engine BUICK REGAL 2018 Service Manual

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-2nd Timed Print-U.S./Canada-
11486030) - 2018 - crc - 3/23/18
Climate Controls 171
To change the current mode, select
one or more of the following:
6:Air is directed to the floor
outlets, with some air to the
windshield and side windows.
Y: Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
X: Clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield.
1MAX : Air is directed to the
windshield, the fan runs at a higher
speed, and the temperature of the
air is increased if not already at
maximum. This mode overrides the
previous mode selected and clears
fog or frost from the windshield
more quickly. When the control is
pressed again, the system returns
to the previous mode setting and
fan speed.
For best results, clear all snow and
ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
A/C (Air Conditioning) : Touch A/C
on the climate control display to
cycle between the MAX, ECO, and OFF modes. The MAX, ECO,
or OFF indicator will appear on the
display. If the fan is turned off, the
air conditioner will not run and the
indicator light will turn off.
Touch AUTO to return to automatic
operation and the air conditioner
runs automatically as needed. The
A/C will return to ECO a/c operation.
For MAX a/c, touch A/C.
For ECO a/c, touch A/C again. This
setting balances fuel economy and
air conditioning comfort. This setting
allows higher humidity inside the
vehicle, and window fogging may
occur before the engine restarts.
@:
Press to turn on recirculation.
An indicator light comes on. Air is
recirculated to quickly cool the
inside of the vehicle or to reduce the
entry of outside air and odors.
If selected during cool or cold
weather, the windshield and
windows may fog. Turn off
recirculation to help clear the
windshield and windows. Auto Defog :
If equipped, the
climate control system may have a
sensor to automatically detect high
humidity inside the vehicle. When
high humidity is detected, the
climate control system may adjust to
outside air supply and turn on the
air conditioner. The fan speed may
slightly increase to help prevent
fogging. If the climate control
system does not detect possible
window fogging, it returns to normal
operation.
To turn Auto Defog off or on, see
“Climate and Air Quality” under
Vehicle Personalization 0150.
Ionizer : If equipped with an ionizer,
this feature helps to clean the air
inside the vehicle and remove
contaminants such as pollen, odors,
and dust. If the climate control
system is on and the ionizer is
enabled, the ionizer status indicator
will be lit on the climate control
display. To turn the ionizer on or off,
see “Climate and Air Quality” under
Vehicle Personalization 0150.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-2nd Timed Print-U.S./Canada-
11486030) - 2018 - crc - 3/23/18
172 Climate Controls
Rear Window Defogger
K:Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light
on the control comes on to show
that the rear window defogger is on.
The rear window defogger only
works when the engine is running.
It turns off when the ignition is
turned off or in ACC/ACCESSORY.
The rear window defogger can be
set to automatic operation. See
“Climate and Air Quality” under
Vehicle Personalization 0150.
When Auto Rear Defog is selected,
the rear window defogger turns on
automatically when the interior
temperature is cold and the outside
temperature is about 4 °C (40 °F)
and below. The auto rear defogger
turns off automatically after about
10 minutes, or after five minutes if
the outside temperature is not
as cold.
The upper gridlines on the rear
window are antenna lines and are
not intended to heat when the
defogger is activated. The heated outside mirrors turn on
when the rear window defogger
control is on and help to clear fog or
frost from the surface of the mirror.
See
Heated Mirrors 053.
Caution
Do not try to clear frost or other
material from the inside of the
front windshield and rear window
with a razor blade or anything
else that is sharp. This may
damage the rear window
defogger grid and affect the
radio's ability to pick up stations
clearly. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Heated and Ventilated Seats
LorM:If equipped, pressLorMto heat the driver or passenger seat.
{orC:If equipped, press{orCto ventilate the driver or
passenger seat. See Heated and
Ventilated Seats 015. Remote Start Climate Control
Operation :
If equipped with remote
start, the climate control system
may run when the vehicle is started
remotely. If equipped with heated or
ventilated seats, they may come on
during a remote start.
See Remote Vehicle Start 036 and
Heated and Ventilated Seats 015.
Sensors
The solar sensor, on top of the
instrument panel near the
windshield, monitors the solar heat.
Do not cover the solar sensor or the
system will not work properly.
The climate control system uses the
sensor information to adjust the
temperature, fan speed,
recirculation, and air delivery mode
for best comfort.
Do not cover the sensor; otherwise
the automatic climate control system
may not work properly.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-2nd Timed Print-U.S./Canada-
11486030) - 2018 - crc - 3/23/18
Driving and Operating 175
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 180
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 180
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 182
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 186
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 194
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 198
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 200
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Selective Ride Control (GS Models Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 206
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 213
Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 214
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 223
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 225
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 228
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-2nd Timed Print-U.S./Canada-
11486030) - 2018 - crc - 3/23/18
Driving and Operating 177
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the seat belt. See Seat Belts073.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you. .
Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
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.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
. Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-2nd Timed Print-U.S./Canada-
11486030) - 2018 - crc - 3/23/18
Driving and Operating 181
Warning (Continued)
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering assist. Always
have the engine running and the
vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident). .
Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0201.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner than when on dry pavement.
See
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0198.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0350. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-2nd Timed Print-U.S./Canada-
11486030) - 2018 - crc - 3/23/18
182 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0193.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 201.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-2nd Timed Print-U.S./Canada-
11486030) - 2018 - crc - 3/23/18
Driving and Operating 187
Caution (Continued)
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an electronic
keyless ignition with pushbutton
start. The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the
pushbutton start is not working, the
vehicle may be near a strong radio
antenna signal causing interference
to the Keyless Access system. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation
030.
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be on and the brake pedal
must be applied.
Stopping the Engine/OFF (No
Indicator Lights) : When the
vehicle is stopped, press ENGINE
START/STOP once to turn the
engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0191.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display a
message in the Driver Information Center (DIC). When the vehicle is
shifted into P (Park), the ignition
system will turn off.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop. Shift to P (Park). Turn the
ignition off.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake 0198.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-2nd Timed Print-U.S./Canada-
11486030) - 2018 - crc - 3/23/18
188 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold ENGINE START/
STOP for longer than two seconds,
or press twice in five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber
Indicator Light) : This mode allows
you to use some electrical
accessories when the engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing
ENGINE START/STOP one time
without the brake pedal applied will
place the ignition system in ACC/
ACCESSORY.
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after
five minutes to prevent battery
run down. ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator
Light) :
This mode is for driving and
starting. With the ignition off, and
the brake pedal applied, pressing
ENGINE START/STOP once will
place the ignition system in ON/
RUN/START. Once engine cranking
begins, release the button. Engine
cranking will continue until the
engine starts. See Starting the
Engine 0188. The ignition will then
remain in ON/RUN.
Service Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and
the brake pedal not applied,
pressing and holding ENGINE
START/STOP for more than
five seconds will place the vehicle in
Service Mode. The instruments and
audio systems will operate as they
do in ON/RUN, but the vehicle will
not be able to be driven. The engine will not start in Service Mode. Press
ENGINE START/STOP again to turn
the vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the
proper gear.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See
Add-On Electrical Equipment
0 238.
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). To restart the vehicle
when it is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-2nd Timed Print-U.S./Canada-
11486030) - 2018 - crc - 3/23/18
Driving and Operating 189
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Starting Procedure
1. With the Keyless Accesssystem, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the
brake pedal applied. When the
engine begins cranking, let go
of the button.
The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or if the RKE
battery is low, the Driver
Information Center (DIC) will display a message. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation
030.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by pressing
ENGINE START/STOP
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you press ENGINE START/
STOP, for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try,
to allow the cranking motor to cool down. When the engine
starts, let go of the button and
the accelerator. If the vehicle
starts briefly but then stops
again, do the same thing. This
clears the extra gasoline from
the engine. Do not race the
engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates
all moving parts.
Stop/Start System
{Warning
The automatic engine Stop/Start
feature causes the engine to shut
off while the vehicle is still on. Do
not exit the vehicle before shifting
to P (Park). The vehicle may
restart and move unexpectedly.
Always shift to P (Park), and then
turn the ignition off before exiting
the vehicle.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-2nd Timed Print-U.S./Canada-
11486030) - 2018 - crc - 3/23/18
190 Driving and Operating
The vehicle has a fuel saving stop/
start system to shut off the engine to
help conserve fuel.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied and
the vehicle is at a complete stop,
the engine may turn off. When
stopped, the tachometer displays
AUTO STOP. SeeTachometer
0 128. When the brake pedal is
released or the accelerator pedal is
pushed, the engine will restart.
Engine Heater
The engine coolant heater,
if available, can help in cold weather
conditions at or below −18 °C (0 °F)
for easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
Plug in the coolant heater at least
four hours before starting the
vehicle. An internal thermostat in
the plug-end of the cord will prevent
engine coolant heater operation at
temperatures above −18 °C (0 °F).
To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord.
The electrical cord is located
on the passenger side of the
engine compartment, between
the fender and the air cleaner.
Check the heater cord for
damage. If it is damaged, do
not use it. See your dealer for
a replacement. Inspect the
cord for damage yearly. 3. Plug it into a normal, grounded
110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord
or an extension cord can damage
the cord and may result in
overheating and fire.
. Plug the cord into a
three-prong electrical utility
receptacle that is protected
by a ground fault detection
function. An ungrounded
outlet could cause an
electric shock.
. Use a weatherproof,
heavy-duty, 15 amp-rated
extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the
recommended extension
cord in good operating
condition, or using a
damaged heater or
extension cord, could make
(Continued)