Driver 1 BUICK LESABRE 2004 User Guide

If your vehicle has one, the right front passenger’s side
impact air bag is in the side of the passenger’s
seatback closest to the door.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and don’t attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering. Don’t let seat covers block the
ination path of a side impact air bag.
When Should an Air Bag Inate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags
are designed to inate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inate
only if the impact speed is above the system’s
designed “threshold level.”
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In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal air
bags, which adjust the amount of restraint according to
crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these
air bags inate at a level less than full deployment. For
more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.
If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that
does not move or deform, the threshold level for the
reduced deployment is about 10 to 16 mph (18 to
26 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is
about 18 to 24 mph (29 to 38.5 km/h). The threshold
level can vary, however, with specic vehicle design, so
that it can be somewhat above or below this range.
If your vehicle strikes something that will move or
deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be
higher. The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal
air bags are not designed to inate in rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts because ination
would not help the occupant.Your vehicle may or may not have a side impact air
bag. SeeAir Bag Systems on page 1-47. Side impact air
bags are designed to inate in moderate to severe
side crashes. A side impact air bag will inate if
the crash severity is above the system’s designed
“threshold level.” The threshold level can vary with
specic vehicle design. Side impact air bags are
not designed to inate in frontal or near-frontal impacts,
rollovers or rear impacts, because ination would not
help the occupant. A side impact air bag will only deploy
on the side of the vehicle that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
For frontal air bags, ination is determined by the angle
of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down
in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact
air bags, ination is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.
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What Makes an Air Bag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For
both frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inator, which
inates the air bag. The inator, the air bag and
related hardware are all part of the air bag modules.
Frontal air bag modules are located inside the steering
wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with side
impact air bags, the air bag modules are located in the
seatback closest to the driver’s and/or right front
passenger’s door.
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the insideof the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal air bags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion
is not toward the air bag. Side impact air bags would not
help you in many types of collisions, including frontal
or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and
then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
collisions for the driver’s and right front passenger’s
frontal air bags, and only in moderate to severe
side collisions for vehicles with a driver’s and right front
passenger’s side impact air bag.
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What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inates?
After the air bag inates, it quickly deates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
inated. Some components of the air bag module will be
hot for a short time. These components include the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal air bag and the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal
air bag. For vehicles with side impact air bags, the side
of the seatback closest to the driver’s and/or right
front passenger’s door will be hot. The parts of the bag
that come into contact with you may be warm, but
not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust
coming from the vents in the deated air bags. Air
bag ination doesn’t prevent the driver from seeing or
being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop
people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an air bag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
can’t get out of the vehicle after an air bag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the air
bags inate (if battery power is available). You can lock
the doors again and turn the interior lamps off by
using the door lock and interior lamp controls.
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In many crashes severe enough to inate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inate only once. After an
air bag inates, you’ll need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you don’t get them, the air
bag system won’t be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system will include air bag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic frontal
sensor, which helps the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also equipped
with a crash sensing and diagnostic module,
which records information about the frontal air bag
system. The module records information about
the readiness of the system, when the system
commands air bag ination and driver’s safety belt
usage at deployment. The module also records
speed, engine rpm, brake and throttle data.
Let only qualied technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air
bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer for
service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s air bag, or the air
bag covering on the driver’s and right front
passenger’s seatback, the bag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the air bag
module in the steering wheel, both the air bag
module and the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s air bag, or both the air bag module
and seatback for the driver’s and right front
passenger’s side impact air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
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There is a master key that
works in all of the lock
cylinders (driver’s
door, trunk, ignition, and
glove box).
There is also a VALET key
which operates only the
driver’s door and the
ignition.Your vehicle has the PASS-Key®III vehicle theft
system. Both the master and VALET key have a
transponder in the key head that matches a decoder in
the vehicle’s steering column. If a replacement key
or any additional key is needed, you must purchase this
key from your dealer. The key will have PK3 stamped
on it. Keep the bar code tag that came with the original
keys. Give this tag to your dealer if you need a new
key made.
Any new PASS-Key
®III key must be programmed
before it will start your vehicle. SeePASS-Key®III on
page 2-19for more information on programming
your new key.
If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar
®System
with an active subscription and you lock your keys inside
the vehicle, OnStar
®may be able to send a command
to unlock your vehicle. SeeOnStar®System on
page 2-37for more information.
Notice:If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,
you may have to damage the vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have spare keys.
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If your vehicle is equipped with the DIC, the numbers on
the back of your transmitter correspond to DRIVER #1
and DRIVER #2 on the DIC. For more information
seeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-45.
W(Unlock):Press this
button to unlock the
driver’s door. Press it again
within ve seconds to
unlock all of the doors. See
“Security Feedback”
later in this section.
Pressing the unlock button may also illuminate the
interior lamps. See “Entry Lighting” underInterior Lamps
on page 3-17.
Q(Lock):Press this button to lock all doors.
V(Trunk):Press this button to unlock the trunk
when the ignition is in OFF. It will also work when the
ignition is on, but only while the transaxle is in PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N).
L(Instant Alarm):Press this button to make the
horn sound and the headlamps and taillamps ash for
up to 30 seconds. This can be turned off by pressing the
instant alarm button again or by turning the ignition
on. If your vehicle is equipped with the content
theft-deterrent feature, you may also turn off the instant
alarm by unlocking the vehicle with a key.
Personalization Features
The following features, if available on your vehicle, can
be programmed to each driver’s preference.
Automatic Door Locks:This feature programs
your door locks to automatically lock or unlock
when shifting in and out of PARK (P).
Security Feedback:This feature provides feedback
to the driver when the vehicle receives a command
from the remote keyless entry transmitter.
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Delayed Locking:This feature allows for a ve
second delay in locking the doors after the
closing of the last door.
Perimeter Lighting:This feature provides for the
daytime running lamps (DRL), parking lamps and
the back-up lamps to turn on when the unlock
button on the remote keyless entry transmitter is
pressed.
For more detailed information and programming
instructions, refer toDIC Vehicle Personalization on
page 3-50for each individual feature listed above.
Security Feedback
This feature provides feedback when the vehicle
receives a command from the remote keyless entry
transmitter. Feedback is only provided if all doors are
closed, the ignition is off and the Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) is inactive. One of the following modes
may be selected for each transmitter:
Mode 1:No feedback when locking or unlocking
vehicle.
Mode 2:Parking lamps, back-up lamps and the DRL
exterior lamps will ash twice when unlocking the vehicle
and ash once when locking the vehicle.Mode 3:Horn chirps when all doors are unlocked
(second time the button is pressed) and when locking
the vehicle.
Mode 4:Parking lamps, back-up lamps and the DRL
exterior lamps will ash twice each time the unlock
button is pressed; the horn chirps when all doors are
unlocked. Parking lamps and the DRL exterior
lamps ash once and the horn chirps when locking the
vehicle.
The exterior lamps will not ash if the manual parking
lamps are on.
If your vehicle is equipped with the DIC, you must
program this feature using it. SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 3-45.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the DIC, do the
following to change to another mode:
1. Close all the doors and turn the ignition on. Keep
all doors closed throughout this procedure.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the driver’s power door
lock switch throughout this procedure. All the
doors will lock.
3. Press the trunk button on the transmitter. The
security feedback will remain in its current mode.
The horn will chirp as feedback.
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There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
If your vehicle has a content theft-deterrent system,
unlock the doors only with the key or remote keyless
entry system. This will avoid setting off the alarm.
To unlock the door from the outside, use your door key
or remote keyless entry transmitter. Turning the door
key toward the front of the vehicle will lock the
door. Turning the door key toward the rear of the
vehicle will unlock it.
To unlock the door from the inside, move the manual
door lock, located above the door handle, rearward. To
lock the door, move the manual door lock forward.Central Door Unlocking System
If your vehicle has a theft-deterrent system, all doors
will unlock if the key is held in the outside key cylinder
unlock position for more than two seconds. The
doors will also unlock if the key is turned to the unlock
position twice in three seconds.
Power Door Locks
With power door locks, you can lock or unlock all the
doors on your vehicle.
The power door lock
switches are located on
the driver’s and front
passenger’s door panels.
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Door Ajar Reminder
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), and a door is not fully closed, the DIC will
display a DOOR AJAR message. SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 3-45.
Delayed Locking
This feature lets the driver delay the actual locking of
the vehicle. When the driver’s power door lock switch or
remote keyless entry lock button is pressed with the
key removed from the ignition, and the driver’s
door open, a chime will sound three times to signal that
the delayed locking system is active. When all doors
have been closed, the doors will lock automatically after
ve seconds. If any door is opened before this, the
ve-second timer will reset itself once all the doors have
been closed again.
Pressing the driver’s or passenger’s power door lock
switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter button
again will override this feature.
Personal Choice Programming
The delayed locking feature can be turned on or off.
If your vehicle is equipped with the DIC, you must use
it to program this feature. SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 3-45.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the DIC, use the
following procedure to change modes:
1. Close all the doors and turn the ignition on. Keep
all doors closed throughout this procedure.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the driver’s power door
lock switch throughout this procedure. All the
doors will lock.
3. Press the unlock button on the transmitter. The lock
delay is still off and all doors will remain locked.
4. Press the unlock button on the transmitter again.
Lock delay is now active and all doors will unlock.
5. Release the power door lock switch.
To turn this feature off, repeat the previous procedure.
This procedure only changes the mode for the
transmitter used to change this setting.
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