Page 14 of 422
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
ACID COULD BAllERY
CAUSE
BURNS
SPARK
OR ,111,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BAllERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS @ e
TURN
These symbols
are
on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
COOLANT a
ENGINE OIL w,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
I
LIGHTER n
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL p3
ProCarManuals.com
Page 77 of 422

Section 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.
2-2
2-4
2-9
2-15
2-16
2- 17
2-18
2-18
2-20
2-2 1
2-22
2-28
2-29
2-3
1
2-3 1
2-32
2-3 2
2-33 Keys
Door
Locks
Remote Keyless
Entry
Trunk
Theft
PASS-Key@
I1
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater Automatic Transaxle Operation
Parking Brake Shifting Into PARK
(P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Parking Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
Windows 2-34
2-34
2-35
2-4
1
2-44
2-47
2-49
2-5 1
2-52
2-52 2-5 3
2-54
2-54
2-55
2-56 2-59
2-77 Horn
Tilt Steering Wheel
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Ashtrays and Lighter
Sun Visors
Accessory Outlet
Auxiliary Power Connection
Sunroof
Cellular Phone Provisions
Instrument Panel
-- Your Information System
lnstrument Panel Cluster
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
Driver Information Center
ProCarManuals.com
Page 97 of 422
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part
of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0°F (- 1 SOC) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
2-21
ProCarManuals.com
Page 98 of 422

To Use the Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The
cord is attached to the diagonal brace near the
coolant recovery tank.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into
a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet.
If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord
as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don’t, it could
be damaged. How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind
of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
wing to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your Buick dealer in the area where you’ll be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular area.
AI natic Transaxle Operation . ~
Your automatic transaxle
will have a shift lever on the
2-22
ProCarManuals.com
Page 144 of 422

Engine Coolant Temperature Light
h -
TEMP
This light tells you that
your engine coolant has
overheated or your radiator
cooling fan is not working.
The light will come
on
briefly when your ignition
is turned on to show you
that it is working.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems
on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
.. 1. TEMP
You have a gage that
shows the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage
pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too hot!
That reading means the same thing as the warning light.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 145 of 422

Low Coolant Warning Light
I OW COOLANT
If this light comes on, your
system is low on coolant
and the engine may
overheat. See “Engine
Coolant” in the Index and
have your vehicle serviced as soon as you can.
The
light will come on briefly
when your ignition is turned
on to show you that it is
working properly.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Eight)
SERVICE ENGINE
SOON
Your Buick is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation
of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD
I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and
is intended
to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. (In Canada,
OBD I1 is replaced by
Enhanced Diagnostics.) The
SERVICE ENGINE
SOON light comes on and a chime will sound to
indicate that there is a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more
serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also
designed to assist your service technician
in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
2-69
-.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 149 of 422

Change Oil Soon Light
CHANGE OIL
SOON
Your CHANGE OIL SOON
light should come on as a
bulb check when you start
the engine. If this light stays
on for about 20 seconds
afte.r you turn
on the
ignition, have the oil
changed.
When to change your oil also depends
on driving habits
and conditions because they directly affect engine speed,
coolant temperature and vehicle speed. Because
of this,
the CHANGE OIL SOON light may come on as early as
2,000 miles (3,200 km) or less for harsh conditions. Remember,
after changing your engine
oil, the system
must be reset; with the ignition key in the
RUN position,
but the engine off,
fully push and release the accelerator
pedal three times within five seconds.
If the CHANGE
OIL SOON light flashes two times, the system is reset.
However if the light comes on and stays on for five
seconds, it did not reset. You’ll need to reset the system
again. (If you have a driver information center, the
system may be reset
by depressing the DIC RESET
button for five seconds while viewing the oil life display
on the DIC. See “Driver Information Center” later in
this section.)
ProCarManuals.com
Page 160 of 422

Heating
On cold days, use HTR with the temperature knob 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 O 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 with the temperature knob all the way in the red
area.
To warm passengers while keeping the windows
clear, use
BLEND.
Dual ComforTemp Climate Control
(If Equipped)
I_ .
With this system, the driver and passenger can maintain
separate temperatures. The system works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
Fan Control
The left knob labeled FAN controls the fan speed selection.
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.
Driver’s Temperature Knob
The center knob sets the temperature for the driver’s
outlets.
Turn the knob toward red (clockwise) for warmer
air. Turn it toward blue (counterclockwise) for cooler air.
3-4
ProCarManuals.com