BUICK LESABRE 2005 Owner's Manual

Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or the accessory power outlet(s). Turn off
the radio and all lamps that are not needed. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it
could save the radio!
4. Open the hood on the other vehicle and locate the
positive (+) and negative (−) terminal locations on
that vehicle.
You will not see the battery of your vehicle under
the hood. It is located under the rear passenger’s
seat. You will not need to access the battery
for jump starting. The remote positive (+) terminal is
for that purpose. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for location.Access the remote
positive (+) terminal by
removing the cover.
{CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the
engine is not running and can injure you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
5-41

{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing
this, and some have been blinded. Use a
ashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You do
not need to add water to the battery installed
in your new vehicle. But if a battery has ller
caps, be sure the right amount of uid is there.
If it is low, add water to take care of that rst.
If you do not, explosive gas could be present.
Battery uid contains acid that can burn you.
Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it
in your eyes or on your skin, ush the place
with water and get medical help immediately.
{CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure
you badly. Keep your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
5. Check that the jumper cables do not have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a
shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one. Negative (−) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−)oryou
will get a short that would damage the battery
and maybe other parts too. And do not connect the
negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal on
the dead battery because this can cause sparks.
5-42

6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the dead battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
7. Do not let the other end touch metal. Connect it to
the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch anything until the
next step. The other end of the negative (−) cable
does notgo to the dead battery. It goes to a
heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (−) terminal on the vehicle with the
dead battery.9. Connect the other end of the negative (−) cable at
least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but not near engine parts that move. The electrical
connection is just as good there, and the chance
of sparks getting back to the battery is much less.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery.
If it will not start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
5-43

Notice:If the jumper cables are removed in the
wrong order, electrical shorting may occur and
damage the vehicle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Remove the jumper
cables in the correct order, making sure that the
cables do not touch each other or other metal.
A. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Remote
Negative (−) Terminals
C. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote
Negative (−) TerminalTo disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles, do
the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle that had the dead battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
other vehicle.
5. Return the positive (+) remote terminal cover to its
original position.
Jumper Cable Removal
5-44

Headlamp Aiming
Your vehicle has a visual optical headlamp aiming
system equipped with horizontal aim indicators. The aim
has been preset at the factory and should need no
further adjustment. This is true even though your
horizontal aim indicators may not fall exactly on the “0”
(zero) marks on their scales.
If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the headlamp
aim may be affected. Aim adjustment to the low beam
may be necessary if it is difficult to see lane markers (for
horizontal aim), or if oncoming drivers ash their high
beams at you (for vertical aim). If you believe yourheadlamps need to be re-aimed, we recommend that
you take your vehicle to your dealer for service.
However, it is possible for you to re-aim your headlamps
as described in the following procedure.
Notice:To make sure your headlamps are aimed
properly, read all the instructions before beginning.
Failure to follow these instructions could cause
damage to headlamp parts.
The vehicle should be properly prepared as follows:
The vehicle should be placed so the headlamps
are 25 ft (7.6 m) from a light colored wall or
other at surface.
The vehicle must have all four tires on a perfectly
level surface which is level all the way to the wall
or other at surface.
The vehicle should be placed so it is perpendicular
to the wall or other at surface.
The vehicle should not have any snow, ice or mud
attached to it.
The vehicle should be fully assembled and all other
work stopped while headlamp aiming is being done.
The vehicle should be normally loaded with a
full tank of fuel and one person or 160 lbs (75 kg) on
the driver’s seat.
Tires should be properly inated.
5-45

Headlamp aiming is done with the vehicle low-beam
lamps. The high-beam lamps will be correctly aimed if
the low-beam lamps are aimed properly.
The headlamp aiming devices are located under the
hood near the headlamps.
If you believe your headlamps need horizontal (left/right)
adjustment, follow the horizontal aiming procedure. If
you believe your headlamps need only vertical
(up/down) adjustment, follow only the vertical
aiming procedure.
Adjustment screws can be turned with an E8 Torx
®
socket or T15 Torx®screwdriver.
Headlamp Horizontal Aiming
To adjust the horizontal aim, do the following:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood Release on page 5-11
for more information.
2. Locate the horizontal aiming screw (A).
3. Turn the horizontal aiming screw (A) until the
indicator (B) is lined up with zero.
Once the horizontal aim is adjusted, then adjust the
vertical aim.
5-46

Headlamp Vertical Aiming
Notice:Horizontal aiming must be performed
before making any adjustments to the vertical aim.
Adjusting the vertical aim rst will result in an
incorrect headlamp aim.
To adjust the vertical aim, do the following:
1. Follow the steps listed underHeadlamp
Horizontal Aiming on page 5-46rst before
adjusting the vertical aim if horizontal aiming needs
to be performed.
2. Find the aim dot on the lens of the
low-beam lamps.
3. Measure the distance from the ground to the aim
dot on each lamp; if left low beam, subtract
2 inches (5 cm). Record this distance.4. At the wall or other at surface, measure from the
ground upward the recorded distance from Step 3
and draw or tape a horizontal line the width of
the vehicle.
5. Turn on the low-beam headlamps.
Notice:Do not cover a headlamp to improve beam
cut-off when aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up which may cause
damage to the headlamp.
6. Place a piece of cardboard or equivalent in front of
the headlamp not being aimed. This should allow
only the beam of light from the headlamp being
aimed to be seen on the at surface.
5-47

7. Turn the vertical aiming
screw (C) until the
headlamp beam
is aimed to the
horizontal tape line.
The top edge of the cut-off should be positioned at
the bottom edge of the horizontal tape line.
8. Repeat the steps for the opposite headlamp.Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement bulbs, see
Replacement Bulbs on page 5-53.
For any bulb changing procedure not listed in this
section, contact your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside
and can burst if you drop or scratch the
bulb. You or others could be injured. Be
sure to read and follow the instructions on
the bulb package.
5-48

Headlamps
1. Remove the two bolts retaining the
headlamp assembly.
2. Slide the headlamp outward until the pins are loose.
3. Remove the headlamp assembly to access
the bulbs.4. Turn the bulb retainer counterclockwise to remove it
from the bulb assembly.
5. Pull the old bulb straight out from the retainer. Push
the new bulb straight into the retainer.
6. Reverse Steps 1 through 4 to reinstall the
headlamp assembly.
5-49

Front Turn Signal Lamps
1. Follow Steps 1 through 3 underHeadlamps on
page 5-49to remove the headlamp assembly
2. Reach down into the space provided by the
removal of the headlamp assembly and, while
pushing in the tab on the bulb assembly, turn the
assembly counterclockwise and remove it.
3. Remove the old bulb by pulling it straight out of
the retainer.
4. Install the new bulb and turn the bulb assembly
back into place.
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and
Stoplamps
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 2-14for
more information.
2. Turn the screws located just inside of the trunk
counterclockwise and remove them.
3. Remove the plastic trim piece from the trunk.
4. Pull the carpet away from the rear area to access
the turn signal bulb assembly.
5. Loosen and remove the bolts that hold the lamp
assembly in place.6. Pull out the lamp assembly.
5-50