windshield wipers BUICK LESABRE 2004 Owner's Manual

Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn to ve
different positions.
(A) ACCESSORY:This position lets you use your
electrical accessories such as power windows, power
sunroof (if equipped), radio and the windshield wipers.
To use, push in the ignition key and turn it toward
you. Your steering wheel will remain locked, just as it
was before you inserted the key.
(B) LOCK:This is the only position in which you can
remove the key. This position locks your ignition, steering
wheel and transaxle. It is a theft-deterrent feature.Notice:If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you
can’t turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the steering
wheel left and right while you turn the key hard.
Turn the key only with your hand. Using a tool
to force it could break the key or the ignition switch.
If none of these works, then your vehicle needs
service.
(C) OFF:This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It does not lock the
steering wheel like LOCK and it does not send any
electrical power to the accessories. The instrument
panel cluster will remain powered in LOCK to illuminate
the gear shift indicator. The cluster will also activate
the parking brake light when the parking brake is
set. Use OFF if you must have your vehicle in motion
while the engine is not running.
(D) RUN:This is the position the switch returns to after
you start your engine and release the switch. This is
also the position for normal driving. Even when the
engine is not running, you can use RUN to operate your
electrical accessories and to display some instrument
panel warning lights.
(E) START:This position starts your engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch
will return to RUN for normal driving.
2-22

Horn
Press the center area of the steering wheel to sound
the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt 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.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of the steering column.
To tilt the wheel, hold the
wheel and pull the lever
toward you. Then move the
wheel to a comfortable
position and release
the lever to lock the wheel
in place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
Flash-To-Pass
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
For more information on exterior lamps, seeExterior
Lamps on page 3-14.
3-7

Flash-To-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass. It
works even if your headlamps are off.
Pull the turn signal lever toward you briey to
ash-to-pass.
If the headlamps are off or on low beam, the high-beam
headlamps will turn on. They will stay on as long as
you hold the lever toward you and the high-beam
indicator on the instrument panel cluster will come on.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wipers are controlled by turning the
band marked WIPER.
If your windshield wipers are on for more than six
seconds while you are driving, the low-beam headlamps,
instrument panel cluster backlighting and taillamps will
turn on. For more information see “Wiper Activated
Headlamps” underExterior Lamps on page 3-14.
OFF:Turn the band to OFF to turn the wipers off.
MIST:For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST.
Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go. The
wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more cycles,
hold the band on MIST longer.LO (Low Speed):Turn the band to LO for steady
wiping at a slow speed.
HI (High Speed):Turn the band to HI for steady wiping
at a high speed.
The wiper speed may be set for a long or short delay
between wipes. Turn the band to choose the delay time.
The closer to LO, the shorter the delay.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Keep in mind that damaged wiper blades may prevent
you from seeing well enough to drive safely. To
avoid damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the
wiper blades before using them. If your blades do
become damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Rainsense™ II Wipers
If your vehicle has this feature, the moisture sensor is
mounted on the interior of the windshield below the
rearview mirror and is used to automatically operate the
wipers. This system operates by monitoring the
amount of moisture build-up on the windshield. Wipes
occur as needed to clear the windshield depending
on the driving conditions and the sensitivity setting. In
light rain or snow, fewer wipes will occur. In heavy
rain or snow, wipes will occur more frequently.
3-9

The system will operate in the delay, low speed and
high speed modes. If the system is left on for long
periods of time, occasional wipes may occur without any
moisture on the windshield. This is normal and
indicates that the Rainsense™ system is active.
The Rainsense™ system is activated by turning the
wiper control band to one of the ve sensitivity levels
within the delay area. The delay position closest to
OFF/MIST is the lowest sensitivity setting, level one. The
highest sensitivity setting, level ve, is closest to the
LO position. A single wipe will occur each time you turn
the wiper control band to a higher sensitivity level to
indicate that the sensitivity level has been increased.
Notice:Going through an automatic car wash with
the wipers on can damage them. Turn the wipers
off when going through an automatic car wash.
The MIST and wash cycles operate as normal and are
not affected by the Rainsense™ function. The system
can be overridden at any time by manually changing the
wiper control to LO or HI speed.
Notice:Do not place stickers or other items on the
exterior glass surface directly in front of the rain
sensor. Doing this could cause the rain sensor
to malfunction.Windshield Washer
At the top of the turn signal/multifunction lever, there is
a paddle with the word PUSH on it. To spray washer
uid on the windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will
clear the window and either stop or return to your
preset speed. For more washer cycles, push and hold
the paddle.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Ice build up can block washer nozzles. Remove ice for
proper operation.
SeeWindshield Washer Fluid on page 5-36for more
information.
3-10

Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp control
buttons are located to the
left of the steering
column.
<(Parking Lamps):Press this button to turn on the
parking lamps, together with the following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
O(Headlamps):Press this button to turn on the
headlamps, together with the previously listed lamps and
lights.
Wiper Activated Headlamps
This feature turns on the low-beam headlamps,
instrument panel cluster backlighting and taillamps when
the Twilight Sentinel
®is in day mode and after the
windshield wipers have been in use for about
six seconds.
To operate the wiper activated headlamps, the Twilight
Sentinel
®must be on. If the wiper activated headlamps
are on and the ignition switch is turned to RUN, the
wiper activated headlamps will continue. When you turn
the key to OFF, the wiper activated headlamps will
immediately turn off. The wiper activated headlamps will
also turn off if you turn off the Twilight Sentinel
®or
the windshield wipers.
Headlamps On Reminder
If you leave the exterior lamp buttons for the headlamps
or parking lamps on, remove the key from the ignition
and open the driver’s door, you will hear a continuous
warning chime. The chime will turn off when the
lamps are turned off.
3-14

Fuses Usage
1 Not Used
2 Accessory
3 Windshield Wipers
4 Not Used
5 Left Low-Beam Headlamp
6 Right Low-Beam Headlamp
7 Instrument Panel
Fuses Usage
8 Powertrain Control Module Battery
9 Right High-Beam Headlamp
10 Left High-Beam Headlamp
11 Ignition 1
12 Not Used
13 Transaxle
14 Cruise Control
15 Direct Ignition System
16 Injector Bank #2
17 Not Used
18 Not Used
19 Powertrain Control Module Ignition
20 Oxygen Sensor
21 Injector Bank #1
22 Auxiliary Power
23 Cigarette Lighter
24 Fog Lamps/Daytime Running Lamps
25 Horn
26 Air Conditioner Clutch
5-93

Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check................6-17
Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement......................................5-57
Windshield Wipers............................................ 3-9
Winter Driving................................................4-25
Wiper Activated Headlamps..............................3-14
Wiper Blade Check.........................................6-18X
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System................3-82
XM™ Satellite Radio Service
(48 Contiguous US States)...........................3-79
XM™ Satellite Radio Service
(USA Only).................................................3-63
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
16