Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
Instruments and Controls 117
safety information. The passenger
airbag status indicator is in the
overhead console.
United States
Canada
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the symbol
for on and off, for several seconds
as a system check. Then, after
several more seconds, the status
indicator will light either ON or OFF,
or the on or off symbol, to let you
know the status of the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag. If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag are allowed to
inflate.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the airbag status indicator, it
means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the
passenger sensing system. See
your dealer for service.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light 0116 for more information,
including important safety
information.
Charging System Light
The charging system light comes on
briefly when the ignition is turned
on, but the engine is not running, as
a check to show the light is working.
The light turns off when the engine
is started. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving, there may be a
problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked by your
dealer. Driving while this light is on
could drain the battery.
Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
Driving and Operating 161
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 Tires0248.
. 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.
{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 assist. 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.
Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
208 Driving and Operating
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear
before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
automatic transmission in P (Park)
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. If the overheat warning
comes on, see
Engine Overheating
0 229.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
270 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Changing a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over or fall
causing injury or death. Find a
level place to change the tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from
moving:1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatictransmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks, if equipped, on both sides of
the tire at the opposite
corner of the tire being
changed. When the vehicle has a flat tire (2),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (1), if equipped.
1. Wheel Block (If Equipped)
2. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
1. Screwdriver (If Equipped)
2. Wrench
3. Tow Hook (If Equipped)
4. Fastener (If Equipped)
5. Jack
6. Trim Removal (If Equipped)
To access the spare tire and tools:
1. Open the trunk.
2. Remove the spare tire cover.
Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
336 Index
Dual Automatic ClimateControl System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . 178
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 120
Electrical Equipment,
Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 243
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Emergency
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 217
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Engine (cont'd)
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 174
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 319
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 139
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 140
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
F
FeaturesMemory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 141 Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
FlexFuel E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 223
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Forward Automatic Braking . . . . . 197
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Front Seats
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 59
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 123
Requirements, California . . . . . 202
Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11348316) -
2018 - CRC - 8/22/17
342 Index
SystemsDriver Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
TaillampsBulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . 310
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . 42 Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 All-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Compact Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Low Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256, 258
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Pressure Monitor Operation . . 259
Pressure Monitor System . . . . . 258
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 Tires (cont'd)
Terminology and Definitions . . 254
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 268
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Towing Driving Characteristics . . . . . . . . 206
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 206
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 279
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Transportation Program,
Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Turn Signal
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
U
Umbrella Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 266
Universal Remote System . . . . . . 135Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Identification Number (VIN) . . . 304
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128