
Black plate (35,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 11/5/12
Driving and Operating 9-35
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
Some vehicles have a Hill Start
Assist (HSA) feature, which may be
useful when the vehicle is stopped
on a grade. This feature is designed
to prevent the vehicle from rolling,
either forward or rearward, during
vehicle drive off. After the driver
completely stops and holds the
vehicle in a complete standstill on a
grade, HSA will be automatically
activated. During the transition
period between when the driver
releases the brake pedal and starts
to accelerate to drive off on a grade,
HSA holds the braking pressure to
ensure that there is no rolling. The
brakes will automatically release
when the accelerator pedal is
applied within the two‐second
window. It will not activate if the
vehicle is in a drive gear and facing
downhill or if the vehicle is facing
uphill and in R (Reverse).
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The vehicle may have a Traction
Control System (TCS) that limits
wheel slip. The system operates if it
senses that one or both of the front
wheels are slipping or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens,
the system reduces engine power
and/or applies brake pressure to the
slipping wheel(s).
The system may be heard or felt
while it is working, but this is
normal.
TCS automatically comes on
whenever the vehicle is started. To
limit wheel slip, especially in
slippery road conditions, the system
should always be left on. But, TCS
can be turned off if needed.
dflashes to indicate that TCS is
active. See Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light on
page 5‑20. If there is a problem detected with
TCS, the appropriate message
displays in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See
Ride Control
System Messages on page 5‑32.
When this message is displayed
and
dcomes on and stays on, the
vehicle is safe to drive but the
system is not operational. Driving
should be adjusted accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on, reset
the system. To reset:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
If
dstill comes on and stays on, the
vehicle needs service.
Notice: Do not repeatedly brake
or accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle's driveline could
be damaged.

Black plate (36,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 11/5/12
9-36 Driving and Operating
With Interactive Drive ControlSystemWithout Interactive Drive Control System
TCS can be turned off by pressing
and releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak
button. When TCS is turned off,
i
comes on, and the appropriate DIC
message displays. See Ride Control
System Messages on page 5‑32.
With TCS turned off, the system
does not limit wheel slip. Driving
should be adjusted accordingly. See
Traction Off Light on page 5‑20. Press and release the TCS/
StabiliTrak button again to turn the
system back on.
It may be necessary to turn the
system off if the vehicle gets stuck
in sand, mud, or snow and rocking
the vehicle is required. See
If the
Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9‑10. See
also Winter Driving on page 9‑8 for
information on using TCS when
driving in snowy or icy conditions.
Adding non-GM accessories can
affect the vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications on
page 10‑3.
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle may have a vehicle
stability enhancement system called
StabiliTrak. It is an advanced
computer-controlled system that
assists with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.

Black plate (38,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 11/5/12
9-38 Driving and Operating
Without Interactive Drive ControlSystem
.To turn off both StabiliTrak and
TCS, press and hold the TCS/
StabiliTrak button until
iandg
illuminate and the appropriate
DIC message is displayed. See
Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑32. When StabiliTrak is turned off,
the system will not assist with
directional control of the vehicle
or limit wheel spin. Driving
should be adjusted accordingly.
See
StabiliTrak
®OFF Light on
page 5‑20.
.Press and release the TCS/
StabiliTrak button again to turn
the system back on.
If cruise control is being used when
StabiliTrak activates, cruise control
will automatically disengage. Press
the cruise control button to
reengage when road conditions
allow. See Cruise Control on
page 9‑41.
Interactive Drive Control
System (except GS)
The vehicle may have the
Interactive Drive Control System
(IDCS). IDCS adapts to the driving
style and preference of the driver
within one of three driving modes:
Standard: Use for normal city and
highway driving. This setting
provides precise, comfortable
handling. This is a fully automatic
mode for city and highway driving.

Black plate (41,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 11/5/12
Driving and Operating 9-41
GS Mode
.Additional stiffness in the shock
absorbers for increased body
control.
.The powertrain reacts more
quickly to the accelerator pedal.
.Power steering assistance is
reduced.
There is no automatic Drive Mode
Control (DMC) in this vehicle.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, the vehicle can
maintain a speed of about 40 km/h
(25 mph) or more without keeping
your foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below 40 km/h (25 mph).
On vehicles with the Traction
Control System (TCS) or StabiliTrak,
the system may begin to limit wheel
spin while you are using cruise
control. If this happens, the cruise
control will automatically disengage.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑35 orStabiliTrak
®System
on page 9‑36.
{WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
1(On/Off):Press to turn the
cruise control system on and off. An
indicator light will turn on or off in
the instrument cluster.

Black plate (42,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 11/5/12
9-42 Driving and Operating
*(Cancel):Press to disengage
cruise control without erasing the
set speed from memory.
RES/+ (Resume/Accelerate):
Move the thumbwheel up to make
the vehicle resume to a previously
set speed or to accelerate.
SET/− (Set/Coast): Move the
thumbwheel down to set the speed
and activate cruise control or make
the vehicle decelerate.
Setting Cruise Control
If the cruise button is on when not in
use, it could get bumped and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep the
cruise control switch off when cruise
is not being used.
1. Press
1to turn the cruise
control system on. The indicator
light in the instrument cluster
comes on.
2. Get to the speed desired. 3. Move the thumbwheel down
toward SET/− and release it.
The desired set speed briefly
appears in the instrument
cluster.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
are applied or the
*button is
pressed, the cruise control is
disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory.
Once the vehicle reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, move the
thumbwheel up toward RES/+
briefly. The vehicle returns to the
previous set speed and stays there. Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
.Move the thumbwheel up toward
RES/+ and hold it until the
vehicle accelerates to the
desired speed, then release it.
.To increase the speed in small
amounts, move the thumbwheel
up toward RES/+ briefly and
then release it. Each time this is
done, the vehicle goes about
1.6 km/h (1 mph) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
.Move the thumbwheel toward
SET/− and hold until the desired
lower speed is reached, then
release it.
.To slow down in small amounts,
move the thumbwheel toward
SET/− briefly and then release it.

Black plate (43,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 11/5/12
Driving and Operating 9-43
Each time this is done, the
vehicle goes about 1.6 km/h
(1 mph) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle's speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise control speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works
on hills depends upon the vehicle's
speed, load, and the steepness of
the hills. When going up steep hills,
you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle's speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to maintain the
vehicle's speed. When the brakes
are applied, the cruise control
shuts off. Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise
control:
.To disengage cruise control,
step lightly on the brake pedal or
clutch; when cruise control
disengages, the indicator light
will not be lit.
.Press*on the steering wheel.
.To turn off the cruise control,
press
1on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory by pressing
1
or if the ignition is turned off.
Object Detection
Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
If available, the Ultrasonic Front and
Rear Parking Assist (UFRPA) or
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
(URPA) system assists the driver
with parking and avoiding objects.
At speeds less than 8 km/h (5 mph),
the system detects objects up to
1.5 m (5 ft) behind the vehicle, and
at least 25 cm (10 in) off the ground.
If the vehicle has the UFRPA
system, it also detects objects 1.2 m
(4 ft) in front of the vehicle.
{WARNING
The parking assist system does
not detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects
located below the bumper or that
are too close or too far from the
vehicle. It is not available at (Continued)

Black plate (1,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 11/5/12
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-12
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-14
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-20 Power Steering Fluid (2.0L
L4 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Power Steering Fluid (2.4L L4 Engine with or without
eAssist) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-27
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-28
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
High Intensity Discharge(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30 Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-33
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-43
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45

Black plate (2,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 11/5/12
10-2 Vehicle Care
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-61
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71 Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-79
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-84
Jump Starting
Jump Starting (On-board with eAssist Only) . . . . . . . . . 10-85
Jump Starting (with or without eAssist) . . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Towing
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-89
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-90
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-92
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-95
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-98
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to