1993 BUICK LESABRE warning

Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This section describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save
you or
others from injury.
Warning lights go on when there may be or
is a problem
with
one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will see in
the details
on the next few pages, some warning lights
come on briefly when
you turn the ignition key just to
let you know they’re working. If you are familiar with
this section, you should not be alarmed when this
happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to
let you how when
there’s a problem with your vehicle. When
one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving,
or when one of the gages shows
there may be
a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow the manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Fuel Gage
r
F
”
I//,
0
ONLY E F F
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Your fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in your
tank. It works
only when the engine is on. When the
indicator nears
“E,” you still have a little fuel left. You
need to get more
fuel right away.
Here are four concerns some owners have had about the
fuel gage. All these situations are normal and indicate
nothing wrong with the
fuel gage.
0
0
0
0
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads
“F’.
It takes more (or less) gas to fill up than the gage
indicated. For example, the gage may have indicated
1/2
full, but it took more (or less) than half of the
tank’s capacity to fill it.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner,
speed up, or stop your vehicle.
When
you turn the engine off, the gage doesn’t go all
the way back to “E”.
Low Fuel Light
If your Buick has this option, a yellow light near the fuel
gage, will
go on when your vehicle is low on fuel.
You should get more fuel as soon as you can.
Brake System Warning Light
Your Buick’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop
you. For good braking, though, you need
both parts working well.
If the warning light goes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on as
you start the vehicle. If it
doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to
warn you if there’s a problem.
This light will also come on when you set your parking
brake, and the light will stay on
if your parking brake
doesn’t release
fully. If you try to drive off with the
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parking brake set, a chime will also come on until you
release the parking brake. If the light and chime stay on
after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you
have a brake problem. If the light and chime come on
while driving, pull
off the road and stop carefully. You
may notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal
may go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop. If
the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service.
(See “Towing Your Car” in the Index.)
1 &!A CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake warning light is on. Rriving with the
brake warning light on can lead to an accident. If
the light is still on after you’ve pulled off the road
and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed for
service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
1-
ANTI
LOCK
With anti-lock, this light will go on when you start your
engine and may stay on for several seconds or
so. That’s
normal. If the light doesn’t come on, have it fixed
so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the light stays on or comes
on when you’re driving,
stop as soon as possible and turn the key off. Then start
the engine
to reset the system. If the light still stays on,
or comes
on again while you’re driving, your Buick
needs service. Unless
the regular brake system warning
light is also
on, you will still have brakes, but not
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning
light
is also on, see “Brake System Warning Light”
earlier
in this part.
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The anti-lock brake system warning light may also come Traction Control System Warning Light
on when you are driving with a compact spare tire. If (Option)
this happens, the light means you won’t have anti-lock
until you replace the compact spare with a full-size tire.
If the warning light stays on after you replace the
compact spare with a full-size tire, or
if it comes on
again when you’re driving, your Buick needs service.
TRACTION
OFF
The “TRACTION OFF”
warning light means that
the system is not working.
This warning light may
come on for the following
reasons:
0 If your transaxle overheats, the traction control
system automatically shuts
off for about three
minutes. The warning light will come on and stay on
during that time.
.
0 If your brakes overheat, the traction control system
will
go off and the warning light will come on until
your brakes cool down.
If the “TRACTION
OFF” warning light comes on and
stays on for an extended period
of time, your vehicle
needs service.
109

/I CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed when the
“TRACTION OFF“ warning light is on, they can
explode and you or others could be injured. And,
spinning your tires with the “TRACTION OFF”
warning light on can cause the transaxle to
overheat
or can cause other problems. That
could
cause an engine fire or other damage.
When you’re stuck,
spin the wheels as little as
possible. Don’t spin the wheels above 35 mph
(55 km/hl as shown on the speedometer.
I
:’NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels whel. ..?e “Tl .A (ION
OFF” warning light is on can destroy parts 01
your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin your
wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle
back and forth, you can destroy your transaxle.
rheel!
s little B
I
When yor-’-e stud
possible. bin
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning
Light
TEMP
This light tells you that your engine coolant has
overheated or your radiator cooling fans are
not
working. If you have been operating your vehicle under
normal driving conditions, you should
pull off the road,
stop your vehicle and turn the engine
off as soon as
possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
If you have the Gage Cluster, you have a gage that
shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage
pointer moves into the red area, your engine
is too hot!
That reading means the same thing as the warning light.
It means that
your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off
the engine as soon as possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
,ENGINE SOON
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition
and emission control systems. This light should come
on
when the ignition is on, but the engine is not running, as
a check to show
you it is working. If it does not come on
at all, have
it fixed right away. If it stays on, or it comes
on while you are driving, the computer
is indicating that
you have a problem. You should take your vehicIe in for
service soon.
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I I
RAILROAD ADVANCE
CROSSING
A
BRIDGE
YELLOW indicates a general warning. Slow down and
be careful when you see a yellow sign. It may signal
a
railroad crossing ahead, a no passing zone, or some
other potentially dangerous situation. Likewise, a yellow
solid line painted on
the road means “Don’t Cross.”
L
u
LOW SHOULDER
WORKERS
AHEAD
FLAGGER
AHEAD
ORANGE indicates road construction or maintenance.
You’ll want to slow down when you see an orange sign,
as part
of the road may be closed off or torn up. And
there may be workers and maintenance vehicles around,
too.
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-- -
i -I
CANOEING SWIMMING
BROWN signs point out recreation areas or points of
historic or cultural interest.
Shape of Road Signs
The shape of the sign will tell you something, too.
I
~~
I An OCTAGONAL
ST0 P
(eight-sided) sign
means
STOP. It is
always red with white
letters.
7 A
A DIAMOND-shaped
sign is a warning of
something ahead
- for
example, a curve, steep
hill, soft shoulder, or a
narrow bridge.
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