windshield wipers BUICK LESABRE 2003 Owner's Manual

Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to ®ve
different positions.
(A) ACCESSORY:This position lets you use your
electrical accessories such as power windows, power
sunroof (if equipped), radio and the windshield wipers.
To use, push in the ignition key and turn it toward
you. Your steering wheel will remain locked, just as it
was before you inserted the key.
(B) LOCK:This is the only position in which you can
remove the key. This position locks your ignition,
steering wheel and transaxle. It's a theft-deterrent
feature.
Notice:If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you
can't turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the steering
wheel left and right while you turn the key hard.
Turn the key only with your hand. Using a tool
to force it could break the key or the ignition switch.
If none of these works, then your vehicle needs
service.
(C) OFF:This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It doesn't lock the
steering wheel like LOCK and it doesn't send any
electrical power to the accessories. The instrument
panel cluster will remain powered in LOCK to illuminate
the gear shift indicator. The cluster will also activate
the parking brake light when the parking brake is
set. Use OFF if you must have your vehicle in motion
while the engine is not running.
(D) RUN:This is the position the switch returns to after
you start your engine and release the switch. This is
also the position for normal driving. Even when the
engine is not running, you can use RUN to operate your
electrical accessories and to display some instrument
panel warning lights.
(E) START:This position starts your engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch
will return to RUN for normal driving.
2-22

Horn
Press the center area of the steering wheel to sound
the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt 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.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of the steering column.
To tilt the wheel, hold the
wheel and pull the lever
toward you. Then move the
wheel to a comfortable
position and release
the lever to lock the wheel
in place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
·Turn and Lane-Change Signals
·Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
·Flash-To-Pass
·Windshield Wipers
·Windshield Washer
For more information on exterior lamps, see
Exterior
Lamps on page 3-14.
3-7

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 brie¯y to
¯ash-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.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wipers are controlled by turning the
band marked WIPER.
If your windshield wipers are on for more than six
seconds while you are driving, the low-beam headlamps,
instrument panel cluster backlighting and taillamps will
turn on. For more information see ªWiper Activated
Headlampsº under
Exterior Lamps on page 3-14.
Off:Turn the band to OFF to turn the wipers off.
3-9

MIST:For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST.
Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go. The
wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more cycles,
hold the band on MIST longer.
LO (Low Speed):Turn the band to LO for steady
wiping at a slow speed.
HI (High Speed):Turn the band to HI for steady wiping
at a high speed.
The wiper speed may be set for a long or short delay
between wipes. Turn the band to choose the delay time.
The closer to LO, the shorter the delay.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Keep in mind that damaged wiper blades may prevent
you from seeing well enough to drive safely. To
avoid damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the
wiper blades before using them. If your blades do
become damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
RainsenseŸ II Wipers
If your vehicle has this feature, the moisture sensor is
mounted on the interior of the windshield below the
rearview mirror and is used to automatically operate the
wipers. This system operates by monitoring the
amount of moisture build-up on the windshield. Wipes
occur as needed to clear the windshield dependingon the driving conditions and the sensitivity setting. In
light rain or snow, fewer wipes will occur. In heavy
rain or snow, wipes will occur more frequently.
The system will operate in the delay, low speed and
high speed modes. If the system is left on for long
periods of time, occasional wipes may occur without any
moisture on the windshield. This is normal and
indicates that the RainsenseŸ system is active.
The RainsenseŸ system is activated by turning the
wiper control band to one of the ®ve sensitivity levels
within the delay area. The delay position closest to
OFF/MIST is the lowest sensitivity setting, level one. The
highest sensitivity setting, level ®ve, is closest to the
LO position. A single wipe will occur each time you turn
the wiper control band to a higher sensitivity level to
indicate that the sensitivity level has been increased.
Notice:The wipers must be turned off when going
through a car wash to avoid damage.
The MIST and wash cycles operate as normal and are
not affected by the RainsenseŸ function. The system
can be overridden at any time by manually changing the
wiper control to LO or HI speed.
Notice:Do not place stickers or other items on the
exterior glass surface directly in front of the
rainsensor. Doing this could cause the rainsensor
to malfunction.
3-10

Windshield Washer
At the top of the turn signal/multifunction lever, there's a
paddle with the word PUSH on it. To spray washer
¯uid on the windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will
clear the window and either stop or return to your
preset speed. For more washer cycles, push and hold
the paddle.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer ¯uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Ice build up can block washer nozzles. Remove ice for
proper operation.
See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-36for more
information.
Cruise Control
The switches to operate cruise control are located on
the steering wheel.
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This is helpful on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
3-11

Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
·Step lightly on the brake pedal; or
·press ON/OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp control
buttons are located to the
left of the steering
column.
<(Parking Lamps):Press this button to turn on the
parking lamps, together with the following:
·Sidemarker Lamps
·Taillamps
·License Plate Lamps
·Instrument Panel Lights
O(Headlamps):Press this button to turn on the
headlamps, together with the previously listed lamps and
lights.
Wiper Activated Headlamps
This feature turns on the low-beam headlamps,
instrument panel cluster backlighting and taillamps when
the Twilight Sentinel
žis 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
žmust 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
žor
the windshield wipers.
3-14

Fuses Usage
1 Not Used
2 Accessory
3 Windshield Wipers
4 Not Used
5 Left Low-Beam Headlamp
6 Right Low-Beam Headlamp
7 Instrument PanelFuses Usage
8 Powertrain Control Module Battery
9 Right High-Beam Headlamp
10 Left High-Beam Headlamp
11 Ignition 1
12 Not Used
13 Transaxle
14 Cruise Control
15 Direct Ignition System
16 Injector Bank #2
17 Not Used
18 Not Used
19 Powertrain Control Module Ignition
20 Oxygen Sensor
21 Injector Bank #1
22 Auxiliary Power
23 Cigarette Lighter
24 Fog Lamps/Daytime Running Lamps
25 Horn
26 Air Conditioner Clutch
5-87

When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles with
the GM Oil Life System)...............................5-16
When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles Without
the GM Oil Life System)...............................5-16
When to Check and Change............................5-21
When to Check Power Steering Fluid................5-36
When to Check..............................................5-59
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.....5-18
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking
on a Hill.....................................................4-42
Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-36
Why Safety Belts Work..................................... 1-8
Window Lock Out...................................2-17, 3-52
Windows.......................................................2-16
Power........................................................2-17
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check................6-17
Windshield Washer.........................................3-11
Fluid..........................................................5-36Windshield Wiper............................................5-57
Blade Replacement......................................5-57
Windshield Wipers............................................ 3-9
Winter Driving................................................4-25
Wiper Activated Headlamps..............................3-14
Wiper Blade Check.........................................6-18
X
XMŸ Radio Satellite Service
(USA Only).................................................3-63
XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna System................3-81
XMŸ Satellite Radio Service
(USA Only).................................................3-79
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
16