instrument panel BUICK REGAL 2001 Owner's Manual

2-63
Instrument Panel Clusters
The instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know how fast
you're going, about how much fuel is in your tank and many other things you need to drive safely and economically.
United States version shown, Canada similar
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2-65 Speedometer and Odometer
The speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
The odometer shows how far your vehicle has been
driven in either miles (used in the United States) or
in kilometers (used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper
-resistant odometer. If you see
ERROR, you'll know someone has probably tampered
with it and the numbers may not be accurate.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer, then that will be done.
But if it can't, then it will be set at zero and a label must
be put on the driver's door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer tells how far you have driven since
you last reset it. To set it to zero, press the button on the
right side of the instrument panel cluster.
The trip/select reset switch will go back and forth
between the odometer and the trip odometer if the
button is pressed and released within 1.5 seconds. If the button is pressed and held for longer than
1.5 seconds while in the trip odometer mode, it will be
reset to zero. If the button is pressed and held for longer
than 1.5 seconds while in the odometer mode, it will
have no effect.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays
the engine speed in
thousands of revolutions
per minute (rpm).
(Optional cluster
tachometer shown.)
NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area, or engine damage may occur.
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2-67 Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag's electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the air bag modules, the
wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system,
see ªAir Bagº in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your vehicle,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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2-80 Low Fuel Light
United States Canada
If your fuel is low, a circular light on your instrument
panel cluster will come on and stay on and a chime will
sound periodically until you add fuel.
It will also come on for a few seconds when you first
turn on the ignition as a check to show you it's working.
If it doesn't come on then, have it fixed.
Driver Information Center (Option)
The Driver Information Center (DIC), located below the
tachometer on the instrument panel cluster, gives you
important safety and maintenance facts. When you
turn the ignition on, the entire center lights up for just
a few seconds.
3800 V6 Supercharged Engine
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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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3-3
MAX: This setting recirculates much of the air inside
your vehicle and sends it through the instrument panel
outlets. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below 40
F (4
C). (Even when the
compressor is running, you can control the temperature.)
VENT: This setting brings in outside air and directs it
through the instrument panel outlets.
BI
-LEV: This setting brings in outside air and
directs it two ways. Half of the air is directed through
the instrument panel outlets. Most of the remaining air is
directed through the floor ducts and a little to the defrost
and side window vents.
HTR: This setting sends most of the air through the
ducts near the floor. The rest comes out of the defroster
and side window vents.
BLEND: This setting allows half of the air to go to the
floor ducts and half to the defroster and side window
vents. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below 40
F (4
C). (Even when the
compressor is running, you can control the temperature.)
DEF: This setting directs most of the air through
the defroster and side window vents. Some of the air
goes to the floor ducts and the side window vents.
The air conditioning compressor will run automatically
in this setting unless the outside temperature is below
40
F (4
C). (Even when the compressor is running, you
can control the temperature.)
A/C: Press this button to turn the air conditioning
on and off. The system will cool and dehumidify the
air inside the vehicle when the A/C light is on.
Heating
On cold days, use HTR with the driver and passenger
levers all the way in the red area. This system will bring
in outside air, heat it, and send it to the floor ducts.
Heating (Engine Coolant Heater)
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it's
cold outside
-- 0
F (-18
C) or lower. An engine coolant
heater warms the coolant your engine and heating
system use to provide heat. See ªEngine Coolant
Heaterº in the Index.
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3-7
Manual Control
If you prefer to manually control the heating, cooling
and ventilation in your vehicle, you can select airflow
direction, fan speed, outside or recirculated air, air
compressor and temperature operation with the following:
AIR FLOW: This control has several settings to control
the direction of airflow when the system is not in AUTO.
To access the various modes available, continue to press
the AIR FLOW rocker button up or down until the
desired mode appears in the display:
WINDSHIELD/FLOOR: This setting directs half of
the air to the floor ducts and half to the defroster and
side window vents. The air conditioning compressor
will run automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below 40
F (4
C).
MID/FLOOR: This setting directs half of the air
through the instrument panel outlets. Most of the
remaining air is directed through the floor ducts and a
little to the defroster and side window vents.
MID: This setting directs air through the instrument
panel outlets.FLOOR: This setting sends most of the air through the
ducts near the floor. The rest comes out of the defroster
and side window vents. When in this setting and
the RECIRC setting, the windows can fog up.
See ªRECIRCº in the Index.
FRONT: This setting brings in outside air and directs
most of the air through the defrost vent. Some of the air
also goes to the floor ducts and the side window defogger
outlets. The indicator on the button will light and
WINDSHIELD will be lit in the display. The air
conditioning compressor will run automatically in this
setting unless the outside temperature is below 40
F (4
C).
VENT: This setting turns the air conditioning compressor
on and off. The indicator is lit when the compressor is
turned off. Recirculation is not permitted when the
compressor is off. The system will try to control the
temperature automatically, but without the compressor.
VENT is not permitted in FRONT defrost mode. If the
VENT button is pushed while in FRONT defrost mode,
the indicator will light for one second and then turn off.
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4-39 Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument panel
will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash,
telling other drivers you're about to turn, change lanes
or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument panel
will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned
out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you are seeing your
signal when they are not. It's important to check occasionally
to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don't shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer, you may want to drive in
THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
)
(or, as you need to, a lower gear).
Parking on Hills
CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People can
be injured, and both your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here's
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don't shift
into PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the
trailer's wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
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5-9
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your vehicle towed. See ªRoadside
Assistanceº and ªRecreational Vehicle Towingº in
the Index.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a hot
engine warning light on your instrument panel. See
ªEngine Coolant Temperature Gageº and ªEngine
Coolant Temperature Warning Lightº in the Index.
You also have a LOW COOLANT warning light on
your instrument panel. See ªLow Coolant Warning
Lightº in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation.
Should an overheated engine condition exist, an
overheat protection mode which alternates firing groups
of cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
you will notice a significant loss in power and engine
performance. The low coolant light may come on and
the temperature gage will indicate an overheat condition
exists. Towing a trailer in the overheat protection mode
should be avoided.
NOTICE:
After driving in the overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine damage, allow
the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause of coolant loss and change the
oil. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.
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6-3
CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.

Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.

Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. ªEnglishº and ªmetricº
fasteners can be easily confused. If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off. You could be hurt.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your dealer before adding equipment to the outside of
your vehicle.
Fuel
The 8th digit of your vehicle identification number
(VIN) shows the code letter for your engine. You will
find the VIN at the top left of your instrument panel.
See ªVehicle Identification Numberº in the Index.
If you have the 3800 V6 engine (VIN Code K), use
regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher.
If you're using fuel rated at the recommended octane
or higher and you hear heavy knocking, your engine
needs service. But don't worry if you hear a little
pinging noise when you're accelerating or driving up a
hill. That's normal, and you don't have to buy a higher
octane fuel to get rid of pinging. It's the heavy, constant
knock that means you have a problem.
If you have the 3800 Supercharged V6 engine
(VIN Code 1), use premium unleaded gasoline rated
at 91 octane or higher. With the 3800 Supercharged
engine, in an emergency, you may be able to use a
lower octane
-- as low as 87 -- if heavy knocking
does not occur. If you are using 91 or higher octane
unleaded gasoline and you hear heavy knocking, your
engine needs service.
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