BUICK RIVIERA 1999 Owner's Manual

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Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use it.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push in the SET button at the end of the lever and
release it. The CRUISE light on the instrument panel
will come on.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Setting the cruise control at a desired speed and then
applying the brake will end the cruise control function.
Once you're going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch from ON to R/A
(Resume/Accelerate) briefly to reset. This returns you to
your desired preset speed.If you hold the switch at R/A, the vehicle will accelerate
until you release the switch or apply the brake. So unless
you want to go faster, don't hold the switch at R/A.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:

Use the accelerator pedal to go to a higher speed.
Push the SET button at the end of the lever, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal. You'll
now cruise at the higher speed. Or,

Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you reach a desired speed and then release
the switch.
To increase your speed in very small amounts, move the
switch to R/A briefly and then release it. Each time you do
this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you have set
the cruise control speed by pushing the SET button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Push in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach a desired lower speed then release it.

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To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button briefly. Each time you do this, you'll go
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal, or

Move the cruise switch to OFF. The CRUISE light
will also go out.Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
This knob controls these systems:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking Lamps

License Plate Lamps

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Sidemarker Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

Interior Courtesy Lamps
Pull the knob toward you to the first setting to turn on
the parking lamps and other operating lamps without the
headlamps. Pull the knob toward you to the second
setting to turn on the headlamps as well as the other
operating lamps.
Turn the knob from left to right to control brightness of
the instrument panel lights.
Lamps On Reminder
If the headlamp switch is left on, you'll hear a warning
chime when you turn the ignition off, remove the key
from the ignition and open the driver's door.
Daytime Running Lamps
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 high
-beam headlamps
come on at reduced brightness in daylight when:

the ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off and

the transaxle is not in PARK (P).
When DRL are on, only your high
-beam headlamps will
be on. The parking lamps, 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 high
-beam
headlamps will turn off and your low
-beam and parking
lamps will become active. The other lamps that come on
with your headlamps will also come on. When it's bright
enough outside, the regular lamps will go off, and your
high
-beam headlamps change to the reduced brightness
of DRL.

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To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, shift the
transaxle into PARK (P). The DRL will stay off until
you shift out of PARK (P).
To turn off all exterior lamps at night when you are in
PARK (P), turn off the headlamps and move the twilight
sentinel control, located on the lower area of the
headlamp switch, all the way toward AUTO MIN. When
released, the spring control will return to the twilight
sentinel minimum delay position, and all exterior lamps
will turn off.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Cornering Lamps (Option)
The cornering lamps are designed to come on when you
signal a turn. This will provide more light for cornering
at night.
Twilight Sentinel

Twilight sentinel turns your headlamps, taillamps and
parking lamps on and off by sensing how dark it is
outside. The control is located on the lower area of the
headlamp switch.To operate this feature, leave the headlamp switch off.
The vehicle's twilight sentinel is always enabled.
Twenty
-three seconds after entering a darkened
environment, the headlamps and parking lamps will turn
on. If the ignition is turned on at night, the exterior
lamps will come on.
To turn off all exterior lamps at night when you are in
PARK (P), turn off the headlamps and move the twilight
sentinel control, located on the lower area of the
headlamp switch, all the way toward AUTO MIN. When
released, the spring control will return to the twilight
sentinel minimum delay position, and all exterior lamps
will turn off.
If you move the control all the way to AUTO MAX,
your lamps will remain on for three minutes after you
turn off your engine. If you move the control toward
AUTO MIN, the lamps will go off quickly when you
turn off your engine. You can set this delay time for only
a few seconds or up to three minutes.
Light Sensor
Your twilight sentinel and daytime running lamps work
with the light sensor on top of the instrument panel.
Don't cover it up. If you do, it will read ªdarkº and the
headlamps will come on.

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Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
By turning the headlamp knob you can make the
instrument panel lights brighten or dim. See
ªHeadlampsº in the Index.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps go on. They
make it easy for you to enter and leave the car. To turn
on these lamps without opening the door, turn the
headlamp knob to the right.
Illuminated Entry
Press the UNLOCK button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter and the interior courtesy lamps will come on
and stay on for up to one minute. The lamps will turn off
immediately when pressing the LOCK button on the
transmitter, starting the ignition or activating the power
door locks.
Delayed Entry Lighting
When you open the door to enter your vehicle, the
interior lamps will come on. When you close the door
with the ignition off, the interior lamps will stay on for
25 seconds or until the ignition is turned to an on
position. Note that locking the doors will override the
delayed entry lighting feature and the lamps will turn off
right away.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to five-second fade out of
the courtesy lamps instead of immediate turn off.
Delayed Exit Lighting
With this feature, the interior lamps will come on for
25 seconds after you remove the key from the ignition.
This will give you time to find the door pull handle or
lock switches when you exit the vehicle.
Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits the dimming of your instrument
panel displays during daylight while your headlamps are
on. This feature operates with the light sensor for the
twilight sentinel and is fully automatic. When the light
sensor reads darkness outside, you will be able to dim
your instrument panel displays once again.

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2-44 Perimeter Lighting
This is a Personal Choice feature of your vehicle.
When the UNLOCK button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter is pressed, the headlamps, parking lamps,
back
-up lamps and cornering lamps will come on if it is
dark enough outside according to the twilight sentinel.
This feature can be programmed on or off for each
driver's transmitter.
To turn the feature off:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the driver's power door
lock switch throughout this procedure. All doors
will lock.
3. Press the instant alarm button on the transmitter.
Perimeter lighting remains on at this time and the
horn will chirp two times.
4. Press the instant alarm button on the transmitter
again. Perimeter lighting is disabled and the horn
will chirp one time.
5. Release the door lock switch. The perimeter lighting
option is now off.To turn the feature on:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the driver's power door
lock switch throughout this procedure. All doors
will lock.
3. Press the instant alarm button on the transmitter.
Perimeter lighting remains off at this time and the
horn will chirp one time.
4. Press the instant alarm button on the transmitter
again. Perimeter lighting is now enabled and the
horn will chirp two times.
5. Release the door lock switch. The perimeter lighting
option is now on.
This procedure changes the mode for only the
transmitter used to change this setting. The procedure
will need to be repeated for the second transmitter.

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2-45 Front Reading Lamps
These lamps and the interior courtesy lamps will come
on when you open a door, and turn off when you turn
the ignition on. To turn on the reading lamps when the
doors are closed, press the button behind the lamp you
want on. Press it again to turn the lamp off.
Trunk Lamp
When you open the trunk to its full open position, a
lamp will come on inside the trunk. This lamp will
automatically turn off when the trunk is closed.
Battery Rundown Protection
This feature automatically shuts off the interior lamps if
any are left on for more than 10 minutes when the
ignition is off. This will keep your battery from
running down.
This feature also shuts off the exterior lamps if they are
left on for more than 10 minutes when the ignition is off.
You may override this feature for the exterior lamps by
turning the lamps off and then back on after the ignition
is turned to off. If you do this, the exterior lamps will
stay on until you manually turn them off.
If the feature is enabled for the interior and exterior
lamps, all lamps should turn off at approximately the
same time.

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Mirrors
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror
When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position,
adjust the mirror so you can see clearly behind your
vehicle. Grip the mirror in the center to move it up or
down and side to side. The day/night adjustment allows
you to adjust the mirror to avoid glare from the lights
behind you. Pull the tab toward you for night use; push
it away from you for daytime use.
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
(Option)
Your vehicle may have an automatic electrochromic
day/night rearview mirror.
When this feature is turned on, the mirror automatically
changes to reduce glare from headlamps behind you. A
photocell on the mirror senses when it is becoming dark
outside. Another photocell built into the mirror face
senses when headlamps are behind you.
At night, when the glare is too high, the mirror will
gradually darken to reduce glare (this change may take a
few seconds). The mirror will return to its clear daytime
state when the glare is reduced.

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Mirror Operation
To turn on the automatic dimming feature, press
AUTO. To turn off automatic dimming, press OFF.
The green indicator light will be illuminated when this
feature is active.
Time Delay
The automatic mirror has a time delay feature which
prevents unnecessary switching from the night back to
the day position. This delay prevents rapid changing of
the mirror as you drive under lights and through traffic.
Cleaning the Photocells
Use a cotton swab and glass cleaner to clean the
photocells when necessary.
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
with Compass (Option)
Your vehicle may have an electrochromic inside
rearview mirror with a compass.
When set in the MIRROR position, this mirror
automatically changes to reduce glare from headlamps
behind you. A time delay feature prevents rapid
changing from the day to night positions while driving
under lights and through traffic.
The mirror also includes an eight
-point compass display
in the upper right corner of the mirror face. When on,
the compass automatically calibrates as the vehicle
is driven.
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray glass
cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause the liquid
cleaner to enter the mirror housing. Use a cotton swab and
glass cleaner to clean the photocells when necessary.

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Mirror Operation
The right side of the button located at the bottom of the
mirror turns the electrochromic mirror on and off. To
turn on the automatic dimming feature, press MIRROR.
To turn off automatic dimming, press MIRROR again.
The green indicator light will be illuminated when this
feature is active.
Compass Operation
Press the COMPASS button once to turn the compass on
or off.
When the ignition and the compass feature are on, the
compass will show two character boxes for
approximately two seconds. After two seconds, the
mirror will display the compass heading.If, after two seconds, the display does not show a
compass heading (ªNº for North, for example), there
may be a strong magnetic field interfering with the
compass. Such interference may be caused by a
magnetic antenna mount, magnetic note pad holder or a
similar magnetic item.
Compass Calibration
If the letter ªCº should ever appear in the compass
window, the mirror may need calibration.
The mirror can be calibrated in one of two ways:

Drive the vehicle in circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less
until the display reads a direction, or

Drive the vehicle on your everyday routine.
Compass Variance
The mirror is set in zone eight upon leaving the factory.
It will be necessary to adjust the compass to compensate
for compass variance if you live outside zone eight.
Under certain circumstances, as during a long distance
cross
-country trip, it will be necessary to adjust for
compass variance. Compass variance is the difference
between earth's magnetic north and true geographic
north. If not adjusted to account for compass variance,
your compass could give false readings.