Chevrolet 2003 Impala User manual

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats ............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts .............................................. 1-9
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-31
Air Bag Systems ...................................... 1-51
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-61
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-8
Windows ................................................. 2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-18
Mirrors .................................................... 2-33
OnStar
®
System ...................................... 2-37
HomeLink
®
Transmitter ............................. 2-39
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-43
Sunroof .................................................. 2-44
Vehicle Personalization ............................. 2-45
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-22
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ......... 3-28
Message Center ....................................... 3-40
Driver Information Center (DIC) .................. 3-49
Trip Computer ......................................... 3-52
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-53
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-31
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10
Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-55
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-56
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-60
Tires ...................................................... 5-61
Appearance Care ..................................... 5-85
Vehicle Identification ................................. 5-93
Electrical System ...................................... 5-94
Capacities and Specifications ................... 5-103
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts .... 5-105
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
CustomerAssistance Information ...................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information .................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-10
Index .................................................................1
2003 Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem and the name
IMPALA are registered trademarks of General Motors
Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes
after that time without further notice. For vehicles first
sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of
Canada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the
new owner can use it.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 10325249 A First Edition ©Copyright General Motors Corporation 06/19/02 All Rights Reserved
Canadian Owners
You can obtain a French copy of this manual from your
dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
How to Use This Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If
you do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you will find
that pictures and words work together to explain things.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what
is in the manual, and the page number where you will
find it.
ii

Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you
or others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,”
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t let
this happen.”
iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice will tell you about something that can damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be
covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But
the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION
and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different
words.
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
are shown along with the text describing the operation
or information relating to a specific component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator, reference the
following topics:
•Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
•Features and Controls in Section 2
•Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
•Climate Controls in Section 3
•Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3
•Audio System(s) in Section 3
•Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:
v

✍NOTES
vi

Front Seats ......................................................1-2
Manual Seats ................................................1-2
Six-Way Power Seats .....................................1-3
Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-3
Heated Seats .................................................1-4
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4
Head Restraints .............................................1-6
Rear Seats .......................................................1-7
Split Folding Rear Seat ...................................1-7
Safety Belts .....................................................1-9
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone .................1-9
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-13
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-14
Driver Position ..............................................1-15
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-22
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-23
Center Front Passenger Position .....................1-23
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-25
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults .......................................1-28
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-30
Child Restraints .............................................1-31
Older Children ..............................................1-31
Infants and Young Children ............................1-33
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-37
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-40
Top Strap ....................................................1-41
Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-42
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System .........................................1-45
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position ...................................................1-45
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position ............................................1-48
Air Bag Systems ............................................1-51
Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-54
When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ....................1-56
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .....................1-57
How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-57
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? ...1-58
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-60
Restraint System Check ..................................1-61
Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-61
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a
Crash ......................................................1-62
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Front Seats
Manual Seats
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving. If your vehicle has manual seats, lift the bar located
under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to
where you want it and release the bar. Try to move
the seat back and forth to be sure the seat is locked
in place.
1-2

Six-Way Power Seats
If your vehicle has this feature, the control is located on
the outboard side of the front seats toward the front
of the seat cushion. To adjust the seat do any of
the following:
•Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the
control to the front or the rear.
•Raise or lower the seat by sliding the control up or
down.
•Raise or lower the front portion of the seat cushion
by sliding the front of the control up or down.
•Raise or lower the rear portion of the seat cushion
by sliding the rear of the control up or down.
Manual Lumbar
If your vehicle has this feature, the knob is located on
the outboard side of the driver’s seat. Turn the knob
toward the front of the vehicle to increase lumbar
support. Turn the knob toward the rear of the vehicle to
decrease lumbar support.
1-3

Heated Seats
If your vehicle has this option, the driver’s and
passenger’s heated seat switches are located on the
outboard side of the seat near the front.
Press LO to warm the seat to a lower temperature.
Press HI to warm the seat to a higher temperature.
To turn this feature off, move the switch to the
center position.
Reclining Seatbacks
Lift the lever to release the seatback, then move the
seatback to where you want it. Release the lever to
lock the seatback in place. Pull up on the lever without
pushing on the seatback and the seatback will
move forward.
1-4

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job
when you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do its job. In a crash,
you could go into it, receiving neck or
other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash
the belt could go up over your abdomen.
The belt forces would be there, not at your
pelvic bones. This could cause serious
internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.
1-5

Head Restraints Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is closest to the top of your head. This position
reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
1-6

Rear Seats
Split Folding Rear Seat
If your vehicle has this feature you can fold either side
of the seatback down for more cargo space. Make
sure the front seat isn’t reclined. If it is, the rear seatback
won’t fold down all the way.
To lower the rear seatback, follow these steps:
1. Remove the rear
center lap-shoulder belt
latch by using a
pointed object to press
the release button.
2. Pull forward on the
seat tab located on the
outboard side of the
seatback cushion
and fold the seatback
down. This will
allow you direct access
to the trunk.
1-7

To raise the rear seatback, follow these steps:
1. Raise the seatback up and make sure it latches.
Push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked in position. 2. Reconnect the center
safety belt latch plate
to the buckle.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won’t provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
Make sure the safety belt label is pointing to the release
button, and that both are facing the front of the
vehicle. Make sure the belt is not twisted. Push and pull
on the latch plate to be sure it is secure.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.
When the seat is not in use, it should be kept in the
upright locked position.
1-8

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you’re not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.
You can be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passengers’ belts are
fastened properly too.
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.
1-9

Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder to buckle up. See
Safety Belt Reminder
Light on page 3-32
.
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here’s why:
They work .
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the
facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter... a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on
wheels.
1-10

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn’t stop.
1-11

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In
a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... or the instrument panel...
1-12

or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why
safety belts make such good sense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be – whether you’re wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you’re upside down. And your chance
of being conscious during and after an accident,
so you
can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in
most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only; so they work
with
safety belts – not instead of them. Every air bag
system ever offered for sale has required the
use of safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that
has air bags, you still have to buckle up to get
the most protection. That’s true not only in frontal
collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.
1-13

Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an
accident – even one that isn’t your fault – you and
your passengers can be hurt. Being a good
driver doesn’t protect you from things beyond your
control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of
home. And the greatest number of serious injuries
and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph
(65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different
rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be
riding in your vehicle, see
Older Children on page 1-31
or Infants and Young Children on page 1-33 . Follow
those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
1-14