
Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9921197) -
2017 - crc - 3/30/16
184 Climate Controls
allows higher humidity inside the
vehicle and window fogging before
the engine restarts.
Pressing
0during an auto stop
may restart the engine to prevent
window fogging. To reach comfort
levels quickly during an auto stop,
the engine will restart if the air
conditioner is off and A/C is
selected.
If temperature controls are adjusted
cooler during an auto stop, the
engine may restart to ensure that
comfort is reached.
L: Press to turn on
recirculation. An indicator light
comes on. Air is recirculated to
quickly cool the inside of the vehicle
or reduce the outside air and odors
that may enter.
Rear Window Defogger
K: Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light
on the button comes on to show that
the rear window defogger is on.
The upper region of gridlines on the
rear window are antenna lines and
are not intended to heat when the
defogger is activated.
If equipped with heated outside
rearview mirrors, they turn on with
the rear window defogger and help
to clear fog or frost from the surface
of the mirror. See Heated
Mirrors 047.
Caution
Using a razor blade or sharp
object on the inside rear window
can damage the antenna or
defogger. Repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Do not stick anything to the rear
window.

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9921197) -
2017 - crc - 3/30/16
Climate Controls 187
For best results, clear all snow and
ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
A/C (For Non-Stop/Start
Vehicles) :Press to turn the air
conditioning on or off. If the fan is
turned off, the air conditioner will not
run and the indicator light may
turn off.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation and the air conditioner
runs as needed. When the indicator
light is on, the air conditioner runs
automatically to cool the air inside
the vehicle or to dry the air as
needed to defog the windshield
faster.
A/C (For Stop/Start Vehicles) :
Press to cycle between the off, eco,
and comfort air conditioning modes.
The indicator will be lit in comfort
and eco modes and turns off when
there is no A/C function. If the fan is
turned off, the air conditioner will not
run and the indicator light may
turn off.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation and the air conditioner
runs automatically as needed. When the indicator light is on, the air
conditioner runs automatically to
cool the air inside the vehicle or to
dry the air as needed to defog the
windshield faster.
For comfort a/c, press A/C. The
indicator will turn amber.
For eco a/c, press A/C again. The
indicator will turn green. This setting
balances fuel economy and air
conditioning comfort. In warm
weather conditions, auto stops may
occur more frequently and the
vehicle interior may be warmer as
compared to the comfort air
conditioning setting. This setting
allows higher humidity inside the
vehicle and window fogging before
the engine restarts.
Pressing
0during an auto stop
may restart the engine to prevent
window fogging. To reach comfort
levels quickly during an auto stop,
the engine will restart if the air
conditioner is off and AUTO or A/C
is selected. If temperature controls are adjusted
cooler during an auto stop, the
engine may restart to ensure that
comfort is reached.
L:
Press to turn on
recirculation. An indicator light
comes on. Air is recirculated to
quickly cool the inside of the vehicle
or prevent outside air and odors
from entering.
Auto Defog : The climate control
system may have a sensor to
automatically detect high humidity
inside the vehicle. When high
humidity is detected, the climate
control system may adjust to
outside air supply and turn on the
air conditioner. The fan speed may
slightly increase to help prevent
fogging. If the climate control
system does not detect possible
window fogging, it returns to normal
operation. To turn Auto Defog off or
on, see “Climate and Air Quality”
under Vehicle
Personalization 0139.

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9921197) -
2017 - crc - 3/30/16
Driving and Operating 191
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 196
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 196
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 198
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 202
Ignition Positions (Key Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Ignition Positions (Keyless Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 212
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 215
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 217
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 221
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 228
Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 229
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 235
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 239
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9921197) -
2017 - crc - 3/30/16
Driving and Operating 193
Refer to the Infotainment section for
more information on using that
system, including pairing and using
a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means“always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the safety belt. See Safety
Belts 063.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time. Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.
Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9921197) -
2017 - crc - 3/30/16
Driving and Operating 195
3. Turn the steering wheel to gostraight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
. Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go. The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Track Events and
Competitive Driving
Racing, track testing, or competitive
driving may affect the vehicle
warranty. See the warranty manual
before using the vehicle for racing
or other competitive driving.
Caution
If the vehicle is used for track
events and competitive driving,
the engine may use more oil than
it would with normal use. Low oil
levels can damage the engine.
Check the oil level often and
maintain the proper level. See
Engine Oil 0256.
For the 2.5L L4 Engine Only: Add
and keep the oil level at 1 L (1 qt)
above the high mark when driving
under these conditions. For
information on how to check and
add oil, see Engine Oil0256
For the 3.6L Engine Only: Add and
keep the oil level at 0.5 L (0.5 qt)
above the high mark when driving

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9921197) -
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196 Driving and Operating
under these conditions. For
information on how to check and
add oil, seeEngine Oil0256.
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 the
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 the 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 the 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. See Tires0283.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9921197) -
2017 - crc - 3/30/16
Driving and Operating 197
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line. .
Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick. .
Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0218.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0215.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside

Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9921197) -
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198 Driving and Operating
Assistance Program0346. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0211.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See Traction
Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0218.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth