1999 BUICK REGAL Owners Manual

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If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned
-out bulbs and then check
the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index).
A chime will sound if you leave your turn signal on for
more than 3/4 mile (1.2 km).
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
To change your headlamps
from low beams to high
beams, or high to low, pull
the multifunction lever all
the way toward you. Then
release it.
When the high beams are on, this light on the instrument
panel also will be on.
Flash-to-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass. It
works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you a little,
but not so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are off or on low beam, your
high
-beam headlamps will turn on. They'll stay on as
long as you hold the lever toward you and the
high
-beam indicator on the dash will come on. Release
the lever to turn the high
-beam headlampsªflashº off.
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2-38 Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked WIPER. For a single wiping cycle, turn the band
to MIST. Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go.
The wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles, hold the band on MIST longer.For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band to LO. For
high
-speed wiping, turn the band further, to HI. To stop
the wipers, turn the band to OFF.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or
snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
closer to LO, the shorter the delay between wipes.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they're frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.
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2-39 Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever, there's a paddle
with the word PUSH on it. To spray washer fluid on the
windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will run for
several sweeps and then either stop or return to your
preset speed. See ªWindshield Washer Fluidº in
the Index.
CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
The LOW WASH light on
your instrument panel
cluster will glow when the
fluid level is low.
Cruise Control (If Equipped)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts off.
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2-40
CAUTION:

Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.

Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don't
use cruise control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. (See ªFull
-Range
Traction Control Systemº or ªTraction Control Systemº
in the Index.) When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may turn the cruise control back on.Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use it.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push in the SET/COAST
button at the end of the
lever and release it. The
CRUISE light on the
instrument panel will
come on.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
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Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts off
the cruise control. But you don't need to reset it.
Once you're going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise
control switch from ON to
R/A (Resume/Accelerate)
for about half a second.
You'll go right back up to
your chosen speed and
stay there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:

Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Push in the SET/COAST button, then release the
button and the accelerator pedal. You'll now cruise at
the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want, and
then release the switch. (To increase your speed in
very small amounts, move the switch to R/A for less
than half a second and then release it. Each time you
do this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
faster.)
The accelerate feature will only work after you
set the cruise control speed by pushing the
SET/COAST button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Push in the SET/COAST button until you reach the
lower speed you want, then release it.

To slow down in very small amounts, push the
SET/COAST button for less than half a second. Each
time you do this, you'll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
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.
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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.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal; OR

Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, or
shift into PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), your cruise
control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
The lamp controls are located on the instrument panel.
They control these systems:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking Lamps

License Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

Courtesy Lamps

Fog Lamps

Cornering Lamps
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If you pull the knob out
halfway, it will turn on your
parking lamps and your
other operating lamps. If
you pull the knob all the
way out, your headlamps
will then come on.
Push the knob in all the way to turn off the lamps.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver's
door when you turn the ignition switch to OFF, LOCK
or ACCESSORY with the lamps on.
Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp Control
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 front turn signal lamps
come on when:

the ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off and

the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your front turn signal lamps
will be on. The headlamps, 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 front turn signal
lamps will turn off and your vehicle's headlamps and
parking lamps will turn on. The other lamps that come
on with your headlamps will also come on.
When it's bright enough outside, your headlamps will go
off and your front turn signal lamps will come on.
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, headlamps and parking lamps
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.
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2-44 Delayed Headlamp Illumination
Delayed Headlamp Illumination provides a period of
exterior lighting as you leave your vehicle's area. The
feature is activated when your vehicle's headlamps are
on due to the automatic headlamp control feature
described previously in this section, and when your
vehicle's ignition is turned off. Your headlamps will
then remain on until the headlamp switch is moved from
OFF to the parking lamp position or until a 90 second
lighting period has ended.
If you turn off the ignition with the headlamp switch in
the parking lamp or headlamp position, the Delayed
Headlamp Illumination cycle will not occur.
You can customize the vehicle to activate Delayed
Headlamp Illumination when your vehicle's ignition is
turned off under the conditions described above, or you
may choose not to activate this feature under any
conditions. You can turn the feature on and off when
you perform the following sequence with the doors
closed and the ignition key in RUN:
1. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, cycle the headlamp
switch on and then off two times.2. Release the power door lock switch. These
operations must be carried out in a time period of
less than 10 seconds, followed by a delay period of
no more than 10 seconds.
3. Then, press and hold the power door unlock switch.
While holding the door unlock switch, turn the
headlamp switch on and then off two times. Release
the courtesy door unlock switch. These steps must be
carried out in a time period of less than 10 seconds.
After releasing the door unlock switch, a single chime
will be heard if the Delayed Headlamp Illumination
function has been disabled; two chimes will be heard if
the feature has been enabled. Disconnecting the
vehicle's battery for up to a year will not change the
programmed operation of this feature.
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