1999 BUICK RIVIERA light

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FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
selector lever is put in FIRST (1), the transaxle won't
shift into FIRST (1) until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can't rotate, don't try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into PARK (P)
to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
Parking Brake
Setting the parking brake: Hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. If the ignition is on, the
brake system warning light will come on and a single
chime will be heard.
The parking brake uses the brakes on the rear wheels.

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Releasing the parking brake: You will need to use the
PUSH TO RELEASE parking brake pedal. Hold the
regular brake pedal down and push the parking brake
pedal with your left foot. This will release the parking
brake. When you lift your left foot, the parking brake
pedal will follow it to the release position.
If you try to drive with the parking brake on, the brake
light stays on and a chime sounds until you release the
parking brake or recycle the ignition.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into PARK (P)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If
you have left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won't move, even when
you're on fairly level ground, use the steps that
follow. If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a
Trailerº in the Index.
Console Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.

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Your vehicle has a BRAKE TO SHIFT reminder light.
This light comes on to remind you to apply the brake
pedal before you can shift from PARK (P).
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) and also release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then move the shift lever
into the gear you want. (Press the shift lever button
before moving the shift lever.) If you ever hold the brake
pedal down but still can't shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to the OFF ignition position. Open and
close the driver's door to turn off the retained
accessory power feature.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Take your vehicle to an authorized service center as
soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.

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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 the fuse and check for burned
-out
bulbs. See ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index.
Turn Signal Reminder
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile,
a chime will sound. To turn off the chime, move the turn
signal lever to the off position.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high or high
to low, pull the turn signal lever toward you until you
hear a click. Then release it.
When the high beams are
on, this light on the
instrument panel will also
be on.
Flash-To-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you a little,
but not so far that you hear a click.
Your high
-beam headlamps will stay on as long as you
hold the lever toward you. The high
-beam indicator on
the dash will also come on. Release the lever to turn the
high
-beam headlamps off.
Windshield Wipers

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You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked WIPER DELAY.
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.
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.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away
from you to the LO position. For high
-speed wiping,
turn the band further, to HI. To stop the wipers, turn the
band to OFF.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent you
from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid
damage, 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 wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
At the top of the turn signal lever there's a paddle with
the word PUSH on it. To spray washer fluid on the
windshield, just push the paddle briefly. The washer will
spray several times, then stop. Unless they are already
turned on, the wipers will operate at low speed for
several sweeps, then turn off.
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.
To get more fluid on the windshield, push and hold
the paddle. Spraying will continue as long as the paddle
is held.

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When the vehicle has a low
fluid condition, the
WASHER FLUID LOW
light will come on to remind
you to get more washer
fluid soon.
Cruise Control
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 is
helpful 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.
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 ªTraction
Control Systemº in the Index.) When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise
control back on.

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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 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.
Resuming a Set Speed
Setting the cruise control at a desired speed and then
applying the brake will end the cruise control function.
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) briefly to reset. This returns you to
your desired preset speed.If you hold the switch at R/A, the vehicle will accelerate
until you release the switch or apply the brake. So unless
you want to go faster, don't hold the switch at R/A.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:

Use the accelerator pedal to go to a higher speed.
Push the SET button at the end of the lever, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal. You'll
now cruise at the higher speed. Or,

Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you reach a desired speed and then release
the switch.
To increase your speed in very small amounts, move the
switch to R/A briefly 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 have set
the cruise control speed by pushing the SET button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Push in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach a desired lower speed then release it.

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To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button briefly. 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.
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. The CRUISE light
will also go out.Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
This knob controls these systems:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking Lamps

License Plate Lamps