Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
Introduction 3
Danger, Warning, and
Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do
Not,” “Do not do this,” or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M: Shown when the owner
manual has additional instructions
or information.
*: Shown when the service
manual has additional instructions
or information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.” Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:
Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g: Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®(if equipped)
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I: Cruise Control
`:Do Not Puncture
^:Do Not Service
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
g: First Responder
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gauge
+: Fuses
Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
Seats and Restraints 69
and turn off the interior lamps and
hazard warning flashers by using
the controls for those features.
{Warning
A crash severe enough to inflate
the airbags may have also
damaged important functions in
the vehicle, such as the fuel
system, brake and steering
systems, etc. Even if the vehicle
appears to be drivable after a
moderate crash, there may be
concealed damage that could
make it difficult to safely operate
the vehicle.
Use caution if you should attempt
to restart the engine after a crash
has occurred.
Vehicles with eAssist have a high
voltage battery and a standard
12-volt battery. If an airbag inflates
or the vehicle has been in a crash,
the vehicle's sensing system may
shut down the high voltage system.
When this occurs, the high voltage
battery is disconnected and the vehicle is not charging the 12-volt
battery or the electrical system. The
vehicle may start but it shuts down
once the 12-volt battery is depleted.
When the 12-volt battery is
depleted, the vehicle will not start
and the on-board jump start feature
is disabled. The airbag readiness
light and/or the 12-volt battery
warning light are displayed. Before
the vehicle can be operated again, it
must be serviced at your dealer.
In many crashes severe enough to
inflate the airbag, windshields are
broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may
also occur from the front outboard
passenger airbag.
.
Airbags are designed to inflate
only once. After an airbag
inflates, you will need some new
parts for the airbag system.
If you do not get them, the
airbag system will not be there
to help protect you in another
crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly
other parts. The service manual
for the vehicle covers the need
to replace other parts. .
The vehicle has a crash sensing
and diagnostic module which
records information after a
crash. See Vehicle Data
Recording and Privacy 0333
and Event Data
Recorders 0334.
. Let only qualified technicians
work on the airbag systems.
Improper service can mean that
an airbag system will not work
properly. See your dealer for
service.
Passenger Sensing
System
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the front
outboard passenger position. The
passenger airbag status indicator
will light on the instrument panel
when the vehicle is started.
Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
Seats and Restraints 71
.There is a critical problem with
the airbag system or the
passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag,
the off indicator will light and stay lit
as a reminder that the airbag is off.
See Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator 0114.
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn on the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
anytime the system senses that a
person of adult size is sitting
properly in the front outboard
passenger seat. When the
passenger sensing system has
allowed the airbag to be enabled,
the on indicator will light and stay lit
as a reminder that the airbag is
active. For some children, including
children in child restraints and for
very small adults, the passenger
sensing system may or may not turn
off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag, depending upon the
person's seating posture and body
build. Everyone in the vehicle who
has outgrown child restraints should
wear a safety belt properly
—
whether or not there is an airbag for
that person.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness
Light 0114 for more information,
including important safety
information.
If the On Indicator Is Lit for a
Child Restraint
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag if
the system determines that an infant
is present in a child restraint. If a
child restraint has been installed
and the on indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items from the seat such as blankets,
cushions, seat covers, seat
heaters, or seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directions
provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and refer to
Securing Child Restraints
(Rear Seat) 089 orSecuring
Child Restraints (Front
Passenger Seat) 092.
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Seats and Restraints 73
Additional Factors Affecting
System Operation
Safety belts help keep the
passenger in position on the seat
during vehicle maneuvers and
braking, which helps the passenger
sensing system maintain the
passenger airbag status. See
“Safety Belts”and“Child Restraints”
in the Index for additional
information about the importance of
proper restraint use.
A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion,
or aftermarket equipment such as
seat covers, seat heaters, and seat
massagers can affect how well the
passenger sensing system
operates. We recommend that you
not use seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment except when
approved by GM for your specific
vehicle. See Adding Equipment to
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 074
for more information about
modifications that can affect how
the system operates. A wet seat can affect the
performance of the passenger
sensing system. Here is how:
.
The passenger sensing system
may turn off the passenger
frontal airbag when liquid is
soaked into the seat. If this
happens, the off indicator will be
lit, and the airbag readiness light
on the instrument panel will also
be lit.
. Liquid pooled on the seat that
has not soaked in may make it
more likely that the passenger
sensing system will turn on the
passenger frontal airbag while a
child restraint or child occupant
is on the seat. If the passenger
frontal airbag is turned on, the
on indicator will be lit.
If the passenger seat gets wet, dry
the seat immediately. If the airbag
readiness light is lit, do not install a
child restraint or allow anyone to
occupy the seat. See Airbag
Readiness Light 0114 for important
safety information. The on indicator may be lit if an
object, such as a briefcase,
handbag, grocery bag, laptop or
other electronic device, is put on an
unoccupied seat. If this is not
desired remove the object from
the seat.
{Warning
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle
should be serviced. There are parts
of the airbag system in several
places around the vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing the
vehicle and the airbag system. To
purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering
Information
0331.
Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
98 Instruments and Controls
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . 99
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . 99
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . 99
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 100
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Instrument Cluster (Base Level Cluster) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel Cluster) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . 113
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 114
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Charging System Light . . . . . . . 115
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 116
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . 119
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
StabiliTrak
®OFF Light . . . . . . . . 120
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 121
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 122
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 122 Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . 123
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 123
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 123
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Information Displays
Power Flows
(eAssist Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Energy Information (eAssist Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base Level Cluster) . . . . . . . . 125
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel Cluster) . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Battery Voltage and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Brake System Messages . . . . . 131
Compass Messages . . . . . . . . . . 132
Cruise Control Messages . . . . . 132
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . 133
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . 134
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 134
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . . 134
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 135
Object Detection System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
114 Instruments and Controls
If the driver safety belt is buckled,
neither the light nor the chime
comes on.
Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
There is a passenger safety belt
reminder light near the passenger
airbag status indicator. See
Passenger Sensing System069.
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind passengers to fasten
their safety belt. Then the light stays
on solid until the belt is buckled.
This cycle continues several times if
the passenger remains or becomes
unbuckled while the vehicle is
moving.
If the passenger safety belt is
buckled, neither the chime nor the
light comes on. The front passenger safety belt
reminder light and chime may turn
on if an object is put on the seat
such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop, or other
electronic device. To turn off the
reminder light and/or chime, remove
the object from the seat or buckle
the safety belt.
Airbag Readiness Light
This light shows if there is an
electrical problem with the airbag
system. The system check includes
the airbag sensor(s), passenger
sensing system, the pretensioners,
the airbag modules, the wiring, and
the crash sensing and diagnostic
module. For more information on the
airbag system, see
Airbag
System 064.
The airbag readiness light comes on
for several seconds when the
vehicle is started. If the light does
not come on then, have it fixed
immediately.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system. See Passenger
Sensing System 069 for important
safety information. The instrument
panel has a passenger airbag status
indicator.
Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Instruments and Controls 115
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF for several
seconds as a system check. Then,
after several more seconds, the
status indicator will light either ON
or OFF to let you know the status of
the front outboard passenger frontal
airbag.
If the word ON is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it
means that the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag is allowed
to inflate.
If the word OFF is lit on the airbag
status indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has
turned off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag.If, after several seconds, both 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.{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. See
Airbag Readiness
Light 0114 for more information,
including important safety
information.
Charging System Light
The charging system light comes on
briefly when the ignition is turned
on, but the engine is not running, as
a check to show the light is working.
The light turns off when the engine
is started. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving, there could be a
problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked by your
dealer. Driving while this light is on
could drain the battery.
If a short distance must be driven
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
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116 Instruments and Controls
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine
Light)
This light is part of the vehicle’s
emission control on-board
diagnostic system. If this light is on
while the engine is running, a
malfunction has been detected and
the vehicle may require service. The
light should come on to show that it
is working when the ignition is in
ON/RUN with the engine not
running for Key Access or in Service
Only Mode for Keyless Access. See
Ignition Positions (Key Access)
0175 orIgnition Positions (Keyless
Access) 0177.
Malfunctions are often indicated by
the system before any problem is
noticeable. Being aware of the light
and seeking service promptly when
it comes on may prevent damage.
Caution
If the vehicle is driven continually
with this light on, the emission
control system may not work as
well, the fuel economy may be
lower, and the vehicle may not
run smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Caution
Modifications to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake,
or fuel system, or the use of
replacement tires that do not
meet the original tire
specifications, can cause this light
to come on. This could lead to
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. This could also
affect the vehicle’s ability to pass
an Emissions Inspection/
Maintenance test. See
Accessories and
Modifications 0221. If the light is flashing :
A
malfunction has been detected that
could damage the emission control
system and increase vehicle
emissions. Diagnosis and service
may be required.
To help prevent damage, reduce
vehicle speed and avoid hard
accelerations and uphill grades.
If the light continues to flash, find a
safe place to park. Turn the vehicle
off and wait at least 10 seconds
before restarting the engine. If the
light is still flashing, follow the
previous guidelines and see your
dealer for service as soon as
possible.
If the light is on steady : A
malfunction has been detected.
Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Check the following:
. A loose or missing fuel cap may
cause the light to come on. See
Filling the Tank 0215. A few
driving trips with the cap
properly installed may turn the
light off.