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.
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.
Turn Signal Reminder
A chime will sound if your turn signal remains on after
having driven
1/2 mile, to remind you to turn off your
signal.
Operation of Lights
Although your vehicle's lighting system (headlamps,
parking lamps, fog lamps, side marker lamps and tail
lamps) 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,
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.
l .from low beam to high or..'
:hi:& -to low, pull the turn
signal lever all the way
'toward you. Then .release it.
When the high beams are
on, a blue light, on the
instrument panel -also will
be on.
90
i
Lights
These switches control
the following li-ght
systems:
Headlight C60n?' Warning
If the light switch is left on you'll hear a warning tone
when
you turn off the ignitbn.
Twilight Sentinel (Option)
0
a
*
0
,*
a
Headlights
Taillights
Parking Lights
License Lights Sidemarker Lights
Instrument Panel Lights
Interior Courtesy Lights
By rotating the switch marked MAX and INT you can
make the instrument panel lights bright
or dim and turn
the courtesy lights
on or off.
Twilight Sentinel turns your
headlights on and
off '
autcimatically by sensing
how dark it is outside.
.. To operate it, leave the LIGHTS switch off and move
the Twilight Sentinel control to any position but
OFF.
99
Automatic Mirror (Option)
Your Buick may have the automatic inside mirror.
The automatic mirror adjusts for the glare
of headlights
behind you. It detects changes
in light, and then adjusts
for day
or night operation.
During the day the mirror reflects all the light from
behind your car. At night; when the glare
is too high, it
changes to the night mode. Then, it reflects only part of
the light from behind you. When the mirror changes to
the night-mode,jt holds that position until glare is no
longer present.
d
Time Delay
The mirror delays before switchingcfrom the night back
to the day position. This delay prevents rapid changing
of the mirror as you drive under li-ghts and through
traffic.
Reverse Gear Day Mode
The-reverse mode is another important €eature of the
automatic mirror. When the shift lever
is placed in "R'
(Reverse), the mirror shifts to the day mode. This gives
you a bright image in the mirror
as you back up.
Automatic/Off Switch
Push the switch up for the AUTO position. The switch
cap will light indicating the mirror will automatically
adjust for glare.
To turn the automatic adjust off, push the switch down.
Front Reading Lights
There are two reading lights located on .the rearview
mirror. Push the switch closest'to the light to turn it on
or off.
103
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.
Remember: Any anti-lock braking system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid. 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 prob1ems;or by
fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
0
0
0
0
a
0
0
Drive defensively. Remember, this is the most
dangerous time.
Don’t drink and drive. (See “Drunken Driving.” in
the Index for more on this problem.)
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,
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlights can light up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull
off the road in a safe place and
rest.
175
I
.!
I
Night Vision
'No one can see as we11 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
yisible
- such as parked cars, obstacles, pedestrians, or
even train5 blocking railway crossings. You mzy want to
put on
your sunglasses -after ,you have pulled into a
brightly-lighted service or refreshment area. Eyes shie1ded.from that glare
may adjust.more quickly to
darkne,ss back on the road. But be sure to remove your
sunglasses before
you leave the service area.
When you .follow another vehicle
on a freeway or
highday, use low beams. True, most vehic1e.s now.have,
day-night mirrors that enable the driver to reduce glare.
But outside mirrors are not
of this type and.high beams
from behind can bother the driver ahead.
176
Driving in Fog, Mist and Haze When you drive into a fog patch, your$sibility will be
reduced quickly. The biggest dangers
are striking the
vehicle ahead or being struck by the
one behind. Try to
‘‘read” the fog density down the road.
If the vehicle
ahead starts to become less clear
or, at night; if the
taillights are harder to see,
-the fog is probably
thickening. Slow down to give- traffic behind you. a
chance to slow down. Everybody then has a better chance.to avoid hitting the vehicle ahead.
A patch of derise fog may extend only for a few feet
(meters) or for miles (kilometers); you can’t really tell
while you’re
in it. You can only treat ‘the situation with
extreme tare.
One, common fog condition - sometimes called mist or
ground fog - can happen in weather that seems perfect,
especially at night or in the early
morning in valley and
low, marshy areas. You can be suddenly enveloped
in
thick, wet haze that may even coat ,your windshield. You
can often spot these fog patches .or mist layers with
your
headlights. But sometimes they can be waiting for you
as you come over a hill or dip into a. shallow valley.
Start your windshield wipers and washer, to help clear
accumulated road dirt. Slow down carefully.’
Fog can occur with high humidity or heavy frost. It can
be
so mild that- you can see through it for several
hundred feet (meters). Or-it might
he so thick .that you
can see only
a few feet (meters) ahead. It may come
suddenly
to an otherwise clear road. And it can be a
major hazard.
Tips on Driving in Fog
If you get caught in fog, turn your headlights on low
beam, even in daytime. You’ll see
- and be seen -
better.
Pass other vehicles in fog only if you can see far enough
ahead to pass safely. Even then, be prepared to delay
your pass if you suspect the
fog.is worse up ahead. If
other vehicles try to pass you, make it easy for them.
*
If visibility is near zero and you must stop but are
unsuTe whether you are away
from the road, turn your
lights on, start
your hazard warning flasher, and sound
your
Born at intervals or when you hear approaching
traffic. One
of the
biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic
on them. You’ll want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention
to
traffic signals.
181
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you
run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This:
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged.
You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later
on
with your headlights. Let the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do
it as 'little as possible. Preserve the
fuel
as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and
do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
Towing, a Trailer
/! CAUTION-
If you don't use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you
pull a
trailer.
For example, if the trailer is too heavy,
I the brakes may not work well - or even at all,
You and your passengers could be seriously'
injured. Pull
a trailer only if you have followed
I the steps in this section.