2003 BUICK REGAL tow

There are several different positions for your shift lever.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brakefirmly 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“Towing a Trailer”in the Index.
PARK (P):This position locks your front wheels. It’s the
best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily.Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transaxle shift lock control system. You must fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition is in RUN. If you cannot shift out
of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever by pushing
it all the way into PARK (P) while keeping the brake
pedal pushed down. Release the shift lever button. Then
move the shift lever out of PARK (P). SeeShifting
Out of Park (P) on page 2-27.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, seeIf
You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-30.
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2003 - Regal OM

NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
“racing”(running at high speed) is dangerous.
Unless your foot isfirmly on the brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very rapidly. You
could lose control and hit people or objects.
Don’t shift into a drive gear while your engine
is racing.
Notice:Damage to your transaxle caused by
shifting into a drive gear with the engine racing isn’t
covered by your warranty.
Notice:If your vehicle seems to start up rather
slowly, or if it seems not to shift gears as you go
faster, something may be wrong with a transaxle
system sensor. If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged. So, if this happens,
have your vehicle serviced right away. Until then,
you can use SECOND (2) when you are driving less
than 35 mph (55 km/h) and AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(
X)for higher speeds.AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
X): This position is for
normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and
you’re:
•Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
•Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator pedal all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal
driving, but it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
X).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
X):
•When driving on hilly, winding roads.
•When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.
•When going down a steep hill.
•When driving in no-highway scenarios (i.e. city
streets, etc.)
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2003 - Regal OM

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 parking on any hill, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-35. That section shows what
to dofirst 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 brakefirmly 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“Towing a Trailer”in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake with your left foot.2. Move the shift lever
into PARK (P) by
holding in the button
on the lever and
then pushing the lever
all the way toward
the front of your
vehicle. Then turn
the ignition key
to LOCK.
3. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
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2003 - Regal OM

Running Your Engine While You
Are Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust.”
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan is at the highest setting. One place this
can happen is a garage. Exhaust—with
CO—can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. See
“Winter Driving”in the Index.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brakefirmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you’ve 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, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on page 2-25.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a trailer,
also seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-35.
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2003 - Regal OM

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
To reduce glare from lamps behind you, pull the lever at
the bottom of the mirror toward you, to the night
position. To return the mirror to the day position, push
the lever away from you.
Manual Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
®
If your vehicle is equipped with this mirror, it has a lever
located at the bottom between the two lamps. To
reduce glare from headlamps behind you while driving
at night, pull the lever towards you, to the night position.
To return the mirror to the day position, return the
lever to its original position.There are two lamps located on the bottom of the
mirror. Each lamp is turned on and off by pressing the
button next to the lamp.
There are also three OnStar®buttons located at the
bottom of the mirror. See your dealer for more
information on the system and how to subscribe to
OnStar
®. SeeOnStar®System on page 2-34for more
information about the services OnStar®provides.
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2003 - Regal OM

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has the following positions: two upward
(for right) and two downward (for left). These positions
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn isfinished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster willflash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts toflash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by itself
when you release it.
If the arrowflashes faster than normal as you signal a
turn or a lane change, a signal bulb may be burned
out and other drivers won’t see your turn signal.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 for burned-out bulbs and then check the
fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-87.
A chime will sound if you leave your turn signal on for
more than 3/4 mile (1.2 km).
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change your headlamps from low beams to
high beams, or high to low, pull the multifunction lever
all the way toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams are
on, this indicator light
located on the instrument
panel cluster will also
be on.
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2003 - Regal OM

Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you a little,
but not so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are off or on low beam, your
high-beam headlamps will turn on. They’ll stay on as
long as you hold the lever toward you and the
high-beam indicator on the dash will come on. Release
the lever to return to normal operation.
Windshield Wipers
To operate the windshield wipers turn the band located
on the multifunction lever upward or downward.
WIPER:Turn this band to control the windshield wipers.
OFF:Turn the band to OFF to turn off the windshield
wipers.
LO (Low Speed):Turn the band away from you to LO
and past the delay settings for steady wiping at low
speed.HI (High Speed):Turn the band away from you, to HI,
and past the delay settings for wiping steady at high
speed.
(Delayed Wiping):Turn the band away from you, just
past OFF, to one of thefive sensitivity settings, to
choose the delayed wiping cycle. The further the band
is turned upward, toward LO, the shorter the delay
will be. Use this setting for light rain or snow.
MIST:Turn the band to MIST for a single wiping cycle.
Hold it until the windshield wipers start. Then let it
go. The windshield wipers will stop after one wipe. If
you want more wipes, hold the band on MIST longer.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the windshield wiper
blades before using them. If they are frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades
do become worn or damaged, get new blades or
blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.
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2003 - Regal OM

VENT (Ventilation):This mode brings in outside air
direct and directs it through the instrument panel outlet.
BI-LEV (Bi-Level):This mode directs approximately
half of the air to the instrument panel outlets, and then
directs most of the remaining air to thefloor outlets.
Some air may be directed toward the windshield.
HTR (Heater):This mode directs most of the air to the
floor outlets, with some air directed to the outboard
outlets (for the side windows) and some air directed to
the windshield.
BLEND:This mode directs half of the air to go to the
floor outlets and half to the defroster and side window
outlets. The air-conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below 40°F(4°C).
The right knob can also be used for the defrost mode.
Information on defrosting and defogging can be
found later in this section.
9FAN:The left knob controls the fan speed.
OFF:Turn the knob all the way counterclockwise to
turn off the fan.
LO (Low Fan Speed):This setting creates the lowest
fan speed.HI (High Fan Speed):This setting creates the highest
fan speed.
DRIVER (Driver’s Side Temperature):The lever on
the left adjusts the air temperature for the driver’s
side outlets. Slide the lever up to raise the temperature
and down to lower the temperature.
PASSENGER (Passenger’s Side Temperature):The
lever on the right adjusts the air temperature for the
passenger’s side outlets. Slide the lever up to raise the
temperature and down to lower the temperature.
"(Air Conditioning):Press this button to turn the
air-conditioning on and off. An indicator light above the
button will come on when the air conditioning is on.
During daylight hours you may need to adjust the interior
lighting control to the highest setting in order to see
the light. The system will cool and dehumidify the
air inside the vehicle when the A/C indicator light is on.
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to
let hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time for the
vehicle to cool down.
For a quick cool-down on a very hot day, use MAX with
the temperature levers all the way in the blue area. If
this setting is used for long periods of time, the air
in your vehicle may become too dry.
For normal cooling on hot days, use VENT with the
temperature levers in the blue area. The system
will bring in outside air and cool it.
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2003 - Regal OM