tow BUICK REGAL 1998 User Guide

NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on any hill, see
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into PARK (P)
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake with your left foot.
-
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if ’
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set, Your vehicle can roll,
If
you have left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps that
follow. If you’re pulling
a trailer, see ‘(Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.
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2. Move the shift lever into
the PARK
(P) position
like this:
0 Hold in the button on the lever, then push the lever
all the way toward the front
of your vehicle.
0 Move the ignition key to LOCK.
3. 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).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully
in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless
you have to.
.~
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your
vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the PARK
(P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if
you can move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) without
first pushing the button. If you can, it means that the
shift lever wasn’t
fully locked into PARK (P).
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Running Your Engine While
You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are
some things to know.
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is
at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is
a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See “Blizzard” in the Index.)
I
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK
(P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting
Tnto PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index.
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Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on
the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction
of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return
by
itself when you release it.
If the arrow flashes faster than normal 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.
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 for burned-out bulbs and then check
the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index).
A chime will sound if
you leave your turn signal on for
more than
314 mile (1.2 km).
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
To change your headlamps
from low beams to high
beams,
or high to low, pull
the multifunction lever all
the way toward you. Then
release it.
When the high beams are on, this light
on the instrument
panel also will be
on.
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Flash-to-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want
to pass. It
works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you a little,
but not
so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are off or
on low beam, your
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 dash will come on. Release
the lever to turn the high-beam headlamps off.
Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked
WIPER. 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.
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Mirrors
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
To reduce glare from lamps behind you, pull the lever at
the bottom of the mirror toward you (to the night
position).
To return the mirror back to the day position,
push the lever away from you.
Electrochromic Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror
(If Equipped)
I
Your vehicle may have an electrochromic dayhight
rearview mirror. Push the button
in the center of the
mirror to turn this feature on. The mirror will darken
gradually to reduce glare from headlamps behind
you.
This may take a few moments.
The mirror’s two outer buttons operate
the lights on the
bottom sides
of the mirror.
One photocell on the front
of the mirror senses when it
is becoming dark outside. Another photocell, facing
rearward, senses headlamps behind you.
To turn the
electrochromic feature off, press the button in the center
of the mirror again.
To keep the photocells operating well, occasionally
clean them with a cotton swab and glass cleaner.
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Storage Compartments
Glove Box
Use the door key to lock and unlock the glove box. To
open, lift the latch.
Center Console
To access the cupholders, press on the top of the
cupholder door, located just behind the console shift
lever. Two cupholders will pop into an upright position.
The console has cupholders, a cassette tape storage area
and a coinholder.
To open the console’s storage area,
press the latch located toward the front
of the console lid
on the driver’s side of the vehicle and pull up.
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Rear Seat Pass-Through (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, you may access
your trunk by pulling down the center back seat
cushion
-- this gives you access to the pass-through
door. The door can only be unlocked using your door
key. Once this door is unlocked, you will then have
access to the trunk area.
To access the rear cupholders, once again, pull down on
the cloth strap located toward the top of your center
back seat cushion. You will then have access to the dual
oversized cupholders.
Trunk Convenience Net (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You’ll see it
on the back wall of the trunk.
Put small loads, like grocery bags, behind the net. It can
help keep them from falling over during sharp turns or
quick starts and stops.
The net isn’t for larger, heavier loads. Store those in the
trunk as far forward as you can.
You can unhook the
net so that it will lie flat when
you’re
not using it.
Ashtrays and Lighter
The center front ashtray is located just below the
instrument panel’s comfort controls at the front
of the
console.
To remove the ashtray, open the front
compartment storage door. Then open the small black
door, lift up
on the ashtray and pull it out.
The rear ashtray is located within a small door at the
rear
of the console. Push on the right side of the door.
The ashtray will then rotate to the right for usage. You
can only access the ashtray by pushing on the door’s
right side.
To remove the ashtray, push down on the
snuffer located
in the middle of the ashtray and lift
it out.
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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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