Page 21 of 324

Safety Belts: They’re For Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells you some things you should not do
with safety belts.
And
it explains the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint, or
“air bag” system. This figure lights up when
‘you turn the key to “Run”
or “Start” when your’
safety belt isn’t buckled,
.and you’ll hear a chime,
too. It’s the reminder to
buckle up. b’
A CAUTION:
Don’t let anyane ride where they can’t wear i
safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse. You can hit things inside
the vehicle or be ejected from
it. You can be
seriously injured or killed.
In the same crash,
you might not be if you are buckled up. Alwa
fasten your safety belt, and check that your
passengers’ belts are fastened properly too.
In many states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know if
it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are very mild.
In them, you won’t get hurt
even if you’re not buckled up. And some crashes can be
so serious, like being hit by a train, that even buckled up
a person wouldn’t survive. But most crashes are in
between. In many of them, people who buckle up can
survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they
could be badly hurt
or killed.
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Page 27 of 324
Q=
A:
most protection. That’s true not only in frontal
collisions, but especially
in side and other
collisions.
If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an
accident
-- even one that isn’t your fault -- you and
your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver
doesn’t protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 km) of
home. And the greatest .number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than
40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When’the key is turned to “Run” or “Start,” a light will
come
on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts. Unless the driver’s safety belt
is
buckled, a chime will also sound.
25
Page 38 of 324

-T
A C UTION:
A
0 Don’t attach anything to the steer J
wheel pad. It mi -It injure the driver if 1
air bag inflates.
The air bag is designed to inflate only
once. After
it inflates, you’ll need some
new parts for your air bag system.
If you
don’t get them, the air bag system won’t
be there to help protect you
in another
crash.
A new system will include the air
bag module and possibly other parts. The
service manual has information about the
need to replace other parts.
Let only qualified technicians work on
your air bag system. Improper service can
mean that your air bag system won’t work
properly. See your dealer for service.
Servicing Your Buick with the Air Bag
System
Please tell or remind anyone who works on your Buick
that it has the air bag system. There are parts
of the air
bag system in several places around your vehicle. You
don’t want the system to inflate while someone is
working on your vehicle. The air bag system does not
need regular maintenance. Your Buick dealer and the
1993 Riviera Service Manual have information about
the air bag system, including repair or disposal.
A CAUTION:
For up to 10 minutes a1 r the ignition key is
turned off and the battery disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service.
You can be injured
if you are close to an air bag
when
it inflates. Be sure to follow the proper
I service procedures.
When electrical work is done under the hood or inside
your vehicle, the ignition should be in “Lock” if
possible.
Page 39 of 324

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.
0 ‘Remove the SIR (air bag) fuse (see “Fuses and
Circuit Breakers” in the Index).
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant t
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 wok as low as possible
throughout the pregnancy.
0 Disconnect the yellow connector at the&ase 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 inflatable
restraint 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.
37
Page 40 of 324

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.
Right Front Passenger Position
The rightfront passenger’s safety belt works the same
vvay as. the driver’s safety belt. See “Driver Position,”
earlier
h. this part.
%When.the lap portion of the belt is pulled out all the
way, it
will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and
tart again.
Rear Seat Passengers
It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up!
Accident statistics show that unbelted people
in the rear
seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who
are
wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can be thrown out
of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others
in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
U
The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder
belts. Here’s how to wear one properly.
Page 61 of 324

@) Part 2 Features & Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional featur\
es 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
........................................................................\
....
DoorLocks ....................................................................... \
NewVehicleBreak-In ..............................................................
StartingtheEngine .................................................................
ShiftingtheTransaxle ..............................................................
Windows ........................................................................\
.
TiltSteeringWheel ................................................................
Multi-FunctionLever ...............................................................
TurnandLaneChangeSignals ...................................................
Headlight High-Low Beam Changer ..............................................
Windshield Wipermasher ......................................................
CruiseControl ................................................................
Instrumentpanel ...................................................................
Speedometer and Odometer ......................................................
Warning Lights and Gages ......................................................
60
61
70
72
75 84
84
85
85 87
87
90
105
105
107
c 59
Page 62 of 324
Keys
A CAUTION:
Leaving young children in a vehicle with the
ignition key is dangerous for many reasons.
A
child or others could be badly injured or even
killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don’t
leave the keys in a vehicle with young children.
The ignition keys are for
the ignition only.
~ The door keys are for the
doors and all other locks.
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Page 63 of 324

When a new Riviera is delivered, the dealer removes the
plugs from the keys, and gives them to t,he first owner.
However, the ignition key may not have a plug.
Each plug has a code
on it that tells your dealer or a
qualified locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep the
plugs in a safe place. If you lose your keys, you'll be
able to have new ones made easily using these plugs. If
your ignition keys don't have plugs, go to your Buick
dealer for the correct kev code
if you need a: new
ignition key.
Door Locks
A CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers
-- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When a
doo
locked, the inside handle won3 open it.
Outsiders can easily enter throwgh an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be
so obvious: Yrou inscrease the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors aren't locked. Wear safety
belts properly, lock your doors, and
you will be
far better off whenever you drive your vehicle,
61