key BUICK REGAL 1996 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: BUICK, Model Year: 1996, Model line: REGAL, Model: BUICK REGAL 1996Pages: 356, PDF Size: 17.97 MB
Page 76 of 356

A E
C
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five positions.
ACC (A): This position lets you use the radio and
windshield wipers when the engine is
off. To use
ACC (Accessory), push in the key and turn
it toward
you. Your steering wheel will stay locked.
LOCK (B): Before you put the key into the ignition
switch, the switch is in
LOCK. It’s also the only position
in which you can remove your key. This position locks your
ignition, steering wheel and transaxle. It’s
a
theft-deterrent feature.
OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering
wheel like LOCK. Use OFF
if you must have your
vehicle pushed or towed.
RUN (D): This position is where the key returns after
you start your vehicle. With the engine
off, you can use
RUN to display some of your warning and indicator lights.
START (E): This position starts your engine.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is
in OFF, LOCK or ACC ,and
the key is in the ignition.
- .. - _- -
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure
it is all the way in. If it is, then
turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using
a tool to force it could break
the key or the ignition switch.
If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
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Page 77 of 356

Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use
NEUTRAL (N) only.
I NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Buick is
moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK
(P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Starting Your 3.1 Liter Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition
key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor.
2. If your engine won’t start (or starts but then stops), it
could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way
to the
floor and holding it there
as you hold the key in
START for up to 15 seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
(Continued)
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Page 78 of 356

NOTICE: (Continued)
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
lr
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key
to START. When the engine starts, let
go
of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in
START for about three to five seconds at a time until
your engine starts. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try
to help avoid draining your battery.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then stops), \
it could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the floor
and holding it there
as you hold the key in START for
about three seconds. If the vehicle starts briefly but
then stops again, do the same thing, but
this time keep
the pedal down for five or six seconds.
This clears the
extra gasoline from
the engine. After waiting about
15 seconds, repeat the normal starting procedure.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the
way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part
of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
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Page 86 of 356

0 Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3.
4.
Move the ignition key to LOCK.
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).
lift
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake with your left foot.
2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position
like this:
Hold in the button on the lever, and push the lever all the
way toward the front of your vehicle.
3. Move 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).
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Page 88 of 356

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your Buick has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You
must fully apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
“Automatic Transaxle Operation”
in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing it all the way into PARK (P)
while keeping the brake pedal pushed down. Release the
shift lever button if you have
a console shift. Then move
the shift lever
out of PARK (P), being sure to press the
shift lever button
if you have a console shift.
If
you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out
of PARK (P), try this:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Turn the key to OFF.
Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
Start the engine and shift to the drive gear
you want.
Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
I
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.
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Page 100 of 356

Illuminated Entry
Your courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a set
time whenever you:
Pull a front door handle.
Press UNLOCK on the Remote Keyless Entry
Press DOOR on the Remote Keyless Entry
transmitter
(if equipped).
transmitter (if equipped).
If you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it’s open
and then turn
off automatically about 18 seconds after
you close it. If you don’t open
a door, the lamps will
turn
off after about 18 seconds, unless you pressed
UNLOCK
on the Remote Keyless Entry transmitter. If
you pressed UNLOCK and don’t open a door, the lamps
will turn off after about
55 seconds.
Illuminated entry includes a feature called theater
dimming. With theater dimming, the lamps don’t just
turn off at the end
of the delay time. Instead, they slowly
dim during the delay time until they go out. The delay
time is cancelled if you turn the ignition key to RUN or
START,
so the lamps will go out right away.
When the ignition
is on, illuminated entry is inactive,
which means the courtesy lamps won’t come on.
Rearview Mirror Reading Lamps
These lamps go on when you open the doors. When the
doors are closed, use
the switch next to each lamp to
turn them on and off.
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Page 104 of 356

Storage Compartments
Glove Box
Use the door key to lock and unlock the glove box.
To open, lift the latch.
Storage Armrest
To use the storage area, fold down the armrest. Press the
latch on the front edge and pull up.
To use the
cupholder, flip it forward.
You may also have an armrest in the rear. It may have a
storage area and cupholders.
Center Console
To open the storage area,
press the latch
on the front
edge
and pull up.
The console
has cupholders,
cassette tape storage and
a
coinholder.
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Page 112 of 356

Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is
a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will see
in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start
the
engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate
when there may be or is a problem
with one
of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s
a problem with your vehicle. When
one of the warning lights comes
on and stays on
when you are driving,
or when one of the gages shows
there may be
a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting
to do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re
a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds
to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
until the driver’s belt is buckled.
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Page 114 of 356

Brake System Warning Light
Your Buick’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 could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition 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, or if the anti-lock brake system warning light
is flashing, have
the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light”
and “Towing Your Vehicle” in
the Index.)
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 or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light
is flashing
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 it stays 011 after your parking brake is fully
released,
it means you have a brake problem.
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Page 115 of 356

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and
it will stay
on for three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there could be a problem with your
regular brakes. 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.
Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your
Vehicle” in
the Index.)
A
Your regular brake system may not be working
properly if the anti-lock brake system warning
light
is flashing. Driving with the anti-lock brake
system warning light flashing can lead
to an
accident. After you’ve pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
f the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes
on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition
off. Then start the engine againto reset the
system.
If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, your Buick needs service. If the
light is
on but not flashing and the regular brake system
warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes.
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.
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