ignition BUICK REGAL 2001 Owner's Manual

2-33 Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque lock.º To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver's
seat. To find out how, see ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shiftlock control
system. You must fully apply your regular brakes
before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition
is in RUN. See ªAutomatic Transaxle Operationº in
the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing it all the way into PARK (P)
while keeping the brake pedal pushed down. Then move
the shift lever out of PARK (P).
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't
shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
ProCarManuals.com

2-34 Shift Lock Release
Your vehicle is equipped with an electric park lock
system. The system is designed to prevent ignition key
removal unless the shift lever is in PARK (P) (with the
shift lever button fully released).
The system also prevents the shift lever from moving
out of PARK (P) when the ignition is in OFF or in
LOCK. The park lock system is always functional
except in the case of a dead or low voltage
(less than 9 V) battery.
If your vehicle has a dead battery or a battery with low
voltage, there are two override access slots that will
allow you to override the park lock system.
The first access slot is located underneath the steering
column below the lock cylinder. To use this slot,
do the following:
1. Verify that the shift lever is in PARK (P)
(with the shift lever button released.)
2. Remove the override access slot cap, which will then
show the override mechanism release button.
3. Insert a key or screwdriver into the access slot and
then press in and hold the override mechanism
release button.
4. Turn the ignition key to OFF.5. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
6. Put the override access slot cap back on.
You will not be able to remove your key from the
ignition unless the shift lever is in PARK (P) with the
shift lever button fully released.
The second override
access slot is located
on the upper right side
of the shift panel. To use
this slot, do the following:
1. Remove the override access slot cap.
2. Insert a key or screwdriver into the access slot, press
in and hold the override mechanism release button.
3. Pull the shift lever into the desired gear position.
4. Reinstall the override access slot cap back on.
ProCarManuals.com

2-42
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Push in the SET button until you reach the lower
speed you want, then release it.

To slow down in very small amounts, push the
SET button briefly. Each time you do this, you'll
go about 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.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:

Step lightly on the brake pedal, or

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.
ProCarManuals.com

2-43
Exterior Lamps
The lamp controls
are located on the
instrument panel.
They control these systems:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking Lamps

License Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

Courtesy Lamps

Cornering LampsIf you pull the knob out halfway, it will turn on your
parking lamps and your other operating lamps. 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 ACCESSORY 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. Fully functional daytime running
lights are required on all vehicles first sold in Canada.
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:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off and

the parking brake is released.
ProCarManuals.com

2-44
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
parking lamps 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 and automatic
headlamp control off, set the parking brake while the
ignition is in OFF or LOCK. Then start your vehicle.
The DRL, headlamps and parking lamps will stay off
until you release the parking brake.
To turn off the automatic headlamp feature when it's
dark outside, move the exterior lamp control to the
parking lamp position. Your parking lamps will remain
illuminated and your headlamps will turn off. The fog
lamps will also be lit if they were on when you switched
to the parking lamp position.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.Delayed Headlamp Illumination
Delayed headlamp illumination provides a period of
exterior lighting as you leave 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
parking lamp position or until a 90 second lighting
period has ended.
If you turn off the ignition with the headlamp switch in
the parking lamp or headlamp position, the delayed
headlamp illumination cycle will not occur.
You can customize the vehicle to activate delayed
headlamp illumination 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. You can turn the feature on and off when
you perform the following sequence:
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN.
2. Close all the doors.
ProCarManuals.com

2-46 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 twisting or turning the interior lights knob
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.
Illuminated entry includes a feature called theater
dimming. With theater dimming, the lamps don't just
turn off at the end of the delay time. Instead, they slowly
dim after the delay time until they go out. The delay
time is canceled if you turn the ignition key to RUN or
START, so the lamps will dim right away.
When the ignition is on, illuminated entry is inactive,
which means the courtesy lamps won't come on unless a
door is opened.
ProCarManuals.com

2-47 Delayed Entry Lighting
Delayed entry lighting lights your vehicle's interior for a
period of time after all the doors have been closed.
The ignition must be off for delayed entry lighting to
work. Just after all the doors have been closed, the
delayed entry lighting feature will continue to work until
one of the following occurs:

The ignition is in RUN, or

the doors are locked, or

an illumination period of 25 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period will be canceled and the
interior lamps will remain on.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature illuminates the interior for a period of time
after the ignition key is removed from the ignition.
The ignition must be off for delayed exit lighting to
work. When the ignition key is removed, interior
illumination will activate and remain on until one of the
following occurs:

The ignition is in RUN, or

the power door locks are activated, or

an illumination period of 25 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period will be canceled and the
interior lamps will remain on.
ProCarManuals.com

2-48 Perimeter Lighting
Perimeter lighting provides a period of exterior vehicle
lighting as the driver and passengers approach the
vehicle. Perimeter lighting is only activated when the
function is enabled, the doors are closed, the ignition
is in OFF and the security feedback feature is in
Mode 3 or 4. (See ªSecurity Feedbackº in the Index for
more information.) The vehicle headlamps and back
-up
lamps are then activated for a period of 25 seconds or
until the ignition switch is turned to RUN.
You may enable or disable the perimeter lighting feature
when the driver performs the following sequence with
the engine not running, the doors closed:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN.
2. Close all the doors.
3. Apply your brakes.
4. Press and hold the power door lock switch.
While holding the door lock switch press and
release the remote alarm button on the remote
keyless entry transmitter.This will initialize the customization mode. While in the
customization mode, the feature will sound the number
of chimes corresponding to the current mode. In
Mode 1, one chime means the feature is disabled. In
Mode 2, two chimes signal that the perimeter lighting
feature is enabled. Each additional press will advance
the mode by one, starting from the current mode.
During this procedure, the feature will sound the
number of chimes corresponding to the mode.
When the lock switch is released, the vehicle will
remain in the last mode.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed operation of this feature.
Rearview Mirror Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the underside of the
rearview mirror.
Use the switch next to each lamp to turn them
on and off.
Dome Lamp (If Equipped)
The dome lamp will come on when you open a door.
ProCarManuals.com

2-49 Battery Rundown Protection
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery in case you accidentally leave the
interior courtesy lamps, reading/map lamps, visor vanity
lamps, trunk lamp, underhood lamp or glove box lamps
on. If you leave any of these lamps on, they will
automatically turn off after 20 minutes, if the ignition is
in OFF. The lamps won't come back on again until you
do one of the following:

turn the ignition on,

turn the lamp switch off, then on, or

open a door.
If your vehicle has less than 15 miles (25 km) on the
odometer, the battery saver will turn off the lamps after
only three minutes.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
With retained accessory power, your power windows,
audio system and sunroof (if equipped) will continue to
work up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to
OFF and before any of the doors are opened.
Mirrors
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror
To reduce glare from lamps behind you, pull the lever
at the bottom of the mirror toward you (to the night
position). To return the mirror to the day position, push
the lever away from you.
ProCarManuals.com

2-61
Sunroof (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with an express-open
sunroof. It includes a sliding glass panel and a one
-piece
sunshade. The control switch works only when the
ignition or retained accessory power is on. See
ªRetained Accessory Powerº in the Index. The control
switch is located overhead on the headliner.
To open the sunroof to the vent position only, push
and hold the front of the switch. You will need to open
the sunshade by hand. To close the sunroof from the
vent position, push and hold the rear (indented part) of
the switch.
To open the sunroof, push the rear (indented part) of the
switch once. The sunroof and sunshade will open by
themselves. This is the express
-open feature.
To close the sunroof, push and hold the front of the
switch until the sunroof motor stops. The sunshade
can only be closed by hand.
ProCarManuals.com