2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA traction control

SERVICE POWER STEERINGThis message displays when a problem is detected
with the power steering system. When this message is
displayed, you may notice that the effort required to steer
the vehicle increases or feels heavier, but you will still be
able to steer the vehicle. Have your vehicle serviced by
your dealer/retailer immediately.SERVICE STABILITRAKIf your vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
this message displays if there has been a problem
detected with ESC. The ESC/TCS light also appears
on the instrument panel cluster. SeeElectronic Stability
Control (ESC) on page 5-6for more information.
If this message turns on while you are driving, pull off the
road as soon as possible and stop carefully. Try resetting
the system by turning the ignition off and then back on.
If this message still stays on or turns back on again while
you are driving, your vehicle needs service. Have the
system inspected by your dealer/retailer as soon as
possible.SERVICE THEFT SYSTEMThis message displays when there is a problem with the
theft-deterrent system programmed in the key. A fault
has been detected in the system which means that the
system is disabled and it is not protecting the vehicle.The vehicle usually restarts; however, you may want to
take the vehicle to your dealer/retailer before turning off
the engine. SeePASS-Key
®III+ Electronic Immobilizer
Operation on page 3-18for more information.
SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEMOn vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), this message displays if a part on the TPMS is
not working properly. The tire pressure light also flashes
and then remains on during the same ignition cycle. See
Tire Pressure Light on page 4-31. Several conditions may
cause this message to appear. SeeTire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 6-62for more information. If the
warning comes on and stays on, there may be a problem
with the TPMS. See your dealer/retailer.SERVICE TRACTION CONTROLIf your vehicle has the Traction Control System (TCS),
this message displays when the system is not functioning
properly. A warning light also appears on the instrument
panel cluster. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light on page 4-28. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 5-7for more information. Have
the TCS serviced by your dealer/retailer as soon as
possible.
4-48

TIRE LOW ADD AIR TO TIREOn vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), this message displays when the pressure in one
or more of the vehicle’s tires is low. This message also
displays LEFT FRT (left front), RIGHT FRT (right front),
LEFT RR (left rear), or RIGHT RR (right rear) to indicate
the location of the low tire. The low tire pressure warning
light will also come on. SeeTire Pressure Light on
page 4-31. You can receive more than one tire pressure
message at a time. To read the other messages that may
have been sent at the same time, press the set/reset
button. If a tire pressure message appears on the DIC,
stop as soon as you can. Have the tire pressures
checked and set to those shown on the Tire Loading
Information label. SeeTires on page 6-51,Loading the
Vehicle on page 5-20, andInflation - Tire Pressure on
page 6-59. The DIC also shows the tire pressure values.
SeeDIC Operation and Displays on page 4-37.TRACTION CONTROL OFFIf your vehicle has the Traction Control System (TCS),
this message displays when the TCS turns off.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 5-7
for more information.
This message only displays while the ignition is in
ON/RUN and disappears after 10 seconds, unless
it is acknowledged or an urgent warning appears.Any of the following conditions may cause the TCS to
turn off:
•
The TCS is turned off by pressing the traction
control button. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 5-7for more information.
•
The battery is low.
•
There is a TCS failure. See your dealer/retailer for
service.
TRACTION CONTROL ONIf your vehicle has the Traction Control System (TCS),
this message displays when the TCS is turned on.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 5-7
for more information.TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE ENGINEThis message displays when the transmission fluid in
your vehicle is too hot. Stop the vehicle and allow it to idle
until it cools down. If the warning message continues to
display, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer/retailer
as soon as possible.TRUNK OPENThis message displays when the trunk is not closed
completely. Make sure that the trunk is closed
completely. SeeTrunk on page 3-12.
4-50

Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle............5-2
Defensive Driving...........................................5-2
Drunk Driving.................................................5-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................5-3
Braking . . .......................................................5-4
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................5-5
Braking in Emergencies...................................5-6
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)......................5-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................5-7
Steering........................................................5-9
Off-Road Recovery.......................................5-11
Passing.......................................................5-11
Loss of Control.............................................5-11
Driving at Night............................................5-13Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................5-14
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................5-15
Highway Hypnosis........................................5-15
Hill and Mountain Roads . . ..............................5-16
Winter Driving..............................................5-17
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow...................................................5-19
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out . . . ..............5-20
Loading the Vehicle......................................5-20
Towing..........................................................5-26
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................5-26
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................5-26
Towing a Trailer...........................................5-28
Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
5-1

Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
17,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol, with about
250,000 people injured.
For persons under 21, it is against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and
then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This meansthat when anyone who has been drinking — driver or
passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance
of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if
the person had not been drinking.
Control of a VehicleThe following three systems help to control the vehicle
while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator. At
times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask
more of those control systems than the tires and road can
provide. Meaning, you can lose control of the vehicle.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 5-7.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 6-3.
5-3

Using ABSDo not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down firmly and let antilock work. A slight brake pedal
pulsation might be felt or some noise might be
heard, but this is normal.Braking in EmergenciesABS allows the driver to steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help more than
even the very best braking.Electronic Stability Control (ESC)Your vehicle may have an Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) system which combines antilock brake, traction
and stability control systems and helps the driver
maintain directional control of the vehicle in most driving
conditions.
When you first start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, the system performs several diagnostic checks to
ensure there are no problems. You may hear or feel
the system working. This is normal and does not mean
there is a problem with your vehicle. The system
should initialize before the vehicle reaches 20 mph
(32 km/h).If the system fails to turn on or activate, the ESC/TCS
light will be on solid, and the SERVICE STABILITRAK
message will be displayed.
For more information, seeDriver Information Center
(DIC) on page 4-37.
This light will flash on the
instrument panel cluster
when the ESC system
is both on and activated.
You may also feel or hear the system working; this is
normal.
When the light is on solid and the SERVICE
STABILITRAK message is displayed, the system will not
assist the driver in maintaining directional control of
the vehicle. Adjust your driving accordingly. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 4-44.
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system is
automatically enabled whenever you start your vehicle.
To assist the driver with vehicle directional control,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should always
leave the system on. But, you can turn ESC off if you ever
need to.5-6

If the vehicle is in cruise control when the system begins
to assist the driver maintain directional control of the
vehicle, the ESC/TCS light will flash and the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to use cruise again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. SeeCruise Control on
page 4-6.
The ESC/TCS button is
located on the instrument
panel.
The traction control system can be turned off or back on
by pressing the ESC/TCS button. To disable both traction
control and ESC, press and hold the button briefly.
When the ESC system is turned off, the TRACTION
CONTROL OFF message will appear, and the ESC/TCS
light will be on solid to warn the driver that both
traction control and ESC are disabled.
It is recommended to leave the system on for normal
driving conditions, but it may be necessary to turn the
system off if your vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice or
snow, and you want to “rock” your vehicle to attempt tofree it. It may also be necessary to turn off the system
when driving in extreme off-road conditions where high
wheel spin is required. SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 5-19.
ESC may also turn off automatically if it determines that
a problem exists with the system. The SERVICE
STABILITRAK message and the ESC/TCS light will be
on solid to warn the driver that ESC is disabled and
requires service. If the problem does not clear after
restarting the vehicle, you should see your dealer/retailer
for service. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 4-44for more information.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 6-3for more information.
Traction Control System (TCS)The vehicle may have a Traction Control System (TCS)
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system reduces engine power and may also upshift
the transmission and apply the front brakes to limit
wheel spin.
5-7

This light will flash when
the TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
The system may be heard or felt while it is working, but
this is normal.
If cruise control is being used when TCS begins to limit
wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. Cruise control may be reengaged when road
conditions allow. SeeCruise Control on page 4-6.
The TCS operates in all transmission shift lever
positions. But the system can upshift the transmission
only as high as the shift lever position chosen, so
use the lower gears only when necessary. See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 3-24.When the system is on,
this warning light comes
on and stays on if there is
a problem.
A SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL message also
appears on the DIC. When this warning light is on, the
system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4-44for more information.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, TCS should always be left on. But the
system can be turned off if needed. Turn the system off
if the vehicle gets stuck in sand, mud or snow and
rocking the vehicle is required. SeeRocking Your
Vehicle to Get It Out on page 5-20andIf Your Vehicle
is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 5-19
for more information.
5-8

To turn the system on or
off, press the Traction
Control button located on
the instrument panel.
When the system is turned off, the traction control
warning light comes on and TRACTION CONTROL OFF
appears on the DIC. If the traction control system is
limiting wheel spin when the button is pressed to turn the
system off, the warning light comes on and the system
will turn off right away.
Press the Traction Control button again to turn the
system back on. The Traction Control warning light
should go off.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
the vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 6-3for more information.
SteeringPower SteeringIf power steering assist is lost because the engine stops
or the system is not functioning, the vehicle can be
steered but it will take more effort.Steering TipsIt is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
Traction in a curve depends on the condition of the tires
and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is
banked, and vehicle speed. While in a curve, speed is
the one factor that can be controlled.
If there is a need to reduce speed, do it before entering
the curve, while the front wheels are straight.
Try to adjust the speed so you can drive through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait
to accelerate until out of the curve, and then accelerate
gently into the straightaway.
5-9