tow BUICK LESABRE 2000 Owner's Guide

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2-69 Battery System Warning Light
When you turn the key to
RUN, this light will turn on
briefly, to show that your
generator and battery
charging systems
are working.
If the light stays on, a chime will sound indicating 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.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on
when you turn the key to
RUN. If it doesn't come on
then, have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn you if
there's a problem.
If the light and chime come on while you are driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that
the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer
to the floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed for service. (See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.)
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.

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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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3-3
VENT: This setting directs outside air through the
middle instrument panel outlets. The air conditioning
compressor is not working when VENT is selected. If
you select VENT while in FRONT defrost, the VENT
light will flash three times to let you know this is not
allowed. This is to prevent fogging.
HTR: This button directs air out of the heater outlets.
Most of the air will come from the floor outlets while
some air will flow through the windshield and side
window outlets. The air conditioning compressor is not
working when HTR is selected.
BLEND: When BLEND is selected, the airflow will
be split between the windshield and the floor outlets.
The air conditioning compressor will be operating.
FRONT: This setting directs most of the airflow
toward the windshield.OFF: The ventilation system always allows fresh air to
flow through your vehicle when it is moving. The system
will try to keep the air at a previously chosen temperature.
When the system is off, the blower fan is also off.
MAX: This setting directs airflow through the middle
instrument panel outlets. The amount of outside air
entering your vehicle is limited with this setting. The air
conditioning compressor is on in this mode.
NORM: This setting cools the outside air entering your
vehicle and directs it through the middle instrument
panel outlets. The air conditioning compressor is on in
this mode.
BI
-LEV: This setting directs warm air to the floor and
cooler air to the middle instrument panel outlets. The air
conditioning compressor is on in this mode.

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3-4 Dual Automatic Comfortemp
Climate Control (If Equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with the Dual Automatic
Comfortemp Climate Control system, the following
information tells you how it works.You will hear a beep each time a button is pushed and a
light on the button will indicate which function is active.
The lights are on all buttons except TEMP, FAN and
AIR FLOW. The display will show fan speed, comfort
level setting and airflow direction for a few seconds
whenever AUTO is selected, and then it will display the
outside temperature. The outside temperature reading is
most accurate when the vehicle is moving. During stops,
the display shows the previous temperature for best
accuracy and system control.
If the display is flashing after the climate control system
is started, there is a problem with the system and you
should see your dealer for service.
Sun and temperature sensors automatically adjust the
air temperature, the airflow direction and the fan speed
to maintain your comfort setting. The system may
supply cooler air to the side of the vehicle toward the
sun. Be careful not to put anything over the sensor on
top of the dash.

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Manual Operation
You may also manually adjust the air delivery or fan speed.
AIR FLOW: This button is used to change the direction
of the airflow. The airflow choices available are
WINDSHIELD
-FLOOR, MID, MID-FLOOR, and
FLOOR. If the system is set for AUTO, pressing the
AIR FLOW button will display and hold the current
airflow direction and the comfort setting. Press the AIR
FLOW up or down button again to change the direction
of the airflow.
If the AIR FLOW up button is selected while in the
FRONT defrost mode, the system will direct the air
toward the windshield and the floor. If the AIR FLOW
down button is selected while in the FRONT defrost
mode, the system will direct the air toward the floor, and
the FRONT defrost mode will cancel. Notice the arrows
in the display.
OFF: If the passenger comfort control is turned on, it
can be turned off by pressing the OFF button once.
Pressing the OFF button a second time will turn off the
main system. Turning off the main system causes the fan
to turn off and the airflow to be directed toward the
floor. The system will still try to keep the interior of the
vehicle at the previous chosen comfort setting. The
outside temperature will show on the display when the
system is OFF.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 RECIRC mode.
To turn off the VENT selection, push the VENT button
again. If you select VENT while in FRONT defrost, the
VENT light will flash three times to let you know this is
not allowed. This is to prevent fogging.
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. If you select RECIRC while in FRONT defrost,
the RECIRC light will flash three times to let you know
this is not allowed. This is to prevent fogging.

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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.
On sunny days, when the air is moderately warm or
cool, use BI
-LEV to deliver warm air to the floor and
cooler air to the middle instrument panel outlets. On
days like these, the sun may adequately warm your
upper body, but your lower body may not be warm
enough. To warm or cool the air delivered, adjust the
TEMPERATURE lever.
The amount of fresh air entering the vehicle is limited
when RECIRC is selected. This is helpful when you are
trying to cool the air in your vehicle or limit the air
entering the vehicle.
If your vehicle has the Dual Automatic Comfortemp
system and it is set for AUTO, on very hot days, the
system will automatically enter the RECIRC mode and
the temperature door will be positioned at the full cold
position for maximum cooling. If the system is not in
the AUTO mode, RECIRC should be selected to provide
maximum cooling. You can choose the extreme comfort
setting of 60
F (16
C), but the system will not cool any
faster by choosing the extreme comfort setting.

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3-8 Heating
If your vehicle has the electronic touch system, on
cold days, use HTR with the TEMPERATURE lever
toward WARM.
If your vehicle has the Dual Automatic Comfortemp
system, and on cold days, if the AUTO mode is selected,
the system will automatically direct the air toward the
floor and the temperature door will be positioned at the
full hot position. You can choose the extreme comfort
setting of 90
F (32
C) but the system will not warm up
any faster by selecting the extreme comfort setting. If
the outside temperature is cold, the fan will be delayed
to avoid blowing cold air. Pushing the FAN, AIR FLOW
or FRONT buttons will override this delay, turn off the
AUTO mode and change the fan speed.
With each system, outside air will be brought in and sent
through the floor outlets. The heater works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
Defogging and Defrosting
If you have the electronic touch system, adjust
the TEMPERATURE lever toward WARM and the
FAN lever toward HIGH.
If you have the Dual Automatic Comfortemp system,
use the FRONT button to defog or defrost the
windshield. By choosing this button, the airflow will be
directed at the windshield. Adjust your comfort level by
pressing the TEMP up or down arrow. The fan speed
will be controlled by the system. You can change the fan
speed by pressing the top of the FAN button to increase
speed, and the bottom of the button to decrease speed.
To reduce the chance of fogging your windows in cold
weather, using the electronic touch system, select HTR
to supply air through the floor outlets. Then move the
FAN lever to HIGH for a few moments before driving
away. This will blow moist air from the intake outlets
toward the floor, not the windshield. If you have the
Dual Automatic Comfortemp system, the AUTO setting
will do this for you. Manual operation of the automatic
comfortemp system in the FLOOR mode will also
supply air through the floor outlets.

4-
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Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you'll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We've also
included many other useful tips on driving.
4
-2 Defensive Driving
4
-3 Drunken Driving
4
-6 Control of a Vehicle
4
-6 Braking
4
-11 Steering
4
-13 Off-Road Recovery
4
-13 Passing
4
-14 Loss of Control
4
-16 Driving at Night
4
-18 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads4
-21 City Driving
4
-22 Freeway Driving
4
-23 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-24 Highway Hypnosis
4
-24 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-26 Winter Driving
4
-30 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-30 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-33 Towing a Trailer

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Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with all four
wheels on the ground. If your vehicle must be towed,
see ªTowing Your Vehicleº in the Index.
NOTICE:
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground will damage drivetrain components.
Loading Your Vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire
-Loading Information label
found on the rear edge of the driver's door tells you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number of people that
can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight
and includes the weight of all occupants, cargo and all
nonfactory
-installed options.

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Towing a Trailer
CAUTION:
If you don't use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull a
trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the
brakes may not work well
-- or even at all. You
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
You may also damage your vehicle; the resulting
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Pull a trailer only if you have followed all the
steps in this section. Ask your dealer for advice
and information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the
proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the
vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in ªWeight of the Trailerº
that appears later in this section. But trailering is
different than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in handling, durability and
fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That's the reason for this part. In it are many
time
-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load
-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine is
required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat. What's more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.