
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BURNS AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,111,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
4
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols
have to
do with
your lights:
WARNING A
HAZARD
FLASHER
HIGH BEAM OR
= -0
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINoSHIELD WIPER w
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols
are
used on
warning and indicator lights:
CHARGING 1-1
BATTERY
SYSTEM
RADIATOR
a
COOLANT
FUEL
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
Wb
TEMP OIL &
ANTILOCK (a)
BRAKE
Here are some
other symbols you may see:
FUSE
RADIO
"i"
SELECTOR fi
RADIO >
VOLUME
LIGHTER
n
12
ProCarManuals.com

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake:
Hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right
foot. Push down the
parking brake pedal with
your
left foot. If the
ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will
come on.
The parking brake uses
the brakes on the rear wheels.
To release the parking brake: This vehicle has a push
to release parking brake pedal. Hold
the regular brake
pedal down and push the parking brake pedal with your
left foot. This
will unlock the pedal. When you lift your
left
foot, the parking brake pedal will follow it to the
release position.
If
you try to drive off with the parking brake on, the
brake light stays on and a chime sounds until you release
the parking brake or recycle the ignition.
I NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause your
rear brakes to overheat.
You may have to replace
them, and you could
also damage other parts of
your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any
hill:
See “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section
shows what to
do first to keep the trailer from moving.
87
ProCarManuals.com

Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down
to the Cruise Control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your Cruise Control will work on hills
depends upon your speed, load, and the steepness of
the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When
going downhill, you may have
to brake or shift to a
lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying
the brake takes you out of Cruise Control.
Many drivers find this
to be too much trouble and don’t
use Cruise Control on steep hills.
To Get Out of Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the Cruise Control:
1. Step lightly on the brake
pedal
OR,
102
ProCarManuals.com

Brake System Warning Light
BRAKE
Your Buick’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need
both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be
a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on as you start the vehicle. If
it
doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to
warn you if there’s
a problem. If
the light and chime come on while you are 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.)
The brake system warning light will also come on when
you set your parking brake, and
it will stay on if your
parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If you try to drive
off
with the parking brake set, a chime will also come on
until you release the parking brake. If the light and
chime stay on after your parking brake is
fully released.
it means you have a brake problem.
122
ProCarManuals.com

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ANT‘ LOCK (a)
ANTI
LOCK
J
With anti-lock,this light will come on when you start
your engine and may stay on for several seconds. That’s
normal.
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, turn the ignition
off, Or, if the light
comes on when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible
and
turn the ignition off. Then start the engine again to
reset the system.
If the light still stays on, or comes on
again while you’re driving, your Buick needs service.
If
the regular brake system warning light isn’t on, you still
have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the
regular brake system warning light is also on, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem
with your
regular brakes. See “Brake System Warning Light”
earlier
in this part.
Traction Control System Warning Light
(Option)
TRACTION
OFF
The “TRACTION OFF”
warning light means that
the system is not working.
When this warning light is
on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly. The
warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
If your brakes overheat, the traction control system
will go off and the warning light will come on
until
your brakes cool down.
Some engine related problems may cause the
“TRACTION
OFF’’ warning light to come on.
Press the “TRACTION ON/OFF” switch to turn the
Traction Control system on or off.
123
ProCarManuals.com

Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your Buick has an advanced electronic braking system
that will help prevent skidding.
ANT‘ LOCK (@)
ANTI
LOCK
This light on the instrument panel will go on when you
start your vehicle.
When you start your vehicle and begin to drive away, you
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise. And you
may even notice that your brake pedal moves a little while
this is going
on. This is the ABS system testing itself. If
there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, the
anti-lock brake system warning light will stay on.
See “Anti-lock Brake System Warning Light”
in the
Index. Here’s how
anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet.
You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in
front of you.
You slam
on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS.
167
ProCarManuals.com

0 Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass
while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing,
following too closely reduces your area of vision,
especially if you’re following a larger vehicle. Also,
you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle ahead
suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable
distance.
0 When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t
get too close. Time your move
so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into the
other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
“running start” that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you to cancel your pass,
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 ov’er your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
0
0
0
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 man 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.
0 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 In
any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of less
danger.
173
ProCarManuals.com

the trailer brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly. Because you have anti-lock
brakes, do not try
to tap into you vehicle’s brake system.
If
you do, both brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly
so
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform,
safety chains, electrical connector, lights, tires and
mirror adjustment. If the trailer has electric brakes, start
your vehicle and trailer moving and then apply the
trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This lets you check your electrical connection
at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lights and any trailer brakes
are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need
to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the
left, just move that hand
to the left.
To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and,
if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
192
ProCarManuals.com