BUICK REGAL 1998 Owners Manual

Optional Cluster: United States Version Shown, Canadian Similar
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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 (used in the United States)
or in kilometers
(used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer.
If you see
ERROR, you’ll know someone has probably tampered
with it and the numbers may not be accurate.
If the button is pressed and held for longer than
1 .S seconds while in the odometer mode, it will have
no effect.
Tachometer
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2 \\‘I
RPM/1000 ’2
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 that will be done.
But if it can’t, then it will be 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.
Optional cluster
Trip Odometer
Your trip odometer tells how far you have driven since
you last reset it.
To set it to zero, press the button on the
right side of the instrument cluster.
Your triphelect reset switch will go back and forth
between the odometer and the trip odometer if the
button is pressed and released within
1.5 seconds. If the
button is pressed and held for longer than
1.5 seconds
while in the trip odometer mode, it will be reset to zero.
tachometer shown above
The tachometer displays
the engine speed in
thousands
of revolutions
per minute (rpm).
I NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area,
or engine damage may occur.
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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.
Your vehicle may also have a driver information system
that
works along with the warning lights and gages. See
“Driver Information System” in the Index.
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
for about
20 seconds,
then it will flash for about
55 seconds. If the driver’s
belt is already buckled,
neither the chime nor
the
light will come on.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The
system check includes the air bag modules, the wiring
and the crash sensing and diagnostic module. For more
information on the air bag system, see “Air Bag” in
the Index.
This light will come
on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for
a few
seconds. Then
the light
should
go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when
you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds 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.
Charging System Light
4
+I
The charging system light
will come on briefly when
you turn on the ignition, as
a check to show you it’s
working. Then it should
go out.
If it stays
on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the charging system. It could
indicate that you have a loose drive belt or another
electrical problem. Have it checked right away. Driving
while
this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn
off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
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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.
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 on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have
a brake problem.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ANTI -
LOCK
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.)
1 CAUI
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.
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If 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 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
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.
Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light
LOW TRAC
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid
a braking skid,
the anti-lock brake system
active light will come on.
Slippery road conditions may exist if this light comes
on,
so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will
stay
on for a few seconds after the system stops
adjusting brake pressure.
The anti-lock brake system active light also comes 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
there to tell you when the system is active.
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Traction Control System Warning Light
(3800 Supercharged Engine Only)
TRAC
OFF
The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the traction
control button located on the black panel directly
behind your automatic transaxle shift lever, the
warning light will come on and stay on.
To turn the
system back on, press the button again. The warning
light should go off. (See “Traction Control System”
in the Index for more information.)
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light will come on. If
your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will
turn off and the warning light will come
on until your brakes
cool down.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays
on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
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Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
(If Equipped)
TRAC
OFF
The Enhanced Traction System warning light may come
on for the following reasons:
0 If you turn the system off by pressing the traction
control button, the warning light will come on and
stay
on. To turn the system back on, press the button
again. The warning light should go off. (See
“Enhanced Traction System” in the Index for
more information.)
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will
turn off and
the warning light will come on.
When this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
Traction Control System Active Light
LOW TRAC
When your traction control
system is limiting wheel
spin, this light will come on.
Slippery road conditions
may exist if the traction
control system active light
comes on,
so adjust your
driving accordingly.
The light will stay on for a few seconds after the traction
control system stops limiting wheel spin.
0 If the Enhanced Traction System warning light
comes on and stays
on for an extended period of
time when the system is turned on, your vehicle
needs service. Adjust your driving accordingly.
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Enhanced Traction System Active Light
When your Enhanced
Traction System is limiting wheel
spin, this light will
LOW TRAC come on.
Slippery road conditions may exist if the Enhanced
Traction System active light comes on,
so adjust your
driving accordingly. The light will stay on for
a few
seconds after the Enhanced Traction System stops
limiting wheel spin.
The Enhanced Traction System active light
also comes
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
there to tell you when
the system is active.
Low Traction Light
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” earlier
in
this section.
If you have the Enhanced Traction System or the Traction
Control System, this light will also come
on when the
system
is limiting wheel spin. You may feel or hear the
system working, but this is normal. Slippery road
conditions may exist if the low traction light comes on,
so
adjust your driving accordingly. The light will stay on for
a few seconds after the anti-lock system stops adjusting
brake pressure or the Enhanced Traction System stops
limiting wheel spin. See “Enhanced Traction System” or
“Traction Control System” in the Index.
The low traction light also comes
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 there to tell you when
the anti-lock brake system, Traction Control System or
Enhanced Traction System is active.
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