2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA child seat

In Brief........................................................... 1-1
Instrument Panel
........................................ 1-2
Initial Drive Information
............................... 1-4
Vehicle Features
......................................1-15
Performance and Maintenance
...................1-19
Seats and Restraint System............................. 2-1
Head Restraints
......................................... 2-2
Front Seats
............................................... 2-4
Rear Seats
..............................................2-10
Safety Belts
.............................................2-12
Child Restraints
.......................................2-32
Airbag System
.........................................2-56
Restraint System Check
............................2-74
Features and Controls..................................... 3-1
Keys
........................................................ 3-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 3-9
Windows
.................................................3-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................3-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........3-19
Mirrors
....................................................3-33Universal Home Remote System
................3-35
Storage Areas
.........................................3-42
Sunroof
..................................................3-43
Instrument Panel............................................. 4-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 4-3
Climate Controls
......................................4-16
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
. . . . . . . . 4-21
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................4-37
Audio System(s)
.......................................4-57
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 5-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle
....... 5-2
Towing
...................................................5-26
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 6-1
Service
..................................................... 6-3
Fuel
......................................................... 6-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............6-12
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................6-43
Bulb Replacement
....................................6-43
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
. . . . . . . . . 6-49
2010 Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual
M

Safety BeltRefer to the following sections for important information
on how to use safety belts properly.•
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone on page 2-12.
•
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly on page 2-17.
•
Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 2-25.
•
Lap Belt on page 2-30.
•
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
on page 2-43.
Sensing System for Passenger
AirbagThe passenger sensing system will turn off the right
front passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions.
The driver airbags, seat-side impact airbags, and
roof-rail airbags are not affected by this.
The passenger airbag status indicator will be visible on
the instrument panel when the vehicle is started.
SeePassenger Sensing System on page 2-66for
important information.
United States
Canada
1-9

Head Restraints...............................................2-2
Front Seats......................................................2-4
Manual Seats................................................2-4
Power Seats..................................................2-5
Manual Lumbar..............................................2-5
Heated Seats.................................................2-6
Reclining Seatbacks........................................2-6
Center Seat . . .................................................2-9
Rear Seats.....................................................2-10
Split Folding Rear Seat.................................2-10
Safety Belts...................................................2-12
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone................2-12
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly.................2-17
Lap-Shoulder Belt.........................................2-25
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy..................2-30
Lap Belt......................................................2-30
Safety Belt Extender.....................................2-31
Child Restraints.............................................2-32
Older Children..............................................2-32
Infants and Young Children............................2-35
Child Restraint Systems.................................2-39Where to Put the Restraint.............................2-42
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH)..................................................2-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position...................................................2-49
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Front Seat Position....................................2-52
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position....................................2-52
Airbag System...............................................2-56
Where Are the Airbags? . . ..............................2-59
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . ...................2-61
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?.......................2-63
How Does an Airbag Restrain?.......................2-63
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? . . . . .2-64
Passenger Sensing System............................2-66
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
...........2-72
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle....................................................2-73
Restraint System Check..................................2-74
Checking the Restraint Systems......................2-74
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash...................................................2-75
Section 2 Seats and Restraint System
2-1

Lap-Shoulder BeltAll seating positions in the vehicle have a lap-shoulder
except for the center front passenger position, if
your vehicle has one, which has a lap belt. SeeLap
Belt on page 2-30for more information.
The following instructions explain how to wear a
lap-shoulder belt properly.
1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can
sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Do not let it get twisted.
The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a passenger belt is pulled
out all the way, the child restraint locking feature
may be engaged. If this happens, let the belt
go back all the way and start again.
Engaging the child restraint locking feature in the
right front seating position may affect the passenger
sensing system. SeePassenger Sensing System
on page 2-66.3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
If the latch plate will not go fully into the buckle,
check if the correct buckle is being used.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
If the belt is not long enough, seeSafety Belt
Extender on page 2-31.
Position the release button on the buckle so that
the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.
2-25

Shoulder Belt Height AdjusterThe vehicle has shoulder belt height adjusters for the
driver and right front passenger positions.
Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt
is centered on the shoulder. The belt should be away
from the face and neck, but not falling off the shoulder.
Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could
reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash.
Squeeze the buttons (A)
on the sides of the height
adjuster and move the
height adjuster to the
desired position.
You can move the adjuster up just by pushing up on the
shoulder belt guide.
After the adjuster is set to the desired position, try to
move it down without squeezing the buttons to
make sure it has locked into position.
Safety Belt PretensionersThis vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for front
outboard occupants. Although the safety belt
pretensioners cannot be seen, they are part of the
safety belt assembly. They can help tighten the safety
belts during the early stages of a moderate to severe
frontal and near frontal crash if the threshold conditions
for pretensioner activation are met. And, if the vehicle
has side impact airbags, safety belt pretensioners
can help tighten the safety belts in a side crash.
Pretensioners work only once. If the pretensioners
activate in a crash, they will need to be replaced, and
probably other new parts for the vehicle’s safety
belt system. SeeReplacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash on page 2-75.Rear Safety Belt Comfort GuidesThis vehicle may have rear shoulder belt comfort guides
for each outboard passenger position in the rear seat. If
not, they are available through your dealer/retailer. The
guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older
children who have outgrown booster seats and for some
adults. When installed and properly adjusted, the comfort
guide positions the belt away from the neck and head.
2-27

To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown
until the belt is snug.
If the belt is not long enough, seeSafety Belt Extender
on page 2-31.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned
so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt
quickly if necessary.
Safety Belt ExtenderIf the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer/retailer
will order you an extender. When you go in to order it,
take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will
be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do
not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it
is made to fit. The extender has been designed for adults.
Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, attach it
to the regular safety belt. For more information, see the
instruction sheet that comes with the extender.
2-31

Child RestraintsOlder ChildrenOlder children who have outgrown booster seats should
wear the vehicle’s safety belts.The manufacturer’s instructions that come with the
booster seat, state the weight and height limitations for
that booster. Use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder
belt until the child passes the below fit test:
•
Sit all the way back on the seat. Do the knees bend
at the seat edge? If yes, continue. If no, return to
the booster seat.
•
Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the shoulder belt
rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue. If no, try
using the rear safety belt comfort guide. See “Rear
Safety Belt Comfort Guides” underLap-Shoulder
Belt on page 2-25for more information. If the
shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder,
then return to the booster seat.
•
Does the lap belt fit low and snug on the hips,
touching the thighs? If yes, continue. If no, return to
the booster seat.
•
Can proper safety belt fit be maintained for
length of trip? If yes, continue. If no, return to the
booster seat.
If you have the choice, a child should sit in a position
with a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a
shoulder belt can provide.
2-32

Q:
What is the proper way to wear safety belts?
A:
An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can
provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face
or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly below the
hips, just touching the top of the thighs. This applies
belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash.
It should never be worn over the abdomen, which
could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in
a crash.
Also see “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under
Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 2-25.
According to accident statistics, children and infants
are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike
other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown
out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety
belts properly.
{
WARNING:
Never do this.
Never allow two children to wear the same safety
belt. The safety belt can not properly spread the
impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be
crushed together and seriously injured. A safety
belt must be used by only one person at a time.
2-33