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or the instrument panel ... 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.
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Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
System/Supplemental Restraint System (Air
Bag)
This section explains the driver’s Supplemental
Inflatable Restraint (SIR)/Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) system, commonly referred to
as an air
bag. Here are the most important things to
know:
Even with an aSr bag, if you’re not wearing a
safety belt and you’re [in a crash, your injuries
may be much worse.
Air bags are not designed
to inflate in rollovers or in rear, side or low-speed
I frontal crashes. You need to wear your safety
belt to reduce the chance of hitting
things inside
the vehicle or being ejected from it. Always wear I
your safety belt, even with an air bag. ,I 1
I .,I.
I A CAUTION:
Air bags inflate with great force, faster than the
blink
of an eye. If you’re too close to an inflating
air
bag, it could seriously injure you. Safety belts
help keep you in position for an air bag inflation
in a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even
with an air bag, and sit as far back as you can
while
still maintaining control of your vehicle.
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows “INFL REST” or “INFLATABLE
RESTRAINT.” The system checks itself and the light
tells you
if there is a problem.
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Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape, or yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the air bag
system.
But if the ignition has to be on for electrical work, or if
the steering column is to be disassembled, the air bag
system must be disconnected.
To do this:
Turn off the ignition.
Remove the SIR/SRS (air bag) fuse (see “Fuses and
Circuit Breakers” in the Index).
Disconnect the yellow connector at the base of the
When the work is complete, if the air bag system was
disconnected, be sure to reattach everything and replace
the fuse before turning the ignition on. When you
turn
the ignition key on, be sure you see the air bag readiness
light on the instrument panel. If
you don’t see this light
flash and then go out as usual, have your air bag system
repaired. steering
column.
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts. A
pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and
the lap portion should be worn
as low as possible
throughout the pregnancy.
7
The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When
a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more
likely that the fetus won’t be
hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
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Page 59 of 324

@ Part 2 Features & Controls I
I
L-
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Buick. and information on starting. shifting
and braking
. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is working
properly
.. and what to do if you have a problem .
Part 2 includes:
Keys
........................................................................\
.... 58
DoorLocks ....................................................................... \
59
NewVehicleBreak-In .............................................................. 68
StartingtheEngine ................................................................. 70
ShiftingtheTransaxle .............................................................. 73
Windows ........................................................................\
. 82
Tilt Steering Wheel ................................................................ 84
Multi-Function Lever ............................................................... 85
TunrandLaneChangeSignals ................................................... 85
Headlight High-Low Beam Changer .............................................. 87
Windshield Wipermasher ...................................................... 87
CruiseControl ................................................................ 89
Instrumentpanel ................................................................... 104
Speedometer and Odometer ..................................................... 105
Warning Lights and Gages ...................................................... 106
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Page 86 of 324
The “TRUNK” button is on
the instrument panel to
the
left of the steering column.
The ignition switch must
also be
ON and the
transaxle in PARK or
NEUTRAL for it to work.
If you have the Remote Keyless Entry System, it will
also unlock
the trunk.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when
you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable level,
then release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
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A green arrow on the
instrument panel will flash
in the direction
of the turn
or lane change. If
you have
a trailer towing option with added wiring for
the trailer lights, a different turn signal flasher is used.
With this flasher installed, the signal indicator will flash
even if a turn signal bulb is burned out. Check the front
and rear
turn signal lights regularly to make sure they
are working.
Operation of Lights
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the green arrow starts to flash. Hold
it there until
you complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don’t
flash
but just stay on, a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it
to help avoid an
accident. If the green arrows don’t
go on at all when you
signal a turn; check the fuse (see “Fuses” in the Index)
and for burned-out bulbs. Although your vehicle’s lighting system
(headlamps,
parking lamps, fog lamps, side marker lamps and
taillamps) meet all applicable Federal lighting
requirements, certain States and Provinces may apply
their own lighting regulations that may require special
attention before you operate
these lamps. For example,
Page 89 of 324

some jurisdictions may require that you operate your
lower beam lamps with fog lamps at all times, or that
headlamps be turned on whenever you must
use your
windshield wipers.
In addition, most jurisdictions
prohibit driving solely with parking lamps, especially at
dawn or dusk. It
is recommended that you check with
you own State or Provincial highway authority for
applicable lighting regulations.
Headlight High-Low Beam
’ To change the headlights
from low beam to high or
high to low, pull the turn
signal lever all the way
toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams are
on, this blue light on the
instrument panel also will
be on.
Windshield Wipers
... ,rll
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked “WIPER.”
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to “MIST.”
Hold it there
until the wipers start, then let go. The
wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles, hold the band
on “MIST” longer.
You can set the wiper speed for a long
or short delay
between wipes. This can be very
useful in light rain or
snow. Turn the band
to choose the delay time. The
closer to
“LO,” the shorter the delay.
87
Page 93 of 324
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push in the set button at
the end of the lever and
release it. (The
“CRUISE’ light
on the
instrument panel will come on.)
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
To Resume a Set Speed
Suppose you set your Cruise Control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts off
the Cruise Control. But you don’t need to reset it. Once
you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you can
move the Cruise Control switch from
“ON” to
“Resume/Accelerate”
for about half a second.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay
there.
91