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The 1999 Buick Riviera Owner's Manual
1-1 Seats and Restraint SystemsThis section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the ªSRSº system.
2-1 Features and ControlsThis section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio SystemsThis section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
4-1 Your Driving and the RoadHere you'll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
5-1 Problems on the RoadThis section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
6-1 Service and Appearance CareHere the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.
7-1 Maintenance ScheduleThis section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
8-1 Customer Assistance InformationThis section tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on ªReporting Safety Defectsº on page 8-9.
9-1 IndexHere'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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The main components of your instrument panel are:
A. Warning Lights
B. Tachometer
C. Fuel Gage
D. Engine Temperature Gage
E. Speedometer
F. Warning Lights
G. Climate Controls
H. Audio System
I. Headlamp/Instrument Panel Intensity
Control/Twilight Sentinel
J. Hood Release
K. Turn Signal/Multifunction LeverL. Steering Wheel Touch Controls for Audio System
M. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
N. Horn
O. Steering Wheel Touch Controls for Audio/Climate
Control System
P. Traction Control/Trip Reset Button
Q. Ashtray and Cigarette Lighter
R. Dual Cupholder
S. Compact Disc Storage Compartment
T. Gearshift Lever
U. Air Outlets
V. Glove Box
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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you'll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be
sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3
-2 Comfort Controls
3
-2 Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control
3
-5 Air Conditioning
3
-5 Heating
3
-6 Defogging and Defrosting
3
-6 Rear Window Defogger
3
-7 Passenger Zone Comfort Control
3
-7 Ventilation System
3
-9 Steering Wheel Controls for Climate
Control (Option)
3
-9 Audio Systems
3
-9 Setting the Clock3
-10 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape
and Compact Disc Player with Automatic
Tone Control
3
-15 Theft-Deterrent Feature
3
-17 Audio Steering Wheel Controls (Option)
3
-18 Understanding Radio Reception
3
-18 Tips About Your Audio System
3
-19 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
3
-20 Care of Your Compact Discs
3
-20 Care of Your Compact Disc Player
3
-20 Power Antenna Mast Care
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When the engine idles for a long time, the exterior
temperature sensor retains the temperature setting
that was present when the vehicle was last moving.
The system will try to maintain the set temperature
inside your vehicle.
Steering Wheel Controls for Climate
Control (Option)
If your vehicle has this
feature, you can control the
temperature comfort setting
by using the control button
on your steering wheel.
TEMP: Press either arrow once and the current comfort
setting will be displayed. Press the up arrow again to
choose a warmer comfort setting and press the down
arrow again to choose a cooler comfort setting.
Audio Systems
Your Delco Electronics audio system has been designed
to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure.
You will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint
yourself with it first. Find out what your Delco
Electronics system can do and how to operate all its
controls, to be sure you're getting the most out of the
advanced engineering that went into it.
Setting the Clock
Press and hold HRS until the correct hour appears. Press
and hold MIN until the correct minute appears.
You may set the clock with the ignition off if you
press RECALL first and follow the same procedure
described above.
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SOURCE: Press this button to change to the disc
function when the radio is on. When a disc is inserted,
the disc will play until you press AM
-FM. Then the
disc will stop playing and the radio will play. Press
SOURCE again to play a disc again. CD PLAY will
show on the display.
EJECT: Press this button to remove the disc. The radio
will play.
If you turn off the ignition or radio with a disc in the
player, it will stay in the player. When you turn on the
ignition or system, the disc will start playing where it
stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.
Also, as a protection feature, if a CD is ejected and left
in the player, it will be pulled back in the player with the
ignition on or off.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK is designed to discourage theft of your
radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio
functions whenever battery power is removed.
If THEFTLOCK is active, the THEFTLOCK indicator
will flash when the ignition is off.The THEFTLOCK feature for the radio may be used or
ignored. If ignored, the system plays normally and the
radio is not protected by the feature. If THEFTLOCK is
activated, your radio will not operate if stolen.
When THEFTLOCK is activated, the radio will display
LOC to indicate a locked condition anytime battery
power is removed. If your battery loses power for any
reason, you must unlock the radio with the secret code
before it will operate.
Activating the Theft
-Deterrent Feature
The instructions which follow explain how to enter your
secret code to activate the THEFTLOCK system. It is
recommended that you read through all nine steps
before starting the procedure.
NOTE: If you allow more than 15 seconds to elapse
between any steps, the radio automatically reverts to
time and you must start the procedure over at Step 4.
1. Write down any three or four
-digit number from
000 to 1999 and keep it in a safe place separate from
the vehicle.
2. Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY or RUN.
3. Turn the radio off.
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4. Press MIN and 000 will appear on the display.
5. Press MIN again to make the last two digits agree
with your code.
6. Press HRS to make the first one or two digits agree
with your code.
7. Press AM
-FM after you have confirmed that the
code matches the secret code you have written down.
The display will show
---, indicating that the radio is
no longer secured.
If the code entered is incorrect, SEC will appear on the
display. The radio will remain secured until the correct
code is entered.
When battery power is removed and later applied to a
secured radio, the radio won't turn on and LOC will
appear on the display.
To unlock a secured radio see ªUnlocking the
Theft
-Deterrent Feature After a Power Lossº earlier in
this section.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls (Option)
If your vehicle has this feature, you can control certain
radio and comfort control functions using the buttons on
your steering wheel.
VOL: Press the up or down
arrow to increase or
decrease volume.
TEMP: Press the up arrow to increase the set
temperature on your comfort control system or the down
arrow to decrease the temperature.
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SEEK: Press the SEEK
down arrow to go to a lower
frequency station and the
SEEK up arrow to go to a
higher frequency station.
If you press and hold the SEEK button for two seconds,
SCAN will appear on the display. It will go to a station,
stop for a few seconds and go on to the next station.
Press the SEEK button to stop scanning. SEEK also
functions as PREV and NEXT when playing a cassette
tape or compact disc.
SCAN/AM
-FM: Press the SCAN button and SCAN
will appear on the display. SCAN works as the PSCAN
button on your radio. It will scan through each of the
preset radio stations. If a preset radio station has weak
reception, the radio will not stop at the preset station.
Press SCAN again to stop scanning. Press the AM
-FM
button to choose the AM, FM1 or FM2 band.
Understanding Radio Reception
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,
especially at night. The longer range, however, can
cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick
up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try
reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it.
FM Stereo
FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals
will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall
buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing
the sound to come and go.
Tips About Your Audio System
Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable
until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud
and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by
adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe
sound level before your hearing adapts to it.
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To be sure the vent hose (A) is properly attached, the
vent hose connectors (B) must be securely reattached to
the vent outlets (C) on each side of the battery, and the
vent assembly grommet (D) must be secured to the floor
pan (E).
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.