warning light BUICK REGAL 2012 User Guide

Black plate (8,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
5-8 Instruments and Controls
Warning Lights,
Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning lights and gauges can
signal that something is wrong
before it becomes serious enough
to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to the
warning lights and gauges could
prevent injury.
Warning lights come on when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Some warning lights come
on briefly when the engine is started
to indicate they are working.Gauges can indicate when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Often gauges and warning
lights work together to indicate a
problem with the vehicle.
When one of the warning lights
comes on and stays on while
driving, or when one of the gauges
shows there may be a problem,
check the section that explains what
to do. Follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
and even dangerous.

Black plate (13,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-13
English
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the indicator needle moves to the
hot side of the gauge toward the
shaded area, the engine is too hot.
In eAssist vehicles, the engine
coolant warning light will come on
when the engine is too hot. See
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light on page 5‑22 for
more information. If the vehicle has been operated
under normal driving conditions, pull
off the road, stop the vehicle, and
turn off the engine as soon as
possible.
Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder
Light
There is a driver safety belt
reminder light on the instrument
panel cluster.
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind the driver to fasten
their safety belt. Then the light stays
on solid until the belt is buckled.This cycle may continue several
times if the driver remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving.
If the driver safety belt is buckled,
neither the light nor the chime
comes on.
Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind front passengers to
fasten their safety belt. Then the
light stays on solid until the belt is
buckled.
For more information see
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 5‑14.

Black plate (14,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
5-14 Instruments and Controls
This cycle continues several times if
the front passenger remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving.
If the front passenger safety belt is
buckled, neither the chime nor the
light comes on.
The front passenger safety belt
reminder light and chime may turn
on if an object is put on the seat
such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop, or other
electronic device. To turn off the
reminder light and/or chime, remove
the object from the seat or buckle
the safety belt.
Airbag Readiness Light
This light shows if there is an
electrical problem. The system
check includes the airbag sensor(s),
passenger sensing system, the
pretensioners, the airbag modules,
the wiring, and the crash sensingand diagnostic module. For more
information on the airbag system,
see
Airbag System on page 3‑21.
The airbag readiness light comes on
and stays on for several seconds
when the vehicle is started. Then
the light goes out.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system. See Passenger
Sensing System on page 3‑27 for
important safety information. The
instrument panel has a passenger
airbag status indicator.
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF for several
seconds as a system check.
If you are using remote start,
if equipped, to start the vehicle from
a distance, you may not see the
system check. Then, after several
more seconds, the status indicator

Black plate (15,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-15
will light either ON or OFF to let you
know the status of the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag.
If the word ON is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it
means that the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag is allowed
to inflate.
If the word OFF is lit on the airbag
status indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has
turned off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the
passenger sensing system. See
your dealer for service.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑14 for more
information, including important
safety information.
Charging System Light
The charging system light comes on
briefly when the ignition is turned
on, but the engine is not running, as
a check to show the light is working.
The light turns off when the engine
is started. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer. If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving, there could be a
problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked by your
dealer. Driving while this light is on
could drain the battery.
If a short distance must be driven
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
A computer system called OBD II
(On-Board Diagnostics-Second
Generation) monitors the operation
of the vehicle to ensure emissions
are at acceptable levels, to produce
a cleaner environment. This light
comes on when the vehicle is
placed in ON/RUN for key access or
Service Only Mode for keyless
access, as a check to show it is
working. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer. See
Ignition Positions (Key Access) on

Black plate (18,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
5-18 Instruments and Controls
.The OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics) system determines
that critical emission control
systems have not been
completely diagnosed. The
vehicle would be considered not
ready for inspection. This can
happen if the 12-volt battery has
recently been replaced or run
down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take
several days of routine driving.
If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection for lack of OBD II
system readiness, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for
inspection.Brake System Warning
Light
The vehicle brake system consists
of two hydraulic circuits. If one
circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the
vehicle. For normal braking
performance, both circuits need to
be working.
If the warning light comes on, there
is a brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected right away.
MetricEnglish
The brake system warning light
should come on briefly as the
engine is started. If it does not come
on, have the vehicle serviced by
your dealer.
{WARNING
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after
the vehicle has been pulled off
the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
If the light comes on while driving, a
chime sounds. Pull off the road and
stop. The pedal might be harder to
push or go closer to the floor.
It might also take longer to stop.
If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. See
Towing the Vehicle on page 10‑95.

Black plate (19,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-19
Electric Parking Brake
Light
MetricEnglish
The parking brake status light
comes on when the brake is
applied. If the light continues
flashing after the parking brake is
released, or while driving, there is a
problem with the electric parking
brake system. A message may also
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See Brake System
Messages on page 5‑30 for more
information.
If the light does not come on,
or remains flashing, see your dealer.
The parking brake warning light
should come on briefly when the
ignition is placed in ON/RUN. If it
does not come on, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
If this light comes on, there is a
problem with a system on the
vehicle that is causing the parking
brake system to work at a reduced
level. The vehicle can still be driven,
but should be taken to a dealer as
soon as possible. See Parking
Brake on page 9‑34 for more
information.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn if
there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the
ignition off. If the light comes on
while driving, stop as soon as it is
safely possible and turn the ignition
off. A chime may also sound when
the light comes on steady. Then
start the engine again to reset the
system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the
vehicle needs service. If the regular
brake system warning light is not
on, the vehicle still has brakes, but

Black plate (20,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
5-20 Instruments and Controls
not antilock brakes. If the regular
brake system warning light is also
on, the vehicle does not have
antilock brakes and there is a
problem with the regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 5‑18.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑25 for all brake related
DIC messages.
Up-Shift Light
For manual transmission vehicles,
there is an up-shift light that comes
on in the lower DIC area. It shows
when to shift to the next higher gear
for best fuel economy.
See Manual Transmission on
page 9‑32 for more information.
Traction Off Light
This light comes on when the
Traction Control System (TCS) has
been turned off by pressing and
releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak
button.
This light also comes on and the
system turns off if there is a problem
with the traction control system.
If the light comes on and stays on
for an extended period of time while
the system is turned on, the vehicle
needs service.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑37 andStabiliTrak
®
System on page 9‑39 for more
information.
StabiliTrak®OFF Light
This light comes on when the
StabiliTrak system is turned off.
If the Traction Control System (TCS)
is off, wheel spin is not limited.
If StabiliTrak is off, the system does
not assist in controlling the vehicle.
Turn on the TCS and the StabiliTrak
system and the warning light
turns off.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑37 andStabiliTrak
®
System on page 9‑39 for more
information.

Black plate (21,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-21
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak®Light
The Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak light comes on briefly
when the engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have
the vehicle serviced by the dealer.
If the system is working normally,
the indicator light turns off.If the light is on while certain DIC
messages display, this indicates
that the TCS and StabiliTrak
systems are not working or are
disabled.
If the light is on and not flashing, the
TCS and potentially the StabiliTrak
system have been disabled. Check
the DIC messages to determine
which feature(s) is no longer
functioning and whether it is
because of the driver turning off the
feature(s), or because the system is
not working properly and the vehicle
requires service.
If the TCS is disabled, wheel spin is
not limited. If the StabiliTrak system
is disabled, the system does not aid
in maintaining directional control of
the vehicle.
If the indicator/warning light is on
and flashing, the TCS or the
StabiliTrak system is actively
working.
See
StabiliTrak®System on
page 9‑39 andTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑37 for
more information.
See Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑33 for more information
on the messages associated with
this light.

Black plate (22,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
5-22 Instruments and Controls
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning
Light
For eAssist vehicles, this light
comes on briefly while starting the
vehicle.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by the dealer. If the system
is working normally, the indicator
light goes off.
Notice:Driving with the engine
coolant temperature warning light
on could cause the vehicle to
overheat. See Engine Overheating
on page 10‑22. The vehicle's
engine could be damaged, and it
might not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Never drive with
the engine coolant temperature
warning light on.
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on when the
engine has overheated.
If this happens pull over and turn off
the engine as soon as possible. See
Engine Overheating on page 10‑22
for more information.Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine is
started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS.
When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of
the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
tire pressure message may also
display. See
Vehicle Messages on
page 5‑29 for more information.
Stop as soon as possible, and
inflate the tires to the pressure value
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tire Pressure
on page 10‑52 for more information.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute
and then stays on, there may be a
problem with the TPMS. If the
problem is not corrected, the light
will come on at every ignition cycle.
See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10‑55 for more
information.

Black plate (23,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-23
Engine Oil Pressure Light
{WARNING
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced.
Notice: Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule for changing engine oil.
The oil pressure light should come
on briefly as the engine is started.
If it does not come on, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem. See
your dealer.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light comes on for a few
seconds when the ignition is turned
on as a check to indicate it is
working. If it does not come on,
have it fixed.
The low fuel warning light comes on
and a chime sounds periodically
when the vehicle is low on fuel. The
light turns off when fuel is added to
the fuel tank.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑25 for more information.