Driver ii BUICK LESABRE 2001 Owner's Guide

2-33
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brake before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in RUN. See ªAutomatic Transaxleº in
the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way
into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application.
Then move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't
shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF. Open and close the driver's
door to turn off the retained accessory power feature.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.

2-36
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:

Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator

Headlamp High/Low
-Beam Changer

Flash
-To-Pass

Windshield Wipers and Washer
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
To signal a turn, move the lever on the left side of the
steering wheel all the way up or down. The lever returns
automatically when the turn is complete.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will flash in
the direction of the turn or
lane change.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Head
-Up Display
(HUD), an arrow will also appear in the display area
to indicate the direction of the turn or lane change
(See ªHead
-Up Display (HUD)º in Index for
more information).
Raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to flash to
signal a lane change. Hold it there until the lane change
is complete. The lever will return by itself when you
release it.
If the arrows flash very fast as you signal a turn or a
lane change, a signal bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won't see your turn signal.

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.

2-44
Wiper-Activated Headlamps
This feature turns on the low
-beam headlamps
instrument panel cluster backlighting and taillamps
when the Twilight Sentinel

is in day mode and after
the windshield wipers have been in use for
approximately six seconds.
To operate the wiper
-activated headlamps, the Twilight
Sentinel must be on. If the wiper
-activated headlamps
are on and the ignition switch is turned to RUN, the
wiper
-activated headlamps will continue. When you
turn the key to OFF, the wiper
-activated headlamps will
immediately turn off. The wiper
-activated headlamps
will also turn off if you turn off the Twilight Sentinel or
the windshield wipers.
Parking Lamps
Press the park button to turn on the parking lamps.
Press it again to turn them off. (If the parking lamps
were turned on with the park button, they must be
turned off with that button).
When the parking lamps are turned on during the day,
the instrument panel cluster lights and backlighting to the
buttons will turn on. At night, if the ignition key is turned
to RUN, the brightness of this lighting can be adjusted
using the instrument panel intensity/brightness control.
The radio and climate control displays will also be on.
Lamps On Reminder
If you leave the manual headlamp or parking lamp
switch on, remove the key from the ignition and open
the driver's door, you will hear a continuous warning
chime. The chime will turn off when the lamps are
turned off.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime
running lights are required on all vehicles first sold
in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel monitors
the exterior light level for the operation of DRL and
Twilight Sentinel, so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your high
-beam headlamps
turn on at reduced brightness in daylight when the
following conditions are met:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off and

the transaxle is not in PARK (P).

2-49
This procedure only changes the mode for the
transmitter used to change this setting. The procedure
will need to be repeated for the second transmitter.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you must program this feature through
the DIC. See ªDriver Information Centerº in the Index.
Battery Load Management
The battery load management feature is designed to
monitor the vehicle's electrical load and determine when
the battery is in a heavy discharge condition. During
times of high electrical loading, the engine may idle at
a higher rpm setting than normal to make sure the
battery charges. High electrical loads may occur when
several of the following are on: headlamps, high beams,
rear window defogger, high blower fan, heated seats
(if equipped) and engine cooling fans.
If your vehicle's battery remains in a heavy discharge
condition for a long period of time, the blower fan,
rear defogger, heated seats and heated mirrors will be
disabled and the DIC will display BATTERY SAVER
ACTIVE. This can happen either under long periods of
idling or low speed driving with high electrical loading,
or in the event of a charging system fault.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the manual lamp control has been left on, the exterior
lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes after the
ignition is turned to LOCK and any door has been
opened. This protects draining the battery in case you
have accidentally left the headlamps or parking lamps
on. If you need to leave the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, use the manual control to turn the lamps
back on after the ignition is turned to LOCK and any
door is opened. To delay the lamps from turning off,
see ªTwilight Sentinel

º in the index.

2-54 Power Remote Control Mirrors
The controls for the power
remote mirror are located
on the driver's door armrest.
Move the L/R selector switch located beneath the
control pad to choose the left or right mirror.
To adjust the mirror, press the on the arrows located on
the control pad in the direction you want the mirror to go.
Leave the L/R selector switch in the center position, to
prevent unwanted mirror movement in case the control
pad is accidentally bumped while driving. Adjust each
outside mirror so that you can see a little of your vehicle,
and the area behind your vehicle.
Parallel Park Assist Mirror (If Equipped)
If you have the Memory Seat and Mirrors feature,
the passenger's outside rearview mirror includes a
tilt
-down feature that operates when the shift lever is
in REVERSE (R). This feature assists the driver with
improved rear obstacle detection. When the vehicle is
shifted out of REVERSE (R), the passenger mirror will
return to its original position after a five
-second delay.
This delay prevents movement of the mirror if multiple
gear transitions (REVERSE (R) to AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (
) to REVERSE (R)) occur
during a parallel parking maneuver. This feature can
be programmed on or off through the personal choice
selection menu. See ªDIC Personal Choice Programmingº
in the Index for programming instructions.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger's side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror's surface is curved so you can see more from
the driver's seat.

2-55
CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.
Automatic Dimming/Heated Outside
Rearview Mirror (If Equipped)
If you have this feature, the outside driver's mirror will
adjust for the glare of headlamps behind you. This
feature is controlled using the on and off settings on
the automatic electrochromic day/night rearview mirror.
See ªElectrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirrorº
earlier in this section.
When you operate the rear window defogger, a defogger
also warms the heated driver's and passenger's outside
rearview mirrors to help clear them of ice and snow.
Storage Compartments
Glove Box
Use the door key to lock and unlock the glove box.
To open, lift the latch release on the left side of the
glove box door.
Front Storage Armrest
You may have a fold-down armrest between the front
seats that opens into a storage area. Press the buttons
on either side of the armrest to open the storage area for
cassette tapes, gloves, etc.
Front Center Console (Option)
Your vehicle may have a center console that opens to
two storage compartments. The front of the console has
two cupholders that can be unfolded for use. Flip the
center of the console forward to use the built
-in writing
surface on top of the lid.
You will also find an auxiliary power outlet located
inside the storage compartment and one on the lower
front edge of the console. These outlets can be used for
accessories requiring electrical power, such as a cellular
phone or fax machine. See ªAuxiliary Power Outletsº
in the Index.
The console also contains a coinholder as well as
storage for cassette tapes and compact discs.

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.

2-67
The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets
B. Driver Information Center Buttons (If Equipped)
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
D. Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
E. Hazard Warning Flashers
F. Instrument Panel Cluster
G. Traction Control Button (If Equipped)
H. Exterior LampsI. Head
-Up Display (HUD) Controls (If Equipped)
J. Hood Release
K. Parking Brake
L. Cruise Controls
M. Audio System
N. Climate Controls
O. Glove Box

2-70 Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven,
in either miles or kilometers. Press The ENG/MET
button which is located to the left of the speedometer
to change from mph to km/h.
Your vehicle has a tamper resistant odometer.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs
a new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to
the mileage total of the old odometer, then it must be.
But if it can't, then it's set at zero and a label must be
put on the driver's door to show the old mileage reading
when the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
A trip odometer can tell you how far you have driven
since you last set it to zero. To reset it, push the TRIP
RESET button. If your vehicle is equipped with a DIC,
see ªDICº in the Index for information on resetting the
trip odometer.
Tachometer (If Equipped)
The tachometer tells you
how fast the engine is
running. It displays engine
speed in thousands of
revolutions per minute (rpm).
NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area or engine damage may occur.