steering BUICK REGAL 2004 Owner's Manual

Where Are the Air Bags?
The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.The right front passenger’s frontal air bag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
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If your vehicle has one, the driver’s side impact air bag is
in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and don’t attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering. Don’t let seat covers block the
ination path of a side impact air bag.
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When Should an Air Bag Inate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags
are designed to inate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inate
only if the impact speed is above the system’s
designed “threshold level.”
If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that
does not move or deform, the threshold level is
about 12 to 18 mph (19 to 29 km/h). The threshold level
can vary, however, with specic vehicle design, so
that it can be somewhat above or below this range.
If your vehicle strikes something that will move or
deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be
higher. The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal
air bags are not designed to inate in rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts because ination
would not help the occupant.
Your vehicle may or may not have a driver’s side impact
air bag. SeeAir Bag Systems on page 1-46. A driver
’s side impact air bag is designed to inate in moderate
to severe side crashes involving the driver’s door. A
side impact air bag will inate if the crash severity
is above the system’s designed “threshold level.” The
threshold level can vary with specic vehicle design. A
driver’s side impact air bag is not designed to inate
in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear
impacts, because ination would not help the occupant.In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
For frontal air bags, ination is determined by the angle
of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down
in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact
air bags, ination is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.
What Makes an Air Bag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For
both the frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inator, which
inates the air bag. The inator, air bag and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules. Frontal air
bag modules are located inside the steering wheel
and instrument panel. For vehicles with a driver’s side
impact air bag, the air bag modules are located in
the seatback closest to the driver’s door.
1-51

How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal air bags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion
is not toward the air bag. A side impact air bag
would not help you in many types of collisions, including
frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear
impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not
toward that air bag. Air bags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement to safety belts,
and then only in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions for the driver’s and right front
passenger’s frontal air bags, and only in moderate to
severe side collisions for vehicles with a driver’s
side impact air bag.
What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inates?
After the air bag inates, it quickly deates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
inated. Some components of the air bag module – the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, the
side of the seatback closest to the door for the driver’s
side impact air bag – will be hot for a short time.
The parts of the bag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will
be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deated air bags. Air bag ination does not prevent
the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle,
nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
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{CAUTION:
When an air bag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
can’t get out of the vehicle after an air bag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
In many crashes severe enough to inate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inate only once. After an
air bag inates, you will need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you do not get them, the air
bag system will not be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system will include air bag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information
about the frontal air bag system. The module
records information about the readiness of the
system, when the system commands air bag
ination and driver’s safety belt usage at
deployment. The module also records speed,
engine rpm, brake and throttle data.
Let only qualied technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air
bag system will not work properly. See your dealer
for service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s air bag, or the air
bag covering on the driver’s seatback, the bag may
not work properly. You may have to replace the
air bag module in the steering wheel, both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger’s air bag, or the air bag
module and seatback for the driver’s side impact air
bag. Do not open or break the air bag coverings.
1-53

Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the ignition, the key can be
turned to ve different positions:
A (ACCESSORY):This position lets the radio and
windshield wipers operate when the engine is off. To use
ACCESSORY, push in the key and turn it
counterclockwise. The steering wheel will stay locked.
B (LOCK):This is the only position in which the ignition
key can be inserted or removed. This position locks
the ignition, steering wheel and transaxle. It is a
theft-deterrent feature.Notice:If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you
can not turn it, be sure you are using the correct
key; if so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. Turn the key only with your hand. Using a
tool to force it could break the key or the ignition
switch. If none of these works, then your vehicle
needs service.
C (OFF):In this position the engine is off but the
steering wheel is not locked and can still be turned. Use
the OFF position if the vehicle must be pushed or
towed.
D (RUN):This position is where the key returns to after
the vehicle is started. This position displays some of
the warning and indicator lights.
E. (START):This position starts the engine.
A warning chime will sound when the driver’s door is
opened if the ignition is in OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY
and the key is in the ignition.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Retained Accessory Power (RAP), lets the power
windows and audio system continue to operate for up to
10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to OFF and
before any of the doors are opened.
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Shifting Out of Park (P)
The vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock control
system which locks the shift lever in PARK (P) when the
ignition is in the OFF position. The regular brakes must
be fully applied before the vehicle can be shifted from
PARK (P) when the ignition in RUN. SeeAutomatic
Transaxle Operation on page 2-21.
If the vehicle cannot be shifted out of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the
way into PARK (P) as brake application is maintained.
Then, move the shift lever into the desired gear.
If the brake pedal is pressed down but the vehicle still
cannot be shifted out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to ACCESSORY. There is no
shift interlock in this key position.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift the transaxle to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and then shift to the desired gear.
5. Have the system xed as soon as possible.
Shift Lock Release
The vehicle is equipped with a shift lock release system.
It is designed to prevent ignition key removal unless
the shift lever is in PARK (P) and the shift lever button
is fully released.
It also prevents the shift lever from moving out of
PARK (P) when the ignition is in OFF or in LOCK. The
shift lock release system will not operate in the case
of a dead or low voltage (less than 9 V) battery.
If the vehicle has a dead battery or a battery with low
voltage, there are two override access slots that
will allow you to override the shift lock release system.
The rst 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 to show the
override mechanism release button.
3. Insert a key or tool into the access slot and then
press 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.
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Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-4
Other Warning Devices...................................3-4
Horn.............................................................3-5
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-5
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-5
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-11
Interior Lamps..............................................3-14
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-16
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-17
Climate Controls............................................3-17
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-17
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-20
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-24
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-25
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-26
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-27
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-28
Tachometer.................................................3-29
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-29
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-30
Charging System Light..................................3-31
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-31
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-32
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light......3-33
Low Traction Light........................................3-33Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-34
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-34
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-35
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-35
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-38
Low Oil Level Light.......................................3-39
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-39
Security Light...............................................3-40
Cruise Control Light......................................3-40
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.....................3-40
Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light........................3-40
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-41
Fuel Gage...................................................3-41
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-42
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-42
Audio System(s).............................................3-44
Setting the Time...........................................3-45
Radio with CD..............................................3-45
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-52
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-61
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-62
Understanding Radio Reception......................3-62
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-63
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-64
Care of Your CD Player................................3-64
Backglass Antenna.......................................3-64
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-11.
B. Fog Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-11.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-5.
D. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-27.
E. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-4.
F. Audio Steering Wheel Controls. SeeAudio Steering
Wheel Controls on page 3-62.
G. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-24.H. Side Window Defogger Outlet. SeeOutlet
Adjustment on page 3-24.
I. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-11.
J. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-5.
K. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-5.
L. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-44.
M. Ashtray. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette Lighter on
page 3-17.
N. Climate Control. SeeDual Climate Control System
on page 3-17orDual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 3-20.
O. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-35.
P. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-98.
3-3

Hazard Warning Flashers
The hazard warning ashers let you warn others to use
caution when approaching your vehicle. They also
let police know you have a problem.The hazard warning
asher button is located on
the top of the steering
column.
Press the button to activate the front and rear turn
signals to ash on and off.
The hazard warning ashers work no matter what
position the key is in, and even if it is not in the ignition.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, the
individual turn signals will not operate.
Other Warning Devices
If you store reective, safety triangles in the vehicle, put
one at the side of the road, about 300 feet (100 m)
behind the vehicle to warn oncoming traffic of an
emergency situation.
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