The 1997 Buick Regal Owner’s Manual
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Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “air bag” system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your Buick.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects’’ on page
8-8.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want
to read.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol.
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 modules, the
wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module. For
more information on the air bag system, see “Air Bag”
in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and
it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should
go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. The
air bag readiness light should flash for
a few
seconds 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.
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
1+1 go out.
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If it stavgdn, or comes on while you are driving, you
may b&e
a problem with the charging system. It could
inqk6ate that you have
a loose drive belt or another
dectrical 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.
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NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead
to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
0
0
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service is required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
0 Avoiding hard accelerations.
0 Avoiding steep uphill grades.
0 If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
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Comfort Controls
Manual Single Zone Climate Control
COMFORT CONTROL II
With this system, you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation in your vehicle, The system works best if
you keep your windows closed while using it.
Fan Knob
The left knob selects the amount of air you want. To turn
the fan off, turn the knob to
OFF.
If the airflow seems very low when the fan knob is turned
to
the highest setting, regardless of the mode setting, your
passenger compartment air filter may need to be replaced. See “Maintenance Schedule”
in the Index.
Temperature Knob
The center knob changes the temperature of the air
coming through the system. Turn this knob toward red
(clockwise) for warmer air. Turn it toward blue
(counterclockwise) for cooler air.
Mode Knob
The right knob has several settings to control the
direction of airflow:
MAX: This setting recirculates much of the air inside
your vehicle and sends it through the instrument panel
outlets. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically
in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below
40°F (4°C). (Even when the
compressor is running,
you can control the temperature.)
NORM: This setting brings in outside air and sends
it through the instrument panel outlets. The air
conditioning compressor will run automatically in
this setting unless the outside temperature
is below
40°F (4°C). (Even when the compressor is running,
you can control the temperature.)
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BI-LEV This setting brings in outside air and directs
it two ways. Half of the air is directed through the
instrument panel outlets. Most of the remaining air
is
directed through the floor ducts and a little to the defrost
and side window vents. The air conditioning compressor
will run automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below
40°F (4°C).
VENT This setting brings in outside air and directs it
through the instrument panel outlets.
HTR: This setting sends most of the air through the
ducts near
the floor. The rest comes out of the defroster
and side window vents.
BLEND: This setting allows half of the air to go to the
floor ducts and half to the defroster and side window
vents. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below
40 OF (4 O C) .
FRONT This setting directs most of the air
through
the defroster and side window vents. Some of
the air also goes to the floor ducts. The air conditioning
compressor will run automatically
in this setting unless
the outside temperature is below
40°F (4°C).
Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let
hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time for the
vehicle to cool down.
For a quick cool-down on very hot days, use
MAX with
the temperature knob all the way in the blue area. If this
setting is used for long periods of time, the air
in your
vehicle may become too dry.
For normal cooling on hot days, use NORM with the
temperature knob in the blue area. The system will bring
in outside air and cool it.
On cool, but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough.
You can use
BI-LEV and set the temperature knob to a
comfortable setting. The system will bring in outside air
and direct it
to your upper body, while sending slightly
warmed air to your lower body.
You may notice this
temperature difference more at some times than others.
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Passenger's Temperature Lever
The bottom lever adjusts the air temperature on the
passenger's side independent of the temperature set by
the driver. Slide the lever toward the right
to raise the
temperature. Slide the lever toward the left to lower
the temperature.
Mode Knob
The right knob has several settings to control the
direction of airflow.
To access the various modes
available, turn the mode button to the desired mode.
MAX: This setting recirculates much of the air inside
your vehicle and sends it through the instrument panel
outlets. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically
in this setting unless the outside
temperature
is below 40" F (4°C). (Even when the
compressor is running, you can control the temperature.)
NORM: This setting brings in outside air and sends
it through the instrument panel outlets. The air
conditioning compressor will run automatically in
this setting unless the outside temperature is below
40°F (4°C). (Even when the compressor is running,
you can control the temperature.)
BI-LEV: This setting brings in outside air and directs
it two ways. Half of the air is directed through the
instrument panel outlets. Most of the remaining air is
directed through the floor ducts and a little to the defrost
and side window vents. The air conditioning compressor
will run automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below
40°F (4°C). (Even when the
compressor is running, you can control the temperature.)
VENT This setting brings in outside air and directs it
through the instrument panel outlets.
HTR: This setting sends most of the air through the
ducts near the floor. The rest comes out of the defroster
and side window vents.
BLEND: This setting allows half of the air to go to the
floor ducts and half
to the defroster and side window
vents. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below
40°F (4°C). (Even when the
compressor is running, you can control the temperature.)
9 FRONT This setting directs most of the air
through the defroster and side window vents. Some
of
the air goes to the floor ducts and the side window vents.
The air conditioning compressor will run automatically
in this setting unless the outside temperature is below
40°F (4°C). (Even when the compressor is running, you
can control
the temperature.)
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Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let
hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time for the
vehicle to cool down.
For a quick cool-down on very hot days, use MAX with
the temperature knobs all the way
in the blue area. If
this setting is used for long periods of time, the air in
your vehicle may become too dry.
For normal cooling on hot days, use
NORM with the
temperature knobs in the blue area. The system will
bring
in outside air and cool it.
On cool, but sunny days, the
sun may warm your upper
body,
but your lower body may not be warm enough.
You can use BI-LEV and set the temperature knob to a
comfortable setting. The system will bring in outside air
and direct it to your upper body, while sending slightly
warmed air to your lower body. You may notice this
temperature difference more at some times than others.
Heating
On cold days, use HTR with the temperature knobs all
the way in the red area. The system will bring
in outside
air, heat it and send it to
the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it’s
cold outside
(0°F (-18°C) or lower). An engine coolant
heater warms the coolant your engine and heating
system use to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant
Heater” in
the Index.
Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use VENT to direct outside air through
your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the flow-through
ventilation system described later
in this section.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and side
windows.
To defrost the windows quickly, use FRONT.
For maximum defroster performance, set both
driver and passenger temperature controls to the
warmest setting.
To warm passengers while keeping the windows clear,
use
BLEND.
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Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control
(If Equipped)
FRONT
With this system, you set a temperature. You can then
either let the system automatically control airflow
direction and force
it to maintain the temperature, or you
can manually adjust it.
The system works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
Automatic Control
For
the most efficient operation, you should set the
system temperature and press AUTO. The system will
select the best fan speed and airflow settings to keep you
comfortable. The air conditioning compressor will run if
the outside temperature is above
40°F (4°C). You may
notice a delay of two to three minutes before the fan
comes on at start up in cool weather.
Driver's Temperature Control
The TEMP switch sets the temperature for the entire
system when the light on the DUAL button isn't lit. If
the light
is lit, this control sets the temperature for the
driver only. Press the up arrow to raise the temperature
and press the down arrow to lower the temperature. The
display will show your selection for a few seconds, then
the outside temperature will show. If
you push the
AUTO button, the system will control the fan speed
and airflow.
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