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2004 Chevrolet Impala Owner's Manual - Page 63

2004 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 does not 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's side impact air bag. See Air Bag Systems on page 1-52. 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. 1-57

Section	Page
2004 Chevrolet Impala Book TOC	1
Seats and Restraint Systems	7
Front Seats	8
Manual Seats	8
Six-Way Power Seats	9
Manual Lumbar	9
Heated Seats	10
Reclining Seatbacks	10
Head Restraints	12
Rear Seats	13
Split Folding Rear Seat	13
Safety Belts	15
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone	15
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts	19
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	20
Driver Position	21
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	28
Right Front Passenger Position	29
Center Front Passenger Position	29
Rear Seat Passengers	31
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	34
Safety Belt Extender	36
Child Restraints	37
Older Children	37
Infants and Young Children	39
Child Restraint Systems	43
Where to Put the Restraint	46
Top Strap	47
Top Strap Anchor Location	49
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)	50
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System (Rear)	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	67
Checking Your Restraint Systems	67
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	68
Features and Controls	69
Keys	70
Remote Keyless Entry System	71
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation	72
Doors and Locks	76
Door Locks	76
Power Door Locks	77
Programmable Automatic Door Locks	77
Lockout Protection	78
Leaving Your Vehicle	78
Trunk	78
Windows	81
Power Windows	82
Sun Visors	83
Theft-Deterrent Systems	84
Content Theft-Deterrent	84
Passlock®	85
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle	86
New Vehicle Break-In	86
Ignition Positions	86
Starting Your Engine	87
Engine Coolant Heater	90
Automatic Transaxle Operation	91
Parking Brake	95
Shifting Into Park (P)	95
Shifting Out of Park (P)	98
Parking Over Things That Burn	99
Engine Exhaust	99
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked	100
Mirrors	101
Manual Rearview Mirror	101
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar®	101
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror	102
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar®	103
Outside Power Mirrors	104
Outside Convex Mirror	104
OnStar® System	105
HomeLink® Transmitter	107
Programming the HomeLink® Transmitter	107
Storage Areas	111
Glove Box	111
Front Storage Area	111
Center Console Storage Area	111
Rear Storage Area	111
Convenience Net	111
Sunroof	112
Vehicle Personalization	113
Instrument Panel	123
Instrument Panel Overview	126
Hazard Warning Flashers	128
Other Warning Devices	128
Horn	129
Tilt Wheel	129
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	129
Cruise Control	133
Exterior Lamps	136
Interior Lamps	139
Accessory Power Outlets	141
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter	142
Climate Controls	143
Dual Climate Control System	143
Outlet Adjustment	146
Passenger Compartment Air Filter	147
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	148
Instrument Panel Cluster	149
Speedometer and Odometer	152
Tachometer	153
Safety Belt Reminder Light	153
Air Bag Readiness Light	154
Brake System Warning Light	155
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light	156
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light	157
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage	158
Malfunction Indicator Lamp	159
Cruise Control Light	162
Fuel Gage	162
Message Center	164
Service Traction System Warning Message	164
Traction Active Message	164
Battery Warning Message	165
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning Message	165
Low Oil Pressure Message	166
Low Engine Oil Level Message	166
Change Engine Oil Message	167
Low Tire Message	167
Door Ajar Warning Message	168
Trunk Ajar Warning Message	168
Security Message	169
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message	169
Low Fuel Warning Message	170
Low Brake Fluid Warning Message	170
Service Vehicle Soon Message	171
Highbeam Out Warning Message	171
Driver Information Center (DIC)	172
Trip Computer	175
Audio System(s)	176
Setting the Time	176
Radio with Cassette	177
Radio with CD	188
Radio with Cassette and CD	200
Theft-Deterrent Feature	213
Audio Steering Wheel Controls	214
Understanding Radio Reception	215
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	215
Care of Your CDs	216
Care of Your CD Player	216
Backglass Antenna	217
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System (48 Contiguous US States)	218
Vehicle Customization Settings	218
Chime Level Adjustment	218
Driving Your Vehicle	219
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle	220
Defensive Driving	220
Drunken Driving	220
Control of a Vehicle	223
Braking	224
Traction Control System (TCS) (3800 V6 Engine)	227
Steering	228
Off-Road Recovery	230
Passing	231
Loss of Control	232
Driving at Night	234
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	235
City Driving	238
Freeway Driving	239
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	240
Highway Hypnosis	241
Hill and Mountain Roads	241
Winter Driving	243
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	248
Towing	249
Towing Your Vehicle	249
Recreational Vehicle Towing	249
Loading Your Vehicle	250
Towing a Trailer	256
Service and Appearance Care	263
Service	265
Doing Your Own Service Work	265
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle	266
Fuel	266
Gasoline Octane	266
Gasoline Specifications	267
California Fuel	267
Additives	268
Fuels in Foreign Countries	268
Filling Your Tank	269
Filling a Portable Fuel Container	271
Checking Things Under the Hood	272
Hood Release	273
Engine Compartment Overview	274
Engine Oil	279
Supercharger Oil	284
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter	285
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	287
Engine Coolant	289
Radiator Pressure Cap	291
Engine Overheating	292
Cooling System	294
Power Steering Fluid	304
Windshield Washer Fluid	305
Brakes	306
Battery	308
Jump Starting	309
Headlamp Aiming	314
Bulb Replacement	314
Halogen Bulbs	314
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and Parking Lamps	315
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Sidemarker Lamps	317
Back-Up Lamps	318
Replacement Bulbs	318
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	319
Tires	320
Inflation - Tire Pressure	327
Tire Pressure Monitor System	328
Tire Inspection and Rotation	330
When It Is Time for New Tires	331
Buying New Tires	332
Uniform Tire Quality Grading	333
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance	334
Wheel Replacement	334
Tire Chains	336
If a Tire Goes Flat	337
Changing a Flat Tire	338
Compact Spare Tire	348
Appearance Care	349
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	349
Care of Safety Belts	352
Weatherstrips	352
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	352
Sheet Metal Damage	354
Finish Damage	354
Underbody Maintenance	355
Chemical Paint Spotting	355
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials	356
Vehicle Identification	357
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	357
Service Parts Identification Label	357
Electrical System	357
Add-On Electrical Equipment	357
Headlamp Wiring	358
Windshield Wiper Fuses	358
Power Windows and Other Power Options	358
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	358
Capacities and Specifications	364
Maintenance Schedule	367
Maintenance Schedule	368
Introduction	368
Maintenance Requirements	368
Your Vehicle and the Environment	368
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	369
Scheduled Maintenance	370
Additional Required Services	372
Maintenance Footnotes	373
Owner Checks and Services	374
At Each Fuel Fill	374
At Least Once a Month	375
At Least Once a Year	375
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	378
Engine Drive Belt Routing	380
Maintenance Record	381
Customer Assistance and Information	383
Customer Assistance and Information	384
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	384
Online Owner Center	385
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	386
Customer Assistance Offices	386
GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities	387
Roadside Assistance Program	388
Courtesy Transportation	389
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Records	391
Reporting Safety Defects	392
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	392
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	393
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	393
Service Publications Ordering Information	393

Match case Limit results 1 per page

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

does not 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’s side impact

air bag. See

Air Bag Systems on page 1-52

. 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.

1-57