tow BUICK LESABRE 2001 Owner's Guide

2-73 Battery System Warning Light
When you turn the key
to RUN, this light will
turn on briefly to show
that the generator and
battery charging systems
are working.
If the light stays on, a chime will sound indicating that
the vehicle needs service. You should take your vehicle
to the dealer as soon as possible. To save the battery
until you get there, turn off all accessories and set the
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.
United States Canada
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 comes 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.

2-74
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 stays 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 your
engine is started 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.

2-77
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, intake 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 SERVICE ENGINE SOON
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.
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.

3-3
Temperature Lever
This lever adjusts the temperature of the air coming
through the system. Move the TEMPERATURE lever to
change the temperature of the air coming through your
outlets. Move the lever between COOL and WARM to
lower or raise the temperature.
Mode Controls
The buttons on your system allow you to choose
settings to deliver air through the lower, middle or
windshield outlets.
RECIRC: Press this button to 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.
To turn off RECIRC, press the button again. If you
select FRONT defrost or BLEND while RECIRC is
selected, the system will automatically turn off RECIRC
to prevent fogging. If you select RECIRC while in
FRONT defrost, the RECIRC light will flash three times
to let you know this is not allowed.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.

3-5
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.
Temperature Button
To adjust the comfort level you want maintained inside
the vehicle, push the TEMP button. If you want a
warmer comfort level, push the up arrow. If you want
a cooler comfort level, push the down arrow. Your
comfort setting is shown in the display. The display
will then return to the outside temperature.
Fan Button
The speed of the blower fan is controlled automatically
if you have the system set for AUTO. Pressing the
FAN button will display and hold the current blower
fan setting.
If you want the blower fan to run at a lower speed, push
the bottom of the FAN button. The fan speed will
decrease with every push of the button until the lowest
speed is reached. If you want to increase the fan speed,
push the top of the FAN button. Notice the fan
indicators in the display.Mode Controls
Press the AIR FLOW button to deliver air through the
floor, middle or windshield outlets. The system will stay
in the selected mode until the AUTO button is pushed.
Use the up and down arrows on the AIR FLOW button
to cycle through the available modes.
Automatic Operation
Press the AUTO button when you want the system to
automatically adjust to changes in the temperature inside
the vehicle, the outside temperature and the sun load on
the vehicle. When the system is set for automatic
operation, air will come from the floor, middle or
windshield outlets depending on the temperature inside
the vehicle, the outside temperature and sun load. Fan
speed will vary as the system gets to and maintains the
comfort setting you have selected through the use of the
TEMP button.
To find your comfort setting, start with the system in
AUTO mode and the TEMP button adjusted to 75
F
(24
C), give the vehicle about 20 minutes to stabilize,
and adjust your comfort setting if necessary, by using
the TEMP button. The display will show the comfort
setting for a few seconds and then it will display the
outside temperature. If you want to see your current
automatic fan speed, airflow direction and comfort
setting, press the AUTO button.

3-6
In cold weather, the system will delay turning on the
fan, to avoid blowing cold air. During this delay the
system will be in FRONT defrost mode and the light in
the button will come on and stay on as long as the
display is showing the current mode, set TEMP and
FAN speed. This light will go off when the display
returns to the outside temperature. The length of the
delay depends on the engine coolant temperature and the
outside temperature. Pushing the FAN, AIR FLOW or
FRONT buttons will override this delay, turn off the
AUTO setting and change the fan speed.
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.

3-7
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.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.

3-9 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-
4-1
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
-9 Traction Control System (If Equipped)
4
-11 Steering
4
-13 Off-Road Recovery
4
-13 Passing
4
-15 Loss of Control
4
-16 Driving at Night4
-18 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
4
-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
-32 Towing a Trailer

4-30
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.