2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA steering

OnStar Steering Wheel Controls
Your vehicle may have a Talk/Mute button that can be
used to interact with OnStar Hands-Free Calling.
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-86
for more information.
On some vehicles, you may have to hold the button for
a few seconds and give the command “ONSTAR” in
order to activate the OnStar Hands-Free Calling feature.
On some vehicles, the mute button can be used to
dial numbers into voicemail systems, or to dial phone
extensions. See the OnStar Owner’s Guide for
more information.
How OnStar Service Works
In order to provide you with OnStar services, your
vehicle’s OnStar system has the capability of recording
and transmitting vehicle information. This information
is automatically sent to an OnStar Call Center at
the time of an OnStar button press, Emergency button
press or if your airbags or AACN system deploys.The vehicle information usually includes your GPS
location and, in the event of a crash, additional
information regarding the accident that your vehicle has
been involved in (e.g. the direction from which your
vehicle was hit). When you use the Virtual Advisor
feature of OnStar Hands-Free Calling, your vehicle
also sends OnStar your GPS location so that we can
provide you with location-based services.
OnStar service cannot work unless your vehicle is in a
place where OnStar has an agreement with a wireless
service provider for service in that area. OnStar
service also cannot work unless you are in a place
where the wireless service provider OnStar has hired for
that area has coverage, network capacity and reception
when the service is needed, and technology that is
compatible with the OnStar service. Not all services
are available everywhere, particularly in remote
or enclosed areas, or at all times.
OnStar service that involves location information about
your vehicle cannot work unless GPS satellite signals
are unobstructed and available in that place as well.
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Brake System Warning Light..........................3-34
Antilock Brake System Warning Light...............3-35
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light......3-36
Electronic Stability Control Indicator Light.........3-36
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-37
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-38
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-38
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-39
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-42
Security Light...............................................3-42
Fog Lamp Light............................................3-42
Cruise Control Light......................................3-43
Highbeam On Light.......................................3-43
Fuel Gage...................................................3-43Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-44
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-44
DIC Compass..............................................3-49
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-52
DIC Vehicle Customization.............................3-60
Audio System(s).............................................3-66
Setting the Time...........................................3-67
Radio(s)......................................................3-69
Using an MP3..............................................3-80
XM Radio Messages.....................................3-84
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-85
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-86
Radio Reception...........................................3-87
Backglass Antenna.......................................3-88
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.............3-88
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

The main components of your instrument panel are listed here:
A. Air Vent. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-25.
B. Remote Trunk Release Button. See “Remote Trunk
Release” underTrunk on page 2-13.
C. Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 3-7.
D. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-28.
E. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
F. Driver Information Center. SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 3-44.
G. Passenger Air Bag status Indicator. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-32.
H. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-66.
I. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-14.
J. Instrument Panel Brightness. SeeInstrument Panel
Brightness on page 3-17.
K. Traction Control On/Off Button (If Equipped).
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-6.L. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on
page 3-6.
M. Steering Wheel Cruise Control. SeeCruise Control
on page 3-10.
N. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-13.
O. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
P. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped).
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-86.
Q. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-22.
R. Climate Controls. SeeClimate Control System on
page 3-22.
S. Accessory Power Outlets. SeeAccessory Power
Outlet(s) on page 3-20.
T. Center Console Shift Lever (If Equipped). See
“Console Shift Lever” underShifting Into PARK (P)
on page 2-30.
U. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-48.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
The hazard warning ashers let you warn others.
They also let police know you have a problem.
The front and rear turn signal lamps will ash on
and off.
The hazard warning
asher button is located
on top of the steering
column.
The hazard warning ashers work no matter what
position the key is in, and even if the key is not in the
ignition.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, the turn
signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set them up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on the steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you drive. The steering wheel can be raised to
the highest level to give your legs more room when you
enter and exit the vehicle.
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The tilt wheel lever is located on the left side of the
steering column.
To tilt the wheel, hold the wheel and pull the lever.
Then move the wheel to a comfortable position
and release the lever to lock the wheel in place.Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
GTurn and Lane Change Signals. SeeTurn and
Lane-Change Signals on page 3-8.
2Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer. See
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-8.
Flash-to-Pass. SeeFlash-to-Pass on page 3-9.
NWindshield Wipers. SeeWindshield Wipers on
page 3-9.
LQWindshield Washer. SeeWindshield Washer
on page 3-10.
For information on the headlamps, seeExterior Lamps
on page 3-14.
3-7

{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle has the Traction Control System (TCS)
and the cruise control is on, TCS will begin to limit
wheel spin and the cruise control automatically turns off.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-6.
When road conditions allow you to safely use it again,
the cruise control can be turned back on.The cruise control buttons
are located on outboard
side of the steering wheel.
T(On/Off):Press this button to turn cruise control
on and off. The indicator is lit when cruise control is on.
+ RES (Resume/Accelerate):Press this button to
make the vehicle accelerate or resume to a previously
set speed.
SET–:Press this button to set the speed or make the
vehicle decelerate.
[(Cancel):Press this button to cancel cruise control.
3-11

Setting Cruise Control
Cruise control will not work if the parking brake is set,
or if the master cylinder brake uid level is low.
The cruise control light on the instrument panel cluster
comes on after the cruise control has been set to the
desired speed. SeeInstrument Panel Cluster on
page 3-28.
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
1. Press the cruise control on/off button.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release the SET– button located on the
steering wheel.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
Resuming a Set Speed
If cruise control is set at a desired speed and the
brakes are applied, this shuts off the cruise control.
However, it does not need to be reset.
Once your vehicle reaches a speed of about 25 mph
(40 km/h) or more, press the +RES button on the
steering wheel. The vehicle goes back to the previously
selected speed and stays there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To increase the cruise speed while using cruise control:
Press and hold the +RES button on the steering
wheel until you reach your new desired speed,
then release it.
To increase vehicle speed in small increments,
press the +RES button. Each time this is done,
the vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
3-12

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To reduce your speed while using cruise control:
Press and hold the SET– button on the steering
wheel until you reach the desired lower speed,
then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the
SET– button on the steering wheel briey.
Each time this is done, the vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase vehicle speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle
will slow down to the cruise speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills depends
upon the vehicle speed, load and the steepness of
the hills. When going up steep hills, you might have to
step on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you might have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep your speed down. If the brakes
are applied the cruise control will turn off. Many drivers
nd this to be too much trouble and do not use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Press the[button on the steering wheel.
Press theTbutton on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased by
turning off the cruise control or the ignition.
3-13