yellowblue The 2000 Buick LeSabre Owner's Manual 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 6-1 7-1 8-1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the air bag system. Features and Controls This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle. Comfort Controls and Audio Systems This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system. Your Driving and the Road Here you'll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions. Problems on the Road This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc. Service and Appearance Care Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good. Maintenance Schedule This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. Customer Assistance Information This section tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service and owner publications. It also gives you information on "Reporting Safety Defects" on page 8-9. 9-1 Index Here's an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read. i yellowblue We support voluntary technician certification. GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK, the BUICK Emblem and the name LESABRE are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the product after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name "General Motors of Canada Limited" for Buick Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you're on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it. For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual: Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez votre concessionaire ou au: DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1577 Meyerside Dr. Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9 Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 25694050 B First Edition ECopyright General Motors Corporation 1998 All Rights Reserved ii yellowblue How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner's manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you'll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly. CAUTION: These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don't, you or others could be hurt. You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means "Don't," "Don't do this" or "Don't let this happen." Safety Warnings and Symbols You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. iii yellowblue Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find these notices: NOTICE: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. You'll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. iv yellowblue Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. For example, these symbols are used on an original battery: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING CAUSTIC BATTERY ACID COULD CAUSE BURNS AVOID SPARKS OR FLAMES SPARK OR FLAME COULD EXPLODE BATTERY These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven: These symbols have to do with your lamps: MASTER LIGHTING SWITCH These symbols are on some of your controls: WINDSHIELD WIPER These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights: Here are some other symbols you may see: ENGINE COOLANT TEMP WINDSHIELD WASHER BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM FUSE DOOR LOCK UNLOCK TURN SIGNALS LIGHTER PARKING LAMPS FASTEN SEAT BELTS WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER HORN BRAKE HAZARD WARNING FLASHER POWER WINDOW DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER COOLANT SPEAKER ENGINE OIL PRESSURE VENTILATING FAN FUEL AIR BAG FOG LAMPS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES v yellowblue NOTES vi yellowblue Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you'll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts. 1-2 1-7 1-11 1-12 1-12 1-19 1-20 1-20 Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts: They're for Everyone Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Driver Position Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Right Front Passenger Position Air Bag Systems 1-28 1-30 1-33 1-36 1-47 1-50 1-50 1-50 Center Front Passenger Position Rear Seat Passengers Children Child Restraints Larger Children Safety Belt Extender Checking Your Restraint Systems Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash 1- 1-1 yellowblue Seats and Seat Controls This section tells you about the power seats -- how to adjust them and also about reclining seatbacks, lumbar adjustments, heated seats and head restraints. Power Seat Manual Lumbar Support The power seat controls are located on the outboard side of each front seat cushion. D Raise or lower the front of the seat cushion by holding the front part of the horizontal control up or down. the rear part of the horizontal control up or down. The knob that controls this feature is located on the outer edge of the seat. Turn the knob towards the front of the vehicle to increase lumbar support. Turn the knob towards the rear of the vehicle to decrease lumbar support. D Raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion by holding 1-2 yellowblue D Raise or lower the entire seat cushion by holding the whole horizontal control up or down. Power Lumbar Control (If Equipped) The lumbar control is located on the outboard side of each front seat. Use the power seat control first to get the proper position. Then continue with the lumbar adjustment. D Move the seat forward or back by pushing the horizontal control to the front or back. D Push the vertical control forward to bring the seat to a more upright position. Push it rearward to recline the seatback. See "Reclining Front Seatbacks" later in this section. To reshape the lower seatback, press the lumbar control forward to increase support and rearward to decrease support. Press the control up or down to raise or lower the support mechanism. Keep in mind that as your seating position changes, as it may during long trips, so should the position of your lumbar support. Adjust the seat as needed. 1-3 yellowblue Memory Seat and Mirrors (Option) When your vehicle is in PARK (P) and a memory button is pressed, a single beep will sound through the audio system and the memory position will be recalled. You can also store an exit position for each driver. The exit position is programmed by moving the seat to the desired exit position and then holding the exit button for five seconds. The exit position set will be for the most recently selected driving position (1 or 2). The exit position will be recalled when the exit button is pressed and will correspond to the driving position that was recalled last. The controls for the memory seat and mirrors are located on the driver's door panel, and are used to program and recall previous settings that have been stored. Adjust the driver's seat (including the lumbar adjustments) and both outside mirrors to the position you would like for driving. Then press and hold memory button 1 for five seconds. A double beep will sound when the memory is set. To set the seat and mirror positions for a second driver, follow the previous steps, but press button 2 instead. Note that selecting a new position with the memory button will change all other personal choice settings that you have previously programmed also. See "Personal Choice Programming" in the Index for further information. Memory recall will only work when the automatic transaxle is in PARK (P). 1-4 yellowblue Heated Seats (Option) The heated seat controls are located on the driver's and front passenger's door panel. Reclining Front Seatbacks The vertical control described previously in this section reclines the front seatbacks. Push the button once for a high setting, twice for a low setting, and a third time to turn off the heated seat. The LO setting warms the seatback and cushion until the seat approximates body temperature. The HI setting heats the seat to a slightly higher temperature. The heated seats can only be used when the ignition is turned on. The heating elements in the seats automatically turn off when the vehicle's ignition is turned off. 1-5 yellowblue CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can't do their job when you're reclined like this. The shoulder belt can't do its job. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt can't do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. Head Restraints Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. 1-6 yellowblue Safety Belts: They're for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. And it explains the air bag system. CAUTION: It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. CAUTION: Don't let anyone ride where he or she can't wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you're not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers' belts are fastened properly too. Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. (See "Safety Belt Reminder Light" in the Index.) 1-7 yellowblue In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here's why: They work. You never know if you'll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don't know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up a person wouldn't survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ... a lot! Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it's just a seat on wheels. 1-8 yellowblue Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider doesn't stop. 1-9 yellowblue The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ... or the instrument panel ... 1-10 yellowblue Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers Q: Won't I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I'm wearing a safety belt? A: You could be -- whether you're wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you're upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belte ...