Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-9
Lockout Protection
This feature helps prevent you from
locking the doors while the key is in
the ignition. Always remember to
take your key with you when exiting
the vehicle.
If the lock switch is pressed on the
door that is open and the key is in
the ignition, all of the doors will lock
and then the open door will unlock.
A chime sounds continuously until
the driver door is closed.
Safety Locks
Rear door security locks prevent
passengers from opening the rear
doors from the inside.
The rear door security locks are
located on the inside edge of each
rear door. The rear doors must be
opened to access them.To assist in finding the lock, the
vehicle has the following:To use the lock:
1. Insert the key into the security
lock slot and turn it so the slot is
in the horizontal position.
2. Close the door.
3. Do the same for the other rear door. To open a rear door when the
security lock is on, do the following:
1. Unlock the door by using the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter, if the vehicle has
one, by pressing the power door
lock switch, or by lifting the rear
door manual lock.
2. Open the door from the outside.
To cancel the rear door
security lock:
1. Unlock the door and open it from the outside.
2. Insert the key into the security lock slot and turn it so the slot is
in the vertical position.
3. Do the same for the other rear door.
Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
2-12 Keys, Doors and Windows
Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not make
it impossible to steal.
Anti-Theft Alarm System
Your vehicle may have the optional
content theft-deterrent alarm
system.
To activate the theft-deterrent
system:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with thepower door lock switch or the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. If you are using the
RKE transmitter, the door does
not need to be open.
3. Close all doors. Once armed, the alarm will go off if
someone tries to enter the vehicle
without using the RKE transmitter or
a key or turns the ignition on with an
incorrect key. The horn will sound
and the turn signal lamps will flash
for about 30 seconds.
When the alarm is armed, the
trunk may be opened with the
RKE transmitter. The power door
lock switches are disabled and the
doors remain locked. You must use
your RKE transmitter or your key to
unlock the doors when the system
is armed.
Arming with the Power Lock
Switch
The alarm system will arm when
you use either power lock switch to
lock the doors while any door is
open and the key is removed from
the ignition. The alarm system will
not arm if the trunk is open when
you use either power lock switch to
lock the doors.
Arming with the
RKE Transmitter
The alarm system will arm when
you use your RKE transmitter to
lock the doors, if the key is not in
the ignition.
Disarming with the
RKE Transmitter
The alarm system will disarm when
you use your RKE transmitter to
unlock the doors.
The first time a remote unlock
command is received, three flashes
will be seen and three horn chirps
heard to indicate an alarm condition
has occurred since last arming.
Disarming with Your Key
The alarm system will disarm
when you use your key to unlock
the doors or insert your key in
the ignition and turn it from the
LOCK/OFF position.
Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
5-32 Instruments and Controls
Fuel System Messages
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays when your
vehicle is low on fuel. Refill the fuel
tank as soon as possible. SeeFuel
Gauge on page 5‑12 andFilling the
Tank on page 9‑38 for more
information.
TIGHTEN GAS CAP
This message may be displayed if
the gas cap is not on, or is not fully
tightened. Check the gas cap to
ensure that it is on properly.
See Filling the Tank on page 9‑38
for more information.
Key and Lock Messages
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY
This message displays when the
battery in the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter needs to
be replaced. To replace the battery, see
“Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3.
Lamp Messages
AUTOMATIC LIGHT
CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the
automatic headlamps are turned off.
See Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑2 for more information.
AUTOMATIC LIGHT
CONTROL ON
This message displays when the
automatic headlamps are turned on.
SeeExterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑2 for more information.
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message displays as a
reminder to turn off the turn signal
if you drive your vehicle for more
than about 1.2 km (0.75 mile) with
a turn signal on. See Turn and
Lane-Change Signals on page 6‑5. This message displays and a chime
sounds only when the ignition is in
ON/RUN. The message will not
disappear until the turn signal is
manually turned off, or a turn is
completed.
Ride Control System
Messages
SERVICE STABILITRAK
If 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. See
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on
page 9‑31
for 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.
Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
5-38 Instruments and Controls
NO CHANGE:No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
REMOTE DOOR LOCK
This feature allows you to select the
type of feedback you will receive
when locking the vehicle with the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. You will not receive
feedback when locking the vehicle
with the RKE transmitter if any of
the doors are open. See Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3 for more
information. Press the customization button until
REMOTE DOOR LOCK appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
HORN & LIGHTS OFF:
There will
be no feedback when you press the
lock button on the RKE transmitter.
LIGHTS ONLY: The exterior lamps
will flash when you press the lock
button on the RKE transmitter.
HORN ONLY: The horn will sound
on the second press of the lock
button on the RKE transmitter.
HORN & LIGHTS ON (default):
The exterior lamps will flash when
you press the lock button on the
RKE transmitter, and the horn will
sound when the lock button is
pressed again within five seconds of
the previous command. NO CHANGE:
No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
REMOTE DOOR UNLOCK
This feature allows you to select the
type of feedback you will receive
when unlocking the vehicle with the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. You will not receive
feedback when unlocking the
vehicle with the RKE transmitter if
the doors are open. See Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3 for more
information.
Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-39
Press the customization button until
REMOTE DOOR UNLOCK appears
on the DIC display. Press the
set/reset button once to access the
settings for this feature. Then press
the customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
LIGHTS OFF:The exterior lamps
will not flash when you press the
unlock button on the RKE
transmitter.
LIGHTS ON (default): The exterior
lamps will flash when you press
the unlock button on the
RKE transmitter.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC. EXIT LIGHTING
This feature allows you to select
the amount of time you want the
exterior lamps to remain on when it
is dark enough outside. This
happens after the key is turned from
ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF.
Press the customization button until
EXIT LIGHTING appears on the DIC
display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for this
feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF:
The exterior lamps will not
turn on.
30 SECONDS (default): The
exterior lamps will stay on for
30 seconds.
1 MINUTE: The exterior lamps will
stay on for one minute.
2 MINUTES: The exterior lamps will
stay on for two minutes. NO CHANGE:
No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
APPROACH LIGHTING
This feature allows you to select
whether or not to have the exterior
lights turn on briefly during low light
periods after unlocking the vehicle
using the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter.
Press the customization button until
APPROACH LIGHTING appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF: The exterior lights will not
turn on when you unlock the vehicle
with the RKE transmitter.
Black plate (40,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
5-40 Instruments and Controls
ON (default):If it is dark enough
outside, the exterior lights will turn
on briefly when you unlock the
vehicle with the RKE transmitter.
The lights will remain on for
20 seconds or until the lock button
on the RKE transmitter is pressed,
or the vehicle is no longer off.
See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3 for
more information.
NO CHANGE : No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC. CHIME VOLUME
This feature allows you to select the
volume level of the chime.
Press the customization button until
CHIME VOLUME appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
NORMAL:
The chime volume will
be set to a normal level.
LOUD: The chime volume will be
set to a loud level.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
There is no default for chime
volume. The volume will stay at the
last known setting.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC. REMOTE START
If your vehicle has this feature, it
allows you to turn the remote start
off or on. The remote start feature
allows you to start the engine from
outside of the vehicle using the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. See
Remote Vehicle
Start on page 2‑5 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
REMOTE START appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF: The remote start feature will
be disabled.
ON (default): The remote start
feature will be enabled.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
6-6 Lighting
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
D
(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 Lamps
When 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 Lamps
The 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.
Reading Lamps
The vehicle has reading lamps that
also act as the dome lamp. Press
the button near each lamp to turn
them on and off.
Map Lamps
The 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.
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting
For 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 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.
Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-3
California Proposition
65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems,
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
remote keyless transmitters, may
contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non‐dealer accessories to
the vehicle can affect vehicle
performance and safety, including
such things as airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling,
emissions systems, aerodynamics,
durability, and electronic systems
like antilock brakes, traction control,
and stability control. Some of these
accessories could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from the installation or use
of non‐GM certified parts, including
control module modifications, is not
covered under the terms of the
vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.