
Part 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 the warning systems that tell you if everything is working
properly
.. and what to do if you have a problem .
Part 2 includes:
Keys ........................................................................\
.... 70
DoorLocks
....................................................................... \
71
NewVehicleBreak-In
.............................................................. 79
StartingtheEngine
................................................................. 80
ShiftingtheTransaxle .............................................................. 84
Windows ........................................................................\
. 92
Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever
.................................................... 94
Headlight High-Low Beam Changer
.............................................. 96
Windshield Wipermasher
...................................................... 96
CruiseControl
................................................................ 98
Headlights ........................................................................\
103
Mirrors ........................................................................\
.. 106
Instrumentpanel
................................................................... 111
Speedometer and Odometer ..................................................... 111
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
............................................. 112
TiltSteeringWheel
................................................................ 93
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Q
A green arrow on the
instrument panel will flash
in the direction of the ‘turn
or lane change.
To signal
a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the green arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until
you complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don’t
flash but just stay on, a signal bulb may
6e 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.
Turn Signal ccOn99 Chime
A chime will sound if your turn signal is left on after
having gone
3/4 mile, to remind you to turn off your
signal.
Operation of Lights
Although your vehicle’s lighting system (headlights,
parking lights, fog lamps, side marker lights and
taillights) meets all applicable federal lighting
requirements, certain states and provinces may apply
their own lighting regulations that may require special
attention before you operate these lights.
For example, some jurisdictions may require that you operate your fog lamps only when your lower beam
headlights are also on, or that headlights be turned on
whenever you must use your windshield wipers.
In
addition, most jurisdictions prohibit driving solely with
parking lights, especially at dawn or dusk.
It is
recommended that you check with your own state or
provincial highway authority for applicable lighting
regulations.
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Headlight High-Low Beam
To change the headlights
from low beam to high or
high to low, pull the turn
signal lever all the way
toward you. Then release
When the high beams are
on, this blue light on the
instrument panel also will
be on. it.
Flash-To-Pass Feature
You
may have this feature. It lets you use your high
beam headlights to signal a driver in front of you that
you want to pass. It works even if your headlights are
off.
To use it, pull. the headlight beam lever toward you a
little (but not so far that you hear a click). When you do:
If your headlights are off Your high beam headlights
will turn on. They’ll stay on as long as you hold the
lever there. Release the lever to turn them off. You
control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked
‘‘WIPER’.
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To Erase Speed Memory
When you turn off the Cruise Control or the ignition, or
shift into
“P” (Park) or “N” (Neutral) your Cruise
Control set speed memory is erased.
Lights
The light controls are on the instrument panel. It
controls these light systems:
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Headlights
Taillights Parking Lights
License Lights
Sidemarker Lights
Instrument Panel Lights
Interior Courtesy Lights
Headlight “On” Warning
If the light switch is left on you’ll hear a warning tone
when you turn off the ignition and open the driver’s
door.
Fog Lights (GS Only Option)
c
If you have the fog light
feature, the control is on the
instrument panel. The
parking lights must be ON
for the fog lights to work.
The fog lights
will turn off
when you change to high
beam headlights. When you
return to low beam
headlights the fog lights
will turn on again.
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.
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Your DRL work with a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Don’t cover it up.
The low beam headlights will come on at reduced
brightness in daylight
when:
0 The ignition is on,
0 The headlight switch is off, and
0 The parking brake is released.
At dusk, the exterior lights will come on automatically
and the low beams will change
to full brightness. At
dawn, the exterior lights will
go out and the low beams
will change to
the reduced brightness of DRL (if the
headlight switch is off).
Of course, you may still turp on the headlights any time
you need to.
To idle your vehicle with
the DRL off, set the parking
brake while the ignition
is in the “Off” or “Lock”
position. Then start the vehicle. The DRL will stay off
until
you release the parking brake.
Front Seat Reading Lights (Option)
The front seat reading lights are turned on by pressing
the switches.
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Driving at Night Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlights behind you.
1 Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow
down and keep more space between
you and other
vehicles.
0 Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlights can light
up only so much road ahead.
0 In remote areas, watch for animals.
0 If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and
rest.
Night Vision
i 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 A same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
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.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
0 Don’t drink and drive. 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.
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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.
Keep your windshield and all the glass
on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside
of the glass
can build
up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making
the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlights light up far less
of a
roadway when you are in
a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlights should be
checked regularly for proper aim,
so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t
even aware
of it.
Driving in the Rain
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road you can’t stop, accelerate or turn as well because
your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on dry roads.
And,
if your tires don’t have much tread left, you’ll get
even less traction. It’s always wise
to go slower and be
cautious
if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The
surface may get
wet suddenly when your reflexes are
tuned for driving on dry pavement.
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“dimple” the water’s surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice
is to slow down when it is raining.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Turn on your low-beam headlights -- not just your
parking lights
-- to help make you more visible to
others.
City Driving
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room
ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted
by road spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See
“Tires”
in the Index.)
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.
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