'art 2 Features And Controls
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
properly
.. and what to do if you have a problem .
Part 2 includes: the warning
systems that tell you
if every
Thing is working
Keys ........................................................................\
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DoorLocks ....................................................................... \
NewVehicleBreak-In ..............................................................
StartingtheEngine .................................................................
ShiftingtheTransaxle ..............................................................
Windows ........................................................................\
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TiltSteeringWheel ................................................................
Multi-FunctionLever ...............................................................
TurnandI, aneChangeSignals ...................................................
Headlight High-Low Beam Changer ..............................................
WindshieldWiper/Washer ......................................................
Cruisecontrol ................................................................
Mirrors ........................................................................\
..
Instrumentpanel ...................................................................
Speedometer and Odometer .....................................................
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators .............................................
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Front Seat Reading Lights (Option)
The front seat reading lights are turned on by pressing
the switches. The
reading lights
on the inside rearview mirror are
turned on
by pressing the switch.
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Courtesy Lights
When any door is opened, several lights turn on. They
make it easy for you to enter and leave the car. The
courtesy lights
go off when the doors are closed.
The interior courtesy lights can be turned on by sliding
the light switch to INT or by sliding the switch to
OFF.
You can also change the brightness of the instrument
panel lights by sliding the switch between
OFF and
BRT.
The instrument panel lights
will come on when a door is
opened and closed. The instrument panel lights
will
automatically go off after approximate1.y 30 seconds,
unless the headlights or parking lights have been turned
on.
Mirrors
Inside Mirror
When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position,
adjust the mirror
so you can see clearly behind your car.
The day-night adjustment allows you to adjust the
mirror to avoid glare
from the lights behind you.
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Outside Mirrors
Standard
To adjust your left outside mirror move the control
located
on the driver’s door.
Adjust each mirror
so you can just see the side of your
car and the area behind your car.
Optional
If your Buick has the
electric mirror control,
you’ll find it on the driver’s
door.
Move the switch to choose the right or left to mirror.
Press any of
the four arrows to move the mirror in the
desired direction. Adjust each mirror
so you can just see
the side
of your car and the area behind your car.
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Convex Outside Mirror
Your right side mirror is convex.
A convex mirror's surface is curved so you can see more
from the driver's
seat.
If you aren't used to a convex mirror, you can hit
another vehicle.
A convex mirror can make
things (like other vehicles) look farther away than
they really are. If you cut too sharply into the
right lane, you could
hit a vehicle on your right.
Check your inside mirror or glance over
your
shoulder before changing lanes. .- . I
Ashtrays
The front center ashtray can be removed for cleaning.
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you need only slow down and drop back again and
wait
for another opportunity.
If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to
pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front
in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside
mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from
you
than it really is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next
vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though
the brake lights are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps
you
can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying
to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of less
danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types
of skids correspond to your Buick’s
three control system.s. In
the braking skid your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid,
too
much speed or steeri.ng in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handied by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts
to slide (as when you turn a corner
on a wet, snow- or ice-covered road), ease your
foot off
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the accelerator pedal as soon as you feel the vehicle start
to slide. Quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to
go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle
will straighten
out. As it does, straighten the front
wheels.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions.
It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or
braking (including engine braking
by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues
--
such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to
make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down when you
have any doubt.
If you have the anti-lock braking system, remember: It
helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do not have
anti-lock, then in a braking skid (where the wheels are
no longer rolling), release enough pressure on the brakes
to get the wheels rolling again. This restores steering
control. Push the brake pedal down steadily when you have
to stop suddenly.
As long as the wheels are rolling,
you will have steering control. Steer the way you want
to go.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely
to be impaired --
by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
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Here are some tips on night driving.
0 Drive defensively. Remember, this is the most
dangerous time.
0 Don’t drink and drive. (See “Drunken Driving” in
the Index for more on this problem.)
0 Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlights behind
you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow
down and keep more space between
you and other
vehicles. It’s hard
to tell how fast the vehicle ahead
is going just by looking at its taillights.
0 Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlights can light up
only so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
0 If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and
rest.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light
to see the
same thing at night as a 20-year-old. What
you do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day
in bright
sunshine
you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will
have less trouble adjusting to night.
But
if you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night.
They may cut down on glare from headlights, but they
also make a lot of things invisible that should remain
visible
- such as parked cars, obstacles, pedestrians, or
even trains blocking railway crossings.
You may want to
put
on your sunglasses after you have pulled into a
brightly-lighted service or refreshment area. Eyes
shielded from that glare may adjust more quickly to
darkness back on the road. But be sure
to remove your
sunglasses before you leave the service area.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights. It
can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for
your
eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced
with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t lower
the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlights),
slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into
the
approaching lights. If there is a line of opposing traffic,
make occasional glances over the line of headlights
to
make certain that one of the vehicles isn’t starting to
move into your lane. Once you are past the bright lights,
give your eyes time to readjust before resuming speed.
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