ignition BUICK LESABRE 1999 Owner's Guide

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2-60 Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. 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 sensors, 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 engine,
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
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
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.
Battery System Warning Light
Standard Cluster Gage Cluster
When you turn the key to RUN, one of these lights will
turn on briefly to show that your generator and battery
charging systems are working.
If the light stays on, you need service and you should
take your vehicle to the dealer at once. To save your
battery until you get there, turn off all accessories and
set your climate control system to OFF.

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CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you've
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake doesn't
release fully. If you try to drive off with the parking
brake set, a chime will also come on until you release
the parking brake. If the light and chime stay on after
your parking brake is fully released, it means you have
a brake problem.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come on when you start
your engine and may stay
on for several seconds.
That's normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you're driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you're driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light isn't
on, you still have brakes, but you don't have anti
-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, you don't have anti
-lock brakes and there's a
problem with your regular brakes. See ªBrake System
Warning Lightº earlier in this section.
The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly 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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2-65 Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On
-Board
Diagnostics
-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The CHECK ENGINE light comes on to
indicate that there is a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more
serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
NOTICE:
Modifications made to the engine, transaxle,
exhaust or fuel system of your vehicle or the
replacement of the original tires with other than
those of the same Tire Performance Criteria
(TPC) can affect your vehicle's emission controls
and may cause the CHECK ENGINE light to
come on. Modifications to these systems could
lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty. This may also result in a failure to pass
a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test.

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2-66
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn't come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:

Light Flashing
-- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.

Light On Steady
-- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:

Reducing vehicle speed.

Avoiding hard accelerations.

Avoiding steep uphill grades.

If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see ªIf
the Light Is On Steadyº following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see ªIf the Light
Is On Steadyº following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. See ªFilling Your Tankº in the Index. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been
left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A
few driving trips with the cap properly installed should
turn the light off.

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The oil light could come on briefly when you turn your
key to RUN. It goes off once you turn it to START.
That's just a check to be sure the light works. If it
doesn't, be sure to have it fixed so it will be there to
warn you if something goes wrong.
But, when this light comes on and stays on, it means oil
isn't going through your engine properly. You could be
low on oil, or you might have some other oil problem.
See your dealer for service.
CAUTION:
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Check Oil Level Light (If Equipped)
The CHECK OIL LEVEL
light turns on for three
seconds as a bulb check
each time the ignition key is
turned to RUN. If the light
doesn't turn on, have your
vehicle serviced.
If the engine oil is more than one quart (0.95 L) low and
the engine has been shut off for at least eight minutes,
the CHECK OIL LEVEL light will turn on for about
one minute and will then remain off until the next time
you start the vehicle.
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL light turns on, the engine oil
should be checked at the dipstick then brought up to the
proper level if necessary. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.

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2-69 Change Oil Soon Light (If Equipped)
This light is activated
by the Engine Oil Life
Monitor System.
The CHANGE OIL SOON light turns on for three
seconds as a bulb check each time the ignition key is
turned to RUN. It will stay on for 60 seconds once
90 percent of the oil life has been used and each time the
engine is started after that. If the CHANGE OIL SOON
light is on continuously, there is a problem with the
Engine Oil Life Monitor System and service is required.
The Engine Oil Life Monitor determines the condition
of the engine oil and lets you know when the oil should
be changed. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.
The Engine Oil Life Monitor receives information about
engine speed, coolant temperature and vehicle speed to
determine how much the oil has degraded.
When to change your oil depends on your driving habits
and conditions. The CHANGE OIL SOON light may
turn on as early as 2,000 miles (3 218 km) or less for
harsh circumstances.For additional information, see ªEngine Oil, When to
Changeº in the Index. To reset the Oil Life Monitor, see
ªEngine Oil Life Monitorº in the Index.
Cruise Light
The cruise light comes on
whenever you set your
cruise control. See ªCruise
Controlº in the Index.
Washer Fluid Low Light (If Equipped)
When the vehicle has a low
fluid condition, this light
will come on to remind
you to get more washer
fluid soon.

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2-70 Trunk Ajar Light (If Equipped)
This light comes on if your
vehicle's trunk is not
completely closed.
Fuel Gage
Standard Cluster Gage Cluster
Your fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in your
tank. It works only when the engine is on. When the
indicator nears EMPTY (E), you still have a little fuel
left. You need to get more fuel right away.Here are some things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage:

At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads FULL (F).

It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank's capacity to fill
the tank.

The gage moves a little when you turn a corner,
speed up, or make a hard stop.

The gage doesn't go back to EMPTY (E) when you
turn off the ignition.
Low Fuel Warning Light (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has the gage
cluster, a light near the fuel
gage will turn on when you
are low on fuel. You should
get more fuel as soon as
you can.

First Edition for Buick LeSabre Owner's Manual ± 1999
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The ventilation system always allows fresh air to flow
through your vehicle when the vehicle is moving even
with the system in the OFF mode.
VENT: The VENT button allows outside air to flow
through your vehicle without the air conditioning
compressor working. Selecting VENT and the AUTO
button at the same time allows the system to control
automatically without the use of the air conditioning
compressor or the use of the RECIRC mode. To turn off
the VENT selection, push the VENT button again.
RECIRC: When RECIRC is selected, the system will
limit the amount of outside air entering your vehicle. This
is helpful when you are trying to cool the interior of the
vehicle quickly or limit the amount of outside air entering
your vehicle. RECIRC and AUTO may be selected at the
same time. The system will remain in RECIRC until the
ignition is turned off, then the system will return back to
the previously selected mode. Deselecting the RECIRC
button will also turn off the RECIRC function. RECIRC
can be selected in all manual airflow modes except
FRONT defrost and VENT.
FRONT: This selection is used to defrost the windshield
by directing the airflow toward the windshield.If FRONT is selected while in the AUTO mode, the fan
speed and the air temperature from the front defroster will
vary. If a manual fan speed setting is selected, the fan
speed will remain at that selection until another fan speed
selection is made or the AUTO mode is selected. To turn
off FRONT, press the AUTO or AIR FLOW button.
FRONT defrost will work better if any ice or snow is
cleared from the hood and the air inlet area between the
base of the windshield and the hood.
Air Conditioning
On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
inside air escape. This reduces the time it takes for your
vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows closed
for the air conditioner to work its best.
If you have the electronic touch system, for quick
cool
-down on very hot days, use MAX with the
temperature and fan speed adjusted to COOL and
HIGH. If this setting is used for long periods of time, the
air in your vehicle may become too cold and dry.
For normal cooling on hot days, use NORM and adjust
the temperature and fan speed for your comfort. If
RECIRC is selected while in the NORM air
conditioning mode, the system works like MAX and
recirculates the air.

First Edition for Buick LeSabre Owner's Manual ± 1999
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Audio Systems
Your Delco Electronics audio system has been designed
to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure.
You will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint
yourself with it first. Find out what your Delco
Electronics system can do and how to operate all its
controls, to be sure you're getting the most out of the
advanced engineering that went into it.
Setting the Clock
Press and hold HRS until the correct hour appears. Press
and hold MIN until the correct minute appears.
You may set the clock with the ignition off if you press
RECALL first and follow the same procedure
described above.
AM-FM Stereo
DE±43±0020±V
Playing the Radio
VOLUME: This knob turns the system on and off and
controls the volume. To increase volume and turn the
radio on, turn the knob clockwise. Turn it
counterclockwise to decrease volume.
RECALL: Press the upper knob briefly to recall the station
being played or to display the clock. To change what is
normally shown on the display (station or time), press the
knob until you see the display you want, then hold the knob
until the display flashes. If you press the knob when the
ignition is off, the clock will show for a few seconds.

First Edition for Buick LeSabre Owner's Manual ± 1999
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3-14 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player
(If Equipped)
DE±43±0001±V
Playing the Radio
VOLUME: This knob turns the system on and off and
controls the volume. To increase volume and turn the
radio on, turn the knob clockwise. Turn it
counterclockwise to decrease volume.RECALL: Press the upper knob briefly to recall the
station being played or to display the clock. To change
what is normally shown on the display (station or time),
press the knob until you see the display you want, then
hold the knob until the display flashes. If you press the
knob when the ignition is off, the clock will show for a
few seconds.
Finding a Station
AM
-FM: Press the lower knob to switch between AM,
FM1 and FM2. The display shows your selection.
TUNE: Turn the lower knob to choose radio stations.
SEEK: Press the right or left arrow to go to the next
higher or lower station and stay there. The sound will
mute while seeking.
SCAN: Press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds,
and SCAN will appear on the display. Use SCAN to
listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to
a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next
station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop
scanning. The sound will mute while scanning.