2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA instrument panel

Instrument Panel Overview
3-4

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

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and
two downward (for left) positions. These positions
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is nished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until you complete
your lane change. The lever will return by itself when
you release it. If you momentarily press and release the
lever, the turn signal will ash three times.
If the arrow ashes faster than normal as you signal a
turn or a lane change, a signal bulb may be burned
out and other drivers will not see your turn signal.If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and then check
the fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-99.
Turn Signal On Chime
If either one of the turn signals are left on and you have
drove more than 3/4 mile (1.2 km), a chime will sound.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal/multifunction lever toward the
front of the vehicle.
This light on the instrument
panel cluster comes on if
the high beam lamps
are turned on while the
ignition is on.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever toward the rear of the vehicle.
3-8

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

Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps control
is located on the
instrument panel to the left
of the steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Fog Lamps (If Equipped)The exterior lamps control has four positions:
O(Off):Briey turn the control to this position to
turn off the automatic light control. Briey turn to this
position again to turn automatic light control on again.
AUTO (Automatic):Turn the control to this position
to automatically turn on the headlamps at normal
brightness, together with the following:
Parking Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
;(Parking Lamps):Turn the control to this position to
turn on the parking lamps together with the following:
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
3-14

2(Headlamps):Turn the control to this position to
turn on the headlamps together with the following lamps
listed below. A warning chime will sound if you open
the driver’s door when the ignition switch is off and the
headlamps are on.
Parking Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
-(Fog Lamps) (If Equipped):Push the fog lamps
control in to turn on the fog lamps.
SeeFog Lamps on page 3-16.
Delayed Headlamps
The delayed headlamps feature provides a period of
exterior lighting as you leave the area around your
vehicle. The feature is activated when the headlamps
are on due to the automatic headlamps control
feature described previously in this section, and when
the ignition is turned off. Your headlamps will then
remain on until the exterior lamps control is moved to
the parking lamps position or until the pre-selected
delayed headlamp lighting period has ended.
If you turn off the ignition with the headlamps switch in
the parking lamps or headlamps position, the delayed
headlamps cycle will not occur.
To disable the delayed headlamps feature or change
the time of delay, seeDIC Vehicle Customization
on page 3-60.
3-15

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp System
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime
running lamps are required on all vehicles rst sold
in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it is not covered.
The DRL system’s automatic headlamp control will
make the low-beam headlamps come on at a reduced
brightness when the following conditions are met:
The ignition is in the ON/RUN position.
The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
The engine is running.
When the DRL are on, only the low-beam headlamps, at
a reduced level of brightness, will be on. The headlamps,
taillamps, sidemarker, and other lamps will not be on.
The instrument panel and cluster will also not be lit.When it is dark enough outside, the low-beam
headlamps will turn off and the headlamps and parking
lamps will turn on. The other lamps that come on
with the headlamps will also come on.
When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps will go
off and the DRL will come on.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when it is needed.
Fog Lamps
-(Fog Lamps):If your vehicle has fog lamps,
the control is located on the exterior lamps control.
The exterior lamps control is located on the instrument
panel to the left of the steering column.
The ignition must be in the ON/RUN position for the
fog lamps to come on.
Press the exterior lamps button to turn the fog lamps on
or off. A light will come on in the instrument panel
cluster.
When the headlamps are changed to high-beam, the
fog lamps also go off.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
3-16

Instrument Panel Brightness
D(Instrument Panel Brightness):The knob with
this symbol on it is located next to the exterior lamps
control. Push the knob in all the way until it extends out
and then turn the knob clockwise to brighten or
counterclockwise to dim the lights. Push the knob back
in when nished.
Courtesy Lamps
When a door is opened, the courtesy lamps
automatically come on. They make it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle. You can also manually turn
these lamps on by fully turning the instrument panel
brightness control clockwise.
The reading lamps, located on the rearview mirror,
can be turned on or off independent of the automatic
courtesy lamps, when the doors are closed.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp will come on when you open a door.
You can also turn this lamp on by turning the instrument
panel brightness control clockwise.
Entry Lighting
Your vehicle may have courtesy lamps that will come on
and stay on for a set time whenever the unlock symbol
is pressed on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
Transmitter, if the vehicle has one.
If a door is opened, the lamps stay on while it is open
and then turn off automatically about 25 seconds
after the door is closed. If the unlock symbol is pressed
and you do not open a door, the lamps turn off after
about 20 seconds.
Entry lighting includes a feature called theater dimming.
With theater dimming, the lamps do not turn off at
the end of the delay time. Instead, they slowly dim after
the delay time until they go out. The delay time is
canceled if you turn the ignition key to ON/RUN or
press the power door lock switch. The lamps will dim
right away.
When the ignition is on, illuminated entry is inactive,
which means the courtesy lamps will not come on unless
a door is opened.
3-17