2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA key

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-3
If there is a decrease in the RKE
operating range:
.Check the distance. The
transmitter may be too far from
the vehicle.
.Check the location. Other
vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal.
.Check the transmitter's battery.
See“Battery Replacement” later
in this section.
.If the transmitter is still not
working correctly, see your
dealer or a qualified technician
for service.
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter functions work up to
60 m (195 ft) away from the vehicle.
There are other conditions which
can affect the performance of the
transmitter. See Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System on page 2‑2.
With Remote Start Shown, Without
Remote Start Similar
/(Remote Vehicle Start): For
vehicles with this feature, press to
start the engine from outside the
vehicle using the RKE transmitter.
See Remote Vehicle Start on
page 2‑5 for additional information.
Q(Lock):Press to lock all the
doors. If enabled through the Driver
Information Center (DIC), the
parking lamps flash once to indicate
locking has occurred. If enabled
through the DIC, the horn chirps
when
Qis pressed again within
five seconds. See Vehicle
Personalization on page 5‑37 for
additional information.
Pressing
Qmay arm the content
theft‐deterrent system. See
Anti-theft Alarm System on
page 2‑11.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
2-4 Keys, Doors, and Windows
K(Unlock):Press once to unlock
the driver door. If
Kis pressed
again within five seconds, all
remaining doors unlock. The interior
lamps come on and stay on for
20 seconds or until the ignition is
turned on. If enabled through the
DIC, the parking lamps flash twice
to indicate unlocking has occurred.
See Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑37.
Pressing
Kon the RKE transmitter
disarms the content theft‐deterrent
system. See Anti-theft Alarm
System on page 2‑11.
V(Remote Trunk Release):
Press and hold for about
one second to open the trunk. The
transmission must be in P (Park).
L(Vehicle Locator/Panic
Alarm): Press and release to
locate the vehicle. The turn signal
lamps flash and the horn sounds
three times. Press and hold
Lfor
more than two seconds to activate
the panic alarm. The turn signal
lamps flash and the horn sounds
repeatedly for 30 seconds. The
alarm turns off when the ignition is
turned to ON/RUN or
Lis pressed
again. The ignition must be in
LOCK/OFF for the panic alarm
to work.
Programming Transmitters to
the Vehicle
Only RKE transmitters programmed
to the vehicle will work. If a
transmitter is lost or stolen, a
replacement can be purchased and
programmed through your dealer.
When the replacement transmitter is
programmed to the vehicle, all remaining transmitters must also be
programmed. Any lost or stolen
transmitters no longer work once the
new transmitter is programmed.
Each vehicle can have up to eight
transmitters programmed to it. See
your dealer to program new
transmitters.
Battery Replacement
Replace the battery if the REPLACE
BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY
message displays in the DIC. See
“REPLACE BATTERY IN REMOTE
KEY”
under Key and Lock
Messages on page 5‑33 for
additional information.
Notice: When replacing the
battery, do not touch any of the
circuitry on the transmitter. Static
from your body could damage the
transmitter.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-5
To replace the battery:
1. Separate the transmitter with aflat, thin object, such as a flat
head screwdriver.
.Carefully insert the tool into
the notch located along the
parting line of the
transmitter. Do not insert
the tool too far. Stop as
soon as resistance is felt.
.Twist the tool until the
transmitter is separated. 2. Remove the old battery. Do not
use a metal object.
3. Insert the new battery, positive side facing down. Replace with a
CR2032 or equivalent battery.
4. Snap the transmitter back together.
Remote Vehicle Start
Your vehicle may have a remote
starting feature that allows you to
start the engine from outside the
vehicle. It may also start the
vehicle's heating or air conditioning
systems and rear window defogger.
When the remote start system is
active and the vehicle has an
automatic climate control system, it
will automatically regulate the inside
temperature. Normal operation of
these systems will return after the
ignition key is turned to ON/RUN. Laws in some communities may
restrict the use of remote starters.
For example, some laws may
require a person using remote start
to have the vehicle in view when
doing so. Check local regulations for
any requirements on remote starting
of vehicles.
Do not use the remote start feature
if your vehicle is low on fuel. Your
vehicle may run out of fuel.
If your vehicle has the remote start
feature, the RKE transmitter
functions will have an increased
range of operation. However, the
range may be less while the vehicle
is running.
There are other conditions which
can affect the performance of the
transmitter. See
Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System on page 2‑2.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
2-6 Keys, Doors, and Windows
/(Remote Start):This button will
be on the RKE transmitter if you
have remote start.
To start the vehicle using the remote
start feature:
1. Aim the transmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press and release
Q, then
immediately press and hold
/
for two to four seconds or until
the vehicle's turn signal lamps
flash. The doors will lock.
When the vehicle starts, the
parking lamps turn on and
remain on while the engine is
running.
The remote start feature provides
two separate starts per ignition
cycle, each with 10 minutes of
engine running time, or one start
with a time extension. The first start
must expire or be canceled to get
two separate 10-minute starts. If it is the first remote start since the
vehicle has been driven, repeat the
previous steps, while the engine is
still running, to extend the engine
running time by 10 minutes from the
time you repeat the steps for remote
starting. The remote start running
time can be extended one time and
only after the first remote start.
After entering the vehicle during a
remote start, insert and turn the key
to ON/RUN to drive the vehicle.
The engine will shut off
automatically after 10 minutes,
unless a time extension has been
done or the vehicle's key is inserted
into the ignition switch and turned to
ON/RUN.
To manually shut off a remote start,
do any of the following.
.Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle and press and
release
/.
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Turn the ignition switch out of
LOCK/OFF and then back to
LOCK/OFF.
After the engine has been started
two times, or one time with a time
extension, the vehicle's ignition
must be turned to ON/RUN using
the key before the remote start
procedure can be used again. See
Ignition Positions on page 9‑16 for
information regarding the ignition
positions on your vehicle.

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-7
The remote vehicle start feature will
not operate if any of the follow
occur:
.The vehicle's key is in the
ignition.
.The vehicle's hood is open.
.The hazard warning flashers
are on.
.The check engine light is on.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 5‑16.
.The engine coolant temperature
is too high.
.The oil pressure is low.
.The content theft-deterrent alarm
has been activated.
.Two remote vehicle starts,
or one start with a time
extension, have already been
provided for that ignition cycle.
Door Locks
{WARNING
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
.Passengers, especially
children, can easily open the
doors and fall out of a moving
vehicle. When a door is
locked, the handle will not
open it. The chance of being
thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash is increased if the
doors are not locked. So, all
passengers should wear
safety belts properly and the
doors should be locked
whenever the vehicle is
driven.
.Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child can
be overcome by extreme heat
and can suffer permanent
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
injuries or even death from
heat stroke. Always lock the
vehicle whenever leaving it.
.Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when you slow down or stop
the vehicle. Locking the doors
can help prevent this from
happening.
From the outside, use the key in the
driver door or use the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter to
lock and unlock the vehicle. From
the inside, use the manual or power
door locks.
To lock or unlock the driver side
door from the outside with the key,
insert the key and turn it clockwise
or counterclockwise.
To lock or unlock the door from the
inside, push or pull the manual
lock knob.

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
2-8 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Power Door Locks
A power door lock switch is located
on both front doors next to the door
handle.
Press the top of the switch to unlock
all doors or press the bottom of the
switch to lock all doors.
If the vehicle has the optional
content theft-deterrent system and it
is armed, the power door lock
switches will be disabled. You must
use the RKE transmitter or the keyto unlock the doors when the
system is armed. See
Anti-theft
Alarm System on page 2‑11.
Delayed Locking
This feature allows the driver to
delay the actual locking of the
doors. When the driver power door
lock switch is pressed with the key
removed from the ignition, and the
driver door open, a chime will sound
three times to signal that the
delayed locking system is active.
When all doors have been closed,
the doors will lock automatically
after several seconds. If any door is
opened before this, the timer will
reset itself once all the doors have
been closed again.
Pressing the driver or passenger
power door lock switch again or the
RKE transmitter button will override
this feature.
Personal Choice Programming
The delayed locking feature can be
turned on or off, using the Driver
Information Center (DIC) to program
this feature. See “DELAY DOOR
LOCK” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑37.
Automatic Door Locks
The doors will automatically lock
when the shift lever is moved out of
P (Park). The automatic door locking
feature cannot be disabled.
Programmable Automatic Door
Unlock
The vehicle is programmed so that
when the shift lever is moved into
P (Park) all doors will unlock.
With the vehicle stopped and the
engine running, door unlocking can
be programmed through prompts
displayed on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). These prompts allow
the driver to choose various unlock

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-9
settings. For programming
information, seeVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑37.
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 (10,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
2-10 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Doors
Trunk
{WARNING
Exhaust gases can enter the
vehicle if it is driven with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch open, or with
any objects that pass through the
seal between the body and the
trunk/hatch or liftgate. Engine
exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with
the liftgate, or trunk/hatch open:
.Close all of the windows.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air and
set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
.If the vehicle is equipped with
a power liftgate, disable the
power liftgate function.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑24.
Trunk Release
To open the trunk from the outside,
press
Von the RKE transmitter.
See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3.
Or, use the key in the lock cylinder,
if equipped.
Remote Trunk Release
To open the trunk from the inside,
press
V. See Trunk on page 2‑10.
The trunk can also be opened by
lowering the rear seat and pulling
the emergency trunk release handle
located inside the trunk. See Rear
Seats (Split Folding) on page 3‑8
and “Emergency Trunk Release
Handle” following.