tow BUICK LESABRE 2001 User Guide

2-28
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
): This position is
for normal driving. If you need more power for passing,
and you're:

Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.

Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You'll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
):

When driving on hilly, winding roads

When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears

When going down a steep hillSECOND (2): This position gives you more power
but lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would
also want to use your brakes off and on.
NOTICE:
Don't drive in SECOND (2) for more than
5 miles (8 km), or at speeds over 55 mph
(90 km/h), or you can damage your transaxle.
Use AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
) or
THIRD (3) as much as possible.
Don't shift into SECOND (2) unless you are
going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h), or you
can damage your engine.

2-30
If you try to drive approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) with
the parking brake on, the brake light stays on and a
chime sounds until you release the parking brake.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That section
explains what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into PARK (P)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won't move,
even when you're on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you're pulling a trailer,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.

2-31
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:

Pull the lever toward you.

Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).

2-32 Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don't leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and
your parking brake is firmly set before you leave it.
After you've moved the shift lever into PARK (P),
hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from PARK (P) without
first pulling it toward you. If you can, it means that
the shift lever wasn't fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque lock.º
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver's seat. To find out how, see ªShifting Into
PARK (P)º in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).

2-35
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you've left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you're pulling a
trailer, also see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
Horn
Press on the center area of the steering wheel to sound
the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the
steering wheel and pull
the lever toward you.
Move the steering wheel
to a comfortable level,
then release the lever to
lock the wheel in place.

2-37
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit
Breakersº in the Index) and for burned
-out bulbs.
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 0.8 miles
(1.3 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn
signal. To turn off the chime, move the turn signal lever
to the off position.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam
or high beam to low beam, pull the turn signal lever
toward you and release it.
When the high beams are
on, this light located on the
instrument panel will also
be on.If your vehicle is equipped with the Head
-Up Display
(HUD), an arrow will also appear in the display area to
indicate the high beams are on (See ªHead
-Up Display
(HUD)º in Index for more information).
Flash-To-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if your headlamps are off.
Pull the turn signal lever toward you briefly to
flash
-to-pass.
If the headlamps are off or on low beam, the high
-beam
headlamps will turn on. They'll stay on as long as you
hold the lever toward you and the high
-beam indicator
on the instrument panel cluster will come on. Release
the lever to turn the high
-beam headlamps off.

2-45
When the DRL are on, only your high-beam headlamps
will be on. The parking lamps, taillamps, sidemarker
and other lamps won't be on.
When it is dark enough outside, your low
-beam
headlamps will come on. The other lamps that turn on
with your headlamps will also turn on. When it is bright
enough outside, the regular lamps will go off, and your
high
-beam headlamps change to the reduced brightness
of DRL.
To turn off all exterior lighting at night when you are
parked, turn off the headlamps and move the Twilight
Sentinel control all the way toward OFF. The exterior
lamps will turn back on automatically when you move
the transaxle out of PARK (P).
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Cornering Lamps (If Equipped)
The cornering lamps are designed to turn on when
you signal a turn. This will provide more lighting
when cornering.
Twilight Sentinel

Twilight Sentinel turns your
lamps on and off by sensing
how dark it is outside.
To operate it, leave the lamp switch off.
If you move the control all the way to MAX, your
headlamps will remain on for about three minutes after
you turn off your engine. As you move the control
toward OFF, the headlamps will turn off more quickly
when you move your key from RUN. You can change
this delay time from only a few seconds to three minutes.
The exterior lamps can be completely shut off while the
vehicle is in PARK (P) by sliding the Twilight Sentinel
control all the way toward OFF, and releasing it. To turn the
exterior lamps back on, slide the control all the way toward
OFF again, and release it; or, shift out of PARK (P).

2-51 Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an automatic electrochromic
day/night rearview mirror. Your vehicle's mirror may
also contain OnStar

controls.
This is the on/off button for mirrors equipped with
OnStar controls.
When this feature is turned on, the mirror automatically
changes to reduce glare from headlamps behind you.
A photocell on the mirror senses when it is becoming
dark outside. Another photocell built into the mirror
face senses when headlamps are behind you.
At night, when the glare is too high, the mirror will
gradually darken to reduce glare (this change may take a
few seconds). The mirror will return to its clear daytime
state when the glare is reduced.
Mirror Operation
To turn on the automatic dimming feature, press AUTO
(or the on/off button for mirrors equipped with OnStar
controls). To turn off automatic dimming, press OFF
(or the on/off button for mirrors equipped with OnStar
controls). The indicator light will be illuminated when
this feature is active.
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
with Compass (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an electrochromic inside
rearview mirror with a compass. Your vehicle's mirror
may also contain OnStar

controls.
This is the on/off button for mirrors equipped with
OnStar controls.
Pressing the MIRROR button (or the on/off button
for mirrors equipped with OnStar controls) located at
the bottom of the mirror, turns the automatic dimming
feature on or off.
The mirror also includes an eight
-point compass
display in the upper right corner of the mirror face.
When on, the compass automatically calibrates as the
vehicle is driven.
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.

2-57
Sun Visors
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors
When you open the cover to either the passenger's
or driver's visor vanity mirror, the lamps will turn on.
The brightness of the lamp can be adjusted by sliding
the switch up or down.
Dual Sun Visors
Each sun visor has two parts, so that both the windshield
and door glass can be shaded at the same time. To use
the dual sun visors, flip the first visor down and turn it
toward the window. Then, flip the second visor down
toward the windshield.
Auxiliary Power Outlets
Your vehicle may have one or three power outlets
depending on the type of front seat you have. If your
vehicle has front bucket seats with a center console,
you will find one outlet inside the storage compartment
and the other on the lower front edge of the console.
(An extra power outlet can be found in the ashtray.)
The power outlets can be used to plug in electrical
equipment such as a cellular telephone or CB radio.
Follow the proper installation instructions that are
included with the equipment you install.Certain power accessory plugs may not be compatible
to the auxiliary power outlet and could result in blown
vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a problem
see your dealer for additional information on the power
accessory plugs.
The auxiliary power outlets will only operate when the
ignition key is in RUN and for 10 minutes after turning
the ignition off. If you would like the outlets to operate
regardless of ignition position, and for unlimited periods
of time, see ªEngine Compartment Bussed Electrical
Centerº in the Index or see your dealer.
NOTICE:
When using an auxiliary outlet:

The maximum load of any electrical
equipment should not exceed 15 amps.

Be sure to turn off any electrical
equipment when not in use. Leaving
electrical equipment on for extended
periods of time can drain your battery.

2-61
Sunroof (Option)
If your vehicle has this
option, the switch for the
sunroof is located between
the sun visors.
The sunroof switch can be operated in four directions to
control sunroof movement. The switch will only work
when the ignition is on or when the retained accessory
power is active.
The sunroof has both manual and express features for
opening the glass panel and sunshade.Press and hold the switch rearward to the first position
to open the glass panel and sunshade. The sunshade can
also be opened by hand. To close the glass panel, press
and hold the switch forward. As the glass panel closes,
it will open slightly towards the vent position to provide
a better seal. The sunshade can only be closed by hand.
Press and release the switch rearward to the second
position to express open the glass panel. It will stop in
a partially open position. The glass panel may be fully
opened by pressing the switch rearward again. When
the glass panel is express opening, pressing the switch
in any direction will stop it. If you press and hold the
switch in the express open position for more than one
and a half seconds, the express open operation will be
overridden and the sunroof will operate manually.
To vent open the glass panel, press and hold the
switch upward. The sunshade must be opened by
hand. To close the glass panel, pull and hold the
switch downward.