BUICK REGAL 1997 Owners Manual

Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:
0 Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
Headlamp High/Low Beam
0 Windshield Wipers
0 Windshield Washer
0 Cruise Control
0 Flash-to-Pass
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow
you to signal a turn or
a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn
is finished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel will flash in
the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until
the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release
it.
ProCarManuals.com

As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrow
flashes faster than normal, a signal bulb may be
burned out and other drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to
help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and then check
the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index).
A chime will sound if you leave your turn signal on for
more than
3/4 mile (1.2 km).
Headlamp HigWLow Beam
To change your headlamps
from low beams to high
beams, or high to low, pull
the multifunction lever all
the way toward you. Then
release it. When the high
beams are on, a light on the
instrument panel also will
be on.
Flash-to-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal
the driver in front of you that you want to pass. It
works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you a little,
but not
so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are off or on low beam, your
high-beam headlamps will turn
on. They’ll stay on as
long as
you hold the lever toward you and the
high-beam indicator on the dash will come on. Release
the lever to turn
the high-beam headlamps off.
2-36
ProCarManuals.com

Windshield Wipers
-!
..
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked
WIPER. 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. For steady wiping at low
speed, turn the band to
LO. For
high-speed wiping, turn the band further, to HI. To stop
the wipers, turn the band
to OFF.
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
LO, the shorter the delay.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them, If they’re frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen
or thaw them. If your blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers.
A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever, there’s a paddle
with the word PUSH on it. To spray washer fluid on the
windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will
run for
several sweeps and then either stop or return
to your
preset speed. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in the Index.
ProCarManuals.com

The LOW WASH light
on your instrument panel
cluster will glow when the
fluid level
is low.
Cruise Control (Option)
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield
is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
your vision. on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts
off.
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
ProCarManuals.com

Setting Cruise Control
0 Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at a steady speed.
So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads
or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
Cruise control can be dangerous on
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you’re not using cruise,
you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use it.
use cruise control on slippery roads.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to
limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
“Traction Control System’’
in the Index.) When road
conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may
turn
the cruise control back on.
&I button at the end of the
lever and release it. The
CRUISE light on the
instrument panel will
come on.
3. Push in the SETKOAST
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
2-39
ProCarManuals.com

Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts off
the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset it.
Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise
control switch from
ON to
R/A (ResumelAccelerate)
for about half a second.
You’ll go right back up
to your chosen speed and stay there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Push
in the SET/COAST button, then release the
button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now cruise
at the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from ON to WA. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed ycu want, and
then release the switch.
(To increase your speed
in very small amounts, move the switch to
FUA
for less than half a second and then release it. Each
time you do this, your vehicle will
go about 1 mph
(1.6 kdh) faster.)
The accelerate feature will only work after you
set the cruise control speed by pushing the
SETKOAST button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Push in the SET/COAST button until you reach the
lower speed
you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the SET
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll go 1 mph (1.6
km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot
off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
ProCarManuals.com

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift
to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
takes
you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
0 Step lightly on the brake pedal; OR
0 Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, or
shift into
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), your cruise
control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The lamp controls are located on the instrument panel.
They control these systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parklarnps
License Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lamps
Courtesy Lamps
Fog Lamps
0 Cornering Lamps
ProCarManuals.com

If you pull the knob out
halfway,
it will turn on only
your parklamps. If you pull
the knob all the way out,
your headlamps
will then
come on.
Push the knob
in all the way to turn off the lamps.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when you turn the ignition switch to
OFF, LOCK
or
ACC with the lamps on.
Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp Control
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.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work,
so be sure it isn’t covered.
The DRL system will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when:
0 The ignition is on,
0 The headlamp switch is off and
0 The parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your front turn signal lamps
will be on. The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t
be lit up either.
When it’s dark enough outside, your front turn signal
lamps will turn off and your vehicle’s headlamps and
parklamps will turn
on. The other lamps that come on
with your headlamps will also come on.
When it’s bright enough outside, your headlamps will
go
off and your front turn signal lamps will come on.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while
the ignition is in OFF or LOCK. Then start
your vehicle. The DRL, headlamps and parklamps will
stay off until you release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need
it.
2-42
ProCarManuals.com

Twilight Sentinel
Twilight Sentinel provides a period of exterior
illumination as you leave the vicinity
of your vehicle.
The feature is activated when your vehicle’s headlamps
are on due to the automatic headlamp control feature
described previously in this section, and when your
vehicle’s ignition is turned
off. Your headlamps will
then remain on until the headlamp switch is moved from
OFF to the parklamp position or until a 90 second
illumination period has elapsed.
If you turn off the ignition with the headlamp switch in
the parklamp or headlamp position, the Twilight
Sentinel cycle will
not occur.
You can customize the vehicle to activate the Twilight
Sentinel when your vehicle’s ignition is turned off under
the conditions described above, or you may choose
not
to activate this feature under any conditions. The
enabledldisabled state of this feature will be toggled
when you perform the following sequence with the
doors closed and the ignition key in the
RUN position: Press
and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, cycle the headlamp switch
on and then
off two times. Release the power door lock
switch. These operations must be carried out
in a time
period
of less than 10 seconds, followed by a delay
period
of no more than 10 seconds. Then, press and hold
the power door unlock switch. While holding the door
unlock switch, cycle the headlamp switch on and then
off two times. Release the courtesy door unlock switch.
These operations must be carried out in a time period of
less than 10 seconds.
After releasing the door unlock switch, a single chime
will be heard if the Twilight Sentinel function has been
disabled; two chimes will be heard if the feature has
been enabled. This feature will be enabled when your
vehicle is shipped from the factory. Disconnecting the
vehicle’s battery for up to a year will not change the
programmed operation of this feature.
2-43
ProCarManuals.com

Fog Lamps
To turn the fog lamps on,
press the fog lamps switch
located below the headlamp
switch
on the left side of the
steering column.
A light
will glow on the switch to
let you know that
they are
on. (Your parklamps must
be on or your fog lamps
won’t come on). Press the
switch again
to turn the fog
lamps off.
The fog lamps will go off whenever you change to
high-beam headlamps. When you return to low beams,
the fog lamps will come on again.
Cornering Lamps
The cornering lamps are designed to come on when you
signal a turn. This will provide more light for cornering
at night.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
moving the LIGHTS dial. If you turn the dial past
MAX, your courtesy or interior lamps will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps come on. These
lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle. You can also turn these
lamps on by moving the interior lamps dial all the way
to the right.
Illuminated Entry
Your courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a set
time whenever you press
UNLOCK on the remote
keyless entry transmitter.
If
you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it’s open
and then turn off automatically about
25 seconds after
you close it. If you press
UNLOCK and don’t open a
door, the lamps will turn off after about
40 seconds.
2-44
ProCarManuals.com