ESP BUICK REGAL 1997 Owners Manual

Walter Marr and Thomas Buick
Buick’s chief engineer, Walter
L. Marr (left), and
Thomas D. Buick, son of founder David Dunbar Buick,
drove the first
Flint Buick in a successful Flint-Detroit
round trip in July 1904.
David Buick was building gasoline engines by 1899,
and Marr, his engineer, apparently built the first auto to
be called a Buick
in 1900. However, Buick traditionally
dates its beginnings to 1903. That was the year the
company was reorganized, refinanced and moved from
Detroit to Flint. Buick has always been a product
innovator. Buick engineers developed
the
“valve-in-head” engine, a light, powerful and reliable
engine which would eventually influence the entire
automotive industry.
William
C. Durant was instrumental in promoting
Buicks across the country using his Durant-Dort
Carriage
Co. outlets and salespeople as the nucleus of a
giant distribution system. He knew the Buick as a
“self-seller.”
If automobiles could be this good, he
thought, maybe it was time to switch from the horse and
buggy business to automobiles.
William
C. (Billy) Durant At
the 1905 New York
Auto Show, Durant
took
orders for 1,000 Buicks
before the company had
built
40. On Buick’s
success, Durant created
a
holding company,
September
16, 1908. He
called it General Motors.
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Here Are Questions Many People Ask &= If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
About Safetv Belts -- and the Answers home, why should I wear safety belts?
Q=
A:
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A:
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Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?
You could be -- whether you’re wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you’re upside down. And your chance of
being conscious during and after an accident,
so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.
If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in
most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only;
so they work with
safety belts -- not instead of them. Every air bag
system ever offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that has air
bags,
you still have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That’s true not only in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an
accident
-- even one that isn’t your fault -- you
and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good
driver doesn’t protect you from things beyond
your control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 km)
of home. And the greatest number
of serious
injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than
40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
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Door Locks
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers
-- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When a door is
locked, the inside handle won’t open it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down
or stop your vehicle.
This may not be
so obvious: You increase the
chance
of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors aren’t locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you
will be far
better off whenever you drive your vehicle.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your door key or remote keyless entry transmitter. From the inside, to lock
or unlock the door manually,
push the lever forward to lock the door. To unlock, push
the lever rearward.
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Security Feedback
Security Feedback provides audible and/or visible
feedback that a remote keyless entry lock or unlock
command has been received and executed. Your
vehicle’s ignition must be off for this feature to work.
You may select
one of four operating modes for
reception of a lock command. You may also select one
of four operating modes for reception
of an unlock
command. The selection and programming of the lock
and unlock operating modes are independent of each
other. The following modes are available for either lock
or unlock verification:
Mode
1: No Verification
Mode
2: Horn Chirp only
Mode
3: Headlamp Flash only
Mode
4: Horn Chirp and Headlamp Flash
The operating mode
of the Security Feedback lock
function will be changed when you
perform the following
sequence with your vehicle’s doors closed and the ignition
key in
RUN:
Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, press and release the
remote keyless entry
(RKE) transmitter lock switch.
This will initialize the customization mode. While in the
customization mode, the chime will sound the number
of chimes corresponding to the current Security
Feedback lock mode. Each additional press of the
RKE
transmitter lock switch will cause your vehicle to
advance the lock mode by
one, starting from the current
lock mode. If cycled beyond lock Mode
4, the vehicle
will enter lock Mode
1. During this procedure, the
chime will sound the number of chimes corresponding
to the current lock mode, providing you with feedback.
When the door lock switch is released, the vehicle will
remain in the most recent lock mode.
The operating mode of the Security Feedback unlock
function will be changed when you perform the
following sequence with your vehicle’s doors closed and
the ignition key in
RUN:
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Press and hold the power door unlock switch. While
holding the door unlock switch, press and release the
RKE transmitter unlock switch. This will initialize the
customization mode. While in the customization mode,
the chime will sound the number of chimes
corresponding to the current Security Feedback unlock
mode. Each additional press
of the RKE transmitter
unlock switch will cause your vehicle to advance the
unlock mode by one, starting from the current unlock
mode. If cycled beyond unlock Mode
4, the vehicle will
enter unlock Mode
1. During this procedure, the chime
will sound the number of chimes corresponding to the
current unlock mode, providing you with feedback.
When the door unlock switch is released, the vehicle
will remain in the most recent unlock mode.
Both the lock and unlock
Security Feedback functions will
be in operating Mode
4 when the vehicle is shipped from
the factory.
Disconnecting the vehicle’s battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed mode of the lock and
unlock Security Feedback functions.
Illumination on Remote Activation
This feature provides interior illumination when a remote
keyless entry door unlock command
is received and
executed by
your vehicle. Your vehicle’s ignition must be
off for the Illumination on Remote Activation feature to
work. The interior lamps will illuminate until your
vehicle’s ignition is turned to the RUN position or until
an illumination period of 40 seconds has elapsed. If a
door
is opened during the illumination period, the timed
illumination will be canceled, and the interior lamps will
remain on since a door
is open.
Instant Alarm
This feature allows you to activate an alarm by pressing
a switch on the remote keyless entry transmitter. Your
vehicle’s ignition must be off for the Instant Alarm to
work. When you press the special horn button on the
remote keyless entry transmitter, your vehicle’s
headlamps will flash, the
horn will honk repeatedly, and
your interior lamps will illuminate, attracting attention if
you need
it. The alarm will continue until:
1. You press the alarm button on the RISE transmitter a
second time.
2. The vehicle’s ignition is turned to the RUN position.
3. An alarm period of about two minutes has elapsed.
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Parking Lots Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your Buick has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal. However, there are ways you can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don’t do it.
When you park your Buick and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear
a chime reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take
it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and
so will your
ignition and transaxle. And remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you. If
you park in
a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your ignition key? What if
you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
0 Put your valuables in a storage area, like yow trunk
or glove box.
0 Lock the glove box.
0 Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
Then take the door key and remote keyless entry
transmitter with you.
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If you pull the knob out
halfway,
it will turn on only
your parklamps. If you pull
the knob all the way out,
your headlamps
will then
come on.
Push the knob
in all the way to turn off the lamps.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when you turn the ignition switch to
OFF, LOCK
or
ACC with the lamps on.
Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp Control
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.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work,
so be sure it isn’t covered.
The DRL system will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when:
0 The ignition is on,
0 The headlamp switch is off and
0 The parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your front turn signal lamps
will be on. The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t
be lit up either.
When it’s dark enough outside, your front turn signal
lamps will turn off and your vehicle’s headlamps and
parklamps will turn
on. The other lamps that come on
with your headlamps will also come on.
When it’s bright enough outside, your headlamps will
go
off and your front turn signal lamps will come on.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while
the ignition is in OFF or LOCK. Then start
your vehicle. The DRL, headlamps and parklamps will
stay off until you release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need
it.
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AM-FM: Press this button to choose AM, FMl or FM2. Understanding Radio Reception
If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, press this
button to stop it and the radio will play.
FM Stereo
SRCE: Press this button to
change to the cassette tape,
compact disc function or
return to playing the radio. FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals
will reach only about
10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall
buildings or hills can interfere with
FM signals, causing
the sound to come and go.
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,
especially at night. The longer range, however, can
cause stations to interfere with each other.
AM can pick
up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try
reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it.
MUTE: Press this button to silence the audio system.
Press it again to turn on the sound.
VOL: Press the up or down arrow to increase or
decrease volume.
Tips About Your Audio System
Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable
until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud
and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by
adjusting the volume control
on your radio to a safe
sound level before your hearing adapts to it.
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The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol
in one drink.
No amount of coffee or number of cold
showers will speed that up. “I’ll be careful” isn’t the
right answer. What if there’s an emergency,
a need to
take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street?
A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able
to react quickly enough to avoid the collision.
There’s something else about drinking and driving that
many people don’t know. Medical research shows that
alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries
worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord or
heart. This means that when anyone who has been
drinking
-- driver or passenger -- is in a crash, that
person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled
is higher than if the person had not been drinking.
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness and
judgment can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol. You can have
a serious -- or even
fatal
-- collision if you drive after drinking.
Please don’t drink and drive or ride with
a driver
who has been drinking. Ride home in
a cab; or if
you’re with a group, designate
a driver who will
not drink.
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Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up
to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front
of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead
to stop, even though you have
anti-lock brakes.
-‘sing Anti-Lock
uon’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the
system working, or you may notice some noise, but this
is normal.
LOW TRAC
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid
a braking skid,
this light will come on. See
“Anti-Lock Brake System
Active Light” in the Index.
Traction Control System
(With
3800 Supercharged Engine)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that limits wheel
spin. This is especially useful
in slippery road conditions.
The system operates only if it senses that one or both
of
the front wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction.
When this happens,
the system works the front brakes and
reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
LOW TRAC
This light will come on
when your traction control
system is limiting wheel
spin. See “Traction Control
System Active Light” in
the Index.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
reengage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control”
in the Index.)
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