1996 BUICK REGAL ignition

Lamps
The lamp controls are on the instrument panel. They
control these systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
0 .Courtesy Lamps Turn
the knob
to ON to turn on the headlamps and other
operating lamps.
Turn the knob to
PARK to turn on the parking and other
operating lamps without the headlamps.
Turn the knob to
OFF to turn off the lamps.
A warning chime will sound when you turn the ignition
switch to
OFF, LOCK or ACC with the lamps on.
Daytime Running Lamps (Option)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front
of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but
they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn’t covered.
The DRL system will make your low-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when:
0 The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is off, and
The parking brake is released.
2-32
ProCarManuals.com

When the DRL are on, only your low-beam headlamps
will be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps
won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t be lit
up either.
When it’s dark enough outside, your low-beam
headlamps will change to
full brightness. The other
lamps that come on with your headlamps will also
come on.
When it’s bright enough outside, the regular lamps will
go off and your low-beam headlamps change to the
reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while the ignition
is in OFF or LOCK. Then start
your vehicle. The DRL will stay off until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
moving
the PANEL LAMPS dial. If you turn the dial
past
HI, your courtesy or interior lamps will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps come on. These
lamps are courtesy lamps. They make
it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle. You can also turn these
lamps on by moving the PANEL LAMPS dial all the
way up past
HI.
Some of the lamps have switches so you can turn them
on, even when the doors are closed. These lamps are
reading lamps.
To avoid draining your battery, be sure to
turn
of€ all reading lamps when leaving your vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com

Illuminated Entry
Your courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a set
time whenever you:
Pull a front door handle.
Press UNLOCK on the Remote Keyless Entry
Press DOOR on the Remote Keyless Entry
transmitter
(if equipped).
transmitter (if equipped).
If you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it’s open
and then turn
off automatically about 18 seconds after
you close it. If you don’t open
a door, the lamps will
turn
off after about 18 seconds, unless you pressed
UNLOCK
on the Remote Keyless Entry transmitter. If
you pressed UNLOCK and don’t open a door, the lamps
will turn off after about
55 seconds.
Illuminated entry includes a feature called theater
dimming. With theater dimming, the lamps don’t just
turn off at the end
of the delay time. Instead, they slowly
dim during the delay time until they go out. The delay
time is cancelled if you turn the ignition key to RUN or
START,
so the lamps will go out right away.
When the ignition
is on, illuminated entry is inactive,
which means the courtesy lamps won’t come on.
Rearview Mirror Reading Lamps
These lamps go on when you open the doors. When the
doors are closed, use
the switch next to each lamp to
turn them on and off.
ProCarManuals.com

Battery Saver
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery, in case you accidentally leave the
courtesy lamps on. If you leave the PANEL LAMPS dial
turned all the way up past
HI, or if you leave a door
open,
the lamps will automatically turn off after
10 minutes (if the ignition is oft).
This feature
will not turn off the reading lamps, only the
lamps controlled by the PANEL LAMPS dial. Be sure to
turn off any reading lamps using the switch before you
leave the vehicle.
Mirrors
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you
are sitting
in a comfortable driving position.
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
- . ,~, ' /.. ,
To reduce glare from headlamps behind you, push the
lever forward (to the night position).
To return the
mirror to the day position,
pull the lever toward you.
2-36
ProCarManuals.com

Astroroof (Option) Your astroroof includes a sliding glass panel and a
sliding sunshade. The switch works only when the
ignition is on.
To open the glass panel and sunshade, press the rear of
the switch. Let go of the switch to stop the panel in any
position. Press
the front of the switch to close the glass
panel. The sunshade can only be closed by hand.
To open the rear vent, press the front of the switch when
the astroroof
is closed. Open the sunshade by hand.
Press the rear of the switch to close the vent.
The astroroof glass panel cannot be opened or closed if
your vehicle has an electrical failure.
2-42
ProCarManuals.com

Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows
AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes
the air bag sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing
and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR BAG pf 0.
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition to
RUN
or START. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come on briefly when
you turn
on the ignition, as
a check to show you it’s
working. Then it should
go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have
a problem with the charging system. It could
indicate that you have
a loose drive belt or another
electrical problem. Have
it checked right away. Driving
while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn
off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
ProCarManuals.com

Brake System Warning Light
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.
BRAKE
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to
RUN. 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 comes 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, or if the anti-lock brake system warning light
is flashing, have
the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light”
and “Towing Your Vehicle” in
the Index.)
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light
is still on or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light
is flashing
after you’ve pulled off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays 011 after your parking brake is fully
released,
it means you have a brake problem.
ProCarManuals.com

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and
it will stay
on for three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there could be a problem with your
regular brakes. 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.
Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your
Vehicle” in
the Index.)
A
Your regular brake system may not be working
properly if the anti-lock brake system warning
light
is flashing. Driving with the anti-lock brake
system warning light flashing can lead
to an
accident. After you’ve pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
f the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes
on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition
off. Then start the engine againto reset the
system.
If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, your Buick needs service. If the
light is
on but not flashing and the regular brake system
warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key
to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
2-49
ProCarManuals.com