2012 BUICK REGAL Owner's Manual

Black plate (31,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-31
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brake on
page 9‑34.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move. 3. With the engine off, turn the
ignition on, but do not start the
engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.
Ignition Transmission
Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF in each shift lever
position.
.For automatic transmission
vehicles, the ignition should turn
to LOCK/OFF only when the
shift lever is in P (Park). The
ignition key should come out
only in LOCK/OFF.
.For manual transmission
vehicles, the ignition key should
come out only in LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.

Black plate (32,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
10-32 Vehicle Care
.To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear or cracking. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 for more information.
It is a good idea to clean the wiper
blade assembly on a regular basis.
When worn, or cleaning is
ineffective, replace the wiper blade.
For proper windshield wiper blade
length and type, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 11‑15. Notice:
Allowing the wiper arm to
touch the windshield when no
wiper blade is installed could
damage the windshield. Any
damage that occurs would not be
covered by your warranty. Do not
allow the wiper arm to touch the
windshield.
To replace the wiper blade:
1. Pull the wiper assembly away
from the windshield.
2. Lift up on the latch in the middleof the wiper blade where the
wiper arm attaches.
3. With the latch open, pull the wiper blade down toward the
windshield far enough to release
it from the J-hooked end of the
wiper arm.
4. Remove the wiper blade.
5. Reverse Steps 1–3 for wiper blade replacement.

Black plate (33,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-33
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp aim has been preset and
should need no further adjustment.
If the vehicle is damaged in a crash,
the headlamp aim may be affected.
If adjustment to the headlamps is
necessary, see your dealer.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, seeReplacement Bulbs on
page 10‑37.
For any bulb‐changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{WARNING
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting
{WARNING
The low beam high intensity
discharge lighting system
operates at a very high voltage.
If you try to service any of the
system components, you could be
seriously injured. Have your
dealer or a qualified technician
service them.
After an HID headlamp bulb has
been replaced, the beam might be a
slightly different shade than it was
originally. This is normal.

Black plate (34,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
10-34 Vehicle Care
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking
Lamps
Base Headlamp Assembly
(Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar)
A. High‐Beam Headlamp
B. Turn Signal Lamp
C. Low‐Beam Headlamp/DaytimeRunning Lamp (DRL)
D. Parking Lamp
E. Sidemarker Lamp
Uplevel Headlamp Assembly
(Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar)
A. High/Low‐Beam Headlamp ‐To
be replaced at the dealer only
B. Turn Signal Lamp
Low-Beam Headlamps/Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL),
High-Beam Headlamps (Base)
1. For the driver side bulb, remove the windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle. 2. Remove the outside cap for the
low-beam headlamp/DRL bulb
replacement from the back of the
headlamp assembly.
3. Remove the inside cap for the high-beam headlamp bulb
replacement from the back of the
headlamp assembly.
4. Disconnect the electrical connector.
5. Remove the bulb socket from the headlamp assembly.
6. Replace the bulb in the bulb socket.
7. Install the bulb socket in the headlamp assembly.
8. Reverse Steps 1 through 4 to reinstall the outside or inside cap
on the headlamp assembly.
High/Low‐Beam Headlamps
(Uplevel)
The high/low‐beam headlamps on
the uplevel headlamp system are
High Intensity Discharge (HID) and
should be replaced at the dealer.

Black plate (35,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-35
Front Turn Signal/Parking/
Sidemarker Lamps (Base and
Uplevel)
To replace the front turn signal,
parking lamp, or sidemarker lamp:
1. For the driver side bulb, removethe windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle.
2. Remove the bulb socket from the headlamp assembly by
turning it counterclockwise.
3. Remove the bulb from the socket.
4. Replace the bulb in the bulb socket.
5. Install the bulb socket in the headlamp assembly by turning it
clockwise. 6. For the driver side, reinstall the
windshield washer bottle filler
neck by firmly pushing it straight
into the bottle. Ensure that the
filler neck clip engages into the
underhood electrical center
retainer.
Fog Lamps
To replace the fog lamp bulb:
1. Locate the bulb assembly under
the front fascia.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector from the bulb
assembly.
3. Remove the bulb by turning it counterclockwise and pulling it
straight out of the assembly.
4. Install the new bulb by turning it clockwise into the assembly.
5. Reconnect the electrical connector to the bulb assembly.
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps
A. Taillamp/Sidemarker Lamp
B. Taillamp
C. Stop/Turn Signal Lamp
D. Back-up Lamp
To replace any one of these bulbs:
1. Open the trunk. See Trunk
Release on page 1‑6.
2. Remove the taillamp assembly access panel.

Black plate (36,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
10-36 Vehicle Care
3. Remove the two nuts thatsecure the taillamp assembly.
4. Remove the taillamp assembly and detach the wiring harness
connector.
A. Back-up Lamp
B. Taillamp
C. Stop/Turn Signal Lamp
D. Taillamp/Sidemarker Lamp
5. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove it.
6. Pull the bulb from the socket. 7. Install a new bulb.
8. Turn the bulb socket clockwise
to install it.
9. Reverse Steps 2 through 4 to reinstall the taillamp assembly.
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar
1. Push the release tab (A) toward the lamp assembly. 2. Pull the lamp assembly down to
remove.
A. Bulb Socket
B. Bulb
C. Lamp Assembly
3. Turn the bulb socket (A) counterclockwise to remove it
from the lamp assembly (C).
4. Pull the bulb (B) straight out of the bulb socket.
5. Push the replacement bulb straight into the bulb socket and
turn the bulb socket clockwise to
install it into the lamp assembly.

Black plate (37,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-37
6. Push the lamp assembly backinto position until the release tab
locks into place.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
Back-up Lamp 3157 K
Fog Lamp H10
Front Turn
Signal Lamp 3457 NAK
Front Sidemarker
Lamp (Base) 194NA
High‐Beam
Headlamp (Base) H7
License Plate Lamp 194 Exterior Lamp
Bulb
Number
Low‐Beam
Headlamp/Daytime
Running
Lamp (DRL) H11
Stoplamp/Turn
Signal Lamp 3157 K
Taillamp/
Sidemarker Lamp 3157 K
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and
Wiring
{WARNING
Exposure to high voltage can
cause shock, burns, and even
death. The high voltage
components in the vehicle can
only be serviced by technicians
with special training.
High voltage components are
identified by labels. Do not
remove, open, take apart,
or modify these components.
High voltage cable or wiring has
orange covering. Do not probe,
tamper with, cut, or modify high
voltage cable or wiring.

Black plate (38,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
10-38 Vehicle Care
Electrical System
Overload
The vehicle has fuses and circuit
breakers to protect against an
electrical system overload.
When the current electrical load is
too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes, protecting the circuit
until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed. This
greatly reduces the chance of circuit
overload and fire caused by
electrical problems.
Fuses and circuit breakers protect
power devices in the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road and
a fuse needs to be replaced, the
same amperage fuse can be
borrowed. Choose some feature of
the vehicle that is not needed to use
and replace it as soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away
if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by
electrical problems.
To check a fuse, look at the
silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the band is broken or melted,
replace the fuse. Be sure to replace
a bad fuse with a new one of the
identical size and rating.
Fuses of the same amperage can
be temporarily borrowed from
another fuse location, if a fuse goes
out. Replace the fuse as soon as
possible.
To identify and check fuses, circuit
breakers, and relays, seeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on
page 10‑39 andInstrument Panel
Fuse Block on page 10‑42.