2004 BUICK REGAL brake

Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp System
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. Daytime running
lamps are required to function at all times on all
vehicles rst sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it is not covered.
The DRL system will make the front turn signal lamps
come on when the following conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is off.
The parking brake is released.
While the DRL are on, only the vehicle’s front turn
signal lamps will also be on. The headlamps, taillamps,
sidemarker and other lamps will not be on. The
instrument panel will not be lit up either.
When it is dark enough outside, the front turn signal
lamps will turn off and the vehicle’s headlamps
and parking lamps will turn on. The other lamps that
come on with the headlamps will also come on.When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps will go
off and the front turn signal lamps will come on.
To idle the vehicle with the DRL and automatic
headlamp control off, set the parking brake while the
ignition is in OFF or LOCK. Then start the vehicle. The
DRL, headlamps and parking lamps will stay off until
the parking brake is released.
To turn off the automatic headlamp feature when it is
dark outside, move the exterior lamp control to the
parking lamp position. The parking lamps will remain
illuminated and the headlamps will turn off. The
fog lamps will also go on if they were on previously.
As with any vehicle, the regular headlamp system
should be turned on when needed.
Delayed Headlamps
Delayed headlamps illumination provides a period of
exterior lighting as you leave your vehicle. The feature is
activated when the vehicle’s headlamps are on due to
the automatic headlamp control feature described
previously in this section, and when the vehicle’s ignition
is turned off. The headlamps will then remain on until
the exterior lamps control is moved from OFF to
the parking lamp position or until a 90 second lighting
period has ended.
If the ignitionis turned off with the exterior lamps control
in the parking lamp or headlamps position, the
delayed headlamps illumination cycle will not occur.
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Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature illuminates the interior for a period of time
after the ignition key is removed from the ignition.
When the ignition key is removed, interior illumination
will activate and remain on until one of the following
occurs:
The ignition is in RUN.
The power door locks are activated.
Twenty ve seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period will be canceled and the interior
lamps will remain on.
Perimeter Lighting
Perimeter lighting provides a period of exterior vehicle
lighting. Perimeter lighting activates when the doors
are closed, the ignition is in OFF and the security
feedback feature is activated in Mode 3 or 4. See
“Security Feedback” underRemote Keyless Entry
System Operation on page 2-4for more information.
The vehicle headlamps and back-up lamps are
then activated for a period of 25 seconds or until the
ignition switch is turned to RUN.Perimeter lighting can be turned on or off when the
driver performs the following sequence with the engine
off and the doors closed:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN.
2. Close all the doors.
3. Apply the brake.
4. Press and hold the LOCK position on the power
door lock switch while pressing and releasing the
remote alarm button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
This activates the customization mode. While in the
customization mode, the number of chimes
corresponding to the current mode will sound. One
chime means the feature is turned off. Two chimes
mean that the perimeter lighting feature is turned on.
Each additional press of the power door lock switch will
advance to the next mode. Release the LOCK position
on the power door lock switch to set the mode.
Disconnecting the vehicle’s battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed operation for this feature.
Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the underside of the
rearview mirror. Press the button next to each lamp
to turn it on and off.
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Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come on briey when
the ignition is turned
on, as a check to show
that it is working. Then it
should go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while the vehicle is being
driven, there may be a problem with the charging
system. It could indicate that the vehicle has a loose
accessory belt or another electrical problem. Have
it checked right away. Driving while this light is on could
drain the battery.
If the vehicle must be driven a short distance with the
light on, be certain to turn off all the accessories,
such as the radio and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
The vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop the vehicle. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have the brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when the ignition key is
turned to RUN. If it does not come on then, have it xed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
United StatesCanada
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When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when the parking brake is set.
The light will stay on if the parking brake does not
release fully. If it stays on after the parking brake is fully
released, it means there is a brake problem.
If the light comes on while the vehicle is being driven,
pull off the road and stop carefully. The pedal may
be harder to push. or it may go closer to the oor. It may
take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 4-31.
{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 have pulled off the road and
stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed for
service.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
If the vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light will
come on for a few seconds when the ignition key is
turned to RUN. If the anti-lock brake system warning light
stays on longer than normal after the engine has been
started, turn the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and
stays on while the vehicle is being driven, 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 driving, the anti-lock brake system
needs service. If the light is on and the regular brake
system warning light is not on, the vehicle still has brakes,
but it does not have anti-lock brakes.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on
briey when the ignition key is turned to RUN. This
is normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.United States
Canada
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Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
If the vehicle has a
Traction Control System
(TCS), the traction
control system warning
light may come on for the
following reasons:
When the system is turned off by pressing the
traction control button located on the panel directly
behind the automatic transaxle shift lever. To
turn the system back on, press the button again.
The warning light should go off. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-10for more
information.
If there is a brake system problem that is specically
related to traction control. If the brakes begin to
overheat, the traction control system will turn off and
the warning light will come on until the brakes
cool down.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem.
If there is a base brake problem with Full-Range
Traction Control.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, the vehicle needs service.
Low Traction Light
If the vehicle has the
Traction Control System
(TCS), this light will
come on when the system
is limiting wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the traction control system
working, but this is normal. Slippery road conditions
may exist if the low traction light comes on, so adjust
your driving accordingly. The light will stay on for a
few seconds after the traction control system stops
limiting wheel spin. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 4-10orFull-Range Traction Control System
on page 4-9.
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Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive
defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in your
vehicle: Buckle up. SeeSafety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-6.
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.”
On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means
“always expect the unexpected.”
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to
be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what
they might do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following
distance. It is the best defensive driving maneuver, in
both city and rural driving. You never know when
the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn
suddenly.
Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on
the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving
task — such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call,
reading, or reaching for something on the oor — makesproper defensive driving more difficult and can even
cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to
help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place
to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving
techniques could save your life.Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a national tragedy. It is the number one contributor
to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a
vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
Vision
Attentiveness.
Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol, with more than
300,000 people injured.
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{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reexes, perceptions, attentiveness and
judgment can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You can have a serious — or
even fatal — collision if you drive after drinking.
Please do not drink and drive or ride with a
driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a
cab; or if you are with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at
the places where the tires meet the road.Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it
is easy to ask more of those control systems than
the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose
control of your vehicle. Also seeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-10andFull-Range Traction
Control System on page 4-9.
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Braking
Braking action involvesperception timeand
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That isperception time.Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That isreaction time.
Averagereaction timeis about 3/4 of a second. But that
is only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving
at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That
could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping
enough space between your vehicle and others is
important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it is pavement
or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of
the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much
faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.
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