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2003 Chevrolet Impala Owner's Manual - Page 63

2003 Chevrolet Impala Manual

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When Should an Air Bag Inflate? The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate only if the impact speed is above the system's designed "threshold level". In addition, your vehicle has "dual stage" frontal air bags, which adjust the amount of restraint according to crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these air bags inflate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level for the reduced deployment is about 12 to 18 mph (19 to 29 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is about 18 to 24 mph (29 to 38.5 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts because inflation would not help the occupant. Your vehicle may or may not have a driver side air bag. See Air Bag Systems in the Index. A driver 's side impact air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes involving the driver's door. A side impact air bag will inflate if the crash severity is above the system's designed "threshold level." The threshold level can vary with specific vehicle design. A driver's side impact air bag is not designed to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts, because inflation would not help the occupant. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air bag should have inflated simply because of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For frontal air bags, inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact air bags, inflation is determined by the location and severity of the impact. 1-56

Section	Page
Table of Contents	2
Seats and Restraint Systems	8
Front Seats	9
Manual Seats	9
Six-Way Power Seats	10
Manual Lumbar	10
Heated Seats	11
Reclining Seatbacks	11
Head Restraints	13
Rear Seats	14
Split Folding Rear Seat	14
Safety Belts	16
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone	16
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts	20
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	21
Driver Position	22
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	29
Right Front Passenger Position	30
Center Front Passenger Position	30
Rear Seat Passengers	32
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	35
Safety Belt Extender	37
Child Restraints	38
Older Children	38
lnfants and Young Children	40
Child Restraint Systems	44
Where to Put the Restraint	47
Top Strap	48
Top Strap Anchor Location	49
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)	50
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System	52
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position	52
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position	55
Air Bag Systems	58
Where Are the Air Bags?	61
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?	63
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?	64
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?	64
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?	65
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle	67
Restraint System Check	68
Checking Your Restraint Systems	68
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	69
Features and Controls	70
Keys	71
Remote Keyless Entry System	72
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation	73
Doors and Locks	77
Door Locks	77
Power Door Locks	78
Programmable Automatic Door Locks	78
Lockout Protection	79
Leaving Your Vehicle	79
Trunk	79
Windows	82
Power Windows	83
Sun Visors	84
Theft-Deterrent Systems	85
Content Theft-Deterrent	85
Passlock	86
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle	87
New Vehicle Break In	87
Ignition Positions	87
Starting Your Engine	88
Engine Coolant Heater	91
Automatic Transaxle Operation	92
Parking Brake	96
Shifting Into Park (P)	96
Shifting Out of Park (P)	99
Parking Over Things That Burn	100
Engine Exhaust	100
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked	101
Mirrors	102
Manual Rearview Mirror	102
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar	102
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror	103
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar	104
Outside Power Mirrors	105
Heated Outside Mirrors	105
Outside Convex Mirror	105
OnStar System	106
HomeLink Transmitter	108
Programming the HomeLink Transmitter	108
Storage Areas	112
Glove Box	112
Front Storage Area	112
Center Console Storage Area	112
Rear Storage Area	112
Convenience Net	112
Sunroof	113
Vehicle Personalization	114
Instrument Panel	124
Instrument Panel Overview	127
Hazard Warning Flashers	129
Other Warning Devices	129
Horn	130
Tilt Wheel	130
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	130
Exterior Lamps	137
Interior Lamps	140
Accessory Power Outlets	142
Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)	143
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter	144
Climate Controls	145
Dual Climate Control System	145
Outlet Adjustment	148
Passenger Compartment Air Filter	149
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	150
Instrument Panel Cluster	151
Speedometer and Odometer	153
Tachometer	154
Safety Belt Reminder Light	154
Air Bag Readiness Light	155
Brake System Warning Light	156
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light	157
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light	157
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage	158
Malfunction Indicator Lamp	159
Cruise Control Light	161
Fuel Gage	162
Message Center	163
Service Traction System Warning Message	163
Traction Active Message	163
Battery Warning Message	164
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning Message	164
Low Oil Pressure Message	165
Low Engine Oil Level Message	165
Change Engine Oil Message	166
Low Tire Message	166
Door Ajar Warning Message	167
Trunk Ajar Warning Message	167
Security Message	168
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message	168
Low Fuel Warning Message	169
Low Brake Fluid Warning Message	169
Service Vehicle Soon Message	170
Highbeam Out Warning Message	170
Driver Information Center (DIC)	171
Trip Computer	174
Audio System(s)	175
Setting the Time	175
Radio with Cassette	176
Radio with CD	186
Radio with Cassette and CD	196
Theft-Deterrent Feature (RDS Radios)	209
Audio Steering Wheel Controls	209
Understanding Radio Reception	210
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	211
Care of Your CDs	212
Care of Your CD Player	212
Backglass Antenna	212
XM Satellite Radio Antenna System	213
DAB Radio Antenna System	213
Vehicle Customization Settings	213
Chime Level Adjustment	213
Driving Your Vehicle	214
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle	215
Defensive Driving	215
Drunken Driving	215
Control of a Vehicle	218
Braking	219
Traction Control System (TCS) (3800 V6 Engine)	222
Steering	223
Off-Road Recovery	225
Passing	226
Loss of Control	227
Driving at Night	229
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	230
City Driving	233
Freeway Driving	234
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	235
Highway Hypnosis	236
Hill and Mountain Roads	236
Winter Driving	238
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	243
Towing	244
Towing Your Vehicle	244
Recreational Vehicle Towing	244
Loading Your Vehicle	245
Towing a Trailer	247
Service and Appearance Care	254
Service	256
Doing Your Own Service Work	257
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle	257
Fuel	258
Gasoline Octane	258
Gasoline Specifications	258
California Fuel	259
Additives	259
Fuels in Foreign Countries	259
Filling Your Tank	260
Filling a Portable Fuel Container	262
Checking Things Under the Hood	263
Hood Release	263
Engine Compartment Overview	265
Engine Oil	268
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter	275
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	276
Engine Coolant	279
Radiator Pressure Cap	282
Engine Overheating	282
Cooling System	285
Power Steering Fluid	295
Windshield Washer Fluid	296
Brakes	297
Battery	300
Jump Starting	301
Headlamp Aiming	307
Bulb Replacement	308
Halogen Bulbs	308
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and Parking Lamps	308
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Sidemarker Lamps	310
Back-up Lamps	311
Replacement Bulbs	311
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	312
Tires	313
Inflation - Tire Pressure	314
Tire Pressure Monitor System	315
Tire Inspection and Rotation	317
When It Is Time for New Tires	318
Buying New Tires	319
Uniform Tire Quality Grading	320
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance	321
Wheel Replacement	321
Tire Chains	323
If a Tire Goes Flat	323
Changing a Flat Tire	324
Compact Spare Tire	335
Appearance Care	336
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	336
Care of Safety Belts	339
Weatherstrips	339
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	339
Sheet Metal Damage	341
Finish Damage	341
Underbody Maintenance	342
Chemical Paint Spotting	342
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials	342
Vehicle Identification	344
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	344
Service Parts Identification Label	344
Electrical System	345
Add-on Electrical Equipment	345
Headlamp Wiring	345
Windshield Wiper Fuses	345
Power Windows and Other Power Options	346
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	346
Capacities and Specifications	354
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	356
Maintenance Schedule	358
Maintenance Schedule	359
Introduction	359
Your Vehicle and the Environment	359
Maintenance Requirements	359
How This Section is Organized	360
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	361
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	361
Scheduled Maintenance	362
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	367
At Each Fuel Fill	367
At Least Once a Month	367
At Least Twice a Year	368
At Least Once a Year	368
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	371
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection	371
Exhaust System Inspection	371
Fuel System Inspection	372
Engine Cooling System Inspection	372
Throttle System Inspection	372
Brake System Inspection	372
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	373
Part E: Maintenance Record	374
Customer Assistance Information	378
Customer Assistance Information	379
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	379
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	380
Customer Assistance Offices	380
GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities	381
Roadside Assistance Program	382
Courtesy Transportation	383
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	385
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	386
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	386
Service Publications Ordering Information	386

Match case Limit results 1 per page

When

Should

Air

Bag Inflate?

The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags

are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal

or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate

only

the impact speed is above the system’s

designed “threshold level”.

addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal air

bags, which adjust the amount of restraint according to

crash severity.

For

moderate frontal impacts, these

air bags inflate at a level less than full deployment.

For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.

If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall

that doesn’t

move

or deform, the threshold level for

the reduced

deployment is about 12 to 18 mph (19 to

29 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is

about 18

to 24 mph (29 to 38.5 km/h). The threshold

level

can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,

that it

can be

somewhat

above

below this range.

your vehicle strikes something that will

move

deform, such as a parked car,

the threshold level

will

higher. The driver’s and

right front passenger’s frontal

air bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers,

rear

impacts, or in many

side

impacts

because

inflation

would not help the occupant.

Your vehicle may or may not have

driver

side

air

bag.

See

Air Bag Systems in the Index.

driver

’s

side

impact air bag is designed to inflate in moderate

to severe side crashes involving the driver’s

door.

side impact air bag

will inflate

the

crash

severity

is above the system’s designed “threshold

level.”

The

threshold level can

vary

with

specific

vehicle

design.

driver’s side impact air

bag is not

designed

to inflate

in frontal or near-frontal impacts,

rollovers

rear

impacts, because inflation would

not

help

the

occupant.

In any particular crash,

one

can

say

whether

air

bag should have inflated simply

because

the damage to a vehicle or

because

what the

repair

costs were. For frontal air

bags, inflation is determined

by the angle of the impact

and

how

quickly

the

vehicle slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts.

For side impact air bags, inflation is determined

the location and severity of the

impact.

1-56