ignition BUICK REGAL 2003 Owner's Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: BUICK, Model Year: 2003, Model line: REGAL, Model: BUICK REGAL 2003Pages: 344, PDF Size: 2.21 MB
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Parking Lamps:Pulling the control out, halfway to the
first position, turns on the parking lamps together
with the following:
•Taillamps
•License Plate Lamps
•Sidemarker Lamps
•Instrument Panel Lights
Headlamps:Pulling the control out all the way, to the
second position, turns on the headlamps together
with the previously listed lamps and lights.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s door
when you turn the ignition switch to OFF, LOCK or
ACCESSORY with the lamps on.
Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp System
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. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.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 following conditions are met:
•The ignition is on,
•the exterior lamps control 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’tbe
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 and automatic
headlamp control 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.
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To turn off the automatic headlamp feature when it’s
dark outside, move the exterior lamp control to the
parking lamp position. Your parking lamps will remain
illuminated and your headlamps will turn off. The
fog lamps will also be lit if they were on when you
switched to the parking lamp position.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Delayed Headlamps
Delayed headlamps illumination provides a period of
exterior lighting as you leave your vehicle. 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 exterior lamps control 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 exterior lamps control
in the parking lamp or headlamps position, the delayed
headlamps illumination cycle will not occur.
You can customize the vehicle to activate delayed
headlamps 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:
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN.
2. Close all the doors.
3. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, cycle the exterior
lamps control on and then off two times.
4. 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.
5. Then, press and hold the power door unlock switch.
While holding the door unlock switch, turn the
exterior lamps control on and then off two times.
Release the power door unlock switch.
6. Release the power door unlock switch. These steps
must be carried out in a time period of less than
10 seconds.
After releasing the power 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 for this feature.
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Entry lighting 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.
When the ignition is on, entry lighting 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 one of the following occurs:
•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.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature illuminates the interior for a period of time
after the ignition key is removed from the ignition.
The ignition must be off for delayed exit lighting to work.
When the ignition key is removed, interior illumination
will activate and remain on until one of the following
occurs:
•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.
Perimeter Lighting
Perimeter lighting provides a period of exterior vehicle
lighting. 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“Security Feedback”underRemote
Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-4for
more information. The vehicle headlamps and back-up
lamps are then activated for a period of 25 seconds
or until the ignition switch is turned to RUN.
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You may enable or disable the perimeter lighting feature
when the driver performs the following sequence with
the engine not running and the doors closed:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN.
2. Close all the doors.
3. Apply your brakes.
4. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch press and release the
panic 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 for this feature.
Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the underside of the
rearview mirror.
Use the button next to each lamp to turn them on
and off.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp will come on when you open a door.
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 do one of the following:
•Turn the ignition on,
•turn the exterior lamps control off, then on, or
•open a door.
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.
Accessory Power Outlets
With accessory power outlets you can power electrical
equipment such as a cellular telephone or CB radio.
Your vehicle is equipped with a 12-volt outlet. It is
located on the console, near thefloor on the
passenger’s side. Open the cover to use the outlet. Be
sure to close the cover when the outlet is not in use.
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To change the passenger compartment airfilter, use the
following steps:
1. Turn off the ignition when the windshield wipers are
in the up position.
2. Raise the hood.
3. Disconnect the windshield washer pump hose from
the fender rail and air inlet grille.
4. Remove the hood weatherstrip from the passenger’s
side of the vehicle (peel back halfway to center).
5. Remove the three air inlet grille retainers.
6. Remove the air inlet grille.7. Remove the passenger
compartment airfilter.
8. Then replace the old airfilter with the new one. For
the type offilter to use, seeNormal Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 5-93.
9. Reinstall the air inlet grille.
10. Reinstall the air inlet grille retainers.
11. Reattach the hood weatherstrip.
12. Reconnect the windshield washer pump hose to the
fender rail and air inlet grille.
13. Close the hood.
14. Return the windshield wipers to the park position.
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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, seeAir Bag
Systems on page 1-46.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it willflash 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
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the air bag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
The air bag readiness light shouldflash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have itfixed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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Charging System Light
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 accessory 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.
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.
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’sa
problem.
United StatesCanada
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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.
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,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-31.
{CAUTION:
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 after you’ve pulled off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light
will come on for a few seconds when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. 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, the
anti-lock brake system needs service. If the light is on
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 will come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. This is
normal. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.United States
Canada
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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 itfixed so it will be there to tell you when
the traction control system is active.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light tells you that
your engine coolant has
overheated or your radiator
cooling fan is not working.
The light will come on briefly when your ignition is
turned on to show you that it is working.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-25.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
You have a gage that
shows the engine coolant
temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into
the red area, your
engine is too hot!
This reading means the same thing as the warning light.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If
you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-25.
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Tire Pressure Light
Your vehicle may have a
tire pressure monitor that
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 inflation 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 (110 km/h).
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 isflat, seeIf a Tire Goes Flat on page 5-66. Also
check the tire pressure in all four tires as soon as you
can. SeeInflation -- Tire Pressure on page 5-57.
The light will stay on, while the ignition is on, until you
reset (calibrate) the system. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor System on page 5-58.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Service Engine Soon Light
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the
life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light
comes on and a chime will sound to indicate that there
is a problem and service is required. Malfunctions
often will be indicated by the system before any problem
is apparent. This may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist
your service technician in correctly diagnosing any
malfunction.
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