warning light BUICK LUCERNE 2007 User Guide

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages
that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will
help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is wrong before it becomes serious enough to
cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying
attention to your warning lights and gages could
also save you or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briey when you start the
engine just to let you know they are working. If you
are familiar with this section, you should not be
alarmed when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
Often gages and warning lights work together to
let you know when there is a problem with
your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays
on when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section
that tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly — and even dangerous. So please get to
know your warning lights and gages. They are a
big help.
Your vehicle has a DIC that works along with the
warning lights and gages. SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 212.
Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let
you know at a glance how your vehicle is running.
You will know how fast you are going, how
much fuel you have, and many other things you
will need to drive safely and economically.
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Your vehicle has this cluster or one very similar to it. It includes indicator warning lights and gages that
are explained on the following pages. Be sure to read about them.
United States shown, Canada similar
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If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after
you start your vehicle, it means the airbag
system may not be working properly. The
airbags in your vehicle may not inate in
a crash, or they could even inate without
a crash. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have your vehicle serviced right
away if the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN.
If the light does not come on then, have it xed so
it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If there is a problem with the airbag system in your
vehicle, the Service airbag message will appear
on the DIC display. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 221for more information.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
Your overhead console has a passenger airbag
status indicator.
When the ignition key is turned to RUN or START,
the passenger airbag status indicator will light ON
and OFF, or the symbol for on and off, for several
seconds as a system check. Then, after several
more seconds, the status indicator will light either
ON or OFF, or either the on or off symbol to let you
know the status of the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it means that
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag are enabled
(may inate).
United StatesCanada
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Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop you. For good braking,
though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it does not come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s
a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will also come on when you set your parking
brake. The light will stay on if your parking brake
does not release fully. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means you
have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the
pedal is harder to push, or the pedal may go closer
to the oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is
still on, have the vehicle towed for service. See
Towing Your Vehicle on page 313.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.United StatesCanada
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Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come on when your
engine is started and
may stay on for
several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if
the light comes on when you’re driving, stop as
soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then start
the engine again to reset the system. If the light still
stays on, or comes on again while you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes,
but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular
brake system warning light is also on, you don’t
have anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with
your regular brakes. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 201.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come
on briey when you turn the ignition key to RUN.This is normal. If the light doesn’t come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if there
is a problem.Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
This warning light
should come on briey
when the engine is
started.
If the warning light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem. If it stays on, or comes on when you are
driving a SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL
message will appear in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). This indicates that there may be a
problem with your traction control system and your
vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is on and the SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL
message appears on the DIC, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
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If the traction control system is manually turned
off, this light will come on and the TRACTION
CONTROL OFF message will appear on the DIC.
When the system is active, the light will ash
while the system is limiting wheel spin or assisting
you in controlling the vehicle. You may also feel
or hear the system working. This is normal.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 283
andDIC Warnings and Messages on page 221
for more information.
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light
This warning light
should come on
briey when the
engine is started.If the warning light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem. This light may come on after you rst start
to drive and the STABILITRAK NOT READY
message will appear in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 284for more information.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you are
driving a SERVICE STABILITRAK message
will appear in the DIC. This indicates that there
may be a problem with the StabiliTrak
®system
and your vehicle may need service. When
this warning light is on and the SERVICE
STABILITRAK message appears on the DIC,
the system will not assist you in controlling
the vehicle. Adjust your driving accordingly.
When the system is active, the light will ash
while the system is assisting you in controlling the
vehicle. You may also feel or hear the system
working. This is normal.
SeeStabiliTrak
®System on page 284andDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 221for
more information.
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Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
The engine coolant
temperature warning
light will come on
when the engine
has overheated.
If this happens you should pull over and turn off
the engine as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 351for more information.
Notice:Driving with the engine coolant
temperature warning light on could cause your
vehicle to overheat. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 351. Your vehicle could be damaged,
and it might not be covered by your warranty.
Never drive with the engine coolant
temperature warning light on.
This light will also come on briey when starting
your vehicle. If it does not, have your vehicle
serviced.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If
the pointer moves towards the H (United States) or
shaded in thermostat symbol area (Canada), the
engine is too hot.
A temperature indicator light will turn on and a
chime will sound.
If you have been operating your vehicle under
normal driving conditions, and the temperature
indicator light comes on, you should pull off
the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the
engine as soon as possible.
United StatesCanada
204

Tire Pressure Light
This light comes on
briey when you turn
the ignition to RUN.
It will also come on when one or more of your
tires are signicantly underinated.If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center
(DIC), a CHECK TIRE PRESSURE message will
accompany the light. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 221for more information.
Stop and check your tires as soon as it is safe to do
so. If underinated, inate to the proper pressure.
SeeTires on page 385for more information.
This light will ash for about 60 seconds and then
stay on if a problem is detected with the Tire
Pressure Monitor system.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System on page 393
for more information.
205

Fuel Gage
The fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in your
tank. It works only when the ignition is on. When the
indicator moves to the edge of the low fuel warning
band, the low fuel warning light will come on and a
chime will sound. You still have a little fuel left, but
you need to get more fuel right away.Here are some things that some owners ask
about. None of these show a problem with your
fuel gage:
At the service station, the gas pump shuts off
before the gage reads full.
It takes more (or less) fuel to ll up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may
have indicated half full, but it took more
(or less) than half the tank’s capacity to ll it.
The gage moves up a little when you turn a
corner, speed up or make a hard stop.
The gage does not go back to empty when
you turn off the ignition.United StatesCanada
211

DIC Warnings and Messages
Messages are displayed on the DIC to notify the
driver that the status of the vehicle has changed
and that some action may be needed by the driver
to correct the condition. Multiple messages may
appear one after another. Some messages may not
require immediate action, but you can press the
set/reset button to acknowledge that you received
the message and clear it from the DIC display.
Pressing any of the DIC buttons also acknowledges
and clears any messages. Some messages cannot
be cleared from the DIC display because they are
more urgent. These messages require action
before they can be cleared. You should take any
messages that appear on the display seriously and
remember that clearing the messages will only
make the messages disappear, not correct the
problem. The following are the possible messages
that can be displayed and some information
about them.
AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the automatic
headlamps are turned off. SeeExterior Lamps
on page 170for more information.
AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL ON
This message displays when the automatic
headlamps are turned on. SeeExterior Lamps
on page 170for more information.
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
This message displays when the system detects
that the battery voltage is dropping beyond a
reasonable level. The battery saver system starts
reducing certain features of the vehicle that you
may be able to notice. At the point that the features
are disabled, this message is displayed. It means
that the vehicle is trying to save the charge in the
battery.
Turn off all unnecessary accessories to allow the
battery to recharge.
The normal battery voltage range is
11.5 to 15.5 volts.
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