2000 BUICK REGAL parking brake

2-41
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

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

To slow down in very small amounts, push the SET
button briefly. Each time you do this, you'll go about
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.
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
They control these systems:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking Lamps

License Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

Courtesy Lamps

Fog Lamps

Cornering Lamps

2-42
The lamp controls
are located on the
instrument panel.
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.

2-43
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 and automatic
headlamp control 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.
To turn off the automatic headlamp feature when it's
dark outside, move the exterior lamp control to the
parking lamp position. Your parking lamps will remain
illuminated and your headlamps will turn off. The fog
lamps (if equipped) will also be lit if they were on when
you switched to the parking lamp position.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Delayed Headlamp Illumination
Delayed headlamp illumination provides a period of
exterior lighting as you leave your vehicle. 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:
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN.
2. Close all the doors.
3. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, cycle the headlamp
switch on and then off two times.
4. 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.
5. 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.

2-62
CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you've
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn't release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
United States Canada
The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come on
for a few seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN.
If the anti
-lock brake system warning light stays on longer
than normal after you've started your engine, turn the
ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on when
you're driving, stop as soon as possible and turn the
ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again while
you're driving, the anti
-lock brake system needs service
and you don't have anti
-lock brakes. The brake pedal may
be harder to push, or it may go to the floor. It may take
longer to stop. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.

4-39 Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a different
turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check with your
dealer. The arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you're about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you are
seeing your signal when they are not. It's important to check
occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don't shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer, you may want to drive in
THIRD (3) instead of OVERDRIVE (
) (or, as you
need to, a lower gear).
Parking on Hills
CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People can
be injured, and both your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here's
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don't shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the
trailer's wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.

4-40 When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:

Start your engine;

Shift into a gear; and

Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don't overfill),
engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you're trailering, it's
a good idea to review this information before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.

5-4
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren't touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don't want. You wouldn't be able to
start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling,
set the parking brake firmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start procedure. Put your
automatic transaxle in PARK (P) before setting
the parking brake.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory power outlet. Turn off all lamps
that aren't needed as well as radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries. In addition, it
could save your radio!
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn't be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
(Your vehicle's battery is located toward the front
of the passenger's side of the engine, under a
diagonal brace.)
CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.

5-21
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.