2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA Owners Manual

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-5772216) -
2014 - 2nd crc - 5/14/13
Driving and Operating 9-25
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of
the vehicle puts too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. This happens when
parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not
done properly, then it is difficult to
shift out of P (Park). To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park). To find
out how, see“Shifting Into Park”
listed previously.
If torque lock does occur, your
vehicle may need to be pushed
uphill by another vehicle to relieve
the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).
If you are towing a trailer and
parking on a hill, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9-61.
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic shift lock release system.
The shift lock release is
designed to:
.Prevent ignition key removal (if
equipped) unless the shift lever
is in P (Park) with the shift lever
button fully released.
.Prevent movement of the shift
lever out of P (Park), unless the
ignition is in ON/RUN and the
brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See Jump Starting (with or
without eAssist) on page 10-72 or
Jump Starting (On-board with
eAssist Only) on page 10-71. To shift out of P (Park):
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Place the ignition in ON/RUN.
3. Press the shift lever button.
4. Move the shift lever to the
desired position.
If still unable to shift out of P (Park):
1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. Hold the brake pedal down and press the shift lever button
again.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem
shifting, see your dealer.

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-5772216) -
2014 - 2nd crc - 5/14/13
9-26 Driving and Operating
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Engine Exhaust
{Warning
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation (parking
garages, tunnels, deep snow
that may block underbody
airflow or tail pipes).
.The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
.The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
.The vehicle exhaust system
has been modified, damaged,
or improperly repaired.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle:
.Drive it only with the windows
completely down.
.Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-5772216) -
2014 - 2nd crc - 5/14/13
Driving and Operating 9-27
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to
be sure the vehicle will not move.
SeeShifting Into Park on page 9-24
and Engine Exhaust on page 9-26.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9-61.
Automatic
Transmission
P (Park): This position locks the
front wheels. It is the best position
to use when you start the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park on
page 9-24.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. You must fully apply the
brake pedal then press the shift
lever button before you can shift
from P (Park) while the ignition key

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-5772216) -
2014 - 2nd crc - 5/14/13
9-28 Driving and Operating
is in ON/RUN. If you cannot shift out
of P (Park), ease pressure on the
shift lever and push the shift lever
all the way into P (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into another
gear. SeeShifting out of Park on
page 9-25.
R (Reverse): Use this gear to
back up.
{Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9-9. N (Neutral):
In this position, the
engine does not connect with the
wheels. To restart the engine when
the vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
{Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
D (Drive): This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy. If you need more
power for passing, and you are:
.Accelerating slowly or
maintaining a constant speed,
push the accelerator pedal about
halfway down.
.Accelerating quickly or passing,
push the accelerator all the
way down.
M (Manual Mode): This position
allows you to change gears similar
to a manual transmission. If the
vehicle has this feature, see Manual
Mode on page 9-29.

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-5772216) -
2014 - 2nd crc - 5/14/13
Driving and Operating 9-29
Manual Mode
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
To use this feature (if equipped):
1. Move the shift lever fromD (Drive) rearward to
M (Manual Mode).
While driving in Manual Mode,
the transmission will remain in
the driver selected gear. When
coming to a stop in the manual
position, the vehicle will
automatically shift into
1 (First) gear.
2. Using the button on the shift lever, press the + (plus) end of
the button to upshift, or press
the −(minus) end of the button
to downshift.
The Driver Information Center (DIC)
in the instrument cluster will change
from the currently displayed
message to the letter “M,”for
Manual position, and a number
indicating the requested gear. While using the DSC feature the
transmission will have firmer shifting
and sportier performance. You can
use this for sport driving or when
climbing hills to stay in gear longer
or to downshift for more power or
engine braking.
The transmission will only allow you
to shift into gears appropriate for the
vehicle speed and engine
revolutions per minute (rpm):
.The transmission will not allow
shifting to the next higher gear if
the vehicle speed or engine rpm
is too low.
.The transmission will not allow
shifting to the next lower gear if
the vehicle speed or engine rpm
is too high.
Second Gear Start Feature
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
you may want to shift into
2 (Second) gear. A higher gear
allows you to gain more traction on
slippery surfaces. With the DSC feature, the vehicle
can be set to pull away in
2 (Second) gear.
1. Move the shift lever from
D (Drive) to M (Manual Mode).
2. With the vehicle stopped, press the + (plus) end of the button to
select 2 (Second) gear. The
vehicle will start from a stop
position in 2 (Second) gear.
3. Once moving, select the desired drive gear.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-5772216) -
2014 - 2nd crc - 5/14/13
9-30 Driving and Operating
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has ABS, an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the vehicle begins to drive
away, ABS checks itself.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
might be heard while this test is
going on, and it might even be
noticed that the brake pedal moves
a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5-21. If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
you steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You might hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate, but this is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake
at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-5772216) -
2014 - 2nd crc - 5/14/13
Driving and Operating 9-31
Parking Brake
If equipped with an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB), the switch is on the
left side of the instrument panel.
The EPB can always be activated,
even if the ignition is off. To prevent
draining the battery, avoid repeated
cycles of the EPB when the engine
is not running.The system has a red parking brake
status light and an amber parking
brake warning light. See
Electric
Parking Brake Light on page 5-21
and Service Electric Parking Brake
Light on page 5-21. There are also
parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.
See Brake System Messages on
page 5-31. In case of insufficient
electrical power, the EPB cannot be
applied or released.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the red parking brake status light to
ensure that the parking brake is
applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Lift up the EPB switch momentarily.
The red parking brake status light
will flash and then stay on once the
EPB is fully applied. If the red
parking brake status light flashes continuously, then the EPB is only
partially applied or there is a
problem with the EPB. A DIC
message will display. Release the
EPB and try to apply it again. If the
light does not come on, or keeps
flashing, have the vehicle serviced.
Do not drive the vehicle if the red
parking brake status light is flashing.
See your dealer. See
Electric
Parking Brake Light on page 5-21.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, lift up on the EPB switch
and hold it up. Continue to hold the
switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber
parking brake warning light remains
on, see your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the
vehicle is moving, the vehicle will
decelerate as long as the switch is
held up. If the switch is held up until
the vehicle comes to a stop, the
EPB will remain applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when
the vehicle is not moving. This is

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-5772216) -
2014 - 2nd crc - 5/14/13
9-32 Driving and Operating
normal, and is done to periodically
check the correct operation of the
EPB system.
If the EPB fails to apply, the rear
wheels should be blocked to
prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Place the ignition in the ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN
position.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Push down momentarily on the EPB switch.
The EPB is released when the red
parking brake status light is off.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, release the EPB by
pushing down on the EPB switch
and holding it down. Continue to
hold the switch until the red parking
brake status light is off. If either light
stays on after release is attempted,
see your dealer.
{Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
If parking on a hill, or if the vehicle
is pulling a trailer, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9-61.
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a brake assist
feature designed to assist the driver
in stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature
automatically uses the stability
system hydraulic brake control
module to supplement the power
brake system under conditions
where the driver has quickly and
forcefully applied the brake pedal in
an attempt to quickly stop or slow
down the vehicle. The stability
system hydraulic brake control
module increases brake pressure at
each corner of the vehicle until the
ABS activates. Minor brake pedal
pulsation or pedal movement during
this time is normal and the driver
should continue to apply the brake
pedal as the driving situation
dictates. The brake assist feature
will automatically disengage when
the brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.