2001 BUICK LESABRE heater

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Windows
2
-4 Keys
2
-6 Door Locks
2
-10 Remote Keyless Entry System
2
-16 Trunk
2
-17 Theft
2
-18 Content Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped)
2
-20 PASS-Key
III
2
-22 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-22 Ignition Positions
2
-24 Starting Your Engine
2
-25 Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
2
-26 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-29 Parking Brake
2
-30 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-33 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-33 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-34 Engine Exhaust2
-34 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-35 Horn
2
-35 Tilt Wheel
2
-36 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-43 Exterior Lamps
2
-47 Interior Lamps
2
-50 Mirrors
2
-55 Storage Compartments
2
-56 Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
2
-57 Sun Visors
2
-66 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-68 Instrument Panel Clusters
2
-71 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-82 Driver Information Center (DIC)
(If Equipped)
2
-91 Head-Up Display (HUD) (If Equipped)

2-25
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0
F (-18
C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The engine coolant heater cord is located on
the passenger's side of the vehicle, above the
headlamp assembly.3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110
-volt AC outlet.
CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three
-prong
11 0
-volt AC outlet. If the cord won't reach,
use a heavy
-duty three-prong extension cord
rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store
the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving
engine parts. If you don't, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular area.

2-47
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity/Brightness Control
The brightness of the
instrument panel lights can
be adjusted by moving the
INTERIOR lever between
LO and HI.
The instrument panel lights will be on only when the
parking lamps are on. The interior courtesy lamps can
be turned on by sliding the INTERIOR lever all the
way to the top, to HI.
Courtesy Lamps
If it is dark enough outside, when any door is opened,
several lamps go on. They make it easy for you to enter
and leave the vehicle. You can also turn these lamps on
by sliding the INTERIOR lever all the way to the top.
Illuminated Entry
If it is dark enough outside when you press the button
with the unlock symbol on the remote keyless entry
transmitter, the interior courtesy lamps will turn on and
stay on for approximately 40 seconds. The lamps will
turn off immediately by pressing the button with the
lock symbol on the remote keyless entry transmitter,
turning the ignition key to RUN or activating the power
door locks.
Delayed Entry Lighting
If it is dark enough outside when you open the door,
the interior lamps will turn on. When you close the door
with the ignition off, the interior lamps will stay on for
up to 25 seconds or until the ignition is turned to an
on position. When the lamps turn off as a result of the
25 second timer or the ignition switch being turned on,
the lighting will deactivate via the theater dimming
effect. Locking the doors will override the delayed entry
lighting feature and the lamps will turn off right away.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to five-second fade out
of the courtesy lamps instead of immediate turn off.

2-48 Delayed Exit Lighting
If it is dark enough outside when you remove the
key from the ignition, the interior lamps will turn on
and stay on for approximately 25 seconds. This will
give you time to find the door pull handle or lock
switches. Once the key is inserted into the ignition
the exit lighting will be cancelled and the lighting will
theater dim.
Perimeter Lighting
If it is dark enough outside when the button with the
unlock symbol on the remote keyless entry transmitter
is pressed, the DRL headlamps, parking lamps and
back
-up lamps will come on.
Personal Choice Programming
This feature can be programmed in the on or off mode
for each transmitter.
To turn the feature off do the following:
1. Close all the doors and turn the ignition on. Keep all
doors closed throughout this procedure.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the power door lock switch
throughout this procedure. All the doors will lock.3. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter. Perimeter
lighting remains on at this time and the horn will
chirp two times.
4. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter again.
Perimeter lighting is disabled and the horn will chirp
one time.
5. Release the door lock switch. The perimeter lighting
feature is now off.
To turn the feature on do the following:
1. Close all the doors and turn the ignition on. Keep all
doors closed throughout this procedure.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the power door lock switch
throughout this procedure. All the doors will lock.
3. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter. Perimeter
lighting now remains off at this time and the horn
will chirp one time.
4. Press the instant alarm on the transmitter again.
Perimeter lighting is now enabled and the horn will
chirp two times.
5. Release the door lock switch. The perimeter lighting
feature is now on.

3-3
Temperature Lever
This lever adjusts the temperature of the air coming
through the system. Move the TEMPERATURE lever to
change the temperature of the air coming through your
outlets. Move the lever between COOL and WARM to
lower or raise the temperature.
Mode Controls
The buttons on your system allow you to choose
settings to deliver air through the lower, middle or
windshield outlets.
RECIRC: Press this button to limit the amount of
outside air entering your vehicle. This is helpful when
you are trying to cool the interior of the vehicle quickly,
or limit the amount of outside air entering your vehicle.
To turn off RECIRC, press the button again. If you
select FRONT defrost or BLEND while RECIRC is
selected, the system will automatically turn off RECIRC
to prevent fogging. If you select RECIRC while in
FRONT defrost, the RECIRC light will flash three times
to let you know this is not allowed.VENT: This setting directs outside air through the
middle instrument panel outlets. The air conditioning
compressor is not working when VENT is selected.
If you select VENT while in FRONT defrost, the VENT
light will flash three times to let you know this is not
allowed. This is to prevent fogging.
HTR: This button directs air out of the heater outlets.
Most of the air will come from the floor outlets while
some air will flow through the windshield and side
window outlets. The air conditioning compressor is not
working when HTR is selected.
BLEND: When BLEND is selected, the airflow will
be split between the windshield and the floor outlets.
The air conditioning compressor will be operating.
FRONT: This setting directs most of the airflow toward
the windshield.
OFF: The ventilation system always allows fresh
air to flow through your vehicle when it is moving.
The system will try to keep the air at a previously
chosen temperature. When the system is off, the
blower fan is also off.

3-9 Heating
If your vehicle has the electronic touch system, on
cold days, use HTR with the TEMPERATURE lever
toward WARM.
If your vehicle has the Dual Automatic ComforTemp
system, and on cold days, if the AUTO mode is selected,
the system will automatically direct the air toward the
floor and the temperature door will be positioned at the
full hot position. You can choose the extreme comfort
setting of 90
F (32
C) but the system will not warm
up any faster by selecting the extreme comfort setting.
If the outside temperature is cold, the fan will be
delayed to avoid blowing cold air. Pushing the FAN,
AIR FLOW or FRONT buttons will override this delay,
turn off the AUTO mode and change the fan speed.
With each system, outside air will be brought in and sent
through the floor outlets. The heater works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
Defogging and Defrosting
If you have the electronic touch system, adjust the
TEMPERATURE lever toward WARM and the FAN
lever toward HIGH.
If you have the Dual Automatic ComforTemp system,
use the FRONT button to defog or defrost the
windshield. By choosing this button, the airflow will be
directed at the windshield. Adjust your comfort level by
pressing the TEMP up or down arrow. The fan speed
will be controlled by the system. You can change the fan
speed by pressing the top of the FAN button to increase
speed, and the bottom of the button to decrease speed.
To reduce the chance of fogging your windows in cold
weather, using the electronic touch system, select HTR
to supply air through the floor outlets. Then move the
FAN lever to HIGH for a few moments before driving
away. This will blow moist air from the intake outlets
toward the floor, not the windshield. If you have the
Dual Automatic ComforTemp system, the AUTO setting
will do this for you. Manual operation of the automatic
ComforTemp system in the FLOOR mode will also
supply air through the floor outlets.

3-12
Adjust the direction of
airflow by moving the
louvered vents.
If you have the optional rear
passenger ComforTemp,
you can adjust the direction
of the airflow to the rear
seating area.Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction such as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work better, reducing the chance of
fogging your windows.

Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle.

When the engine idles for a long time, the exterior
temperature sensor may cause the system to blow air
that is too cool. Once the vehicle is moving again,
the system will try to maintain the set temperature
inside your vehicle.

When you start your vehicle and the EXT display
flashes (Dual Automatic ComforTemp system only)
for some time, the system may need repair.
See your dealer.

4-29

Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body
insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor
mats
-- anything you can wrap around yourself or
tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
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.