by holding
in the button on the shift lever and pushing
the lever all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
121

Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle
with the engine running. Your vehicle could
move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully
in PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. And, if you leave the vehicle with the
engine running, it could overheat and even
catch re. You or others could be injured.
Do not leave your vehicle with the engine
running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and
your parking brake is rmly set before you leave it.
After you have moved the shift lever into the
PARK (P) position, hold the regular brake pedal
down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever
away from PARK (P) without rst pulling it towardyou or if you have the console shift lever, without
rst pushing the button. If you can, it means that the
shift lever was not fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift
your transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight
of the vehicle may put too much force on the
parking pawl in the transaxle. You may nd
it difficult to pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
This is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque lock,
set the parking brake and then shift into PARK (P)
properly before you leave the driver’s seat.
To nd out how, seeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 121.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever
out of PARK (P) before you release the parking
brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have
another vehicle push yours a little uphill to
take some of the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transaxle, so you can pull the shift lever
out of PARK (P).
122

Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift
lock control system. You must fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
Automatic Transaxle Operation on page 116.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on the shift lever by pushing it all the way into
PARK (P) while keeping the brake pedal pushed
down. Release the shift lever button if you have a
console shift. Then move the shift lever out of
PARK (P), being sure to press the shift lever button
if you have a console shift.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still
cannot shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal down until the
end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL.
4. Start the engine and shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle xed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot
exhaust parts under your vehicle and
ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves, dry
grass, or other things that can burn.
123

Engine Exhaust
{CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the
gas carbon monoxide (CO), which you
cannot see or smell. It can cause
unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
The exhaust system sounds strange
or different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a
collision.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Your vehicle was damaged when
driving over high points on the road
or over road debris.
Repairs were not done correctly.
Your vehicle or the exhaust system
has been modied improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows
down to blow out any CO; and
Have your vehicle xed immediately.
124

Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust
into your vehicle. See the earlier caution
underEngine Exhaust on page 124.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let
deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your
vehicle even if the climate control fan is at
the highest setting. One place this can
happen is a garage. Exhaust — with
CO — can come in easily. NEVER park in
a garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 272.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave
your vehicle when the engine is running
unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and move
the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
will not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 121.
If you are parking on a hill and if you are pulling a
trailer, also seeTowing a Trailer on page 284.
125

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
If the vehicle has this mirror, it has a lever located at
the bottom of the mirror between the two lamps.
The lever is used to change the mirror from the
day to the night position. To reduce glare from
headlamps behind you while driving at night, pull
the lever toward you. To return the mirror to the day
position, return the lever to its original position.
There are two map lamps located on the bottom of
the mirror. Press the button next to each lamp to
turn it on and off.
Manual Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
®
If the vehicle has this mirror, it has a lever located
at the bottom of the mirror between the two
lamps. The lever is used to change the mirror
from the day to the night position. To reduce glare
from headlamps behind you while driving at
night, pull the lever toward you. To return the
mirror to the day position, return the lever
to its original position.There are two map lamps located on the bottom of
the mirror. Press the button next to each lamp to
turn it on and off.
There are also OnStar
®buttons located at the
bottom of the mirror face. See your dealer for more
information on the system and how to subscribe to
OnStar
®. SeeOnStar®System on page 128for
more information about the services OnStar®
provides.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®
The vehicle may have an automatic dimming
rearview mirror with the OnStar®System.
Press the button located below the mirror, on the far
left, for up to three seconds to turn the automatic
dimming feature off and on.
There are two map lamps located on the bottom of
the mirror. Press the button next to each lamp to
turn it on and off.
There are also OnStar
®buttons located at the
bottom of the mirror. See your dealer for more
information on the system and how to subscribe to
OnStar
®. SeeOnStar®System on page 128for
more information about the service OnStar®
provides.
126

Outside Power Mirrors
The controls for the
outside power mirrors
are located on the
driver’s door armrest.
Use the selector switch located below the four-way
control panel to choose either the left or right
outside mirror. Then press any of the four arrows
located on the control pad to move each mirror in
the desired direction.
Adjust each mirror so you can see the side of your
vehicle and the area beside and behind your
vehicle.
Heated Outside Mirrors
If your vehicle has this feature, the surface of the
outside mirrors will heat when the rear window
defogger is activated. See “Rear Window Defogger”
underClimate Control System on page 168for
more information.
Outside Convex Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more from
the driver’s seat.
{CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like
other vehicles) look farther away than
they really are. If you cut too sharply into
the right lane, you could hit a vehicle on
your right. Check your inside mirror or
glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
127

OnStar®System
OnStar®uses several innovative technologies and
live advisors to provide you with a wide range of
safety, security, information, and convenience
services. If your airbags deploy, the system is
designed to make an automatic call to OnStar
®
Emergency advisors who can request emergency
services be sent to your location. If you lock
your keys in the vehicle, call OnStar
®at
1-888-4-ONSTAR and they can send a signal to
unlock your doors. If you need roadside assistance,
press the OnStar
®button and they can contact
Roadside Service for you.
OnStar
®service is provided to you subject to the
OnStar®Terms and Conditions. You may cancel
your OnStar®service at any time by contacting
OnStar®as provided below. A complete OnStar®
Owners Guide and the OnStar®Terms andConditions are included in the vehicle’s OnStar
®
Subscriber glove box literature. For more
information, visit onstar.com or onstar.ca, contact
OnStar
®at 1-888-4-ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) or
TTY 1-877-248-2080, or press the OnStar®button
to speak with an OnStar®advisor 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
Not all OnStar
®features are available on all
vehicles. To check if your vehicle is equipped to
provide the services described below, or for a
full description of OnStar
®services and system
limitations, see the OnStar®Owner’s Guide in your
glove box or visit onstar.com.
OnStar®Services
For new vehicles with OnStar®, the Safe & Sound
Plan, or the Directions & Connections®Plan is
included for one year from the date of purchase.
You can extend this plan beyond the rst year,
or upgrade to the Directions & Connections
®Plan.
For more information, press the OnStar®button
to speak with an advisor. Some OnStar®services
(such as Remote Door Unlock or Stolen Vehicle
Location Assistance) may not be available
until you register with OnStar
®.
128