steering BUICK REGAL 2001 User Guide
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Running Your Engine While
You're Parked
It's better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
ªEngine Exhaust.º
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
See ªBlizzardº in the Index.
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you've left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you're pulling a
trailer, also see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
Horn
Press the horn symbols on your steering wheel pad to
sound the horn.
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Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive. You can also raise it to the
highest level to give your legs more room when you exit
and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the
steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering
wheel to a comfortable
level, then release the lever
to lock the wheel into place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever located on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
Headlamp High/Low
-Beam Changer
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
Cruise Control
Flash
-to-Pass Feature
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2-45
3. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, cycle the headlamp
switch on and then off two times.
4. 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.
5. Then, press and hold the power door unlock switch.
While holding the door unlock switch, turn the
headlamp switch on and then off two times. Release
the courtesy door unlock switch. These steps 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 delayed headlamp illumination
function has been disabled; two chimes will be heard if
the feature has been enabled. Disconnecting the
vehicle's battery for up to a year will not change the
programmed operation of this feature.Fog Lamps
To turn the fog lamps on,
press the fog lamps button
located below the headlamp
knob on the left side of the
steering column.
A light will glow on the button to let you know that the
fog lamps are on. (Your parking lamps or low
-beam
headlamps must be on or your fog lamps won't come
on.) Press the button 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.
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OnStar System (If Equipped)
OnStar is a vehicle communications system that
offers a variety of services and provides a hands
-free
communication link between you and the OnStar Center.
A service subscription agreement and fee are required in
order to receive OnStar service. Services are available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information,
call 1
-888-ONSTAR-7 (1-888-667-8277).
OnStar Services Button: Press this button once
to contact an advisor who will be able to assist you with
these services. If you are not quickly connected, the
system will automatically reset and redial. This ensures
connection to the center; there is no additional action
required. Press the Call Answer/End button to cancel
the automatic redial.
Emergency Button: In an emergency situation,
press the emergency service button. Upon receiving the
call, an advisor at the center will locate your vehicle and
assess the situation. If necessary, the advisor will alert
the nearest emergency service provider.
Call ANSWER/END Button: Use this button to
answer a call. (If you are receiving a call, the audio
system will mute, and the ring will be heard). Press this
button at the end of a call to disconnect and return the
audio system to its previous settings. This button will
also cancel a call if one of the buttons is accidentally
pressed or if the automatic redial function is activated.
Volume Control: You can control the volume of the
OnStar System using either the volume control knob
on the radio or using the steering wheel volume control
(if equipped).
Telltale Light: This light will indicate the status of
the system. A solid green light will come on when you
start the vehicle to let you know that the system is on
and is ready to make or receive calls.
If the light blinks green it means that an incoming
or outgoing call is in progress. Press the Call
ANSWER/END button if you notice the light blinking
and you are not on a call.
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The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System
The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Lamp Controls
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
C. Instrument Panel Cluster
D. Steering Wheel Audio Controls
(If Equipped)E. Vents
F. Side Window Defog Vent
G. Hood Release
H. Tilt Wheel
I. HornJ. Audio System
K. Ashtray
L. Climate Control
M. Glove Box
N. Instrument Panel Fuse Block
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2-81
3800 V6 Engine
Control Buttons
The Driver Information Center has three buttons that
control its functions.The English/Metric (E/M), RESET and MODE buttons
for the Driver Information Center are located to the
left of the steering wheel, just below the instrument
panel cluster.
E/M: Press this button to change the display from
English to metric units or metric to English.
RESET: Press this button for one second to reset the
mode displayed.
MODE: Press this button to change the mode
being displayed.
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3-1
Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you'll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle.
Be sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3
-2 Comfort Controls
3
-2 Dual ComforTemp Climate Control
3
-4 Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate
Control (If Equipped)
3
-8 Defogging and Defrosting
3
-9 Rear Window Defogger
3
-10 Ventilation System
3
-11 Audio Systems
3
-11 Setting the Clock
3
-11 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and
Automatic Tone Control
3
-15 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Automatic Tone
Control (If Equipped)3
-21 Theft-Deterrent Feature
3
-23 Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
3
-24 Understanding Radio Reception
3
-24 Tips About Your Audio System
3
-25 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
3
-26 Care of Your Compact Discs
3
-26 Care of Your Compact Disc Player
3
-26 Backglass Antenna
3
-27 Diversity Antenna System (If Equipped)
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3-23 Audio Steering Wheel Controls
(If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, you can control certain
radio functions using the buttons on your steering wheel.
SEEK: Press the up or
down arrow to tune to
the next or previous
radio station.
If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, the player
will advance to the next or previous selection.
SCAN: Press the SCAN button and SCAN will appear
on the display. SCAN works as the PSCAN button on
your radio. It will scan through each of the preset radio
stations. If a preset radio station has weak reception, the
radio will not stop at the preset station. Press SCAN
again to stop scanning.AM
-FM: Press this button to choose AM, FM1 or FM2.
If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, press this
button to stop it and the radio will play.
SRCE: Press this button to
change to the cassette tape,
compact disc function or
return to playing the radio.
MUTE: Press this button to silence the audio system.
Press it again to turn on the sound.
VOL: Press the up or down arrow to increase or
decrease volume.
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4-1
Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you'll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We've also
included many other useful tips on driving.
4
-2 Defensive Driving
4
-3 Drunken Driving
4
-6 Control of a Vehicle
4
-6 Braking
4
-9 Full-Range Traction Control System
(With 3800 Supercharged V6 Engine)
4
-11 Traction Control System (3800 V6 Engine)
4
-12 Steering
4
-15 Off-Road Recovery
4
-15 Passing
4
-17 Loss of Control4
-18 Driving at Night
4
-20 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
4
-23 City Driving
4
-24 Freeway Driving
4
-25 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-26 Highway Hypnosis
4
-26 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-28 Winter Driving
4
-32 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-32 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-34 Towing a Trailer
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4-6
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice, it's
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle. Also see ªTraction Control Systemº and
ªFull
-Range Traction Control Systemº in the Index.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That's perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That's reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But
that's only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle
moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it's pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.
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