tow BUICK LESABRE 1999 User Guide

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NOTICE:
If your front wheels can't rotate, don't try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into PARK (P)
to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
Parking Brake
This vehicle has a PUSH
TO RELEASE parking
brake pedal. To set the
parking brake, hold the
regular brake pedal down
with your right foot. Push
down the parking brake
pedal with your left foot.If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
turn on and a single chime will be heard. The parking
brake uses the brakes on the rear wheels.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down and push the parking brake pedal with your
left foot. This will release the parking brake pedal.
When you lift your left foot, the park brake pedal will
follow it to the released position.
If you try to drive approximately 40 feet (12.2 m) with
the parking brake on, the brake light stays on and a
chime sounds until you release the parking brake.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That section
explains what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.

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Shifting Into PARK (P)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won't move,
even when you're on fairly level ground, use the
steps that follow. If you're pulling a trailer, see
ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:

Pull the lever toward you.

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Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don't leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you've moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the
shift lever away from PARK (P) without first pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn't fully locked into PARK (P).

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Running Your Engine While
You're Parked
It's better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
ªEngine Exhaustº).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
(See ªBlizzardº in the Index.)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you've left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you're pulling a
trailer, also see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.

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Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever toward you. Move the steering wheel to a
comfortable level, then release the lever to lock the
wheel in place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:

Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator

Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer and
Passing Signal

Windshield Wipers and Washer

Cruise Control

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2-35 Turn and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is finished, the lever will
return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
If the arrows just stay on and don't flash as you signal a
turn or a lane change, a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won't see your turn signal.If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit
Breakersº in the Index) and for burned
-out bulbs.
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn
signal. To turn off the chime, move the turn signal lever
to the off position.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam
or high beam to low beam, pull the turn signal lever
toward you and release it.
When the high beams are
on, this light on the
instrument panel will
also be on.

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When the DRL are on, only your high-beam headlamps
will be on. The parking lamps, taillamps, sidemarker
and other lamps won't be on. Your instrument panel
lights won't be on either.
When it is dark enough outside, your low
-beam
headlamps will come on. The other lamps that turn on
with your headlamps will also turn on. When it is bright
enough outside, the regular lamps will go off, and your
high
-beam headlamps change to the reduced brightness
of DRL.
To turn off all exterior lighting at night when you are
parked, turn off the headlamps and move the twilight
sentinel control all the way toward MIN. The exterior
lamps will turn back on automatically when you move
the transaxle out of PARK (P).
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Cornering Lamps (If Equipped)
The cornering lamps are designed to turn on when you
signal a turn. This will provide more lighting when
cornering at night.
Twilight Sentinel
Twilight sentinel turns your
lamps on and off by sensing
how dark it is outside.
To operate it, leave the lamp switch off.
If you move the control all the way to MAX, your
headlamps will remain on for three minutes after you
turn off your engine. As you move the control toward
MIN, the headlamps will turn off more quickly when
you turn off your engine. You can change this delay time
from only a few seconds to three minutes.

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The exterior lamps can be completely shut off while the
vehicle is in PARK (P) by sliding the twilight sentinel
control all the way toward MIN, and release. To turn the
exterior lamps back on, slide the control all the way
toward MIN again, and release; or, shift out of
PARK (P).
Light Sensor
Your twilight sentinel and
DRL work with the light
sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Don't
cover it up. If you do, the
sensor will read ªdarkº and
the headlamps will turn on.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel
Intensity/Brightness Control
The instrument panel
intensity can be adjusted by
moving this lever between
LO and HI. The instrument
panel lights will be on only
when the headlamps are on.
The interior courtesy lamps
can be turned on by sliding
the lever all the way to the
right, to INT.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps go on. They
make it easy for you to enter and leave the vehicle. You
can also turn these lamps on by sliding the PANEL
LIGHTS switch to INT (Interior).

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Cleaning the Photocells
Use a cotton swab and glass cleaner to clean the
photocells when necessary.
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
with Compass (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an electrochromic inside
rearview mirror with a compass.
When set in the MIRROR position, this mirror
automatically changes to reduce glare from headlamps
behind you. A time delay feature prevents rapid
changing from the day to night positions while driving
under lights and through traffic.The mirror also includes an eight
-point compass display
in the upper right corner of the mirror face. When on,
the compass automatically calibrates as the vehicle
is driven.
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing. Use a
cotton swab and glass cleaner to clean the photocells
when necessary.
Mirror Operation

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NOTICE:
Don't put papers or other flammable objects
into your ashtrays. Hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite them, causing
a damaging fire.
To use a lighter, push the center all the way in and let it
go. When it is ready, the center will pop back by itself.
Pull out the entire unit to use it.
NOTICE:
Don't hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating. If you do, it won't be able to
back away from the heating element when it's
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
Sun Visors
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors
(If Equipped)
When you open the cover to either the passenger's or
driver's visor vanity mirror, the lamps will turn on. The
brightness of the lamp can be adjusted by sliding the
switch up or down.
Dual Sun Visors
Each sun visor has two parts, so that both the windshield
and door glass can be shaded at the same time. To use
the dual sun visors, flip the first visor down and turn
toward the window. Then, flip the second visor down
toward the windshield.