2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA heater

If the On Indicator is Lit for a Child
RestraintIf a child restraint has been installed and the on
indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items from the seat such as
blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or
seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directions
provided by the child restraint manufacturer and
refer toSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position on page 2-52.5. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting
the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, turn the
vehicle off. Then slightly recline the vehicle seatback
and adjust the seat cushion, if adjustable, to
make sure that the vehicle seatback is not pushing
the child restraint into the seat cushion.
Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped
under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens,
adjust the head restraint. SeeHead Restraints
on page 2-2.
6. Restart the vehicle.
The passenger sensing system may or may not turn off
the airbag for a child in a child restraint depending
upon the child’s seating posture and body build. It is
better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.
2-69

If the Off Indicator is Lit for an
Adult-Size OccupantIf a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front
passenger seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting properly in the seat.If this happens, use the following steps to allow the
system to detect that person and enable the right front
passenger frontal airbag:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove any additional material from the seat, such
as blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or
seat massagers.
3. Place the seatback in the fully upright position.
4. Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on
the seat cushion, with legs comfortably extended.
5. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in
this position for two to three minutes after the on
indicator is lit.2-70

Additional Factors Affecting System
OperationSafety belts help keep the passenger in position on the
seat during vehicle maneuvers and braking, which helps
the passenger sensing system maintain the passenger
airbag status. See “Safety Belts” and “Child Restraints” in
the Index for additional information about the importance
of proper restraint use.
A thick layer of additional material, such as a blanket or
cushion, or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers,
seat heaters, and seat massagers can affect how well the
passenger sensing system operates. We recommend
that you not use seat covers or other aftermarket
equipment except when approved by GM for your specific
vehicle. SeeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 2-73for more information about
modifications that can affect how the system operates.A wet seat can affect the performance of the passenger
sensing system. Here is how:
•
The passenger sensing system may turn off the
passenger airbag when liquid is soaked into the
seat. If this happens, the off indicator will be lit,
and the airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel will also be lit.
•
Liquid pooled on the seat that has not soaked
in may make it more likely that the passenger
sensing system will enable (turn on) the passenger
airbag while a child restraint or child occupant is
on the seat. If the passenger airbag is turned on,
the on indicator will be lit.
2-71

Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped VehicleQ:
Is there anything I might add to or change
about the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:
Yes. If you add things that change the vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts
of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner
or pillar garnish trim, front sensors, side impact
sensors, or airbag wiring can affect the operation of
the airbag system.
In addition, the vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger position, which
includes sensors that are part of the passenger’s
seat. The passenger sensing system may not
operate properly if the original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim, or with
GM covers, upholstery or trim designed for a
different vehicle. Any object, such as an aftermarket
seat heater or a comfort enhancing pad or device,
installed under or on top of the seat fabric,could also interfere with the operation of the
passenger sensing system. This could either
prevent proper deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the passenger sensing system
from properly turning off the passenger airbag(s).
SeePassenger Sensing System on page 2-66.
If you have any questions, call Customer
Assistance. The phone numbers and addresses
for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of
the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure on page 8-2.
Q:
Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modified. How can I find out whether
this will affect my airbag system?
A:
If you have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 8-2.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and the service manual
have information about the location of the airbag
sensors, sensing and diagnostic module and airbag
wiring.
2-73

Keys...............................................................3-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System................3-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation . . .................................................3-4
Remote Vehicle Start......................................3-7
Doors and Locks.............................................3-9
Door Locks....................................................3-9
Power Door Locks........................................3-10
Delayed Locking...........................................3-10
Automatic Door Lock.....................................3-10
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock.............3-11
Rear Door Security Locks..............................3-11
Lockout Protection........................................3-12
Trunk . . . . . . ....................................................3-12
Windows........................................................3-14
Power Windows............................................3-15
Sun Visors...................................................3-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................3-16
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................3-17
PASS-Key
®
III+ Electronic Immobilizer.............3-18
PASS-Key
®
III+ Electronic Immobilizer
Operation . . ...............................................3-18Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................3-19
New Vehicle Break-In....................................3-19
Ignition Positions..........................................3-20
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................3-21
Starting the Engine.......................................3-21
Engine Coolant Heater ..................................3-23
Automatic Transmission Operation...................3-24
Parking Brake..............................................3-27
Shifting Into Park..........................................3-28
Shifting Out of Park......................................3-29
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................3-30
Engine Exhaust............................................3-31
Running the Vehicle While Parked..................3-32
Mirrors...........................................................3-33
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................3-33
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................3-33
Outside Power Mirrors . . .................................3-34
Outside Convex Mirror . . .................................3-34
Outside Heated Mirrors ..................................3-34
Universal Home Remote System......................3-35
Universal Home Remote System Operation
(With Three Round LED)............................3-35
Section 3 Features and Controls
3-1

Engine Coolant HeaterThe engine coolant heater can provide easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm-up in cold
weather conditions at or below 0°F (−18°C). Vehicles
with an engine coolant heater should be plugged
in at least four hours before starting.To Use the Engine Coolant Heater1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is attached to the underside of the
diagonal brace, which is located above the
engine air cleaner/filter assembly.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{
WARNING:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could
cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong kind of
extension cord could overheat and cause a fire.
You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into
a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt AC
outlet. If the cord will not reach, use a heavy-duty
three-prong extension cord rated for at least
15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts, and prevent damage.
The length of time the heater should remain plugged in
depends on several factors. Ask a dealer/retailer in
the area where you will be parking the vehicle for the
best advice on this.
3-23

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

Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
shows the code letter or number that identifies the
vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at the top left of the
instrument panel. SeeVehicle Identification Number
(VIN) on page 6-95.
If the vehicle has the 3.5L V6 engine (VIN Code K)
or the 3.9L V6 engine (VIN Code M), you can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel containing up to
85% ethanol (E85). SeeFuel on page 6-5. In all other
engines, use only the unleaded gasoline described
underGasoline Octane on page 6-6.
Only vehicles that have the 3.5L V6 engine (VIN Code K)
or the 3.9L V6 engine (VIN Code M) can use 85% ethanol
fuel (E85). We encourage the use of E85 in vehicles
that are designed to use it. The ethanol in E85 is a
“renewable” fuel, meaning it is made from renewable
sources such as corn and other crops.
Many service stations will not have an 85% ethanol
fuel (E85) pump available. The U.S. Department
of Energy has an alternative fuels website
(www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/infrastructure/locator.html)
that can help you find E85 fuel. Those stations that
do have E85 should have a label indicating ethanol
content. Do not use the fuel if the ethanol content
is greater than 85%.At a minimum, E85 should meet ASTM Specification
D 5798. By definition, this means that fuel labeled E85
will have an ethanol content between 70% and 85%.
Filling the fuel tank with fuel mixtures that do not meet
ASTM specifications can affect driveability and could
cause the malfunction indicator lamp to come on.
To ensure quick starts in the wintertime, the E85 fuel
must be formulated properly for your climate according to
ASTM specification D 5798. If you have trouble starting
on E85, it could be because the E85 fuel is not properly
formulated for your climate. If this happens, switching to
gasoline or adding gasoline to the fuel tank can improve
starting. For good starting and heater efficiency below
32°F (0°C), the fuel mix in the fuel tank should contain
no more than 70% ethanol. It is best not to alternate
repeatedly between gasoline and E85. If you do switch
fuels, it is recommended that you add as much fuel as
possible — do not add less than three gallons (11 L)
when refueling. You should drive the vehicle immediately
after refueling for at least seven miles (11 km) to allow the
vehicle to adapt to the change in ethanol concentration.
6-8