key BUICK REGAL 1999 Owner's Manual

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3. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then stops),
it could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the floor
and holding it there as you hold the key in START for
about three seconds. If the vehicle starts briefly but
then stops again, do the same thing, but this time keep
the pedal down for five or six seconds. This clears the
extra gasoline from the engine. After waiting about
15 seconds, repeat the normal starting procedure.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
In very cold weather, 0
F (-18
C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
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2-28
Shifting Into PARK (P)
CAUTION:
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 ªTowing a
Trailerº in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake with your left foot.
2. Move the shift lever into
the PARK (P) position
like this:

Hold in the button on the lever, then push the lever
all the way toward the front of your vehicle.

Turn 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).
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Shifting Out of PARK (P)
CAUTION:
Before shifting out of PARK (P) you must fully
apply your regular brakes. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a
Trailerº in the Index.
Your vehicle has a Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock
(BTSI). You must fully apply your regular brakes before
you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in
RUN. See ªAutomatic Transaxle Operationº in
the Index.If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing it all the way into PARK (P)
while keeping the brake pedal pushed down. Release the
shift lever button. Then move the shift lever out of
PARK (P).
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't
shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
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2-31 Shift Lock Release
Your vehicle is equipped
with an electric park lock
system. The system is
designed to prevent ignition
key removal unless the shift
lever is in PARK (P) (with
the shift knob button
fully released).
The system also prevents the shift lever from moving
out of PARK (P) when the ignition is in OFF or in
LOCK. The park lock system is always functional
except in the case of a dead or low voltage
(less than 9 V) battery.
If your vehicle has a dead battery or a battery with low
voltage, there are two override access slots that will
allow you to override the park lock system.The first slot is located underneath the steering column
below the lock cylinder. To use this slot:
1. Verify that the shift lever is in PARK (P) (with the
shift knob button released.)
2. Locate the override access slot below the
lock cylinder.
3. Remove the override access slot cap, which will then
show the override mechanism release button.
4. Insert a key or screwdriver into the access slot and
then press in and hold the override mechanism
release button.
5. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
6. Remove the key or screwdriver from the slot.
7. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
8. Replace the override access slot cap.
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The second override access slot is located on the upper
right hand side of the console shift panel. To use
this slot:
1. Verify that the shift lever is in PARK (P) and that the
shift knob button is fully released.
2. Locate the override access slot on the upper right
hand side of the shift panel.
3. Remove the override access slot cap, which will then
show the shift lock release button.
4. Insert a key or screwdriver into the access slot and
press in and hold the shift lock release button.
5. Press the shift knob button in and hold.
6. Remove the key or screwdriver from the slot.
7. Pull the shift lever into the desired gear position.
8. Replace the override access slot cap.
You will not be able to remove your key from the
ignition unless the shift lever is in PARK (P) with the
shift knob button fully released.Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
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2-44 Delayed Headlamp Illumination
Delayed Headlamp Illumination provides a period of
exterior lighting as you leave your vehicle's area. The
feature is activated when your vehicle's headlamps are
on due to the automatic headlamp control feature
described previously in this section, and when your
vehicle's ignition is turned off. Your headlamps will
then remain on until the headlamp switch is moved from
OFF to the parking lamp position or until a 90 second
lighting period has ended.
If you turn off the ignition with the headlamp switch in
the parking lamp or headlamp position, the Delayed
Headlamp Illumination cycle will not occur.
You can customize the vehicle to activate Delayed
Headlamp Illumination when your vehicle's ignition is
turned off under the conditions described above, or you
may choose not to activate this feature under any
conditions. You can turn the feature on and off when
you perform the following sequence with the doors
closed and the ignition key in RUN:
1. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, cycle the headlamp
switch on and then off two times.2. Release the power door lock switch. These
operations must be carried out in a time period of
less than 10 seconds, followed by a delay period of
no more than 10 seconds.
3. Then, press and hold the power door unlock switch.
While holding the door unlock switch, turn the
headlamp switch on and then off two times. Release
the courtesy door unlock switch. These steps must be
carried out in a time period of less than 10 seconds.
After releasing the door unlock switch, a single chime
will be heard if the Delayed Headlamp Illumination
function has been disabled; two chimes will be heard if
the feature has been enabled. Disconnecting the
vehicle's battery for up to a year will not change the
programmed operation of this feature.
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2-45 Fog Lamps
To turn the fog lamps on,
press the fog lamps switch
located below the headlamp
switch on the left side of the
steering column.
A light will glow on the switch to let you know that they
are on. (Your parking lamps or low
-beam headlamps
must be on or your fog lamps won't come on.) Press the
switch again to turn the fog lamps off. The fog lamps
will go off whenever you change to high
-beam
headlamps. When you return to low beams, the fog
lamps will come on again.
Cornering Lamps
The cornering lamps are designed to come on when you
signal a turn. This will provide more light for cornering
at night.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
moving the LIGHTS dial. If you turn the dial past
MAX, your courtesy or interior lamps will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps come on. These
lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle. You can also turn these
lamps on by twisting or turning the interior lights knob
all the way to the right.
Illuminated Entry
Your courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a set
time whenever you press UNLOCK on the remote
keyless entry transmitter.
If you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it's open
and then turn off automatically about 25 seconds after
you close it. If you press UNLOCK and don't open a
door, the lamps will turn off after about 40 seconds.
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Illuminated Entry includes a feature called Theater
Dimming. With Theater Dimming, the lamps don't just
turn off at the end of the delay time. Instead, they slowly
dim after the delay time until they go out. The delay
time is canceled if you turn the ignition key to RUN or
START, so the lamps will dim right away.
When the ignition is on, Illuminated Entry is inactive,
which means the courtesy lamps won't come on unless a
door is opened.
Delayed Entry Lighting
Delayed Entry Lighting lights your vehicle's interior for
a period of time after all the doors have been closed.
The ignition must be off for Delayed Entry Lighting to
work. Just after all the doors have been closed, the
Delayed Entry Lighting feature will continue to
work until:

the ignition is in RUN, or

the doors are locked or

an illumination period of 25 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period will be canceled and the
interior lamps will remain on since a door is open.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature illuminates your vehicle's interior for a
period of time after the ignition key is removed from
the ignition.
The vehicle's ignition must be off for Delayed Exit
Lighting to work. When the ignition key is removed,
interior illumination will activate and remain on until:

the ignition is in RUN or,

the power door locks are activated or

an illumination period of 25 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period will be canceled and the
interior lamps will remain on since a door is open.
Perimeter Lighting
Perimeter lighting provides a period of exterior vehicle
lighting as the driver and passengers approach the
vehicle. Perimeter lighting is only activated when the
function is enabled, the doors are closed, the ignition is
in OFF and the security feedback feature is in Mode 3 or
4. (See ªSecurity Feedbackº in the Index for more
information.) The vehicle headlamps and back
-up lamps
are then activated for a period of 15 seconds or until the
vehicle ignition switch is turned to RUN.
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2-47
You may enable or disable the perimeter lighting feature
when the driver performs the following sequence with
the engine not running, the doors closed and the ignition
key in RUN:
1. Apply your brakes.
2. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch press and release the
remote alarm button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter. This will initialize the customization
mode. While in the customization mode, the feature
will sound the number of chimes corresponding to
the current mode: In Mode 1, one chime means the
feature is disabled. In Mode 2, two chimes signal
that the perimeter lighting feature is enabled. Each
additional press will advance the mode by one,
starting from the current mode. During this
procedure, the feature will sound the number of
chimes corresponding to the mode. When the lock
switch is released, the vehicle will remain in the
last mode.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed operation of this feature.Rearview Mirror Reading Lamps
Use the switch next to each lamp to turn them on
and off.
Dome Lamp (If Equipped)
The dome lamp will come on when you open the doors.
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2-48 Battery Rundown Protection
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery in case you accidentally leave the
interior courtesy lamps, reading/map lamps, visor vanity
lamps, trunk lamp, underhood lamp or glove box lamps
on. If you leave any of these lamps on, they will
automatically turn off after 20 minutes, if the ignition is
in OFF. The lamps won't come back on again until you:

turn the ignition on,

turn the lamp switch off, then on, or

open a door.
Note that if your vehicle has less than 15 miles (25 km)
on the odometer, the battery saver will turn off the lamps
after only three minutes.
Retained Accessory Power
With retained accessory power, your power windows,
audio system and sunroof will continue to work up to
10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to OFF and
before any of the doors are opened.
Mirrors
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
Electrochromic Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an electrochromic day/night
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.
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