1999 BUICK REGAL dead battery

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2-31 Shift Lock Release
Your vehicle is equipped
with an electric park lock
system. The system is
designed to prevent ignition
key removal unless the shift
lever is in PARK (P) (with
the shift knob button
fully released).
The system also prevents the shift lever from moving
out of PARK (P) when the ignition is in OFF or in
LOCK. The park lock system is always functional
except in the case of a dead or low voltage
(less than 9 V) battery.
If your vehicle has a dead battery or a battery with low
voltage, there are two override access slots that will
allow you to override the park lock system.The first slot is located underneath the steering column
below the lock cylinder. To use this slot:
1. Verify that the shift lever is in PARK (P) (with the
shift knob button released.)
2. Locate the override access slot below the
lock cylinder.
3. Remove the override access slot cap, which will then
show the override mechanism release button.
4. Insert a key or screwdriver into the access slot and
then press in and hold the override mechanism
release button.
5. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
6. Remove the key or screwdriver from the slot.
7. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
8. Replace the override access slot cap.
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4-30
CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can't see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn't collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that's away from the wind. This will help
keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well
-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with all four
wheels on the ground. If your vehicle must be towed,
see ªTowing Your Vehicleº in the Index.
NOTICE:
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground will damage drivetrain components.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
You can tow your vehicle behind another vehicle for use
at your destination. Be sure to use the proper towing
equipment designed for recreational towing. Follow the
instructions for the towing equipment.
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5-3
Jump Starting
If your vehicle has a dead battery or a battery with low
voltage, there are two override access slots that will
allow you to override the park lock system. See ªShift
Lock Releaseº in the Index.
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
vehicle. But please follow the steps below to do it safely.
CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:

They contain acid that can burn you.

They contain gas that can explode or ignite.

They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you don't follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn't be covered by
your warranty.
The ACDelco Freedom battery in your vehicle
has a built
-in hydrometer. Do not charge, test or
jump start the battery if the hydrometer looks
clear or light yellow. Replace the battery when
there is a clear or light yellow hydrometer and a
cranking complaint.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling
it won't work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn't a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
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5-6
6. Check that the jumper cables don't have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic
things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive (+) and negative (
-) will go to negative (-)
or a heavy, unpainted metal engine part. Don't
connect positive (+) to negative (
-) or you'll get a
short that would damage the battery and maybe
other parts too.
CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engine is running.
7. Connect the red
positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal of
the vehicle with the dead
battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
8. Don't let the other end
touch metal. Connect it
to the positive (+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
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5-7
9. Now connect the black
negative (
-) cable to
the good battery's
negative (
-) terminal.
Don't let the other end
touch anything until the
next step. The other end
of the negative (
-) cable
doesn't go to the
dead battery.
It goes to a heavy, unpainted, metal part on the engine of
the vehicle with the dead battery.
10. Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that
move. The electrical connection is just as good
there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the
battery is much less.
11. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it
won't start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don't touch
each other or any other metal.
14. Be sure to reinstall the remote positive (+) jump
starting terminal plastic cap on your vehicle.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
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6-35 Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many parts
have to be of top quality and work well together if the vehicle
is to have really good braking. Your vehicle was designed
and tested with top
-quality GM brake parts. When you
replace parts of your braking system
-- for example, when
your brake linings wear down and you have to have new ones
put in
-- be sure you get new approved GM replacement
parts. If you don't, your brakes may no longer work properly.
For example, if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong
for your vehicle, the balance between your front and rear
brakes can change
-- for the worse. The braking performance
you've come to expect can change in many other ways if
someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your new vehicle comes with an ACDelco Freedom

battery. When it's time for a new battery, we recommend
an ACDelco Freedom battery. Get one that has the
replacement number shown on the original
battery's label.
If your battery has a very low charge or is dead, you
may not be able to remove the ignition key from the
ignition switch or shift out of PARK (P). Refer to ªPark
Lock Systemº in the Index.
Vehicle Storage
If you're not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
more, remove the black, negative (
-) cable from the
battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
aren't careful. See ªJump Startingº in the Index
for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see ªTheft
-Deterrent
Featureº in the Index.
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9-3
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels 6-61 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exterior Lamps/Lenses 6-60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fabric 6-56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Glass Surfaces 6-58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inside of Your Vehicle 6-56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Instrument Panel 6-58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interior Plastic Components 6-58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Leather 6-57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outside of Your Vehicle 6-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Special Problems 6-57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stains 6-56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tires 6-61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vinyl 6-57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheels 6-61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield and Wiper Blades 6-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Clock, Setting the 3-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comfort Controls 3-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compact Disc
Care 3
-23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Player 3-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Player Care 3-23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Player Errors 3-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compact Spare Tire 5-32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Console Storage 2-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Control, Loss of 4-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Control of a Vehicle 4-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Convex Outside Mirror 2-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coolant
Bleed Valve 5
-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recovery Tank 5-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coolant Heater, Engine 2
-20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cooling System 5-11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Courtesy Lamps 2-45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Courtesy Transportation 8-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise Control 2-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cruise Light 2-73 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cupholders 2-51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer Assistance
for Text Telephone Users 8
-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Information 8-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer Satisfaction Procedure 8-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Damage, Finish 6-62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Damage, Sheet Metal 6-61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Daytime Running Lamps 2-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dead Battery 5-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defects, Reporting Safety 8-9, 8-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defensive Driving 4-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defogger, Rear Window 3-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defogging 3-4, 3-6, 3-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defrosting 3-4, 3-6, 3-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Delayed
Entry Lighting 2
-46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exit Lighting 2-46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Headlamp Illumination 2-44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dimensions, Vehicle 6-72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dolby B Noise Reduction 3-13, 3-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dome Lamp Bulb Replacement 6-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Door Locks 2-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light 2-74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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