Page 13 of 306

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you will. find -on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
Q
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD CAUSE
BA~~RY
BURNS AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD pq
FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle- is
driven:
FASTEN SEAT 4
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols
have to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e 9
TU-RN
HIGH BEAM
OR = =o
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD ' ' '
. WASHER
CI 0s
-tO -1
WINDSHIELD
WASHER 8
wI*DsHIELDw DEFROSTER
WINDOW
Ltft,
REAR
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
3f
HEADLAMP -
WIPER
WASHER
EQ
L
~
These symbols
are used
on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT F-
TEMP *-
ENGINE
CHARGING BATTERY
SYSTEM
RADIATOR
a
COOLANT
FUEL @
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
TEMP
OIL &
ANTILOCK (@)
BRAKE
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
RAD10 k
VOLUME
CONDITIONING
AIR e
HATCHBACK TRUNK
RELEASE
LIGHTER
1-i
HORN
SPEAKER
12
Page 96 of 306
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. You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay
there.
A
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
“RES/ACC” (Resume/Accelerate) for about half a
If you hold the switch at “RES/ACC”
(Resume/Accelerate) longer than half a second,
the vehicle will keep going faster until you
release the switch or apply the brake. You could
be startled and even lose control.
So unless you
want to go faster, don’t hold the switch at
“RES/ACC.”
second. 0
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Headlights Reminder Light (Canada Only)
If your vehicle was first sold, when new, in Canada, this
light will
go on at night to remind you to turn on the
headlights.
Daytime Running Lights (Canada Only)
The Canadian Federal Government has decided that
“Daytime Running Lights” (DRL) are
a useful feature,
in that DRL can make your vehicle more visible to
pedestrians and other drivers during daylight hours.
DRL are required on
new vehicles sold in Canada.
Your DRL work with
a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Don’t cover it up.
The high beam headlights will come on at reduced
brightness in daylight when:
The ignition is on
The headlight switch is off, and
The parking brake is released.
At night, the headlights reminder light on the instrument
panel will come on to remind
you to turn on the
headlights. When
you turn on your headlights, the DRL
will switch
off and the exterior lights will come on.
When
you turn off the headlights, the exterior lights will
go out and the high beams will change to the reduced
brightness of DRL again. Of course, you may still turn on the headlights
or flash to pass any time you need to.
Page 111 of 306
Brake System Warning Light
0 At the gas. stati0n;the gas pump shuts off before. the
gage reads “F.” 1 ,
Page 112 of 306

This light will also come on when you set your parking
brake, and will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t
release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the
light comes 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
I A CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake warning light is on. Driving 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 carefl
r, have the vehicle towed for
service.
I
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ANTI.-
LOCK
With anti-lock, this light will go on unless you start your
engine and it will stay on for three .seconds. 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
111
Page 145 of 306

time. A green arrow means you may drive ir&that lane. ’
and days these systems are in effect. -,i ““ ff. 4 -’ ~‘’ - .. :
1 Look for the signs posted to warn drivers. what bQ.urs. .. . ,.
1 Pavement Markings
NO
PASSING I’
Pavement markings add to traffic signs and signals.
They give information to drivers without taking
attention from the roadway. A solid yellow line on your
side of the road or lane means “don’t cross.”
Your Own Signals
..
Drivers signal to others, too. It’s not only mare polite,
it’s safer
to let other drivers know what you are doing.
And in some places the law requires iver si.gnals.
L. ..
Turn and lane change signals. Always signal: when you
plan to turn or change lanes.
If necessary, you can use hand signals out the window:
Left arm straight out for a left turn, down for slow or
about-to-stop, and up for a right turn.
Slowing down. If time allows, tap the brake pedal once
or twice in advance of slowing or stopping. This warns
the driver behind you.
Disabled. Your four-way flashers signal that your
vehicle is disabled or
is a hazard. See “Hazard Warning
Flashers” in the Index.
Traffic Officer
The traffic police officer is also a source of important
information. The officer’s signals govern, no matter
what the traffic lights or other
signs say.
The next section discusses some of the Toad conditions
you may encounter.
._ . .-_. ;: , , .c**“jy;, “C.$ -,a,, ..,... ’ : ., - , . ,.> p :, , ,. . +.
Defensive Driving $@, *-<; .I i.?;’ * i.
, +& ’ . i *. , .. . I I- ., I.. .. \e. . *, ,
The best advice anyone can give about\driving is: Drive
defensively.
Please
start with a very important safety device in your
Buick: Buckle up. (See “Safety Belts” in the Index.)
Page 150 of 306

Braking
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time.
-
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That’s perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That’s reaction time.
Average reaction time is about
3/4 of a second. But
that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol,
drugs and frustration. But even in
3/4 of a second, a
vehicle moving at
60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet
(20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency,
so keeping enough space between your vehicle and
others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; and the condition of your brakes.
Most drivers treat their brakes with care. Some,
however, overwork the braking system with poor
driving habits.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This
is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much
faster if you do a lot
of heavy braking.
Don’t “ride” the brakes by letting your left foot rest
lightly on the brake pedal while driving.
*
149
Page 151 of 306

I A CAUTION.:
“Riding” your brakes can cause them to overhe;
to the point that they won’t work well. You mighl
not be able to stop your vehicle
in time to avoid
an accident. If you “ride” your brakes, they will
get
so hot they will require a lot of pedal fol- -
slow you. down. Avoid “riding” the brakes.
If you keep pace with the traffic and IW realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a lot
of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking and
longer brake life.
If your I- -dine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes.
If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down.
If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist
is used up, it may take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your Buick has an advanced electronic braking system
that will help prevent skidding.
This light on the instrument panel will go on when you
start your vehicle.
TI-
LOCK
150