windshield wipers BUICK LUCERNE 2006 Owner's Manual

Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the ignition, the key can be
turned to four different positions:
Notice:Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with
your hand. Make sure the key is in all the way. If
none of this works, then your vehicle needs service.
A (OFF):This is the only position in which the ignition
key can be inserted or removed. This position locks
the ignition and transaxle. It is a theft-deterrent feature.B (ACCESSORY):This position lets the radio and
windshield wipers operate while the engine is off. To use
ACCESSORY, turn the key clockwise.
C (RUN):This position is where the key returns to after
the vehicle is started. This position displays some of
the warning and indicator lights.
D (START):This position starts the engine.
A warning chime will sound and the Driver Information
Center (DIC) will display DRIVER’S DOOR OPEN when
the driver’s door is opened if the ignition is in OFF,
ACCESSORY and the key is in the ignition. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-56for more
information.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
After you turn the ignition off and remove the key, you
will still have power to such accessories as the
power windows, clock, radio, and if the vehicle has
them, audio steering wheel controls and sunroof. The
power to the accessories can last up to 10 minutes. The
instrument panel cluster lights will stay on for a few
seconds, then will go out. Once you open a door, the
power will shut off. Your vehicle has a feature designed
to protect the battery against drainage. For more
information seeInadvertent Power Battery Saver on
page 3-18.
2-22

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn .............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-7
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-8
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-8
Rainsense™ II Wipers.....................................3-9
Windshield Washer.......................................3-10
Cruise Control..............................................3-11
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Wiper Activated Headlamps............................3-15
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-15
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-15
Fog Lamps ..................................................3-16
Cornering Lamps..........................................3-16
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver........................3-16
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-16
Courtesy Lamps...........................................3-17
Entry Lighting...............................................3-17
Delayed Entry Lighting...................................3-17
Theater Dimming..........................................3-17
Delayed Exit Lighting.....................................3-17Perimeter Lighting.........................................3-17
Front Reading Lamps....................................3-18
Battery Load Management.............................3-18
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver.....................3-18
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)............3-18
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-21
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter......................3-22
Climate Controls............................................3-23
Climate Control System.................................3-23
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-26
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-31
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-31
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-33
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-34
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-35
Trip Odometer..............................................3-35
Tachometer.................................................3-35
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-35
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light.............3-36
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-36
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator...................3-37
Charging System Light..................................3-39
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-40
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-41
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light . . .3-41
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
GTurn and Lane-Change Signals. SeeTurn and
Lane-Change Signals on page 3-7.
3Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer. See
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-8.
Flash-To-Pass Feature. SeeFlash-to-Pass
on page 3-8.
NWindshield Wipers. SeeWindshield Wipers on
page 3-8.
LWindshield Washer. SeeWindshield Washer
on page 3-10.
_Heated Washer Fluid. SeeWindshield Washer
on page 3-10.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
To signal a turn, move the lever on the left side of the
steering wheel all the way up or down. The lever returns
automatically when the turn is complete.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
You may also have an arrow in the outside mirror that
ashes when the turn signal is used. SeeOutside Power
Mirrors on page 2-36for more information.
Raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to ash to
signal a lane change. Hold it there until the lane
change is complete. If you momentarily press and
release the lever, the turn signal will ash three times.
If the arrows ash very fast as you signal a turn or
a lane change, a signal bulb may be burned out and
other drivers will not see your turn signal. If a bulb
is burned out, replace it to help avoid an accident.
If the arrows do not go on at all when you signal a turn,
check the fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 5-93.
3-7

Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 0.8 miles
(1.3 km), a chime will sound at each ash 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, push the turn signal lever away from you. To
change from high beam to low beam, pull the turn signal
lever toward you.
While the high beams are
on, this light located on the
instrument panel cluster
will also be on.
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
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
with the wiper symbol on it.
8(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 wipe. If you want
more wipes, hold the band on mist longer.
N(Delay):You can set the wiper speed for a long or
short delay between wipes. This can be very useful
in light rain or snow. Turn the band to choose the delay
time. The closer to the top of the lever, the shorter
the delay.
6(Low Speed):For steady wiping at low speed,
turn the band away from you to the rst solid band past
the delay settings.
1(High Speed):For high-speed wiping, turn the
band further, to the second solid band past the
delay settings.
9(Off):To stop the wipers, move the band to off.
3-8

Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they are frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do
become worn or damaged, replace with new blades or
blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Your vehicle is equipped with wiper-activated
headlamps. After the windshield wipers have been on
for approximately six seconds, the headlamps will
automatically turn on. SeeWiper Activated Headlamps
on page 3-15for more information.
Rainsense™ II Wipers
If your vehicle has this feature, the moisture sensor
is mounted on the interior of the windshield beside 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.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
9(off) is the lowest sensitivity setting, level one.
The highest sensitivity setting, level ve, is closest to
6(low). 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
6(low) or1(high) 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.
3-9

Windshield Washer
{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.
J(Washer Fluid):Press and release this paddle,
located at the top of the turn signal/multifunction lever,
to spray washer uid on the windshield. The wipers
will clear the windshield and either stop or return to your
preset speed. For more washer cycles, press and
hold the paddle.
_(Heated Washer Fluid):If your vehicle is equipped,
the heated windshield washer uid system may be
used to help clear ice, snow, tree sap, or bugs from your
windshield. Sliding the switch on the turn
signal/multifunction lever to this position and then
releasing it will activate the heated windshield washer
uid system. This activation will initiate four heated
wash/wipe cycles. The rst heated wash/wipe cycle may
take up to 40 seconds to occur, depending on outside
temperature. After the rst wash/wipe cycle, it may take
up to 20 seconds for each of the remaining cycles.
The heated windshield washer uid system may
be turned off at any time by sliding the switch on the
turn signal/multifunction lever to this position again.
When the heated windshield washer uid system
is activated under certain outside temperature
conditions, steam may ow out of the washer nozzles
for a short period of time before washer uid is sprayed.
This is a normal condition.
A message will be displayed on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) when the washer uid is low. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-56.
3-10

Wiper Activated Headlamps
This feature turns on the low-beam headlamps,
instrument panel cluster backlighting and taillamps
when the windshield wipers have been in use for about
six seconds.
If the wiper activated headlamps are on and the ignition
switch is turned to C (RUN), the wiper activated
headlamps will continue. When you turn the key to
A (OFF), the wiper activated headlamps will immediately
turn off. The wiper activated headlamps will also turn
off if you turn off 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.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
rst sold in Canada.A light sensor on top of the instrument panel monitors
the exterior light level for the operation of DRL, so
be sure it is not covered.
The DRL system will make your low-beam headlamps
turn on at reduced brightness in daylight when the
following conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamp button for the headlamps is off.
The automatic transaxle is not in PARK (P).
When the DRL are on, only your low-beam headlamps
will be on. The parking lamps, taillamps, sidemarker
and other lamps will not be on.
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 low-beam headlamps change to the reduced
brightness of DRL.
To turn off all exterior lighting at night when you are
parked, turn the exterior lamp control to the off position.
The exterior lamps will turn back on automatically
when you move the transaxle out of PARK (P).
SeeExterior Lamps on page 3-14for more information.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
3-15

W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-33
Warnings
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-56
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-6
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-6
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-70
Different Size..............................................5-68
Replacement...............................................5-70
Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-40
Windows.......................................................2-16
Power ........................................................2-17Windshield
Rainsense™ II Wipers................................... 3-9
Washer......................................................3-10
Washer Fluid..............................................5-39
Wiper Blade Replacement.............................5-55
Wiper Blades, Cleaning................................5-88
Wipers......................................................... 3-8
Winter Driving................................................4-24
Wiper Activated Headlamps..............................3-15
X
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System..............3-101
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
14