What is this switch/button on my 1958 Buick?

[1958bkspecial]

Does anybody know what this is ? I do not see this switch or button in my 1958 Buick shop manual. Here is a picture. What does it do? Also the "accessory " button on the leftside of the steering wheel does nothing that I can tell. The manual says "set safety"-buzzer on closed models (which mine is) "operate top" -covertable models. What does safety buzzer mean? Thank you. Jim

[Guest Rob McDonald]

JIM, Safety Minder is your electric mother-in-law, telling you you're driving too fast. There's a little window with numbers in the speedometer face. When you spin the dash knob, the numbers change, setting the speed that you (or Mother) do not want to exceed. When you do, an annoying buzzer sounds, reminding you to lift off the gas pedal.

It's been a while since I've been behind the wheel of my '57 (with similar equipment to your '58) but I think the other knob under the dash resets the trip odometer.

You've answered a question I posed on another thread, over in Buick - Post War: do all '57 and '58 Buicks have a convenience light over the ignition switch? Yours does. It operates with the park lights to help guide your key and shuts off when the headlights are on.

[1958bkspecial]

JIM, Safety Minder is your electric mother-in-law, telling you you're driving too fast. There's a little window with numbers in the speedometer face. When you spin the dash knob, the numbers change, setting the speed that you (or Mother) do not want to exceed. When you do, an annoying buzzer sounds, reminding you to lift off the gas pedal.

It's been a while since I've been behind the wheel of my '57 (with similar equipment to your '58) but I think the other knob under the dash resets the trip odometer.

You've answered a question I posed on another thread, over in Buick - Post War: do all '57 and '58 Buicks have a convenience light over the ignition switch? Yours does. It operates with the park lights to help guide your key and shuts off when the headlights are on.

Rob;

You are a genius!!! Thank you sooo much. These buttons/dials have been bugging me for awhile. I had the safety buzzer set on 110! I see now the little numbers that move alongside the speedometer. I wonder if it works? Mom would be proud!! I set it on 70 ! The trip odometer button also works somewhat. Here I was trying to pull that "accessory" button.

[TG57Roadmaster]

I finally had to set my Speed-Minder at 95 (my speedo is off about 15mph), 'cause every time the S-M came on, it scared the crap out of me. The mechanical buzz made me think something had busted.

TG

[old-tank]

I finally had to set my Speed-Minder at 95 (my speedo is off about 15mph), 'cause every time the S-M came on, it scared the crap out of me. The mechanical buzz made me think something had busted.

TG

That's where I set the family's 58 Super when I drove it. A few times I forgot to set it back to 65...BUSTED!

[Guest Skyking]

When was the last year Buick stopped using the Safety Buzzer? That's what it's called on my '62..

[CBloomberg]

I remember there was one in my Dad's '65 LeSabre. I think it had a stop at 90, any faster and you had to listen to it buzz. There may have been one on his '68 also, I seem to remember driving it on the Kansas Turnpike and listening to it click as you approached the setting.

Chuck B.

[Gene Brink]

When was the last year Buick stopped using the Safety Buzzer? That's what it's called on my '62..

On the '66 LeSabre my parents bought new while I was in the Army. Quick twist and it was all the way to 120 so I never had it buzz at me (did not get close ever)

[Guest darlandd]

my mom had a saftey buzzeron her '70 estate wagon I think.

[Mark Shaw]

My mother used to set that buzzer for my father before one of his business trips...

He often asked me to remind him where it was set when he returned...

[Bleach]

The first time I took my '63 Riv on the freeway just after buying it, I quickly hit the limit the previous owner had set it at. It scared the crap out of me. I had no idea what it was and the PO didn't tell me about it. I did figure out that when I slowed down the buzzing stopped. When I got home a quick read of the owners manual revealed what it was. I found the knob an set it to the extreme limit and never worried about it after that.

[Brad Conley]

It was an option on full size Buicks at least through the mid 70's.

Funny side note...My oldest son graduated high school in 2006 and I had just bought a brand new 2006 Pontiac GTO. 400 hp, 6 speed manual, Torid Red with black leather. Really nice car and with the LS2 6.0 liter V8, no slouch what so ever.

He asks to take the GTO on his prom. I'm thinking no, but he had (and still does) a level head. I relent to he and to the one who must be obeyed. Unbeknownst to either, the GTO features a speed buzzer but it's electronic and takes a couple of steps via an electronic menu.

So I get a FRANTIC call from the boy, about 11pm, saying something is wrong with the car, it's making an emergency like ding-ding noise! I can hear the alarm in the background and know exactly what is going on. I calmly tell him if he would drop his speed below 70mph, the noise would cease. I hear the ding-ding stop and he goes "oh, uh, thanks dad".

I still kid him about that today...

[garyd75]

my 75 has it 76 is the same