2003 BUICK LESABRE drain

Key Reminder Warning
If you leave your key in OFF, you will hear a warning
chime when you open the driver's door.
Always leave your key in LOCK while the engine is off.
If you leave it in any other position, you will drain
your battery power.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
After you turn the ignition off and remove the key, you
will still have power to such accessories as the
power windows, audio steering wheel controls (if
equipped), clock, sunroof (if equipped) and the radio for
up to 10 minutes. The instrument panel cluster lights
will stay on for a few seconds, then will go out. Once you
open a door, the power will shut off.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position ± that's a
safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice:Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice:Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about 15
seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn't start within 10 seconds, hold your key in
START for about 10 seconds at a time until your
engine starts. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try.
3. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be ¯ooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
¯oor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
brie¯y but then stops again, do the same thing.
This time keep the pedal down for ®ve or six
seconds to clear the extra gasoline from the engine.
After waiting about 15 seconds, repeat the normal
starting procedure.
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Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the exterior lamp button has been left on, the exterior
lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes after the
ignition is turned to LOCK and any door has been
opened. This protects against draining the battery in
case you have accidentally left the headlamps or parking
lamps on. If you need to leave the lamps on for more
than 10 minutes, use the manual control to turn the
lamps back on after the ignition is turned to LOCK and
any door is opened. To delay the lamps from turning
off, see ªTwilight Sentinel
žº underExterior Lamps
on page 3-14.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
The lever for this feature is
located to the left of the
steering column.
The brightness of the instrument panel lights can be
adjusted by sliding the INTERIOR lever from LO to HI.
The instrument panel lights will be on only while the
parking lamps are on. The interior courtesy lamps can
be turned on by sliding the INTERIOR lever all the
way to HI.
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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.
This procedure only changes the mode for the
transmitter used to change this setting.Front Reading Lamps
The front reading lamps, located on the headliner, are
turned on or off by pressing one of the buttons
located near each lamp.
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect your vehicle's battery
against drainage from the interior lamps, trunk lamp,
glove box lamp, cigarette lighters or garage door opener.
When the ignition is turned off, the power to these
features will automatically turn off after 10 minutes.
Power will be restored for an additional 10 minutes if any
door is opened, the trunk is opened or the courtesy
lamp switch is turned on. To restore power back to the
cigarette lighters the ignition must be turned back
to RUN.
3-19

Notice:When using an accessory power outlet,
maximum electrical load must not exceed 15 amps.
Always turn off any electrical equipment when
not in use. Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain your battery.
Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible to
the accessory power outlets and could result in blown
vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a problem
see your dealer for additional information on the
accessory power outlets.
Notice:Adding some electrical equipment to your
vehicle can damage it or keep other things from
working as they should. This wouldn't be covered by
your warranty. Check with your dealer before
adding electrical equipment, and never use anything
that exceeds the amperage rating.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow the
proper installation instructions included with the
equipment.
Notice:Power outlets are designed for accessory
plugs only. Do not hang any type of accessory
or accessory bracket from the plug. Improper use of
the power outlet can cause damage not covered
by your warranty.
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Pull down the front center tray to reveal the front
ashtray, cigarette lighter and accessory power outlet.
The front center and rear ashtrays may be removed for
cleaning. Hold the sides of the ashtray and then pull
the ashtray up and out.
Notice:Don't put papers or other ¯ammable
items into your ashtrays. Hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite them, causing
a damaging ®re.
To use a lighter, push the center all the way in and let it
go. When it is ready, the center will pop back out by
itself. Pull out the entire unit to use it.
Notice:Don't hold a cigarette lighter in with your
hand while it is heating. If you do, it won't be able to
back away from the heating element when it's
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
The cigarette lighter will only operate when the ignition
key is in RUN and for 10 minutes after turning the
ignition off. If you would like the lighter to operate
regardless of ignition position, and for extended periods
of time, see ªEngine Compartment Fuse Blockº under
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-86or see
your dealer.
3-23

A. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
C. Remote Positive Terminal
D. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
E. Radiator Pressure Cap
F. Engine Oil Dipstick
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap
H. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Engine Oil
If the ENGINE OIL
LOW ÐCHECK LEVEL
DIC message appears on
the instrument cluster,
it means you need
to check your engine oil
level right away. For more
information, see
DIC
Warnings and Messages
on page 3-49
.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It's a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick is
located right behind the
engine fans and in front of
the engine oil ®ller cap.
The top of the dipstick is a
round yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for
more information on
location.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
5-13

When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message
will come on. Change your oil as soon as possible within
the next two times you stop for fuel. It is possible that,
if you are driving under the best conditions, the oil
life system may not indicate that an oil change is
necessary for over a year. However, your engine oil and
®lter must be changed at least once a year and at
this time the system must be reset. Your dealer has
GM-trained service people who will perform this
work using genuine GM parts and reset the system. It is
also important to check your oil regularly and keep it
at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your
last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Oil Life System
The GM Oil Life System calculates when to change
your engine oil and ®lter based on vehicle use. Anytime
your oil is changed, reset the system so it can
calculate when the next oil change is required. If a
situation occurs where you change your oil prior to a
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message being
turned on, reset the system.To reset the Oil Life System, do the following:
1. Display the OIL LIFE INDEX on the DIC.
2. Press and hold the RESET button on the DIC for
more than ®ve seconds. The oil life will change
to 100%.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Don't let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good
hand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing or
rags containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer's
warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
®lter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it
in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or into
streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by
taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have a
problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask
your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center
for help.
5-17

90,000 Miles (150 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
(See footnote *.)
qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-18for more information.An Emission Control Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote .) (See footnote +.)
93,000 Miles (155 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
(See footnote *.)
96,000 Miles (160 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst.)An Emission Control Service.
(See footnote *.)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote .) (See footnote +.)
99,000 Miles (165 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
(See footnote *.)
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
qInspect spark plug wires.An Emission Control
Service.
qReplace spark plugs.An Emission Control Service.
qChange automatic transaxle ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or
higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
qIf you haven't used your vehicle under severe service
conditions listed previously and, therefore, haven't
changed your automatic transaxle ¯uid, change both
the ¯uid and ®lter.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
qDrain, ¯ush and re®ll cooling system (or every
60 months since last service, whichever occurs ®rst).
See
Engine Coolant on page 5-23for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap and neck. Pressure test cooling system and
pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
qInspect engine accessory drive belt.An Emission
Control Service.
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82,500 Miles (137 500 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service. (See footnote *.)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote .) (See footnote +.)
90,000 Miles (150 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service. (See footnote *.)
qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-18for more information.An Emission Control Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote .) (See footnote +.)
97,500 Miles (162 500 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service. (See footnote *.)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote .) (See footnote +.)
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
qInspect spark plug wires.An Emission Control
Service.
qReplace spark plugs.An Emission Control Service.
qChange automatic transaxle ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or
higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
qIf you haven't used your vehicle under severe service
conditions listed previously and, therefore, haven't
changed your automatic transaxle ¯uid, change both
the ¯uid and ®lter
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
qDrain, ¯ush and re®ll cooling system (or every
60 months since last service, whichever occurs ®rst).
See
Engine Coolant on page 5-23for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap and neck. Pressure test the cooling system
and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
qInspect engine accessory drive belt.An Emission
Control Service.
6-16