2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA Owners Manual

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-23
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.See Parking Brake on
page 9‑30.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition on, but do not start the
engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.Ignition Transmission
Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF in each shift lever
position.
.The ignition should turn to
LOCK/OFF only when the shift
lever is in P (Park).
.The ignition key should come
out only in LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
10-24 Vehicle Care
.To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear or cracking. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 for more information.
Replacement blades come in
different types and are removed
in different ways. For proper
windshield wiper blade length and
type, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 11‑12.
Notice: Allowing the wiper blade
arm to touch the windshield when
no wiper blade is installed could
damage the windshield. Any
damage that occurs would not be covered by your warranty. Do not
allow the wiper blade arm to
touch the windshield.
To replace the windshield wiper
blade:
1. Pull the wiper assembly away
from the windshield.
2. Lift up on the plastic latch in themiddle of the wiper blade where
the wiper arm attaches. 3. With the latch open, pull the
wiper blade down toward the
windshield far enough to release
it from the J-hooked end of the
wiper arm.
4. Remove the wiper blade.
Allowing the wiper blade arm to
touch the windshield when no
wiper blade is installed could
damage the windshield. Any
damage that occurs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not allow the wiper
blade to touch the windshield.
5. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 for wiper blade replacement.

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-25
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp aim has been preset at
the factory and should need no
further adjustment.
However, if the vehicle is damaged
in a crash, the headlamp aim may
be affected. Aim adjustment to the
low-beam headlamps may be
necessary if oncoming drivers flash
their high-beam headlamps at you
(for vertical aim).
If the headlamps need to be
re-aimed, it is recommended that
the vehicle be taken to the dealer
for service.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, seeReplacement Bulbs on
page 10‑29.
For any bulb‐changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{WARNING
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps
A. Sidemarker
B. Low-Beam Headlamp
C. High-Beam Headlamp
D. Parking/Turn Signal Lamp

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
10-26 Vehicle Care
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood on
page 10‑5.
2. Remove the screw from the headlamp assembly.
3. Pull up on the plastic headlampretainer and remove it.
4. Pull the headlamp assembly away from the vehicle and
remove the electrical connector.
5. Remove the round dust caps to gain access to the bulbs. 6. Turn the old bulb
counterclockwise and remove
it from the retaining ring by
pulling it away from the
headlamp.
7. Remove the electrical connector from the bulb by raising the lock
tab and pulling the connector
away from the bulb's base.
8. Install the electrical connector to the bulb.
9. Install the new bulb by inserting the smallest tab on the bulb
base into the matching notch in
the retaining ring. Turn the bulb
a quarter-turn clockwise until it
stops.
10. Reinstall the dust caps.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-27
11. Push the headlamp assemblytoward the vehicle.12. Push down on the plasticheadlamp retainer to reinstall it.13. Reinstall the screw from theheadlamp assembly.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
10-28 Vehicle Care
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps
A. Rear Sidemarker Lamp
B. Back-up Lamp
C. Stoplamp/Taillamp/Turn SignalTo replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the trunk. See
Trunk on
page 2‑10.
2. Remove the convenience net (if equipped). Unhook the net
from the upper wing nut.
3. Turn the upper wing nutcounterclockwise and remove it.
4. Pull the carpet away from the rear of the vehicle.
5. Turn the two hex nutscounterclockwise to
remove them.
6. Pull out the taillamp assembly and disconnect the wiring
harness.
7. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove it.
8. Pull the old bulb straight out to remove it.
9. Push the new bulb straight in until it clicks to install it.
10. Reverse steps 1 through 7 to reinstall.

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-29
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Remove the two screws (A) fromthe license plate lamp assembly.
2. Pull the lamp assembly down and turn the bulb socket
counterclockwise and out of the
lamp assembly.
3. Pull the old bulb straight out of the socket.
4. Install the new bulb.
5. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to reinstall the license plate lamp
assembly.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb Number
Back-Up 921LL
Front Parking/Turn
Signal 3157NAK
License
Plate Lamp 194LL
Headlamps High-Beam H9
Low-Beam H11
Sidemarker 194LL
Stoplamp,
Taillamp, and Turn
Signal 3057
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.
Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload
The vehicle has fuses and circuit
breakers to protect against an
electrical system overload.
When the current electrical load is
too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes, protecting the circuit
until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed. This
greatly reduces the chance of circuit
overload and fire caused by
electrical problems.
Fuses and circuit breakers protect
power devices in the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road and
a fuse needs to be replaced, the
same amperage fuse can be
borrowed. Choose some feature of
the vehicle that is not needed to use
and replace it as soon as possible.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
10-30 Vehicle Care
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away
if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the
chance of fires caused by electrical
problems.
Look at the silver-colored band
inside the fuse. If the band is broken
or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure
you replace a bad fuse with a new
one of the identical size and rating.
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
The engine compartment fuse block
is located on the passenger side of
the engine compartment, by the
battery. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑6 for more
information on location.
Notice: Spilling liquid on any
electrical component on the
vehicle may damage it. Always
keep the covers on any electrical
component.