2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA warning light

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-29
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
This message displays when the
system detects that the battery
voltage is dropping beyond a
reasonable level. The battery saver
system starts reducing certain
features of the vehicle that you may
be able to notice. At the point that
the features are disabled, this
message is displayed. It means
that the vehicle is trying to save the
charge in the battery.
Turn off all unnecessary
accessories to allow the battery
to recharge.
The normal battery voltage range is
11.5 to 15.5 volts.
SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM
This message displays when there
is a problem with the generator and
battery charging systems. Driving
with this problem could drain the
battery. Turn off all unnecessary
accessories. Stop and turn off the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so. Have the electrical system
checked by your dealer immediately.
Brake System Messages
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays when
service is required on the brake
system. Have the brake system
serviced by your dealer as soon as
possible. The brake system warning
light also appears on the instrument
panel cluster when this message
appears on the DIC. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on
page 5‑19.
Door Ajar Messages
DRIVER DOOR OPEN
This message displays when the
driver door is not closed properly.
Make sure that the door is closed
completely.
HOOD OPEN
If your vehicle has the remote start
feature, this message displays when
the hood is not closed properly.
Make sure that the hood is closed
completely. See Hood on page 10‑5.
LEFT REAR DOOR OPEN
This message displays when the
driver side rear door is not closed
properly. Make sure that the door is
closed completely.
PASSENGER DOOR OPEN
This message displays when the
front passenger door is not closed
properly. Make sure that the door is
closed completely.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-31
Have the climate control system
serviced by your dealer if you notice
a drop in heating and air
conditioning efficiency.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when
service is required for the vehicle.
See your dealer. SeeEngine Oil on
page 10‑8 andScheduled
Maintenance on page 11‑2 for more
information.
Acknowledging the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message will
not reset the OIL LIFE REMAINING.
That must be done at the OIL LIFE
screen under the vehicle information
menu. See “Oil Life”underDriver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑24 andEngine Oil Life
System on page 10‑10.
OIL PRESSURE LOW
STOP ENGINE
Notice: If you drive the vehicle
while the engine oil pressure is
low, severe engine damage may
occur. If a low oil pressure
warning appears on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), stop the
vehicle as soon as possible.
Do not drive the vehicle until the
cause of the low oil pressure is
corrected. See Engine Oil on
page 10‑8 for more information.
This message displays when the
vehicle's engine oil pressure is low.
The oil pressure light also appears
on the instrument panel cluster.
See Engine Oil Pressure Light on
page 5‑23.
Stop the vehicle immediately, as
engine damage can result from
driving a vehicle with low oil
pressure. Have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer as soon as possible
when this message is displayed.
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's engine power is reduced.
Reduced engine power can affect
the vehicle's ability to accelerate.
If this message is on, but there is no
reduction in performance, proceed
to your destination. The
performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven. The
vehicle may be driven at a reduced
speed while this message is on, but
acceleration and speed may be
reduced. Anytime this message
stays on, the vehicle should be
taken to your dealer for service as
soon as possible.

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-33
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 as soon as possible.
SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL
If 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 5‑21. See Traction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑29 for
more information. Have the TCS
serviced by your dealer as soon
as possible.
STABILITRAK NOT READY
If your vehicle has Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), this
message may display and the
ESC/TCS light on the instrument
panel cluster may be on after first driving the vehicle and exceeding
30 km/h (19 mph) for 30 seconds.
The ESC system is not functional
until the light has turned off. See
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on
page 9‑31
for more information.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
If your vehicle has the Traction
Control System (TCS), this
message displays when the
TCS turns off. See Traction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑29 for
more information.
This message may display when
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. See Traction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑29 for
more information.
.The battery is low.
.There is a TCS failure. See your
dealer for service.
TRACTION CONTROL ON
If your vehicle has the Traction
Control System (TCS), this message
displays when the TCS is turned on.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑29 for more information.
Airbag System Messages
SERVICE AIR BAG
This message displays when there
is a problem with the airbag system.
Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer immediately. See Airbag
Readiness Light on page 5‑15 for
more information.

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-35
Several conditions may cause this
message to appear. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10‑47 for more information.
If the warning comes on and stays
on, there may be a problem with the
TPMS. See your dealer.
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the TPMS
is re-learning the tire positions on
your vehicle. The tire positions must
be re-learned after rotating the tires
or after replacing a tire or sensor.
See Tire Inspection on page 10‑51,
Tire Rotation on page 10‑51, Tire
Pressure Monitor System on
page 10‑46, and Tire Pressure on
page 10‑44 for more information.
TIRE LOW ADD AIR TO TIRE
On 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. See Tire
Pressure Light on page 5‑22. 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 and Loading Information label.
See Tires on page 10‑38, Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑12, and
Tire Pressure on page 10‑44. The DIC also shows the tire
pressure values. See
Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑24.
Transmission Messages
SERVICE TRANSMISSION
This message displays when there
is a problem with the transmission.
See your dealer for service.
TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE
ENGINE
This 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 as soon as possible.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Lighting 6-1
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . 6-2
Headlamp High/Low-BeamChanger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/Automatic
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 6-4
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Delayed Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . 6-7
Delayed Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Parade Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Battery Load Management . . . . 6-7
Battery Power Protection . . . . . . 6-8

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
6-4 Lighting
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)/Automatic
Headlamp System
Daytime 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.
Hazard Warning Flashers
The hazard warning flashers let
you warn others that you have a
problem.
The hazard warning flasher button
is located on top of the steering
column.
|:
Press to make the front and
rear turn signal lamps flash on and
off. Press the button again to turn
the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers
are on, the turn signals will
not work.

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-3
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 means
that 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 Vehicle
The 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. See Traction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑29.
Adding non‐dealer accessories
can affect vehicle performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑3.
Braking
See Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑19.
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average reaction time is about
three‐fourths of a second. But that
is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as
two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and
eyesight all play a part. So do
alcohol, drugs, and frustration.
But even in three‐fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft). That could be a lot of
distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between
the vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping
distances vary greatly with the
surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of
the road, whether it is wet, dry,
or icy; tire tread; the condition of the
brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force
applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking.
Some people drive in
spurts
—heavy acceleration
followed by heavy braking —rather
than keeping pace with traffic. This
is a mistake. The brakes might not
have time to cool between hard
stops. The brakes will wear out
much faster with a lot of heavy
braking. Keeping pace with the
traffic and allowing realistic following
distances eliminates a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-7
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to
drive through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under your vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. SeeTires on
page 10‑38.
.Turn off cruise control.