2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA ignition

Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
<(Rear Window Defogger):The rear window
defogger turns off automatically after it has been
activated for 10 minutes. It can be turned off manually,
by pressing the button again or by turning the ignition
to the LOCK/OFF position. If additional window clearing
is required, the rear window defogger can be turned
on again for additional window clearing. The length of
defogger operation will increase if the vehicle is
being driven.
If your vehicle has heated outside rearview mirrors,
the mirrors will heat to help clear fog or frost from the
surface of the mirror when the rear window defog button
is pressed. SeeOutside Power Mirrors on page 2-37.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
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 thumbwheel 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 3-26andScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.
If fogging reoccurs while in vent or bi-level modes
with mild temperature throughout the vehicle, turn
on the air conditioner to reduce windshield fogging.
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Passenger Compartment Air Filter
This 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, under the air inlet grille.
The lter traps most of the pollen from air entering the
Climate Control System. Like your 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. Peel back the hood weatherstrip from the
passenger’s side of the vehicle halfway to center.4. Remove the air inlet grille retainers.
5. Lift the air inlet grille and disconnect the washer
hose at the quick-connect.
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 best climate control system performance, be sure to
re-install the air lter.
For the type of lter to use, seeNormal Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 6-13.
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Charging System Light
This light will come on
briey when you turn on
the ignition, but the engine
is not running, as a
check to show you it is
working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays
on, or comes on while you are driving, you may have a
problem with the charging system. A charging system
Driver Information Center (DIC) message may also
appear. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-52
for more information. This light could indicate that you
have problems with a generator drive belt, or another
electrical problem. Have it checked right away.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when the engine is
started. If it does not come on then, have it xed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
United StatesCanada
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When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake does
not release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push, or the pedal may go closer to the
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing Your
Vehicle on page 4-26.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service.
Antilock Brake System
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light will come
on briey when you
start the engine.
That is normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off, if the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as it
is safely possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system. If the ABS light still
stays on, or comes on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes, but you do
not have antilock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you do not have antilock brakes
and there is a problem with your regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-34
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-52for all
brake related DIC messages.
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves towards the “H” (United States)
or the shaded in thermostat (Canada), it means that your
engine coolant has overheated. If you have been
operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions,
you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-29for more
information.
Tire Pressure Light
This light comes on briey
when the engine is started.
This light will also come on when one or more of your
tires are signicantly underinated.
A tire pressure message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), may accompany the light. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-52for more
information.
Stop and check your tires as soon as it is safe to
do so. If underinated, inate to the proper pressure.
SeeTires on page 5-54for more information.
If a problem is detected with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System, this light will ash for approximately
60 seconds and then stay on solid for the remainder of
the ignition cycle. SeeTire Pressure Monitor System
on page 5-63for more information. United States
Canada
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Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle has a
computer which monitors
operation of the fuel,
ignition, and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
make sure that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The check engine light comes on to
indicate that there is a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
before any problem is apparent. This can prevent more
serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If you keep driving your vehicle with this
light on, after a while, the emission controls
might not work as well, your vehicle’s fuel economy
might not be as good, and the engine might not
run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs
that might not be covered by your warranty.Notice:Modications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system of
your vehicle or the replacement of the original tires
with other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission
controls and can cause this light to come on.
Modications to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by your warranty. This could
also result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is
not running. If the light does not come on, have it
repaired. This light will also come on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing— A misre condition has been
detected. A misre increases vehicle emissions
and could damage the emission control system on
your vehicle. Diagnosis and service might be
required.
Light On Steady— An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.
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Cruise Control Light
This light comes on
whenever you set the
cruise control.
The light goes out when the cruise control is turned off.
SeeCruise Control on page 3-10for more information.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on when
the high-beam headlamps
are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-8
for more information.
Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on, the fuel gage tells you about
how much fuel you have remaining.
Here are four things that some owners ask about.
None of these show a problem with your fuel gage:
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to ll up than the gage
indicated. For example, the gage may have indicated
the tank was half full, but it actually took a little more
or less than half the tank’s capacity to ll the tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed up.
The gage doesn’t go back to empty when you turn off
the ignition.
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Driver Information Center (DIC)
Your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC).
All messages will appear in the DIC display located
below the speedometer in the instrument panel cluster.
The DIC buttons are located on the instrument panel,
to the right of the instrument panel cluster.
The DIC comes on when the ignition is on. After a short
delay, the DIC will display the information that was
last displayed before the engine was turned off.
The DIC displays trip, fuel, and vehicle system
information, and warning messages if a system problem
is detected. The bottom line of the DIC shows the shift
lever position indicator. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-26for more information.
If your vehicle has these features, the DIC also displays
the compass direction and the outside air temperature
when viewing the trip and fuel information. The compass
direction appears on the top right corner of the DIC
display. The outside air temperature automatically
appears in the bottom right corner of the DIC display.
If there is a problem with the system that controls
the temperature display, the numbers will be replaced
with dashes. If this occurs, have the vehicle serviced by
your dealer/retailer.
The DIC also allows some features to be customized.
SeeDIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-60for
more information.
DIC Operation and Displays
The DIC has different displays which can be accessed
by pressing the DIC buttons located on the instrument
panel, to the right of the instrument panel cluster.
DIC Buttons
The buttons are the
trip/fuel, vehicle
information, customization,
and set/reset buttons.
The button functions
are detailed in the
following pages.
3(Trip/Fuel):Press this button to display the
odometer, trip odometers, fuel range, average economy,
instantaneous economy, Active Fuel Management™
indicator on vehicles with this feature, and average speed.
T(Vehicle Information):Press this button to display
the oil life, units, tire pressure readings, compass zone
and compass calibration on vehicles with this feature, and
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter programming.
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