instrument panel BUICK REGAL 2002 Owner's Guide

2-65
The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System
The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Exterior Lamps Control
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
C. Instrument Panel Cluster
D. Audio Steering Wheel Controls
(If Equipped)E. Air Vents
F. Side Window Defogger Vent
G. Hood Release
H. Tilt Wheel Lever
I. HornJ. Audio System
K. Ashtray
L. Climate Control
M. Glove Box
N. Instrument Panel Fuse Block

2-66
Instrument Panel Cluster
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, Uplevel (with Driver Information Center) version shown, Canada and Base Level similar

2-67 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 button 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 (Option)
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.

2-69 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.

2-82 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 Engine

2-83
3800 V6 Supercharged 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 (English/Metric): 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.

3-3
Mode Knob
The right knob has several settings to control the
direction of airflow. To access the various modes
available, turn the mode knob to the desired mode.
MAX (Maximum Air Conditioning): 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 (Ventilation): This setting brings in outside air
and directs it through the instrument panel outlets.
BI
-LEV (Bi-Level): 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 (Heater): 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 (Defrost): 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.)
Mode Button
A/C (Air Conditioning): 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.

3-4 Dual Automatic ComforTemp
Climate
Control (If Equipped)
With this system, you set a temperature. You can then
either let the system automatically control airflow
direction and force to maintain the temperature, or you
can manually adjust it. The system works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
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 conditioning and temperature.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 switch 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 (Instrument Panel/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 (Instrument Panel): 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
ªRecirculationº in the Index.

4-41 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.

5-9
To disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles do
the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (
-) cable from the
vehicle that had the dead battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (
-) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
other vehicle.
5. Return the remote positive (+) terminal cover to its
original position.
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service
if you need to have your disabled vehicle towed.
See ªRoadside Assistanceº in the Index. If you want
to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle for
recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see 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 cluster. See ªLow Coolant
Warning Lightº in the Index.