2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA ignition

Turn Signal On ChimeIf either one of the turn signals are left on and the
vehicle has been driven more than 3/4 mile (1.2 km),
a chime will sound.Headlamp High/Low-Beam ChangerTo change the headlamps from low beam to high
beam, push the turn signal/multifunction lever away
from you.
This instrument panel cluster light
3
comes on if the
high beam lamps are turned on while the ignition is
in ON/RUN.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Flash-to-PassThis feature is used to signal to the vehicle ahead that
you want to pass.
If the headlamps are off or in the low-beam position,
pull the turn signal lever toward you to momentarily
switch to high-beams.
Release the lever to turn the high-beam headlamps off.
Windshield WipersTurn the band with the wiper symbol to control the
windshield wipers.8
(Mist):Single wipe, turn to
8
, then release.
Several wipes, hold the band on
8
longer.
9
(Off):Turns the windshield wipers off.
6(Adjustable Interval Wipes):Turn the band up for
more frequent wipes or down for less frequent wipes.6
(Low Speed):Slow wipes.
?
(High Speed):Fast wipes.
Clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before using
them. If frozen to the windshield, carefully loosen or
thaw them. Damaged wiper blades should be replaced.
SeeWindshield Wiper Blade Replacement on
page 6-49.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools down.
4-5

Windshield WasherAt the top of the multifunction lever, there is a paddle
with
L
on it. Push the paddle to spray washer fluid on
the windshield. The wipers run for several sweeps and
then either stop or return to the preset speed. The ignition
key must be in ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN for this to
work. SeeWindshield Washer Fluid on page 6-33.
{
WARNING:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking your
vision.
When the vehicle is low on washer fluid, the WASHER
FLUID LOW ADD FLUID displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) for 60 seconds. When the
ignition is turned off, this message displays again for
three seconds to remind you that the fluid level is low.
Until the fluid reservoir is refilled, every time the vehicle
is started, the WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID
message displays in the Driver Information Center (DIC)
for 60 seconds. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 4-44.
Cruise ControlWith cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. Cruise control does not work
at speeds below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
{
WARNING:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use the cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads.
On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and you could lose
control. Do not use cruise control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle has the Traction Control System (TCS)
and the cruise control is on, TCS will begin to limit
wheel spin and the cruise control automatically turns off.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 5-7. When
road conditions allow you to safely use it again, the cruise
control can be turned back on.
4-6

Ending Cruise ControlThere are three ways to end cruise control:•
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
•
Press the
[
button on the steering wheel.
•
Press the
T
button on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed MemoryThe cruise control set speed memory is erased by
turning off the cruise control or the ignition.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):Turns off the automatic headlamps and
daytime running lamps (DRL). Turning the headlamp
control to the off position again will turn the automatic
headlamps or DRL back on. For vehicles first sold
in Canada, the off position only works when the vehicle
is shifted into the P (Park) position.
AUTO (Automatic):Automatically turns on the
headlamps at normal brightness, together with the
following:•
Parking Lamps
•
Instrument Panel Lights
•
Taillamps
•
License Plate Lamps
4-9

;
(Parking Lamps):Turns on the parking lamps
together with the following:
•
Instrument Panel Lights
•
Taillamps
•
License Plate Lamps
2
(Headlamps):Turns on the headlamps together with
the following lamps listed below. When the headlamps
are turned on while the vehicle is on, the headlamps will
turn off automatically 10 minutes after the ignition is
turned off. When the headlamps are turned on while the
vehicle is off, the headlamps will stay on for 10 minutes
before automatically turning off to prevent the battery
from being drained. Turn the headlamp control to off
and then back to the headlamp on position to make
the headlamps stay on for an additional 10 minutes.•
Parking Lamps
•
Taillamps
•
License Plate Lamps
•
Instrument Panel Lights
#
(Fog Lamps) (If Equipped):Turns on the fog
lamps.
SeeFog Lamps on page 4-11.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp SystemDaytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running lamps are required
on all vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system makes 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, the regular headlamps, taillamps,
sidemarker, and other lamps are not on. The instrument
panel and cluster are also not on.
The headlamps automatically change from DRL to
the regular headlamps depending on the darkness of
the surroundings. The other lamps that come on with
the headlamps will also come on.
When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps go off
and the DRL come on.
The regular headlamp system should be turned on
when needed.
Do not cover the light sensor on top of the instrument
panel because it works with the DRL.
4-10

Fog Lamps#
(Fog Lamps):For vehicles with fog lamps,
the button 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
#
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.
Instrument Panel BrightnessD
(Instrument Panel Brightness):The knob with this
symbol on it is located next to the exterior lamps control
to the left of the steering wheel. Push the knob in all the
way until it extends out and then turn the knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to brighten or dim the lights. Push
the knob back in when finished.
Courtesy LampsWhen 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 LampThe center mounted dome lamp overhead comes on
when a door is opened. This lamp can also be turned
on by turning the instrument panel brightness control
clockwise.
4-11

Entry LightingFor vehicles with courtesy lamps, they 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 20 seconds
after the door is closed. If the unlock symbol is pressed
and no door is opened, 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 and
then go out. The delay time is canceled if the ignition
key is turned to ON/RUN or the power door lock switch
is pressed. 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.
Delayed Entry LightingDelayed entry lighting illuminates the interior for a
period of time after all the doors have been closed.
The ignition must be off for delayed entry lighting
to work. Immediately after all the doors have been
closed, the delayed entry lighting feature continues to
work until one of the following occurs:•
The ignition is in ON/RUN.
•
The doors are locked.
•
An illumination period of about 25 seconds has
elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period is canceled and the interior
lamps remain on.
4-12

Delayed Exit LightingThis feature illuminates the interior for a period of time
after the key is removed from the ignition.
The ignition must be off for delayed exit lighting to work.
When the key is removed, interior illumination activates
and remains on until one of the following occurs:•
The ignition is in ON/RUN.
•
The power door locks are activated.
•
An illumination period of 20 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened,
the timed illumination period will be canceled and the
interior lamps will remain on because a door is open.
Parade DimmingParade mode automatically prohibits the dimming of
the instrument panel displays during the daylight while
the headlamps are on so that the displays are still
able to be seen.Reading LampsThe vehicle has reading lamps that also act as the
dome lamp. Press the button near each lamp to turn
them on and off.
Map LampsThe vehicle has map lamps on the rearview mirror.
Press the button near each lamp on the mirror to turn
the map lamps on and off.Electric Power ManagementThe vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM) that
estimates the battery’s temperature and state of charge.
It then adjusts the voltage for best performance and
extended life of the battery.
When the battery’s state of charge is low, the voltage is
raised slightly to quickly bring the charge back up. When
the state of charge is high, the voltage is lowered slightly
to prevent overcharging. If the vehicle has a voltmeter
gage or a voltage display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the voltage move up or down.
This is normal. If there is a problem, an alert will be
displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical
loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles. This is
because the generator (alternator) may not be spinning
fast enough at idle to produce all the power that is
needed for very high electrical loads.
4-13

A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following are on, such as: headlamps, high beams,
fog lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at
high speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer
loads, and loads plugged into accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the battery.
It does this by balancing the generator’s output and the
vehicle’s electrical needs. It can increase engine idle
speed to generate more power, whenever needed.
It can temporarily reduce the power demands of some
accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without
being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels of
corrective action, this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC) message
might be displayed, such as BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE,
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW, or LOW BATTERY. If this
message is displayed, it is recommended that the driver
reduce the electrical loads as much as possible. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 4-44.
Battery Run-Down ProtectionThis feature helps prevent the battery from being drained,
if the interior courtesy lamps, reading/map lamps, visor
vanity lamps or trunk lamp are accidentally left on. If any
of these lamps are left on, they automatically turn off after
10 minutes, if the ignition is off. The lamps will not come
back on again until one of the following occurs:•
The ignition is turned on.
•
The exterior lamps control is turned off, then on
again.
The headlamps will timeout after 10 minutes, if they are
manually turned on with the ignition on or off.
4-14