ESP BUICK REGAL 1998 Owners Manual

or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That's why
safety belts make such good sense.
Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts -- and the Answers
Q." Won't I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident if I'm wearing a safety belt?
A: 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.
Q." If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A: 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.
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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 &Horn Chirp and Headlamp Flash The operating
mode of the Security Feedback lock
feature will be changed when you perform the following
sequence with your vehicle’s doors closed and the
ignition key in
RUN:
1.
2.
Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, press and release the
remote keyless entry
(RKE) transmitter lock button.
This will initialize the customization mode. While in
the customization mode, the feature will sound the
number of chimes corresponding to the current
Security Feedback lock mode.
Each additional press of the
RKE transmitter lock button
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 feature 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.
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The operating mode of the Security Feedback unlock
feature will be changed when you perform
the following
sequence with your vehicle’s doors closed and the
ignition key
in RUN:
1.
2.
Press and hold the power door unlock switch. While
holding the door unlock switch, press and release the
RKE transmitter unlock button. This will initialize
the customization mode.
While in the customization mode, the feature will
sound the number of chimes corresponding
to the
current unlock mode.
Each additional press of the
RKE transmitter unlock
button 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 feature 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.
Disconnecting the vehicle’s battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed mode of the lock and
unlock Security Feedback features.
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 RUN 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 button 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 RKE transmitter a
second time.
2. The vehicle’s ignition is in RUN.
3. An alarm period of about two minutes has elapsed.
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Trunk Lock Parking at Night
To unlock
the trunk from the outside, insert the door key
and turn it.
You can also press the car symbol on your
remote keyless entry transmitter.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle 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 vehicle 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.
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.
Parking Lots
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?
0
0
0
0
0
0
If possible, park in a busy, well lit area.
Put your valuables in
a storage area, like your
trunk or glove box. Be sure to close and lock the
storage area.
Close all windows.
Lock the glove box.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
Then take the door key and remote keyless entry
transmitter with you.
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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:
The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is off and
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
parking lamps 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 parking lamps
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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Understanding Radio Reception
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.
FM Stereo
FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals
will reach only about
10 to 40 miles (1 6 to 65 km). Tall
buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing
the sound to come and go.
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. To
help avoid hearing loss or damage:
Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.
Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably
and clearly.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your
vehicle -- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio
-- be sure you can add
what you want.
If you can, it’s very important to
do it properly. Added sound equipment may
interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s
engine, Delco Electronics radio or other systems,
and even damage them. Your vehicle’s systems may
interfere with the operation of sound equipment
that has been added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure
to check Federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
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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.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel a
slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but
this is normal.
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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1
This light should come on
briefly when
you start the
TRAC
OFF
engine. If it stays on or
comes on while you are
driving, there’s a problem
with your traction
control system.
See “Traction Control System Warning Light”
in the
Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes
on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But
you can turn the
traction control system off if you ever need to.
(You
should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice or snow. See “Rocking Your Vehicle’’
in the Index.)
To turn the system off,
press the TRACTION
button
on the black panel
located directly behind
your automatic transaxle shift lever.
The traction control system warning light will come on
and stay on.
If the system is limiting wheel spin when
you press the button,
the warning light will come on --
but the system won’t turn off right away. It will wait
until there’s no longer a current need to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the button again. The traction control system warning
light should
go off.
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