key BUICK REGAL 1998 Owner's Guide

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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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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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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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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Low Coolant Warning Light
LOW COOLANT
If this light comes on, your
system is low on coolant
and the engine may
overheat. See “Engine
Coolant”
in the Index and
have your vehicle serviced
as soon as you can.
The light will come on briefly when your ignition is
turned
on to show you that it is working properly.
Low Tire Light (If Equipped)
LOW
TIRE
The tire pressure monitor
system can alert you to
a
large change in the pressure
in one tire. After the system has “learned”
tire pressures with
properly inflated tires, the
LOW TIRE light will come
on if the pressure in one tire becomes
12 psi (83 kPa)
lower than the other three tires. The tire pressure
monitor system won’t alert you if the pressure in more
than one tire
is low, if the system is not yet calibrated, or
if the vehicle is moving faster than
70 mph (1 10 kdh).
When the
LOW TIRE light comes on, you should stop
as soon as you can and check all your tires for damage.
(If a tire is flat, see “If a Tire Goes Flat” in the Index.)
Also check the tire pressure in all four tires as soon
as
you can. See “Inflation - Tire Pressure” in the Index.
The light will stay on until you turn off the ignition or
reset the system. See “Tire Pressure Monitor System” in
the Index.
The
LOW TIRE 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 if the
pressure in a tire is low or high.
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If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
0 Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as
soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light
Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do
so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart the
engine.
If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If
so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or
missing fuel cap will allow fuel
to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light
off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out.
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
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Low Oil Level Light
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressL-d is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your
oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and
is not covered by
your warranty.
LOW
OIL
Your engine is equipped
with an oil level monitoring
system. When the ignition
key
is turned on, the
LOW
OIL light will come
on briefly.
If the light does not come on briefly, have it fixed
so it
will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
If the light stays on, stop the vehicle on a level surface
and turn the engine
off. Check the oil level using the
engine oil dipstick. (See “Engine Oil” in the Index.) If
the light does not flash, have the
low oil level sensor
system repaired
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s
a problem.
The oil
level monitoring system only checks oil level
during the brief period between key on and engine
crank. It does not monitor engine oil level when the
engine is running. Additionally, an oil level check is
only performed if the engine has been turned off for a
considerable period of time, allowing the oil normally in
circulation
to drain back into the oil pan.
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Change Oil Soon Light
Your CHANGE OIL SOON
light should come on as a
CHANGE OIL
SOON
bulb check when you start
the engine.
Security Light
SECURITY
This light will come on
when you turn the key
to
START and stay on until the
vehicle starts.
If this light stays on for about
20 seconds after you turn
on the ignition, have the oil changed.
When to change your oil also depends on driving habits
and conditions because
they directly affect engine speed,
coolant temperature and vehicle speed. Because of this,
the CHANGE OIL
SOON light may come on as early as
2,000 miles (3,200 km) or less for harsh conditions.
Also see “Maintenance Schedule” in the Index for
further instructions on when
to change your oil.
To reset the CHANGE OIL SOON light, see “CHANGE
OIL SOON Light, How to Reset” in the Index. Also, see
“Oil Life Monitor”
in the Index. It
will also flash if your ignition key is too dirty or wet
for the PASS-Key I1 system to read the resistor pellet.
See “Pass-Key
11” in the Index.
If the resistor pellet is damaged or missing, the light will
come
on.
If you’re ever driving and the SECURITY light comes
on, you will be able to restart your engine
if you turn it
off. Your PASS-Key I1 system, however, is not working
properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your
vehicle is not protected by the PASS-Key I1 system.
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