2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA Owners Manual

Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will
assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems
performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in
this vehicle is designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your vehicle were operating
Whether or not the driver and passenger safety
belts were buckled/fastened
How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal
How fast the vehicle was traveling
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.Important:EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is
recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions
and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age,
and crash location) is recorded. However, other parties,
such as law enforcement, could combine the EDR
data with the type of personally identifying data routinely
acquired during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is
required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is
needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other
parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special
equipment, can read the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access this data or share it with others
except: with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee; in
response to an official request of police or similar
government office; as part of GM’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process; or, as required by
law. Data that GM collects or receives may also be used
for GM research needs or may be made available to
others for research purposes, where a need is shown
and the data is not tied to a specic vehicle or
vehicle owner.
7-17

OnStar®
If your vehicle has OnStar®and you subscribe to
the OnStar®services, please refer to the OnStar®Terms
and Conditions for information on data collection and
use. See alsoOnStar
®System on page 2-38in
this manual for more information.
Navigation System
If your vehicle has a navigation system, use of the
system may result in the storage of destinations,
addresses, telephone numbers, and other trip
information. Refer to the navigation system operating
manual for information on stored data and for deletion
instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identication (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some vehicles for functions
such as tire pressure monitoring and ignition system
security, as well as in connection with conveniences
such as key fobs for remote door locking/unlocking and
starting, and in-vehicle transmitters for garage door
openers. RFID technology in GM vehicles does not use
or record personal information or link with any other
GM system containing personal information.
7-18

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-67
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-98
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-22
Air Conditioning..............................................3-22
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-32
Readiness Light..........................................3-31
Airbag System................................................1-54
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?........1-60
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-59
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-57
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle............................1-67
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-60
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-62
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-66
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-60
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-88
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System..........................................3-88
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-4
Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-35Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-95
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-93
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-96
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-94
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-91
Finish Care.................................................5-94
Finish Damage............................................5-96
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-92
Interior Cleaning..........................................5-90
Leather......................................................5-92
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-96
Tires
..........................................................5-96
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-96
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-97
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-93
Weatherstrips..............................................5-93
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-95
Appointments, Scheduling Service....................... 7-9
Ashtray.........................................................3-21
Audio System.................................................3-66
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-86
Backglass Antenna......................................3-88
Radio Reception..........................................3-87
Setting the Time..........................................3-67
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-85
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-88
1

Audio System(s).............................................3-69
Automatic Door Lock.......................................2-12
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-24
Operation...................................................2-26
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-88
Battery..........................................................5-42
Electric Power Management..........................3-19
Run-Down Protection...................................3-20
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-5
Brakes..........................................................5-39
System Warning Light..................................3-34
Braking........................................................... 4-3
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-5
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-21
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-47
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-47
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-47
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-48Bulb Replacement (cont.)
License Plate Lamps....................................5-51
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-52
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps.................5-50
Buying New Tires...........................................5-71C
Calibration.....................................................3-49
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-103
Carbon Monoxide...................2-13, 2-34, 4-16, 4-27
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-93
CD, MP3 .......................................................3-80
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-48
Center Seat..................................................... 1-8
Chains, Tire...................................................5-76
Charging System Light....................................3-34
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-39
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-12
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-96
2

Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-37
Infants and Young Children...........................1-34
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-41
Older Children.............................................1-31
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position...................................1-47
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Front Seat Position........................1-50
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-50
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-40
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-21
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-95
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-94
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-91
Finish Care.................................................5-94
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-92
Interior.......................................................5-90
Leather......................................................5-92
Tires..........................................................5-96
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-96
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-93
Weatherstrips..............................................5-93
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-95Climate Control System...................................3-22
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-26
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-25
Clock............................................................3-67
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-11
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-89
Compass.......................................................3-49
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-18
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Convenience Net............................................2-49
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................
3-38
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-37
Heater, Engine............................................2-25
Cooling System..............................................5-32
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-17
Cruise Control................................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-43
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-48
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-9
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-5
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-5
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-6
3

Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors.......7-15
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government..............................7-15
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-14
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-15
D
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic Headlamp
System......................................................3-16
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Entry Lighting.....................................3-18
Delayed Exit Lighting.......................................3-18
Delayed Headlamps........................................3-15
Delayed Locking.............................................2-11
DIC Compass.................................................3-49
Disc, MP3......................................................3-80
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp...................................................3-17
Door
Automatic Door Lock....................................2-12
Delayed Locking..........................................2-11
Locks........................................................2-10
Power Door Locks.......................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock............2-12
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-12Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-44
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-44
DIC Vehicle Customization............................3-60
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-52
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-13
Before a Long Trip......................................4-14
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-14
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-15
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-13
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-20
Winter........................................................4-16
E
EDR .............................................................7-16
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-98
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-99
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-99
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-99
Power Windows and Other Power Options.........5-99
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-100
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-99
Electronic Stability Control................................. 4-7
4

Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-22
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-39
Coolant......................................................5-26
Coolant Heater............................................2-25
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-38
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-37
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-14
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-14
Exhaust.....................................................2-34
Oil .............................................................5-17
Oil Life System...........................................5-20
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-31
Overheating................................................5-29
Running While Parked..................................2-34
Starting......................................................2-23
Entry Lighting.................................................3-17
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-17
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-30
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-22
Finish Damage...............................................5-96
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire........................................................5-77
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-78
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-87
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-24
Power Steering...........................................5-37
Windshield Washer......................................5-38
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-16
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-42
Folding Rear Seat............................................ 1-8
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
E85 (85% Ethanol)........................................ 5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-12
Filling the Tank...........................................5-10
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-9
Gage.........................................................3-43
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-6
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-99
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-99
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-100
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-99
5

G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-38
Fuel..........................................................3-43
Speedometer..............................................3-29
Tachometer.................................................3-29
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-41
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-6
Specications............................................... 5-6
Glove Box.....................................................2-48
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-6
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-7
Headlamp
Aiming.......................................................5-47
Headlamp Wiring............................................5-99
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-47
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic Headlamp
System...................................................3-16
Delayed.....................................................3-15
Exterior Lamps............................................3-14Headlamps (cont.)
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-9
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-47
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-48
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Heater...........................................................3-22
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-43
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-14
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-15
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-12
Release.....................................................5-13
Horn............................................................... 3-6
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-15
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-22
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-34
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-61
Instrument Panel
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Instrument Panel (I/P)
Brightness..................................................3-17
Cluster.......................................................3-28
6