
DIC Vehicle Personalization
The DIC can be used to program the following personal
choice features available with your vehicle:
·Automatic Door Locks
·Window Lock Out
·Security Feedback
·Delayed Locking
·Perimeter Lighting
·Memory Seats
·Outside Curb View Assist Mirror
·Driver ID
·Language Selection
The personal choice settings displayed on the DIC are
determined by the transmitter used to enter the
vehicle. Each remote keyless entry transmitter was
pre-programmed to belong to DRIVER 1 or DRIVER 2
and is numbered on the back. After the unlock button on
a remote keyless entry transmitter is pressed and the
ignition is in RUN, the DIC will display the identi®ed
driver and recall the settings previously programmed for
that driver. The settings can also be recalled by
brie¯y pressing one of the MEMORY buttons located on
the driver's door.If you unlock the vehicle using your door key instead of
your transmitter, the DIC will not change drivers and
will recall the information from the last transmitter used
or the last driver using the memory seat controls. If
this happens and you were not the last driver of
the vehicle, simply press your correct driver number on
the memory seat controls or press the unlock button
on your remote keyless entry transmitter.
Use the following steps for personalization programming
instructions.
1. Turn the ignition on and keep the transaxle in
PARK (P).
2. Inform the DIC which driver you are by pressing the
unlock button on your remote keyless entry
transmitter or the appropriate memory seat control.
3. Press and hold the ENG/MET button for ®ve
seconds. WELCOME TO BUICK OPTION
FEATURE will appear in the display.
4. The ®rst choice to be made will be DRIVER
ID 1 or 2. Press the ENG/MET button to toggle
between your selections within a display and
RESET to choose the current selection and move
on to the next personal choice feature.
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·If you choose ON for KEYLESS FEEDBACK and
ON for HORN FEEDBACK, your horn will chirp
when all doors are unlocked and when locking your
vehicle.
·If you choose ON for KEYLESS, LIGHTS and
HORN FEEDBACK, your exterior lamps will
¯ash twice at the ®rst unlock button press, your
exterior lamps will ¯ash twice and the horn will chirp
once at the second unlock button press, and the
exterior lamps will ¯ash and the horn will chirp once
when locking your vehicle.
For more information on this feature, see ªSecurity
Feedbackº under
Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation on page 2-5.
Delayed Locking
This feature, which delays the actual locking of the
vehicle, can be made active or inactive through the DIC.
When DELAYED LOCKING ± OFF/ON appears on
the display, use the ENG/MET button to toggle the arrow
between OFF and ON. When you have made your
choice, press the RESET button to record your
selection.
For more information on this feature, see
Delayed
Locking on page 2-11.
Perimeter Lighting
Press the unlock button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter to turn on the DRL (high-beams at reduced
intensity), parking lamps and back-up lamps if it is
dark enough according to the Twilight Sentinel
ž.
You can control activation of this feature by choosing
OFF or ON when the PERIMETER LIGHTS choice
is displayed on the DIC. Make your choice by pressing
the ENG/MET button and record your choice by
pressing the RESET button. You will then be prompted
to choose a TIMEOUT period. See ªExterior Lightsº
following for more information.
For more information on this feature, see ªPerimeter
Lightingº under
Interior Lamps on page 3-17.
Exterior Lights
The EXTERIOR LIGHTS/TIMEOUT feature can be
changed to a desired setting by using the ENG/MET to
toggle from 5 to 30 seconds. Each toggle will increase
the time by ®ve seconds. Once the desired timeout
is displayed, press RESET to record your choice and
move on to the next personal choice feature.
Memory Seats
If your vehicle has this feature, the memory seat and
mirror positions will be recalled for the identi®ed
driver when the remote keyless entry transmitter is used
to enter the vehicle.
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You can program this feature to be active by choosing
ON when the SEAT RECALL choice appears, or
inactive by choosing OFF when the SEAT RECALL
choice appears on the DIC. Make your choices
by pressing the ENG/MET button and store them to
memory by pressing the RESET button.
You can also program this feature to recall your
memory seat position or the exit seat position.
MEMORY:Choose ON when the SEAT RECALL
choice appears, and then choose MEMORY when the
RECALL POSITION choice appears.
EXIT:Choose ON when the SEAT RECALL choice
appears, and then choose EXIT when the RECALL
POSITION choice appears. The seat will move when
you enter the vehicle after unlocking it with a remote
keyless entry transmitter. This will allow for easy entry.
For more information on this feature, see
Memory
Seat and Mirrors on page 2-44.
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror
If your vehicle has the outside curb view assist mirror,
which tips the passenger mirror down while the
vehicle is in REVERSE (R), it can be made active
or inactive through the DIC. When TILTMIRRORS ± OFF/ON appears on the display, use the
ENG/MET button to toggle the arrow between OFF
and ON. When you have made your choice, press the
RESET button to record your selection. For more
information on this feature, see
Outside Curb View
Assist Mirror on page 2-36.
Driver ID
This feature displays the DRIVER ID, as identi®ed by
the DIC. If this feature is ON, the DRIVER ID will
be displayed every time the ignition is turned on. If the
DRIVER ID is OFF, the DRIVER ID can be displayed
by pressing either a button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter or a memory seat button.
Language Selection
After DRIVER ID has been selected, ªLanguage
Englishº will be displayed. Pressing the RESET button
selects English as the DIC language and ends
programming. If you prefer the language to be French
or Spanish, press the ENG/MET button when ªLanguage
Englishº appears on the display. Hold the ENG/MET
button until the desired language is displayed, then
press the RESET button to select that language.
3-54

·Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you're awaiting an opportunity. For
one thing, following too closely reduces your area
of vision, especially if you're following a larger
vehicle. Also, you won't have adequate space if the
vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep
back a reasonable distance.
·When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and
don't get too close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move
into the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you
will have a ªrunning startº that more than makes
up for the distance you would lose by dropping
back. And if something happens to cause you to
cancel your pass, you need only slow down
and drop back again and wait for another
opportunity.
·If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle,
wait your turn. But take care that someone isn't
trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow
vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder
and check the blind spot.
·Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far
enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front
in your inside mirror, activate your right lane
change signal and move back into the right lane.
(Remember that your right outside mirror is convex.
The vehicle you just passed may seem to be
farther away from you than it really is.)
·Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
·Don't overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not ¯ashing, it
may be slowing down or starting to turn.
·If you're being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
4-14

Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what happens
when the three control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don't have enough friction where the tires
meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not ªoverdrivingº
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If you have the traction control system, remember: It
helps avoid only the acceleration skid. If you do not have
traction control, or if the system is off, then an
acceleration skid is also best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
If you have Stabilitrak
ž, you may see the STABILITY
SYSTEM ACTIVE message on the Driver Information
Center. See ªStability System Active Messageº
under
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-49.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration
or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery
until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues Ð such as enough water, ice or packed snow
on the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº Ð and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
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Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to be
impaired Ð by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
·Drive defensively.
·Don't drink and drive.
·Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
·Since you can't see as well, you may need to slow
down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.
·Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.
·In remote areas, watch for animals.
·If you're tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But
as we get older these differences increase. A
50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if
you're driving, don't wear sunglasses at night. They may
cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
4-16

At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to
the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as
you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin
to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect
to blend with the ¯ow. Try to merge into the gap at close
to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal,
check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as
often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic
¯ow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it's slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn't another vehicle in
your ªblindº spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh Ð such as after a day's
work Ð don't plan to make too many miles that ®rst
part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll ®nd experienced and able service experts in GM
dealerships all across North America. They'll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.
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Here are some things you can check before a trip:
·Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
·Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
·Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
·Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
·Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all in¯ated to the
recommended pressure?
·Weather Forecasts:What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
·Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as ªhighway
hypnosisº? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel?
Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don't
let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave
the road in
less than a second,and you could crash and
be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
·Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
·Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
·If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
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