2009 CHEVROLET IMPALA fuel cap

Seats and Restraint System............................. 1-1
Head Restraints
......................................... 1-2
Front Seats
............................................... 1-4
Rear Seats
..............................................1-10
Safety Belts
.............................................1-13
Child Restraints
.......................................1-34
Airbag System
.........................................1-57
Restraint System Check
............................1-73
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-9
Windows
.................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-19
Mirrors
....................................................2-32
OnStar
®System
......................................2-33
Universal Home Remote System
................2-36
Storage Areas
.........................................2-43
Sunroof
..................................................2-44
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-24Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-42
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-63
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle
....... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-26
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-12
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-45
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-45
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-51
Tires
......................................................5-53
Appearance Care
.....................................5-89
Vehicle Identication
.................................5-96
Electrical System
......................................5-96
Capacities and Specications
...................5-101
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-16
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
...........7-18
Index................................................................ 1
2009 Chevrolet Impala Owner ManualM

This light comes 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 the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
To prevent more serious damage to the vehicle:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo being
hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park the vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds, and restart
the engine. If the light is still ashing, follow the previous
steps and see your dealer/retailer for service as soon
as possible.Light On Steady:An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.
An emission system malfunction might be corrected by
doing the following:
Make sure the fuel cap is fully installed. SeeFilling
the Tank on page 5-10. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap
allows fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light off.
If the vehicle has been driven through a deep puddle
of water, the vehicle’s electrical system might be wet.
The condition is usually corrected when the electrical
system dries out. A few driving trips should turn the
light off.
Make sure to fuel the vehicle with quality fuel.
Poor fuel quality causes the engine not to run
as efficiently as designed and can cause: stalling
after start-up, stalling when the vehicle is changed
into gear, misring, hesitation on acceleration,
or stumbling on acceleration. These conditions
might go away once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions occurs, change the
fuel brand used. It will require at least one full tank of
the proper fuel to turn the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 5-5.
3-37

Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on, the fuel gage indicates about
how much fuel is left in the fuel tank.
An arrow on the fuel gage indicates the side of the
vehicle the fuel door is on.Here are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with the 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 fuel tank’s capacity
to ll the tank.
The gage moves a little when while turning a corner
or speeding up.
The gage does not go back to empty when the
ignition is turned off. United StatesCanada
3-41

Item Description Total
AMaximum Vehicle
Capacity Weight for
Example 3=1,000 lbs
(453 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight 200 lbs
(91 kg)×5=1,000 lbs
(453 kg)
CAvailable Cargo
Weight=0 lbs (0 kg)
Refer to your vehicle’s Tire and Loading
Information label for specic information about
your vehicle’s maximum vehicle capacity weight
and seating positions. The combined weight of thedriver, passengers, and cargo should never
exceed your vehicle’s maximum vehicle capacity
weight.
Certication Label
A vehicle specic Certication label is found on
the rear edge of the driver’s door.
The label shows the gross weight capacity of your
vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR). The GVWR includes the weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, fuel, and cargo.
Example 3
4-24

6. Secure the vehicle to the dolly following the
manufacturer’s instructions.
7. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is rmly attached to the towing
vehicle.
8. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF and remove the key.
Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION:
The driver can lose control when pulling a trailer if
the correct equipment is not used or the vehicle is
not driven properly. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well — or even at
all. The driver and passengers could be seriously
injured. The vehicle may also be damaged; the
resulting repairs would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer only if all the steps in
this section have been followed. Ask your dealer/
retailer for advice and information about towing a
trailer with the vehicle.Notice:Pulling a trailer improperly can damage the
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered
by the vehicle warranty. To pull a trailer correctly,
follow the advice in this section and see your
dealer/retailer for important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
The vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the
proper trailer towing equipment. To identify the trailering
capacity of the vehicle, read the information in “Weight of
the Trailer” that appears later in this section. Trailering is
different than just driving the vehicle by itself. Trailering
means changes in handling, acceleration, braking,
durability and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly.
The following information has many time-tested,
important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these
are important for the safety of the driver and the
passengers. So please read this section carefully before
pulling a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine,
transmission, axles, wheel assemblies and tires are
forced to work harder against the drag of the added
weight. The engine is required to operate at relatively
higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra
heat. The trailer also adds considerably to wind
resistance, increasing the pulling requirements.
4-28

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of the
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)..................................5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-9
Filling the Tank............................................5-10
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-12
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-13
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-17
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-20
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-21
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-24
Cooling System............................................5-26
Engine Coolant.............................................5-28Pressure Cap...............................................5-31
Engine Overheating.......................................5-31
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-34
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-34
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-35
Brakes........................................................5-37
Battery........................................................5-40
Jump Starting...............................................5-40
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-45
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-45
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-45
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-46
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps...................................5-49
License Plate Lamp......................................5-51
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-51
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-51
Tires..............................................................5-53
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-54
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-57
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-60
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-62
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling the Tank
{CAUTION:
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel re can
cause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow all the instructions on
the pump island. Turn off the engine when you are
refueling. Do not smoke if you are near fuel or
refueling the vehicle. Do not use cellular phones.
Keep sparks, ames, and smoking materials away
from fuel. Do not leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling the vehicle. This is against the law
in some places. Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel. Keep children away from the fuel
pump; never let children pump fuel.The tethered fuel cap is located behind a hinged fuel
door on the driver side of the vehicle. If the vehicle
has E85 fuel capability, the fuel cap will be yellow
and state that E85 or gasoline can be used. See
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on page 5-8.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly counterclockwise.
While refueling, hang the tethered fuel cap on the
hook on the inside of the fuel door.
5-10

{CAUTION:
Fuel can spray out on you if you open the fuel cap
too quickly. If you spill fuel and then something
ignites it, you could be badly burned. This spray
can happen if the tank is nearly full, and is more
likely in hot weather. Open the fuel cap slowly and
wait for any hiss noise to stop. Then unscrew the
cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overll the
tank and wait a few seconds after you have nished
pumping before removing the nozzle. Clean fuel from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. SeeWashing Your
Vehicle on page 5-92.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn it clockwise until it
clicks. Make sure the cap is fully installed. The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate
into the atmosphere. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-36.The TIGHTEN GAS CAP message displays on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) if the fuel cap is not properly
installed. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-49
for more information.
{CAUTION:
If a re starts while you are refueling, do not
remove the nozzle. Shut off the ow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by notifying the station
attendant. Leave the area immediately.
Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get the
right type. Your dealer/retailer can get one for you. If
you get the wrong type, it may not t properly. This
may cause the malfunction indicator lamp to light
and may damage the fuel tank and emissions system.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-36.
5-11