Aiming BUICK LESABRE 2005 Owner's Manual

Page 1 of 392

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-8
Child Restraints
.......................................1-28
Airbag System
.........................................1-47
Restraint System Check
............................1-56
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
......................................2-10
Windows
.................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-21
Mirrors
....................................................2-32
OnStar
®System
......................................2-37
HomeLink®Transmitter
.............................2-38
Storage Areas
.........................................2-43
Sunroof
..................................................2-44
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-45
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-24
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-33
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-47
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-56Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-36
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-45
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-48
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-53
Tires
......................................................5-54
Appearance Care
.....................................5-78
Vehicle Identication
.................................5-87
Electrical System
......................................5-88
Capacities and Specications
.....................5-96
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......5-97
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-10
Index................................................................ 1
2005 Buick LeSabre Owner ManualM

Page 198 of 392

Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in your
vehicle: Buckle up. SeeSafety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-8.
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.”
On city streets, rural roads, or freeways, it means
“always expect the unexpected.”
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to
be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what
they might do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following
distance. It is the best defensive driving maneuver, in
both city and rural driving. You never know when the
vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.
Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on
the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving
task — such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call,
reading, or reaching for something on the oor — makesproper defensive driving more difficult and can even
cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to
help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place
to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving
techniques could save your life.Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a national tragedy. It is the number one contributor
to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive
a vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
Vision
Attentiveness
Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol, with more than
300,000 people injured.
4-2

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Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-17
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-21
Engine Coolant.............................................5-24
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-26
Engine Overheating.......................................5-26
Cooling System............................................5-28
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-34
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-34
Brakes........................................................5-35Battery........................................................5-38
Jump Starting...............................................5-40
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-45
Headlamp Horizontal Aiming...........................5-46
Headlamp Vertical Aiming..............................5-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-48
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-48
Headlamps..................................................5-49
Front Turn Signal Lamps...............................5-50
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-50
Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps.......................5-51
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-53
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-53
Tires..............................................................5-54
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................5-55
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-57
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-60
Check Tire Pressure System..........................5-62
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-63
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-64
Buying New Tires.........................................5-65
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-66
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-67
Wheel Replacement......................................5-67
Tire Chains..................................................5-68
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

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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

Page 286 of 392

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

Page 287 of 392

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

Page 288 of 392

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

Page 380 of 392

Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-21
Operation...................................................2-25
B
Battery..........................................................5-38
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-17
Inadvertent Power Saver..............................3-20
Load Management.......................................3-20
Battery Warning Light......................................3-38
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-7
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Parking......................................................2-27
System Inspection.......................................6-23
System Warning Light..................................3-38
Brakes..........................................................5-35
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-21
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-48
Front Turn Signal Lamps..............................5-50
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-48
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-45
Headlamps.................................................5-49Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-53
Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps.......................5-51
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-50
Buying New Tires...........................................5-65C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications............................5-96
Carbon Monoxide...................2-14, 2-31, 4-25, 4-38
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-82
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-83
Your CD Player...........................................3-84
Your CDs ...................................................3-84
CD Changer, Trunk-Mounted............................3-77
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-43
Center Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts....1-20
Chains, Tire...................................................5-68
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-41
Tire Pressure System...................................5-62
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-85
2

Page 384 of 392

Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-6
Glove Box.....................................................2-43
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-7
Headlamp
Aiming.......................................................5-45
Horizontal Aiming.........................................5-46
Vertical Aiming............................................5-47
Headlamps....................................................5-49
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-48
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-15
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
Front Turn Signal Lamps..............................5-50
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-48
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
On Reminder..............................................3-14
Wiper Activated...........................................3-14
Head-Up Display (HUD)...................................3-20
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Heater...........................................................3-24
Heater...........................................................3-27Highbeam On Light.........................................3-45
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-24
HomeLink
®Transmitter....................................2-38
HomeLink®Transmitter, Programming................2-39
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-11
Horn............................................................... 3-6
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-13
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-22
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver.......................3-20
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-31
Ination -- Tire Pressure..................................5-60
Inspection
Brake System.............................................6-23
Engine Cooling System................................6-23
Exhaust System..........................................6-22
Fuel System...............................................6-23
Part C - Periodic Maintenance.......................6-22
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal.........................................6-22
Throttle System...........................................6-23
6