trunk BUICK REGAL 1999 Owners Manual

2-
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Keys
2
-4 Door Locks
2
-7 Remote Keyless Entry
2
-14 Trunk
2
-14 Theft
2
-15 PASS-Key
II
2
-17 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-17 Ignition Positions
2
-19 Starting Your V6 Engine
2
-20 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-22 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-27 Parking Brake
2
-28 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-30 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-32 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-33 Engine Exhaust
2
-33 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-34 Windows2
-35 Horn
2
-35 TILT-WHEEL Adjustable Steering Column
2
-36 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-42 Exterior Lamps
2
-45 Interior Lamps
2
-48 Mirrors
2
-50 Storage Compartments
2
-53 Sun Visors
2
-53 Accessory Power Receptacle
2
-54 Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)
2
-55 Astroroof (If Equipped)
2
-55 OnStar
(Option)
2
-56 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-57 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-60 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-75 Driver Information Center
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2-7
2. On the inside of the rear door will be a lock. Insert
your key into this lock and turn it upward. This will
engage the safety lock. To disengage the feature, turn
the lock downward.
3. Close the door.
4. Do the same thing to the other rear door lock.
The rear doors of your vehicle cannot be opened from
the inside when this feature is in use. If you want to
open the rear door when the security lock is on, unlock
the door from the inside and then open the door from
the outside.
Lockout Protection Feature
This feature prevents a driver who has left the key in the
vehicle's ignition from locking the doors by using the
power door locks while any door is open. The feature
works by disabling the power door locks when a key is
in the ignition and any door is open.
You may override the Lockout Protection Feature by
holding the power door lock switch in the lock position
for more than three seconds while the key is in the
ignition and any door is open.Remember, this feature can't guarantee that you'll never
be locked out of your vehicle. If you use the manual
door lock or if you don't leave the key in the ignition,
you could still lock your keys inside your vehicle.
Always remember to take your keys with you.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door. (Also see ªDelayed Lockingº in this
section for more information.)
Remote Keyless Entry
You can lock and unlock your doors or unlock your
trunk from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m) away
using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied with
your vehicle.
Your remote keyless entry system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
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2-8
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
This system has a range of about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet
(9 m). At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is
normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the
transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer to
your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:

Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions that follow.

Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.

Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or
right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.

If you're still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.Operation
Press UNLOCK once to
unlock the driver's door and
to turn on the interior lamps
(see ªIllumination on
Remote Activationº in the
Index for more details).
The perimeter lighting feature will also be activated at
night, turning on your headlamps and back
-up lamps for
15
-25 seconds. (This will light the area around the
vehicle.) See ªPerimeter Lightingº in the Index.
Press UNLOCK again within five seconds to unlock all
the doors. To lock all doors, press LOCK. To unlock the
trunk, press the trunk symbol on the remote keyless
entry transmitter. The trunk will only unlock if your
transaxle is in PARK (P).
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2-14
Trunk
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk open
because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into
your vehicle. You can't see or smell CO. It can
cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the trunk open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and
the trunk:

Make sure all other windows are shut.

Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on VENT. That will force outside air into
your vehicle. See ªComfort Controlsº in
the Index.

If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See ªEngine Exhaustº in the Index.
Trunk Lock
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.
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2-15 Parking at Night
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?

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.
PASS-Key II
Your vehicle is equipped
with the PASS
-Key II
(Personalized Automotive
Security System)
theft
-deterrent system.
PASS
-Key II is a passive
theft
-deterrent system. It
works when you insert or
remove the key from
the ignition.
PASS
-Key II uses a resistor pellet in the ignition key
that matches a decoder in your vehicle.
When the PASS
-Key II system senses that someone is
using the wrong key, it shuts down the vehicle's starter
and fuel systems. For about three minutes, the starter
won't work and fuel won't go to the engine. If someone
tries to start your vehicle again or uses another key
during this time, the vehicle will not start. This
discourages someone from randomly trying different
keys with different resistor pellets in an attempt to make
a match.
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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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2-51
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.
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 strap located toward the top of your center back
seat cushion. You will then have access to the dual
oversized cupholders.
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2-52 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, behind the front compartment storage door. To
remove the ashtray, open the 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.
NOTICE:
Don't put papers and other things that burn into
your ashtrays. If you do, cigarettes or other
smoking materials could set them on fire,
causing damage.
To use the lighter, just push it in all the way and let go.
When it's ready, it will pop back by itself.
NOTICE:
Don't hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating. If you do, it won't be able to
back away from the heating element when it's
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
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2-74 Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light
The DOOR/TRUNK light
will come on if your trunk
or any door is not
completely closed.
Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left when the ignition
is on. When the indicator
nears EMPTY (E), you still
have a little fuel left, but
you should get more soon.Here are four things that some owners ask about. All
these things are normal and do not indicate that anything
is wrong with the fuel gage:

At the gas station, the pump shuts off before the gage
reads FULL (F).

It takes more (or less) fuel to fill up than the gage
reads. For example, the gage reads half full, but it
took more (or less) than half of the tank's capacity to
fill it.

The gage pointer may move while cornering, braking
or speeding up.

The gage may not indicate EMPTY (E) when the
ignition is turned off.
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Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:

Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.

You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your trunk.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and a
couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will
be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items in your vehicle.
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