2007 BUICK TERRAZA light

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages
that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will
help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that
something is wrong before it becomes serious
enough to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to your warning
lights and gages could also save you or others
from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or
is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As you will see in the details on the next few
pages, some warning lights come on briey when
you start the engine just to let you know they’re
working. If you are familiar with this section,
you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
Often gages and warning lights work together
to let you know when there’s a problem with your
vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and
stays on when you are driving, or when one of
the gages shows there may be a problem, check
the section that tells you what to do about it.
Please follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to do
repairs can be costly — and even dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
207

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You will
know how fast you are going, how much fuel you are using, and many other things you will need to drive
safely and economically. The indicator warning lights and gages are explained on the following pages.
United States version shown, Canada similar
208

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed
in both miles per hour (mph) and kilometers
per hour (km/h). Your odometer shows how far
your vehicle has been driven, in either miles
(used in the United States) or kilometers
(used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle
needs a new odometer installed. The new one can
be set to the mileage total of the old odometer.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can display how far you have
driven since you last reset it.
For more information seeDIC Operation and
Displays on page 224.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in
revolutions per minute (rpm).
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START,
a chime will come on for several seconds to
remind people to fasten their safety belts.
The safety belt light
will also come on
and stay on for several
seconds, then it will
ash for several more.
If the driver remains unbuckled when the ignition
is on and the vehicle is in motion, the chime
and safety belt light will be repeated. You should
buckle your seat belt. If the driver’s belt is
already buckled, neither the chime nor the light
will come on.
209

Passenger Safety Belt Reminder
Light
Several seconds after the key is turned to RUN or
START, a chime will come on for several seconds
to remind the front passenger to buckle their
safety belt. This would only occur if a passenger is
detected by the passenger sensing system. See
Passenger Sensing System on page 86for more
information. The passenger safety belt light will also
come on and stay on for several seconds, then it
will ash for several more.
You should have the
passenger buckle their
safety belt.
This light and chime reminder will be repeated if
the ignition is on, the vehicle is in motion, the
passenger is still unbuckled and the passenger
airbag is enabled.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither
the chime nor the light will come on.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the
instrument panel, which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag’s electrical
system for malfunctions. The light comes on if
there is an electrical problem. The system check
includes the airbag sensor, the airbag modules,
the wiring and the diagnostic module. For
more information on the airbag system, see
Airbag System on page 76.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should go
out. This means the
system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
210

{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after
you start your vehicle, it means the airbag
system may not be working properly. The
airbags in your vehicle may not inate in
a crash, or they could even inate without
a crash. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have your vehicle serviced right
away if the airbag readiness light stays
on after you start your vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a
few seconds when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the light doesn’t come on then, have
it xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is
a problem.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
Your instrument panel has a passenger airbag
status indicator.
When the ignition key is turned to RUN or START,
the passenger airbag status indicator will light
ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off,
for several seconds as a system check. Then,
after several more seconds, the status indicator
will light either ON or OFF, or either the on
or off symbol to let you know the status of the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag and
side impact airbag (if equipped).
United StatesCanada
211

If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the
airbag status indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has turned off the
right front passenger’s airbag or airbags.
SeePassenger Sensing System on page 86
for more on this, including important safety
information.
If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there
may be a problem with the lights or the passenger
sensing system. See your dealer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the off indicator and the airbag readiness
light ever come on together, it means
that something may be wrong with the
airbag system. If this ever happens, have
the vehicle serviced promptly, because
an adult-size person sitting in the right
front passenger seat may not have the
protection of an airbag. SeeAirbag
Readiness Light on page 210.
Charging System Light
The charging system
light will come on
briey when you turn on
the ignition, but the
engine is not running,
as a check to show you
it is working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it
stays on, or comes on while you are driving,
you may have a problem with the charging system.
It could indicate that you have problems with a
generator drive belt, or another electrical problem.
Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio and air conditioner.
213

Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will come on when you set your parking
brake. The light will stay on if your parking brake
doesn’t release fully. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means you have
a brake problem.
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part isn’t working, the
other part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a
brake problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.This light should come on briey when you turn
the ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if
there’s a problem.
United StatesCanada
214

If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the
pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer
to the oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is
still on, have the vehicle towed for service. See
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on page 215
andTowing Your Vehicle on page 384.
{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
Your vehicle has
an Anti-lock Brake
System (ABS)
warning light.
This light should come on for a few seconds
when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light
does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If this light stays on longer than normal after you
have started your engine, turn the ignition off.
If the light comes on and stays on when you are
driving, 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 you are driving, the ABS needs service
and you do not have anti-lock brakes.
215