Buick Owner's Manual 1994 Regal Owners
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.. , . - a; A 'A Regal The 1994 Buick Regal Owner’s Manual Litho in USA Part No, 25609786 A First Edition @CopyrightGeneral Motors Corporation 1993 All Rights Reserved 4. We support voluntary technician certification. Bm GM BUICK GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem, Buick, and the Buick Emblem 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 Buick, 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. 2 WE SUPPORT AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual: Aux DroDrietaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en francais chez votre concessionaire ou au DGN Marketing Services Ltd., 1500 Bonhill Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5T lC7. 3 innovator. Buick engineers developed the “valve-in-head” engine, a light, powerful and reliable engine which would eventually influence the entire automotive industry. William C. Durant was instrumental in promoting Buicks across the country using his Durant-Dort Carriage Co. outlets and salespeople as the nucleus of a giant distribution system. He knew the Buick as a “self-seller”. If automobiles could be this good, he thought, maybe it was time to switch from the horse and buggy business to automobiles. At the 1905, New York Auto Show, Durant took orders for 1,000 Buicks before the company had built 40. On Buick’s success, Durant created a holding company, September 16, 1908. He called it General Motors. Walter Marr and Thomas Buick Buick’s chief engineer, Walter L. Marr (left), and Thomas D. Buick, son of founder David Dunbar Buick, drove thefirst Flint Buick in a successful Flint-Detroit round trip in July 1904. David Buick was building gasoline engines by 1899, and Marr, his engineer, apparently built the first auto to be called a Buick in 1900. However, Buick traditionally dates its beginnings to 1903. That was the year the company was reorganized, refinanced and moved from Detroit to Flint. Buick has always been a product 4 William C . (Billy) Durant Durant also created a racing team that won 500 racing trophies in 1909 and 1910, including successes at Indianapolis two years before the Indy 500 began. The success of Buick engines was visible not only on the race track, but in endurance tests across the country and around the world. Buick was the only car to complete a 1,000-mile Chicago-to-NewYork race in 1906. And a Buick was the first car to travel across South America, driven from Buenos Aires, Argentina, over the Andes to Santiago, Chile in 1914. Buick drew plenty of attention because it could climb hills and run through mud like no other car. Buick's endurance and reliability were world famous. During World War I, Buick built Liberty aircraft engines as well as Red Cross ambulances so successful that one Buick ambulance was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government. As a builder of premier automobiles, Buick was hard hit by the Great Depression. However, new General Manager, Harlow H. Curtice created popular new models including the Special and the Roadmaster. Buick sales soon flourished. 1911 Model 21 Touring Car 011 Buick's Test Hill First Buick Factory 5 In World War 11, Buick built aircraft engines, tanks and other military hardware. This post-war period brought great styling and engineering changes which resulted in increased sales. The torque converter automatic transmission, Dynaflow, was introduced in the 1948 Roadmaster. Buick’s famous “portholes” came along in 1949. A high-compression V-8 engine was introduced in ,1953. And Buick’s famous vertical pillar “toothy” grille, (introduced in 1942), became more massive in the post-war era. 1953 Skylark 1949 Roadmaster. 6 Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 Buick Special, “Car of the Year”. The first production V-6 engine was used in the Special. I962 Buick Special Ed Mertz, General Munuger; Buick Motor Division Built inside the walls of the old buildings in Buick’s former Flint complex, which formed the cornerstone of General Motors, Buick City, is a state-of-the-art assembly facility with more than 200 robots and other high-tech equipment. It was completed in the fall of 1985. Our mission is simple: Buicks are, and will continue to be, premium American motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich detail and comfortable accommodation. “Buick will provide Premium American Motorcars backed with services that exceed our customers’ expectations, throughout the purchase, ownership, service and repurchase experience.” Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL. Buicks are DISTINCTIVE. Buicks are POWERFUL. Buicks are MATURE. 7 .. . 1923 Sport Roadster 8 Table of Contents ................................................................ Seats and Restraint Systems ............................................................. This part tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the ”SRS” system. Featuresandcontrols .................................................................. This part explains how to start and operate your Buick. Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... HowtoUsethisManual 10 This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safety a n d vehicle damage warnings and symbols. 13 69 121 This part tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your sound system. .............................................................. Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions. ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. YourDrivingandtheRoad 139 171 This part tells you what to do il‘ you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine overheating. etc. Service and Appearance C a r e . . .......................................................... 207 Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good. .................................................................. Customer Assistance Information ........................................................ Maintenanceschedule 263 This part tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what Iluids and lubricants to use. 283 This part tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how t o get service publications. It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 285. Index ................................................................................ Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject i n this manual. You can use it something you want to read. to 293 quickly find 9 How to Use This Manual Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. This 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. Safety Warnings and Symbols You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box with gray background and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. In the gray 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. 1 This safetv svmbol means d d “Don’t,’’ “Don’t do this,” or “Don’t let this happen.” In the notice area, we tell you about somethingthat can darnage 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. Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find these notices: When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. NOTICE: I I You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use yellow for cautions, blue for notices and the words CAUTION or NOTICE. 11 For example, these symbols are used on an original battery: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY A These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven: DOOR LOCK UNLOCK PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING FASTEN CAUSTIC POWER WINDOW AVOID SPARKS OR FLAMES 12 FUSE These symbols are on some of your controls: Q7 WINDSHIELD WIPER TURN SIGNALS BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM I-1 RADIO VOLUME e SEAT HAZARD WARNING FLASHER HIGH BEAM ,\I/, FOG LAMPS A = #0 WINDOW DEFOGGER VENTILATING FAN > a CONDITIONING AIR RADIATOR COOLANT BELTS BURNS SPARK OR FLAME COULD EXPLODE BATTERY 4 These symbols have to do with your lights: Here are some other symbols you may see: These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights: Vehicle Symbols These are someof the symbols you may find on your vehicle. FUEL ENGINE OIL PRESSURE W TEMP OIL ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHTER m b & (a) b SPEAKER Part 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you’ll find information about the seats in your Buick and how to use your safety belts properly . You can also learn about some things you should not do with safety belts . Part 1 includes: SeatsandSeatControls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HeadRestraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SafetyBelts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lap-ShoulderBelt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supplemental Restraint System (Air Bag) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Smaller Children andBabies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LargerChildren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safety BeltExtender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Checking Your Restraint System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Replacing Safety BeltsAfter a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 17 19 26 27 33 38 47 SO 52 64 67 67 68 13 Seats and Seat Controls This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them, and also about reclining front seatbacks and head restraints. Manual Seat A CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement. could startle and confuse you, or makeyou push a pedal when you don’t want to.Adjust the driver’s seatonly when the vehicle is not moving. Move the lever under the front seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it. Then release the lever and try to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place. Four-Way Manual Seat - Drivers Seat Only (Option) If you have this option, you have two levers under the front edge of the seat. The lever near the outer sideof the seat unlocks the seat allowing it to slide forward and back. The lever near the center allows you to tilt the seat up or down. Power Seat (Option) The power seat controls arelocated on the side of the seat. Front Control (F): Raise the front of the seat by holding the switch up. Hold the switch down to lower the front of the seat. Center Control (C): Move the seat forward or back by holding the control to the front orback. Raise or lower the seat by holding the control up or down. Rear Control (R): Raise the rear of the seat by holding the switch up. Hold the switch down to lower the rear of the seat. Reclining Front Seatback(s) To adjust the seatback, lift the lever on the outer side of the seat and move the seatback to where you want it. Release the lever to lock the seatback. Pull up on the lever and the seat will go to an upright position. 16 But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. Head Restraints 1 T; ,. . . . 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. 17 Front Seatback Latches (Two-Door Models) Easy Entry $eat (Option-Two Door Models) The front seatback folds forward tolet people get into the back seat. The rightsfront seat of your vehicle makes it easy toget in and out of the rear seat. When you tilt the right front seatback fully ,forward, thewhole- seat will slide forward. After someone gets into the rear seat area, move the-rightfront seatback to its original position. Then move the seat rearward until it locks. To get out, again tilt the seatback fully forward. Your seatback will move back andforth freely, unless you come to asudden stop. Then it will lock in place. There’s one time theseatback may not foldwithout some helpfrom you. That’s if yourvehicle is parked going down a fairly steep hill. To fold a seatback forward, push the seatback toward the rear as you lift this latch. Then the seatback will fold forward. The latch must be down for theseat to work properly. I 18 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 Supplemental Restraint System, or “air bag” system. This figure lights up as a reminder to buckle up. (See “Safety Belt Warning Light” in the Index.) In many 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 canbe 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 sometimeswalk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. 19 After more than 25 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ... a lot! Why Safety BeltsWork When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. v .... ; . _ .. . For example, if the bike is going 10 mph (16 km/h), so is the child. 20 . . When the bike hits the block, it stops. But the child keeps eoinrr! Take the simplest “car.” Suppose it’s just a seat on wheels. 21 .. . . . , ... L" Put someone on it. 22 .. .._.... . ......: ..= Get it up to speed. Then stop the "car." The rider doesn't stop. I L The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield or the instrument panel ... ... 23 Here Are Questions Many PeopleAsk About Safety Belts-- and the Answers or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why safety belts make such good sense. 24 @ 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 easily 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 belted. Q: Why don’t they just put in air bags so people won’t have to wear safety belts? A: Air bags, or Supplemental Restraint Systems, are in some vehicles today and will be in more of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only -- so they work with safety belts, not instead of them. Every air bag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that has air bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That’s true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an accident -- even one that isn’t your fault -- you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn’t protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone. Safety Belt Reminder Light # When the keyis turned to “Run” or “Start,” a chime will come on for about eight seconds to remind people to fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is already buckled. The safety belt light will also come on and stay on until the driver’s belt is buckled. 25 How To Wear Safety Belts Properly Vehicles First Sold In Canada Adults Was your Buick first sold, when new, in Canada? (If it was, a sticker on the driver’s door will say “conforms to all applicable Canada motor vehicle...” etc.) If so, then the rest of Part 1 does not apply to your vehicle. This section is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And thereare different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your Buick, see the section after this one, called “Children.” Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We’ll start with the driver position. 26 To learn how to use your safety belts, please read the Owner’s Manual Safety Belt Supplement. It comes with every new Buick first sold in Canada. Driver Position This section describes the driver’s restraint system. And you don’t have to unbuckle when you get out. This safety belt is called “automatic” because you don’t have to buckle up when you get into your vehicle. Just get into your vehicle. Then close and lock the door. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index) so you can sit up straight. 27 The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or a crash. It’s possible that an automatic belt could keep you from fully opening a door. That can happen if the door was slammed shut very hard. Just close the door all the way, then slowly open it.If that doesn’tfix it, then your Buick needs service. We hope you’ll always keep your automatic belt buckled. However, you may need to unbuckle it in an it let emergency. And you would need to unbuckle to someone get into the center front seat position, if ,your r vehicle has one. The lap belt should be worn as low on theaships possible. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely to slide underthe lap belt. If you slid underit, the belt would apply force or even fatal at your abdomen. This could cause serious go over the shoulder injuries. The shoulder belt should and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. 28 To unbuckle the automatic belt, just push the button on the buckle. To reattach the automatic belt: 1. Close and lock the door. 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don't let it get twisted. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. 2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see "Seats" in the Index) so you can sit up straight. 29 What's wrong with this? t . . ~ . .... ....,.q, y , " ' ,, . . . . .. . . , $:,<., :.. ~ r_ ..:i&,> $j.:;&f .:.:,:%. You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder be&'& too loose. In a crash you would move forward too much, which could significantlyincrease injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your A: 30 The shoulder belt is too loose. It won't give nearly as much protection this way. What’s wrong with this? A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place. 31 Q: What’s wrong with this? I A CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash,your body wouldmove too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which aren’t as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver orspieen. A: 32 The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times. &.’ What’s wrong with this? Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) This section explains the driver’s Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), commonly referred to as an air bag. Here are the most important things to know: I A: I I I 1 I I 1 I 1 I The belt is twisted across the body. 33 34 Air Bag Readiness Light How The Air Bag System Works There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks for electrical malfunctions, and the light tells you if there is a problem. AIR BAG You will see this light flash for a few secondswhen you turn your ignition to “Run” or “Start.” Then the light should go out, which means the system is ready. Remember, if the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when you are driving, your air bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away. Where is the air bag? The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel. 35 When is an airbag expected to inflate? The air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. The air bag will only inflate if the velocity of the impact is above the designed threshold level. When impacting straight into a wall that does not move or deform,the threshold level for most GM vehicles is between 9 and 15 mph (14 and 23 km/h). However, this velocity threshold depends on the vehicle design and may be several miles-per-hour faster or slower. In addition, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if the vehicle strikes an object such as a parked car which will move and deform on impact. The air bag is also not designed to inflate in rollovers, side impacts, or rear impacts where the inflation would provide no occupant protection benefit. In any particular crash, the determination of whether the air bag should have inflated cannot be based solely on the level of damage on the vehicle(s). Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and the vehicle’s deceleration, of which vehicle damage is only one indication. Repair cost is not a good indicator of whether an air bag should have deployed. 36 What makes an air bag inflate? In a frontal impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is suddenly stopping as a result of a crash. The sensing system triggers a chemical reaction of the sodium azide sealed in the inflator. The reaction produces nitrogen gas, which inflates the cloth bag. The inflator, cloth bag, and related hardware are all part of the air bag inflator module packed inside the steering wheel. How does an airbag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel. The airbag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags would not provide protection in many types of collisions, including rollovers and rear and side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward the air bag. Air bags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belt protection in moderate to severe frontal and near-frontal collisions. What will you see after an air bag inflation? After the air bag has inflated, it will then quickly deflate. This occursso quickly that some people may not even realize that the air bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module in the steering wheel hub may be hot for a short time, but the portion of the bag that comes into contact with you will not be hot to the touch. There will be small amounts of smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflated air bag. The air bag will not impede the driver’s vision or ability to steer the vehicle, nor will it hinder the occupants from exiting the vehicle. 0 0 The air bag is designed to inflate only once. After it inflates, you’ll need some new parts for your air bag system. If you don’t get them, the air bag system won’t be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include the air bag module and possibly other parts. The service manual has information about the need to replace other parts. Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module, which records information about the air bag system if the air bag deploys during acrash: The module records information about the readiness of the system, which sensors activated the deployment, and whether the driver’s safety belt was in use. Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag system. Improper service can mean that your air bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer for service. NOTICE: If you damage the cover for thedriver’s air bag, it may not work properly. You may have to replace the air bag on the steering wheel.Do not open or break the air bag cover. Is the smoke from an air bag inflation harmful? The particles emitted during air bag inflation are not harmful to most people. Some people with respiratory ailments may .experience difficulty breathing if they stay in the vehicle with the windows closed after air bag inflation. So, if your air bag inflates, you and any passengers should exit the vehicle if and when it is safe to do so. If you or your passengers can’t get out of the vehicle, try to get fresh air by opening a window, turning on the f m , or opening a door. 37 Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Buick Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy The air bag affects how your Buick should be serviced. There are parts of the air bag system in several places around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your Buick dealer and the 1994 Regal Service Manual have information about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. The air bag system does not need regular maintenance. Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts. I A CAUTION: 38 A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible throughout the pregnancy. The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly. @ Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats’’ in the Index) so you can sit up straight. Move your seat far enough forward that your feet touch the part of the car that is called the “toeboard” (A). That way you’d be less likely to slide under the lap belt in a crash. Right Front Passenger Position The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt. See “Driver Position,” earlier in this part. 39 Center Passenger Position Lap Belt - When you sit in a center seating position, you have a lap safety belt, which has no retractor. To make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt. To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until the belt is snug. 40 1 1 RearSeat Passengers (Coupes) It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lap part of a lap-shoulder belt. If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender” at the end of this section. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. U Lap-Shoulder Belt The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder belts. Here’s how to wear one properly. 41 I’ 1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don’t let it get twisted. If the belt stops before i.t reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until you can buckle it. 2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender’’ at the end of this section. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 42 I 3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part. I I I 1 I I I I I I The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones.And you’d be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulderand across the chest. These parts of the body arebest able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or a crash. 43 Rear Seat Passengers (Sedans) It's very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who aren't safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. / -" Rear Seat OutsidePassenger Positions Lap-Shoulder Belt The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder belts. Here's how to wear one properly. 0 To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. 44 . If the belt is not long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender” at the end of this section. .I Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don’t let it get twisted. 2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part. 45 6 The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snugon the hips,just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you'd be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatalinjuries. The shoulder belt shouldgo over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locksif there's a sudden stop or a crash. Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Your vehicle may be equipped with rear shoulder belt comfort guides. This featurewill provide added comfort for children who have outgrown child restraints and for small adults. The comfort guides pull the shoulder belts away from the neck and head. L There is one guide for each outside passenger position in the rear seat. You will find them tucked in between the seatback and the interior body, about half-way down the edge of the seatback. Here is how you should install the comfort guides on the shoulder belts: 1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of the seatback and the interior body to remove the guide from its storage clip. 2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic cord must be under the belt. Then place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide. 48 3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat. The elastic cord must be underthe belt and the guide on top. Lr 4. Buckle the belt around the child and make sure that both the lap belt and the shoulder belt are secured properly. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder. See “Safety Belts, Rear Seat Passengers” in the Index. To remove and store the comfort guides, just perform these steps in reverse order. Squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out from the guides. Pull the guide upward to expose its storage clip, and then slide the guide onto the clip. Rotatethe guide and clip inward and in between the seatback and the interior body, leaving only the loop of elastic cord exposed. Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! That includes infants and all children smaller than adult size. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle. Smaller Children and Babies I 51 Child Restraints Top Strap Be sure to follow the instructions for the restraint. You may find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system in your vehicle, but the child also has to be secured within the restraint to help reduce the chance of personal injury. The instructions that come with the infant or child restraint will show you how to do that. Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We at General Motors therefore recommend that you put your child restraint in the rear seat unless the child is an infant and you’re the only adult in the vehicle. In that case, you might want to secure the restraint in the front seat where you can keep an eyeon the baby. Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the child restraint properly. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle -- even when no child is in it. 52 If your child restraint has a top strap, it should be anchored. If you need to have an anchor installed,you can ask your Buick dealer to put it in for you. If you want to install an anchor yourself, your dealer can tell you how to do it. Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Position (Coupe Only) For cars first sold in Canada, child restraints with a top strap must be anchored according to Canadian Law. Your dealer can obtain the hardware kit and install it for you, or you may install it yourself using the instructions provided in the kit. U Use the tether hardware kit available from the dealer. The hardware and installation instructions were specifically designed for this vehicle. You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier section about the top strap if the child restraint has one. 1. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions for the child restraint. 2. Secure the child in the child restraint as the instructions say. 3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed. If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s faceor neck, put it behind the child restraint. 53 4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 54 5. To tighten the belt, pull up on the shoulder belt while you push down on the child restraint. n Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Position (Sedan Only) U You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier section about the top strap if the child restraint has one. 1. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions for the child restraint. 6. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. To remove the child’restraint, justunbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger. 2. Secure the child in the child restraint as the instructions say. 3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face or neck, put it behind the child restraint. 55 4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quicklyif you ever hadto. 56 5. Pull the rest of the shoulder beltall the way out of the retractor to set the lock. ' 6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt into the retractor while you push down on the child restraint. , . A A 7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger. 57 Securing a Child Restraintin a Center Seat Position 1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch plate and pulling it along the belt. A u When you secure a chiId restraint in a center seating position, you'll be using the lap belt. I See the earlier section about the top strap if the child restraint has one. 58 2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions for the child restraint. 3. Secure the child in the child restraint as the instructions say. 4. Run the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. 5. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 6. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push down on the child restraint. 7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. If the child restraint isn’t secure, turn the latch plate over and buckle it again. Then see if it is secure. If it isn’t, secure the restraint in a different place in the vehicle and contact the child restraint maker for their advice about how to attach the child restraint properly. To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt. It will be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger. 59 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat To use a child restraint here, you will need a special infant/child seat attaching belt and the hardware that goes with it. See the earlier section about the top strap if the child restraint has one. Your dealer can get these and install the hardware for you. It’s free. The special belt is GM Part Number 12340286. Your dealer can find the correct hardware in the accessory section of the GM Parts Catalog. Once the special hardware is installed, please follow the instructions with it and these steps: 60 1. Unbuckle the automatic lap-shoulder belt by pushing the button on the buckle. It will stay on the door, ready to be rebuckled for use by adults or older children. 2. Snap one hook of the infant/child seat attaching belt near the floor at the door side of the seat. 3. Put the belt's special latch plate into the vehicle's safety belt buckle. 4. You can make the belt longer by tilting the buckle and pulling it along the belt. .: I 5. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions for the child restraint. 6. Secure the child in the child restraint as the instructions say. 62 7. Run the belt through or around the child restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. 8. Put the hook on the free end through the slot in the latch plate. 9. To make it tight, pull the belt while you push down on the child restraint. If the belt won't stay tight, switch it end for end. x 10.Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. 63 To remove the infantlchild seat restraint: 1 . Push the button on the safety belt buckle and remove the special latch plate. Leave the latch plate on the special belt. 4. Remember to reattach the automatic belt again, once the child restraint is removed. Be sure it isn’t twisted. Larger Children A A 2. Push the spring on the hook near the door and remove the special belt. 3. Put the belt away in a safe place in your vehicle, so it won’t fly around in a crash and injure someone. 64 Children who have outgrown child restraints should wear the vehicle’s safety belts. If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a window so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear seat. But they need to use the safety belts properly. Children who aren’t buckled up can be thrown out in a crash. I &!, Children who aren’t buckled up can strike other people who are. CAUTION: Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt. The belt can’t properly spread the impact forces. In a CAUTlON: (Continued) 65 A: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt, but fhe childis so small that the shoulder belt is ’veryclose to the child’s face or neck? Move the child towardthe center of the vehicle, butbe sure thatthe shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder, so that in a crash the child’s upper body would have the restraint thatbelts provide. If the child is so small that the shoulder beltis still very closeto the child’s face or neck, you might want to place the child in the center seat position, the one that has only a lap belt. See “Rear Safety Cornfort Guides” in the Index. Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash. Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. The automatic lap-shoulderbelt has plenty of extra length built in, so it will fasten around almost all people. Checking Your Restraint Systems Now and then, make sure all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, anchorages and reminder systems are working properly. Look for any loose parts or damage. If you see anythingthat might keep a restraint system from doing its job, have it repaired. But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your dealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. The extender will be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt. 67 Replacing Safety Belts After a Crash @’ What’s wrong with this? A: The belt is torn. If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts? After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary. But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn during a more severe crash, then you need new belts. If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage alsomay mean you will need to have safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt wasn’t being used at the time of the collision. Torn or frayed belts may not protect you in a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away. 68 Part 2 Features and Controls Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Buick. and information on starting. shifting and braking . Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is working properly ..and what to do if you have a problem . Part 2 includes: Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DoorLocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NewVehicleBreak-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . StartingtheEngine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ShiftingtheTransaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TiltSteeringWheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Headlight High-Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Windshield Wipermasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CruiseControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Instrumentpanel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Speedometer and Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 71 79 80 84 92 93 94 96 96 98 103 106 111 111 112 69 The ignition keys are for the ignition only. Keys I The door keys are for the doors and all other locks. 70 I When a new Regal is delivered, the dealer removes the plugs from the door keys, and gives them to the first owner. Each plug has a code on it that tells your dealer or a qualified locksmith how to make extra doorkeys. Keep the plugs in a safe place.If you lose your door keys, you’ll be able to have new ones made easily using these plugs. Door Locks I A CAUTION: The ignition keys don’t have plugs. If you need a new ignition key, contact your Buick dealer who can obtain the correct key code, or in an emergency, contact Buick Roadside Assistance at 1-800-252-1 1 12. NOTICE: Your Buick has a number of new features that can help prevent theft. But you can have a lot of trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever lock your keys inside. You may even have to damage your vehicle to get in. So be sure you have extra keys. 71 - There '&-+esetreral ways to lock and unlock your vehicle: = ,... r I- From the outside: Use your From the inside: To lock the door, move the lock control down. To unlock the door, move the lock control up. 72 marked Lock Control located in the component center. See “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index. Power Door Locks Push the power door lock switch to lock or unlock all the doors at once. Leaving Your Vehicle If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and close the door. Remote Trunk Release (Option) The remote trunk release button is in the glovebox. It works only when the transaxle is in Park. If you have the Remote Keyless Entry System Option, it will also unlock your trunk. Automatic Door Locks Just close your doors and turn on the ignition. All of your doors will lock when you move your shift lever out of “P” (Park) or “N” (Neutral). If someone needs to get out while the vehicle is running, have that person use the manual or power lock. When the door is closed again, it will lock automatically as long as the shift lever is out of “P” (Park) or“N” (Neutral). All doors will unlock automatically when the ignition is turned off. If you don’t want the doors to unlock automatically when you turn the ignition off, you can remove the fuse A CAUTION: It can be dangerousto drive with thetrunk lid open because carbon monoxide(CO) gas can come intoyour vehicle. You can’t seeor smell CAUTION: (Continued) Remote Keyless Entry System (Option) If your Buick has this option, you can lock and unlock your doors or unlock your trunk from up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the key chain transmitter supplied with y0u.r vehicle. 74 Your Remote Keyless Entry System operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Should interference to this system occur, try this: Check to determine if battery replacement is necessary. See the instructions on battery replacement. Check the distance. You may be too far from your vehicle. This product has a maximum range. Operation The driver’s door will unlock automatically when UNLOCK is pressed. If UNLOCK is pressed twice quick1y;all doors will unlock. The interior lights will also come on for approximately16 seconds or until the ignition is turnedon. All doors will lock whenDOOR is pressed. If youfirst press UNLOCK and then press DOOR within 16 seconds, the interior lights willgo off. The trunk will unlock when the opened trunk symbol is pressed, but only when the transaxle is PARK. in Matching Transmitter(s)To Your Vehicle Each key chain transmitter is coded to prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If a transmitter 0 Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through blocking the signal. your dealer. Remember to bring the remaining 0 See your Buick dealer or a qualified technician for transmitters with you when you go to your dealer. When service. the dealer matches the replacement transmitter to your Changes or modifications to this system by other than anvehicle, the remaining transmitters must also be authorized service facility could void authorization to matched. Once the new transmitter is coded, the lost use this equipment. transmitter will not unlock your vehicle. 75 For battery replacement, use two Duracell@ batteries, type DL-20 16, or a similar type. You can match a transmitter to as many different vehicles as you own, provided they are equipped with exactly the same model svstem. (General Motors offers several different models of these systems on their vehicles.) Each vehicle can have only two transmitters matched to it. See your dealer to match transmitters to another vehicle. Battery Replacement Under normal use, the batteries in your key chain transmitter should last about twoyears. You can tell the batteries are weak if the transmitter won’t work at the normal range in any location. If you have to get close toyour vehicle before the transmitter works, it’s probably time to changethe batteries. 76 To replace the batteries: 1. If your transmitter has a screw, remove the screw from the back cover. If there is no screw, carefully pry off the cover by inserting a dime (or similar object) in the slot between the covers and twist. 2. Lift off the front cover, bottom half first. Parking at Night 3. Remove and replace the batteries. Put them in as the direction under the batteries indicate. Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight. Put them in a storage area, or take them with you. 4. Replace the front cover. Make sure the cover is on tightly, so water won’t get in. Replace the screw in the back cover, if there is one. If there is no screw, snap the covers together. 5. Check the operation of the transmitter. Theft Parking Lots If you park in a lot where someone will be watching your vehicle, it’s best to lock it up and take your keys. But what if you have to leave your ignition key? What if you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle? Put your valuables in a storage area, like your trunk or glove box. Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your Buick has a number of theft deterrent features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you can help. Key in the Ignition Lock the glove box. Lock all the doors except the driver’s. 0 Then take the door key with you. If you walk away from your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an easy target for joy riders or professional thieves -- so don’t do it. When you park your Buick and open the driver’s door, you’ll hear a chime reminding you to remove your key from the ignition and take it with you. Always do this. Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your ignition and transaxle. And remember to lock the doors. 77 keys with different resistor pellets in an attempt to make a match. PASS-Key@II Your vehicle is equipped with the PASS-Key@II (Personalized Automotive Security System) theft deterrent system. PASS-Key(% is a passive theft deterrFnt system. This means you don’t have to do anything different to arm or disarm the system. It works when you insert or remove the key from the ignition. PASS-Key% uses a resistor pellet in the ignition key that matches a decoder in your vehicle. When the PASS-Key% system senses that someone is using the wrong key, it shuts down the vehicle’s starter and fuel systems. For about three minutes, the starter won’t work and fuel won’t go to the engine. If someone tries to start your vehicle again or uses another key during this time, the vehicle will not start. This discourages someone from randomly trying different 78 The ignition key must be clean and dry before it’s inserted in the ignition or the engine may not start. If the engine does not start, the key may be dirty or wet. Turn the ignition off. Clean and dry the key. Wait about three minutes and try again. If the starter still won’t work, and the key appears to be clean and dry, wait about three minutes and try the other ignition key. At this time, you may also want to check the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers’’ in the Index). If the starter won’t work with the other key, your vehicle needs service. If your vehicle does start, the first ignition key may be faulty. See your Buick dealer or a locksmith who can service the PASS-Key@II. If you accidentally use a key that has a damaged or missing resistor pellet, the starter won’t work. But you don’t have to wait three minutes before trying one of the other ignition keys. See your Buick dealer or a locksmith who can service the PASS-Key(% to have a new key made. If you lose or damage a PASS-Key% ignition key, see your Buick dealer or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key@IIto have a new key made. New Vehicle “Break-InSS NOTICE: Your modern Buick doesn’t need an elaborate “break-in.” But it will perform betterin the long run if you follow these guidelines: Don’t drive at any one speed fast or slow for the first 500 miles (804 km). Don’t make full-throttle starts. Avoid makinghard stops for the first 200 miles (322km) orso. During this time your new brakelinings aren’t yet brokenin. Hard stops with new linings can mean premature wear and earlier replacement. Followthis “breaking-in” guideline every time you get new brake linings. -- Ignition Key Positions Your key with the black plastic head operates your ignition lock. -- 79 (C) Off: This position lets you turn off the engine but stili turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering wheel like “Lock.” Use “Off’ if you must have your car in motion while the engine is off (example, if your car is being pushed). (D) Run: This is the position for driving. (E) Start: This position starts your engine. E With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn the switch to five different positions. (A) Accessory: This position lets you use things like the radio and the windshield wipers when the engine is off. To use, push in the key and turn it toward you. Your steering wheel will remain locked, just as it was before you inserted the key. (B) Lock: Before you put the key in, your ignition will be in the Lock position. This position locks your ignition, steering wheel and transaxle. It’s an theft deterrent feature. 80 I NOTICE: If your key seems stuck in “Lock” and youcan’t turn’it, be sureit is all theway in. If it is, then turn the steeringwheel left and right while you turn the key hard. But turnthe key only with your hand. Using a tool to forceit could break the key or the ignition switch. If none ofthis works, then your vehicle needs service. Starting Your Engine Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) shows the code letter or number for your engine. You will find the VIN at the top left of your instrument panel. (See “Vehicle Identification Number’’ in the Index.) Follow the proper steps to start the engine. Move your shift lever to “P” (Park) or“N”(Neutral). Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving, use “N”(Neutral) only. -- NOTICE: Don’t try to shift to “P” (Park) if your Buickis moving. If you do, you coulddamage the transaxle. Shift to “P” (Park) only when your vehicle is stopped. To start your 3.1 Liter engine: 1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your ignition key to “Start.” When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your engine gets warm. NOTICE: Holding your key in “Start” for longer than 15 seconds ata time willcause yourbattery tobe drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can damage your starter motor. 2. If your engine won’t start (or starts but then stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and holding it there as you hold the key in “Start” for about three seconds. If the car starts briefly but then stops again, do the same thing, but this time keep the pedal down for five or six seconds. This clears the extra gasoline from the engine. NOTICE: Your engine is designed to work withthe electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical parts or accessories, you couldchange the way the fuel injectionsystem operates. Before adding electrical equipment, check with your dealer. If you don’t, your engine might not perform properly. If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see the partof this manual that tells how to do it without damaging yourvehicle. See “Towing Your Car” in the Index. 81 Engine Coolant Heater (EngineBlock Heater) (Canada Only) In very cold weather, 0 "F (- 18"C) or colder, the engine coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and better fuel economy during enginewarm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. To use the coolant heater: 1. Turn off the engine. 2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. 3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt outlet. I NOTICE: After you've used the coolant heater, be sure to store the cord asit was before to keep it away from moving engine parts. If you don't,it could be damaged. How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer dependson the weather, the kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact a Buick dealer in the area where you'll be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that particular area. 83 Automatic Transaxle There areseveral different positions for your shift lever. 0 P (Park) This lacks your front wheels. It's the best position to use when you start your engine because your vehicle can't move easily. 0 R (Reverse) Use this gear to back up. NOTICE: Shifting to "R"(Reverse) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage your transaxle. Shift to "R" only after your vehicleis stopped. 84 To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see “If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index. N (Neutral) In this position, your engine doesn’t connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already moving, use “N” (Neutral) only. I 6% 0 @ Automatic Overdrive This position is for normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and you’re: - Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push your accelerator pedal about halfway down. - Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the accelerator all the way down. You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power. CAUTION: 3 (ThirdGear) This is like @, but you never go into Overdrive. Here are some times you might choose “3” instead of @: - When driving on hilly, winding roads - When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears - When going down a steep hill NOTICE: Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out of “P” (Park) or “N” (Neutral) with the engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty. 85 This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy. You can use “2” on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then youwould also want to use your brakes off and on. 1 (First Gear) This position gives you even more power (but lower fuel economy) than “2.” You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the selector lever is put in “1,” the transaxle won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough. NOTICE: NOTICE: 2 (Second Gear) I I Don’t drive in “2” (Second Gear) for more than 5 miles (8 km), or at speeds over55 mph (88 km/h), or you can damage your transaxle. Use‘@” or “3”as much as possible. Don’t shift into “2” unless youare going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h), or you can damage your engine. I r 86 0 If your front wheels can’t rotate,don’t try to drive. This might happen if youwere stuck in very deep sandor mud or were up against a solid object. You could damage your transaxle. Also, if youstop when going uphill, don’t hold your vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat and damage the transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into “P”Park to holdyour vehicle in position ona hill. Parking Brake To set the parking brake: Hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot. Push downthe paiking brake pedal with yourleft foot. If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will come on. I NOTICE: 1 Driving with the parking brake on can cause your rear brakesto overheat. You may have to replace them, and you could also damage other parts of your vehicle. If you are towinga trailer and are parking on any hill: See Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section “ shows what todo first to keep the trailer from moving. The parking brake uses the brakes on the rear wheels. To release the parking brake: This vehicle has a push to release park brake pedal. Hold the regular brake pedal down and push the parking brake pedal with your left foot. This will unlock the pedal. When you lift your left foot, the park brake pedal will followit to the released position. 87 Steering Column Shift Lever 1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and set the parking brake. 2. Move the shift lever into “P” (Park) position like this: 0 Move the lever up as far as it will go. 3. Move the ignition key to “Lock.” 4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can walk away from your vehicle with the ignition key in your hand, your vehicle is in “P” (Park). 0 88 Pull the lever toward you. Console Shift Lever 1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and set the parking brake. 2. Move the shift lever into “P” (Park) position like this: 0 Hold in the button on the lever, and push the lever all the way toward the front of your vehicle. Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running 1 A CAUTION: U 3. Move the ignition key to “Lock.” 4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can walk away from your vehicle with the ignition key in your hand, your vehicle is in “P” (Park). If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your vehicle is in “P” (Park) and your parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After you’ve moved the shift lever into the “P” (Park) position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever away from “P” (Park) without first pulling it toward you (or, if you have the console shift lever, without first pushing the button). If you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into “P” (Park). 89 Torque Lock If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transaxle into “P” (Park) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift lever out of “ P ’ (Park). This is calied “torque lock.” To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into “P” (Park) properly before you leave the driver’s seat. To find out how, see “Shifting Into ‘P’ (Park)” in the Index. When you are ready to drive,move the shift lever out of “P’ (Park) BEFORE you release the parking brake. If “torque lock” does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the transaxle, so you can pull the shift lever out of “P’ (Park). 90 Parking Over Things That Burn Engine Exhaust Running Your Engine WhileYou’re Parked It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you ever haveto, here are somethings to know. 91 Power Windows Follow the proper steps tobe sure your vehicle won’t move. See “Shifting Into ‘P’ (Park)” in the Index. If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a trailer, also see“Towing a Trailer” in the Index. 92 The controls are near each window. Your driver’s window has an express-down feature. Quickly press and release the DN side of the switch, the driver’s window will open a small amount. If the DN side of the switch is pressed for more than a few seconds, the window will go all the way down. To stop the window while it is lowering, press the UP side of the switch. To raise the window, press and hold the UP side of the switch. Tilt Wheel You may also have a lock out switch. Press it to disable the power window switches. This will prevent passengers from opening and closing the windows. The driver can still control all the windows with the switch in the locked position. Press it again to enable the passenger window switches. Horn To sound the horn, press the horn symbol on either side of the steering wheel. A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel before you drive. You can also raise it to the highest level to give your legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle. To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the lever. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable level, then release the lever to lock the wheel in place. The Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator The lever on the left side of the steering column includes your: The turn signal has two upward (for Right) and two downward (for Left)positions. These positions allow you to signal a turn or a lane change. Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator 0 Headlight High-Low Beam & Passing Signal 0 Flash-To-Pass Feature 0 Windshield Wipers 0 WindshieldWasher Cruise Control (Option) 94 To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down. When the turn is finished, the lever will return automatically. Q A green arrow onthe instrument panel will flash in the direction of the ‘turn or lane change. To signal a lane change,just raise or lower the lever until the green arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you complete your lane change. The lever will return by itself when you release it. As you signal a turn orlane a change, if the arrows don’t flash butjust stay on, a signalbulb may 6e burned out and other drivers won’t see your turn signal. If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an accident. If the green arrows don’t go on at all when you signal a turn, check the fuse (see “Fuses” in the Index) and for burned-out bulbs. Turn Signal ccOn99 Chime A chime will sound if your turn signal is left on after having gone 3/4 mile, to remind youto turn off your signal. Operation of Lights Although your vehicle’s lighting system (headlights, parking lights, fog lamps, side marker lights and taillights) meets all applicable federal lighting requirements, certain states and provinces may apply their own lighting regulations that may require special attention before you operate these lights. For example, some jurisdictions may require that you operate your fog lamps only when your lower beam headlights are also on, or that headlights be turned on In whenever you must use your windshield wipers. addition, most jurisdictions prohibit driving solely with It is parking lights, especially at dawn or dusk. recommended that you check with your own state or provincial highway authority for applicable lighting regulations. 95 Headlight High-Low Beam To change the headlights from low beam to high or high to low, pull the turn signal lever all the way toward you. Then release it. When the high beams are on, this blue light on the instrument panel also will be on. Flash-To-Pass Feature You may have this feature. It lets you use your high beam headlights to signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass. It works even if your headlights are off. To use it, pull. the headlight beam lever toward you a little (but not so far that you hear a click). When you do: If your headlights areoff Your high beam headlights will turn on. They’ll stay on as long as you hold the lever there. Release the lever to turn them off. 96 You control the windshield wipersby turning the band marked ‘‘WIPER’. For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to “MIST.” Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go. The wipers will stop after one cycle.If you want more cycles, hold the band on “MIST” longer. You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The closer to “LO,” the shorter the delay. For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away from you to the “LO” position. For high speed wiping, turn the band further, to “HI.” To stop the wipers, move the band to “OFF.” Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent you from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before using them. If they‘re frozen to the windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become damaged, get new blades or blade inserts. Windshield Washer At the top of the turn signal/headlight beam lever there’s a paddle with the word “PUSH” on it. To spray washer fluid on the windshield, push the paddle. Unless they are already turned on, the wipers will operate at low speed for several sweeps, then turn off. Driving without washer fluid can be dangerous. A bad mud splash can block your vision. You could hit another vehicle or go off the road. Check your washer fluid level often. A CAUTION: In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking your vision. Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor. A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload. 97 NOTICE: 0 98 When using concentrated washer fluid, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for adding water. Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze and damage your washer fluid tank and other parts of the washer system. Also, water doesn’t clean as well as washer fluid. Fill your washer fluid tank only 314 full when it’s very cold. This allows for expansion, which coulddamage the tank if it is completely full. Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your windshield washer. It can damage your washer system and paint. Cruise Control (Option) When you apply your brakes, the Cruise Control shuts off. To Set Cruise Control 1. Move the Cruise Control switchto “ON.” 2. Get up to the speed you want. 99 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. To Resume a Set Speed Suppose you set your Cruise Control at a desired speed and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts off the Cruise Control. But you don’t need to reset it. Once you’re going about 25 mph (40 km/h) ormore, you can move the Cruise Control switch from “ON’ to “Resume/Accelerate” for about half a second. You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay there. Remember, if you hold the switch at “Resume/Accelerate” longer than half a second, the vehicle will keep going faster until you release the switch or apply the brake. You could be startled and even lose control. So unless you want to go faster, don’t hold the switch at “Resume/Accelerate.” To Increase Speed While Using Cruise Control There aretwo ways to go to a higher speed. Here’s the first: 1. Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed. 100 2. Push the button at the end of the lever, then release the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now cruise at the higher speed. 2. To increase your speed in very small amounts, move the switch to “Resume/Accelerate7’ forless than half a second and then release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster. The accelerate featurewill only work after you have set the Cruise Control speed by pushing the SET button. To Reduce Speed While Using Cruise Control Here’s the second way to go to ahigher speed: 1. Push in the button at the end of the lever until you reach the lower speed you want, then release it. want, and then release the switch. 2. To slow down in very small amounts, push the button for less than half a second. 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. To Get Out of Cruise Control There are two ways to turn off the Cruise Control: 1. Step lightly on the brake pedal, OR Using Cruise Control on Hills 102 - To Erase Speed Memory Headlight “On” Warning When you turn off the Cruise Control or the ignition, or shift into “P” (Park) or “N” (Neutral) your Cruise Control set speed memory is erased. If the light switch is left on you’ll hear a warning tone when you turn off the ignition and open the driver’s door. Lights Fog Lights (GS Only Option) The light controls are on the instrument panel. It controls these light systems: 0 Headlights 0 Taillights 0 Parking Lights 0 License Lights 0 Sidemarker Lights 0 Instrument Panel Lights 0 Interior Courtesy Lights c If you have the fog light feature, the control is on the instrument panel. The parking lights must be ON for the fog lights to work. The fog lights will turn off when you change to high beam headlights. When you return to low beam headlights the fog lights will turn on again. Daytime Running Lights (Canada Only) The Canadian Federal Government has decided that “Daytime Running Lights” (DRL) are a useful feature, in that DRL can make your vehicle more visible to pedestrians and other drivers during daylight hours. DRL are required on new vehicles sold in Canada. 103 Your DRL work with a light sensor on top of the instrument panel. Don’t cover it up. Front Seat Reading Lights (Option) The low beam headlights will come on at reduced brightness in daylight when: 0 The ignition is on, 0 The headlight switch is off, and 0 The parking brake is released. At dusk, the exterior lights will come on automatically and the low beams will change to full brightness. At dawn, the exterior lights will go out and the low beams will change to the reduced brightness of DRL (if the headlight switch is off). Of course, you may still turp on the headlights any time you need to. To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking brake while the ignition is in the “Off” or “Lock” position. Then start the vehicle. The DRL will stay off until you release the parking brake. 104 The front seat reading lights are turned on by pressing the switches. Illuminated Entry Your courtesy lights will come on and stay on for a predetermined time whenever you: Open any door Press the UNLOCK button on the Remote Keyless Entry (if equipped) Press the the power door UNLOCK switch. If you open a door, the lights will stay on while it’s open and then turn off automatically about 16 seconds after you close it. They’ll shut off right away when you do any of these things: ’ Turn the ignition key to Run or Start The reading lights on the inside rearview mirror are turned on by pressing the switch. Press the Power Door Lock switch Courtesy Lights Press the DOOR button on the Remote Keyless Entry (if equipped). When any door is opened, several lights turn on. They make it easy for you to enter and leave the car. The courtesy lights go off when the doors are closed. The interior courtesy lights can also be turned on by moving the light switch to INT. You can also change the brightness of the instrument panel lights by moving the switch between OFF and DIM. If you don’t open a door after pressing the UNLOCK button on the Remote Keyless Entry or the power door UNLOCK switch, the lights will turn off automatically after about 16 seconds, or when you do any of the things mentioned. When the ignition is on, pressing the UNLOCK button on the Remote Keyless Entry or the power door UNLOCK switch won’t activate the Illuminated Entry. 105 Mirrors Outside Mirrors Inside Mirror Standard When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position, adjust the mirror so you can see clearly behind your car. The day-night adjustment allows you to adjust the mirror to avoid glare from the lights behind you. To adjust your left outside mirror move the control located on the driver’s door. Adjust each mirror so you can just see the side of your car and the area behind your car. 106 Convex Outside Mirror Optional If your Buick has an electric mirror control, you’ll find it on the driver’s door. Your right side mirror is convex. A convex mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more from the driver’s seat. Move the switch to choose the right or left mirror. Press any of the four arrows to move the mirror in the desired direction. Adjust each mirror so you can just see the side of your car and the area behind your car. 107 Convenience Net Astroroof (Option) To open the astroroof, press the switch located on the roof. The ignition switch must be in the “RUN” position for the astroroof t.o operate. The sunshade can be opened by grasping the handle and sliding it to the rear. It will open automatically when the astroroof is open completely. It must be closed manually. To open the astroroof to an angled venting position, press and hold the forward portion of the switch until it stops. To close it, press and hold the rear portion of the switch until it stops. Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You’ll see it just behind the back wall of the trunk. Put small loads, like grocery bags, behind the net. It can help keep them from falling over during sharp turns or quick starts and stops. The net isn’t for larger heavier loads. Store them in the trunk as far forward as you can. You can unhook the net so that it will lie flat when you’re not using it. 108 To open the astroroof completely, press and hold the rear portion of the switch. To close the it, press and hold the front portion of the switch until it stops. The astroroof cannot be operated manually if your car has an electrical power failure. Ashtrays P To remove the rear ashtray for cleaning, press down on the snuffer as you pull the ashtray down and out. The front center ashtray can be removed for cleaning. This ashtray can be removed for cleaning by lifting it out of the armrest. - 109 I NOTICE: Storage Armrest (Option) Don't put papers or other flammablethings into your ashtrays. Hotcigarettes or other smoking materials could ignitethem, causing a damaging fire. Cigarette Lighter It's near the ashtray. To use the cigarette lighter, push it all the way in and let it go. When it's ready, it will pop back by itself. ' NOTICE: If you holda cigarette lighter in with your hand while it is heating, it won't be ableto back away from the heating element when it's ready. That can makeit overheat, damaging the lighter and the heating element. The armrest between the front seats opens into a storage area. To open it, press the lever at the front edge and lift the cover. To use the cupholder which is stored inside, pull it up and rotate it forward. You may have an adjustable cup holder. Console (Option) A storage area is under the center armrest, and in front of the shift lever. 110 The Instrument Panel: Your Information System Luggage Carrier (Option) If you have the optional luggage carrier, you can load things on the deck lid of your vehicle. The luggage carrier has slats attached to the deck lid, a rear rail, and tiedowns. NOTICE: Loading cargo that weighs more than 50 Ibs (23kg) on the luggage carrier may damageyour vehicle. When you carrylarge things, never let them hang over the rear or the sides of your vehicle. Load your cargo so that it rests on the slats and does not scratch or damage the vehicle. Put the cargo against the rear rail and fasten it securely to the luggage carrier. I Your instrument panel is designed to let you know at a glance how your car is running. You’ll know how fast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to now to drive safely and economically. Speedometer and Odometer Don’t exceed the maximum vehicle capacity when loading your Buick. For more information on vehicle capacity and loading, see “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index. To prevent damage or loss of cargo as you’re driving, check now and then to make sure the luggage carrier and cargo arestill securely fastened. Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Your odometer showshow far your vehicle has been driven, in either miles (used in the U.S.) or kilometers (used in Canada). 111 Your Buick has a “tamper-resistant odometer.” If you can see very noticeable bright silver lines between the numbers, probably someone has tried to turn it back. The numbers may not be true. You may wonder what happens if a car has to have a new odometer installed. If possible, the new one has to be set to the same reading as the old one. If it can’t be, then it’s set at zero, and a label on the driver’s door must show the old reading and when the new one was installed. Trip Odometer A trip odometer can tell you how many miles you have driven since you last set it back to zero. To reset it, push the button. Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators This section describes the warning lights and gages that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them. Warning lights and gages can signal that something is wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also save you or others from injury. Warning lights go on when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will see in the details on the next few pages, some warning lights come on briefly when you turn the ignition key just to let you know they’re working. If you are familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed when this happens. Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and warning lights work together to let you know when there’s a problem with your vehicle. 112 When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on when you are driving, orwhen one of the gages shows there may be a problem, check the section that tells you what to do about it. Please follow the manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly -- and even dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights and gages. They’re abig help. Here are some concerns owners have had about the fuel gage. All these situations are normal and indicate nothing wrong with the fuel gage. 0 At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the gage reads “F”. 0 It takes more (or less) gas to fill up than the gage indicated. For example, the gage indicated 1/2 full, but it took more -- or less -- than half of the tank’s capacity to fill it. Fuel Gage Your fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in your tank. It works only when the engine is on. When the indicator nears “E,” you still have a little fuel left. a The gage moves a little when you turn a corner, speed up, or stop your vehicle. 0 When you turn the engine off, the gage d&sn’t go all the way back to “E”. 113 Brake System Warning Light * LOW FUEL When your fuel gage reads in the red band, this light will go on. You should get more fuel as soon as you can. BRAKE Your Buick’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two parts.If one part isn’t working, the otherpart can still work and stop you..For good braking, though, you need both parts working well. L If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake problem. Have your brake system inspected right away. This light should come on as you start the vehicle. If it doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’sa problem. If the light comeson while you are driving, pulloff the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor. 114 It may take longer to stop.If the light is still on, or if the anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” and “Towing Your Car” in the Index.) Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light ANTI-LOCK With anti-lock, this light will come on when you start your engine and it will stay on for three seconds. That’s normal. If the light doesn’t come on,have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem. The brake system warning light will also come on when you set your parking brake, and it 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 flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. Pull off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may 115 go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop. Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Car” in the Index.) 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 assoon 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, your Buick needs service. If the light is on but not flashing and the regular brake system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. 116 Engine Coolant TemperatureGage This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too hot! 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 assoon as possible. The chapter “Problems on the Road,” this manual explains what to do. See“Engine Overheating” in the Index. LOW Coolant Warning Light LOW COOLANT If this light comes on, your system is low on coolant and the engine may overheat. Engine Oil Pressure Gage 1 You can read your engine oil pressure directly from the gage on your instrument panel. See “Engine Coolant”in the Index and have your vehicle serviced as soon as you can. If the gage reads in the red band and stays there, it means oil isn’t going through your engine properly. You 117 could be low on oil, or you might have some other oil problem. Have your vehicle serviced as soon as you can. Low Oil Warning Light LOW OIL NOTICE: Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems canbe costly and is not covered by your warranty. 118 Your vehicle is equipped with an oil level monitoring system. When the ignition key is turned on, the light will flash briefly. If the light stays on, stop the vehicle on a level surface and turn off the engine. Check the oil level using the engine oil dipstick. See “Engine Oil” in the Index. If the light does not flash, have the low oil level sensor system repaired so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. Note: The oil level monitoring system only checks oil level during the brief period between key on and engine crank. It does not monitor engine oil level when the engine is running. Additionally, an oil level check is only performed if the engine has been turned off for a considerable period of time allowing the oil normally in circulation to drain back into the oil pan. Volts Gage Check Gages Light The “Volts” gage shows voltage in the electrical system. The normal range is 11 to 15 volts. If the gage reading stays in either red range, have your Buick dealer check the electrical system. I VOLTS CHECK GAGES The “CHECK GAGES” light indicates that there is an engine orelectrical problem. If the “TEMP,” “OIL” or “VOLTS” gages read properly, there may still be an electrical problem which should be checked by your Buick dealer. 119 Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light) SERVICE ENGINE SOON A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition and emission systems. This light should come on when the ignition is on and the engine is not running, as a check to show you it is working. If the light does not come on at all, have it fixed right away. If it says on, or comes on while you are driving, the computer is indicating that you have a problem. You should take your vehicle in for service soon. NOTICE: ~ If you keep driving your vehicle with this lighton, after a while the emission controls won’t work as well, your fuel economywon’t be as good and your engine may not runas smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs notcovered by your warranty. 120 rachometer The tachometer tells you how fast the engine is running . It shows speed in revolutions per minute (RPM). Do not operate your engine in the red line range. If you do you can cause severe engine damage. Part 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems In this part you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control systems and audio systems offered with your Buick . Be sure to read about the particular system supplied with your vehicle . Part 3 includes: ComfortControlSystem ............................................................ 122 124 Heater and Defroster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AirConditione l- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 RearWindowDefogger ........................................................ 125 Ventil~tio1.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 AudioSystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 126 UnderstandingRadioReception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting the Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128.132 RadioControls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127. 131 Tape Player Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128. 132 C D PlayerControls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Care 01’ Cassette Tape Player and Tapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 136 Care of Compact Discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 AntennaCare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Your Buick Comfort Control System Air Outlets Adjust the direction of air flow by moving the louvered vents. Fresh air from outside your vehicle flows through your Buick when the car is moving. When the vehicle is not moving, you can get outside air toflow through by selecting any air choice (except the rear window defogger) and the HI fan speed. Fan Control The fan control is used to select the blower speed. Temperature Control Move the TEMP slide control to change thetemperature of thecoming air through youroutlets. air conditioner’s compressor will have to do, which should help fuel economy. Max This provides maximum cooling with the least amount of work. This setting recirculates much of the air inside your vehicle so it maximizes your air conditioner’s performance and fuel economy. Norm Use for normal cooling on hot days. This setting cools outside air and directs it through the instrument panel outlets. Bi-Lv (Bi-Level) If you have the optional dual control air conditioneryou have a second temperature lever. The top lever control the temperature for the driver. The lower lever controls the temperature for the front seat passenger. Both use the same mode and fan speed. Air Conditioning The air conditioninghas three settings. On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot inside air escape. This reduces the amount of work your air This setting is designed for use on sunny days where the air is only moderately warm or cool. On days like these, the sun may adequately warm your upper body, but your lower body may not be warm enough. The Bi-level setting directs outside air into your vehicle in two ways. Cool air is directed toward your upper body through the front instrument panel outlets, while slightly warmed air is directed through the heater outlet at your feet. 123 The airconditioner compressor operates in all Air Conditioning positions, and the Defrost position when the outsidetemperature is above 40°F (4.5"C). Defrost . When fog or ice is on the windshield, this setting directs the maximum air flow toward the windshield. Ventilation For mild outside temperatures, when little heating or cooling is needed, press the VENT button. Air will flow through the instrument panel outlets. Use the air outlets to turn on, adjust and turn off the air flow. Adjust the TEMP lever to control the temperature. Heating When outside temperatures are cold,press the button marked HTR and slide the TEMP lever toward HOT to send heated air through the flooroutlets. Defog When your windshield is foggy, press the DEFOG button to direct most of the air flow toward the windshield. When it's 50°F (IOOC) or warmer, the system will provide cooled air. Operate the system in another setting for 30 seconds before pushing this button. This will take moist air out of the system to avoid fogging of the windshield. When it's 50" (10" C) or warmer the system will provide cooled air. Off When the system is off, the ventilation system will allow air to flow through your Buick when the vehicle is moving. 124 Rear Window Defogger (Option) The lines you see on the rear window warm the glass. Press the button to start warming your window. After 10 minutes, it will go off by itself or pressing the button again during the heating cycle will shut it off. If you need additional warming time, push the button again, the defogger will go off after 5 minutes. Audio Systems Your DelcoB audio system has been designed to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure. But you will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it first. Find out what your Delco@system can do and how to operate all its controls, to be sure you’re getting the most out of the advanced engineering that went into it. FM Stereo FM stereo will give you the best sound. But FM signals will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). And, tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go. AM NOTICE: Scraping the inside of your rear window could cut and damage the heater. Your warranty would not cover this damage. And don’t put decals there; you might have to scrape them off. - The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range, however, can cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try reducing the treble to reduce this noise. 125 ~~ AM Stereo This means the Delco@system can receive C-QUAM@ stereo broadcasts. Many AM stations around the country use C-QUAM@ to produce stereo, though some do not. (C-QUAM@is a registered trademark of Motorola, Inc.) If your Delco@system can get C-QUAM@,your “STEREO” light will come onwhen you’re receiving it. Be aware that hearing damage.from loud noise is almost undetectable until it istoo late. Your hearing can adapt to higher volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe sound level before your hearing adapts to it. To help avoid hearing loss or damage: Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting. Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably and clearly. 126 NOTICE: Before you add any sound equipment to your vehicle like a tape player, CB radio,mobile telephone or two-way radio be sureyou can add whatyou want. If you can, it’s very important to doit properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine, Delco@radio or other systems, and even damage them. And,your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the operation of sound equipment that has been added improperly. So, before adding sound equipment, check with your dealer and besure to check Federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units. -- -- Volume The VQL knob increases and decreases volume when it is held slightly rotated against the spring load. I'une TRB BAS ... .. ! ~* ... ", OFF-VOL 6 BAL-fAOE 0 . TUNE To Play This Radio On-Off Press the OFF-VOL knob toturn the radio on and off. (The radio also goes on/off with the ignition). Rotate the tune knob to tune in radio stations. The tune knob increases and decreases station frequency when it is held slightly rotated against the spring load. Fade The fade control moves the sound between the front and rear speakers. Balance The BAL control behind the fade control allows you IO balance the sound between the right and left speakers. AMIFM Press the AM/FM button to get AM or FM. Seek Press the SEEK button to go tothe next higher station and stay there. Push it again and it will find the next higher station. 127 Scan Bass Press the SCAN button to hear each station for a few seconds. Push it again to stop scanning, Press the (BAS +) side of the button to increase bass tones and press the (BAS -) side of the button to decrease bass tones. Press the center of the control for the preset bass setting. Pushbuttons The five pushbuttons let you return to favorite stations. To set the pushbuttons for up to ten stations (5 AM and 5 FM). 0 Tune in the desired station. Press SET. Treble Press the (TRB +) side of the button to increase treble tones and press the (TRB -) side of the button to decrease treble tones. Press the center of the control for the preset treble setting. Within 5 seconds, push one of the pushbuttons. Whenever you push that button again, the preset station will return. Repeat these steps for each pushbutton. Clock To set the clock, Press SET. SET must be lit in VF displa lefore adjusting the clock. Within 5 seconds, push and hold the SCAN button until the correct minute appears. 0 Push and hold the SEEK button until the correct hour appears. 128 To Play A Cassette Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than that are so thin they may not work well in this player. With the radio on, press a tape into the slot marked AUTO REVERSE (tape side goesin first). Once the tape is playing, use the volume, balance and fade just as you did for the radio. The arrows indicate which side of the tape is being played. Program To go from one side of the tape to the other, press the PROG button. To Play A Compact Disc Forward Use full -size compact discs. DO NOT use mini-discs that are called singles. They won’t eject. To advance the tape, press FWD and the tape will rapidly go forward until you press the REV button lightly. To turn the system on, the radio power must be on. go backward until you press the FWD button lightly. Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in. The word CD IN will appear in the graphic display. Wait a few seconds and the disc should PlayIf the disc comes back out. check whether: Eject 0 The disc is upside down. To remove the tape and switch to the radio, press EJCT button. 0 It is dirty, scratched, or wet. 0 There’s too much moisture in the air. (If there is, wait about one hour and try again.) Reverse To reverse the tape, press REV and the tape will rapidly 129 Recall Press RCL to see what track is playing. Press it again within 5 seconds to see how long the CD has been playing that track. The track number also appears when you change the volume or when a new track starts to play. Next stop By pressing STOP, the compact disc will stop playing and the radio will play. Play . Pressing PLAY will cause the radio to stop and the compact disc will play, if there is one inserted. Compression Press NEXT to hear the next track now (instead of waiting until the present track is finished.) If you hold this button, or press it more than once, the disc will advance further. Pressing the COMP'button makes soft and loud passages more equal in volume. Previous If you press and hold the PREV button, or press it more By pressing EJECT, the disc will eject and the radio will play. The disc will start at track one when you reinsert it. than once, the disc will return to previous tracks. Press the OFF-VOL knob or turn the ignition key off to stop the disc player. The disc stays in the player and will resume playing at the point where it stopped. Scan Press SCAN to hear the first ten seconds of each track. Press it again to stop scanning. Eject Tune The tune knob increases and decreases station frequency when it is held slightly rotated against the spring load. Fade The fade control fades the sound between your front and rear speakers. It operates like the volume and tune controls. Balance The control behind the fade control allows you to balance the sound between the right and left speakers. It operates like the fade control. AMIFM To Play This Radio On-Off Press Off-Vol knob to turn the radio on or off when the ignition is on. Volume The volume knob increases and decreases volume when it is held slightly rotated against the spring load. Press the AMEM button to select either AM or FM radio band. The band you select will be displayed along with the frequency of the station. If the station is broadcasting in stereo, a STEREOindicator will also be displayed. Seek Press the SEEK button to search for the next station up the AM or FM radio band. Press it again to go to the next higher station. 131 Scan Clock Press the SCAN button to hear each station for a few seconds. Push it again to stop scanning. With the ignition on and the radio off, press SET. The set indicator will appear on the display for five seconds. Pushbuttons 0 The five buttons can be used to preset ten radio stations ( 5 AM and 5 FM stations.) During that five seconds, press SCAN to set the minute. 0 Press SET again. Within 5 seconds, press SEEK to set the hour. 0 Tune in the desired station. 0 Press SET. (The SET indicator will appear on the screen for five seconds.) While the SET indicator is displayed, press one of the five buttons. Whenever you press that button again, the preset station will return. Repeat these steps for each of 5 AM and 5 FM stations. Loud Press LD to increase the bass response. Mute Pressing Mute allows you to silence the radio or tape player; press again to listen. During mute, only volume up works. 132 To Play A Cassette Player To turn the system on, the radio power must be on. The radio will play until a cassette is pushed into the cassette entry door (the tape side goes in first). Do not use tapes that are longer than 92 minutes (46 minutes on each side.) Once the tape is playing, use the volume, balance, and fade controls just like you did for radio. Equalizer Program The EQUALIZER enables you to adjust five separate sound frequencies to your individual taste. Press PROG to change the side of the tape being played. When the A is lit, the selections listed on the top side of the tape are played. When the is lit, selections listed on the bottom side of the tape are played. When the end of a tape is reached, the other side will then play. Slide an EQUALIZER control up to emphasize a frequency, down to de-emphasize it. It’s best to begin with all the controls in the middle position, then adjust each control as you like. 00 to remove unwanted noise on tapes. Forward Press Press FWD to advancethe tape rapidly. Press again to play the tape. (The radio plays while a tape is advancing.) Cr02 Reverse Press REV to reverse the tape rapidly. Press again to play the tape. (The radio plays while a tape is rewinding.) When playing high bias chrome or metal tapes, press Cr02. This button sets tape bias. When playing standard tapes, press again. Eject Press EJCT toeject the cassette tape from the tape player. Seek To search for the next selection on the tape, press SEEK then press either FWD or REV. For the SEEK to stop, there must be at least a 4-second gap between selections on the tape. 133 Power Steering Wheel Controls Press PWR to turn the radio on or off. Band I Press this to choose AM or FM. Seek Press v to go to a lower frequency station. Press A to go to a higher frequency station. Program Press PROG A or to hear the stations preset on your radio pushbuttons. Press five times to hear them all. If your car has this feature, you can also control certain functions at the steering wheel. Volume To increase or decrease the volume, press VOL A or v. 134 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes, or a damaged mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight,and extreme heat. If they aren't, they may not operate properly or cause failureof the tape player. Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always make sure that the cassette tape is in good condition before you have your tape player serviced. Your tape player should be cleaned regularly each month or after every 15 hours of use. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. Clean your tape player with a wiping-action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette, and follow the directions provided with it. 135 Care of Your Compact Discs Power Antenna Mast Care Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge. Your power antenna will look its best and work well if it’s cleaned from time to time. To Clean the Antenna Mast: Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge. 2. Dampen a clean cloth with mineral spirits or equivalent solvent. Fixed Mast Antenna The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes without being damaged. If the mast should ever become slightly bent, you can straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent, as it might be by vandals, you should replace it. Check every once in a while to be sure the mast is still tightened to the fender. If necessary, tighten the antenna with your hand until snug and then use a wrench to tighten it another 1/4 of a turn. 136 1. Turn on the ignition and radio to raise the antenna to full mast extension. 3. Wipe cloth over the mast sections, removing any dirt. 4. Wipe dry with clean cloth before retracting. 5 . Make the antenna go up and down by turning the radio or ignition on and off. 6. Then repeat if necessary. 1 NOTICE: Don’t lubricate the power antenna. Lubrication could damage it. NOTICE: Before entering an automatic car wash, turn off your radio to make the power antennago down. This will prevent the mast from possibly getting damaged. If the antenna doesnot go down when you turnthe radio off, it may be damagedor need to be cleaned. In either case, lower the antenna by hand by carefully pressing the antenna down. If the mast portion of your antenna is damaged, you can easily replace it. See your dealer for a replacement kit and follow the instructions in the kit. 137 1940 Buick Model 51 G 138 f t .... Part 4 Your Driving and the Road . I Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds ot roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also included many other useful tips on driving . Part 4 includes: DefensiveDriving ................................................................. DrunkenDriving .................................................................. ControlofaVehicle ................................................................ Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steering ..................................................................... Passing ..................................................................... LossofControl .................................................................... DrivingatNight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DrivingintheRain ................................................................. CityDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FreewayDriving .................................................................... HillandMountainRoads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WinterDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TowingaTrailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 140 143 144 146 149 151 152 153 155 156 159 160 164 139 I F Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be, careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Be ready for their mistakes. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following distance. It’s the best defensive driving maneuver, in both cityand rural driving. You never know when the vehicle infront of you is going to brake or turn suddenly. Drunken Driving Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a veryimportant safety device in your Buick: Buckle up. (See “Safety Belts” in the Index.) Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads, or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.” 140 Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims every year. Alcohol takes away three things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle: 0 Judgment 0 Muscular Coordination 0 Vision Police records show thatalmost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol -a driver, a passenger or someone else, such as a pedestrian, had been drinking. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who wasdrinking and driving. About 20,000 motor vehicle-related deaths occur each year because of alcohol, and thousands of people are injured. r Just how much alcohol is too much if a person plans to drive? Ideally, no one should drink alcohol and then drive. But if one does, then what’s “too much”? It can be a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem. The Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon four things: How much alcohol is in the drink. 0 The drinker’s body weight. 0 The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking. The length of time it has taken the drinker to consume the alcohol. According to the American Medical Association, a 180-pound (82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce (355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the same BAC by drinking three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1- 1/2 ounces (45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka. 1 It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a slightly lower BAC level. DRINKING THAT WILL RESULT IN A BAG OF .05% IN THE TIME SHOWN HOURS HOURS NUMBER OF DRINKS (as in picture) HOUR 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS The law in most U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In Canada the limit is 0.08 percent, and in some other countries it’s lower than that. The BAC 142 will be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we’ve seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them. But it’s very important to keep in mind that the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in an accident increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. Adriver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent (three beers in one hour for a 180-pound or 82 kg person) has doubled his or her chance of having an accident. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of that driver having an accident is six times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chances are twenty-five times greater! And, the body takes about an hour to rid itself of thealcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up. “I’ll be careful” isn’t the right answer. What if there’s an emergency, a need to take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street? A person with a higher BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision. There’s something else about drinkingand driving that many people don’t know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse. That’s especially true for brain, spinal cord and heart injuries. That means that if anyone who has been drinking -- driver or passenger -- is in a crash, the chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if that person had not been drinking. And we’ve already seen that the chance of a crash itself is higher for drinking drivers. Control of a Vehicle You have three systems that make your vehicle go where you want it to go. They arethe brakes, the steering and the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road. .... . . . .. Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of those control’systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control of your vehicle. Braking Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction time. Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread; and the condition of your brakes. 144 Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking -- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you do alot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will eliminate alot of unnecessary braking. That means better braking and longer brake life. If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake normally but don’t pump your brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push. Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) Your Buick has an advanced electronicbraking system that will help prevent skidding. ANTI-LOCK This light on the instrument panel will go on when you start your vehicle. When you start your vehicle, or when you begin to drive away, you may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise. And you may even notice that your brake pedal moves a little while this is going on. This is the ABS system testing itself. If there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, the anti-lock brake system warning light will stay on or flash. See “Anti-lock Brake System Warning Light” in the Index. Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet. You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS. A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at the rear wheels. 145 The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is programmed to make the mostof available tire androad conditions. Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the timeyou need to get your foot up to the brake pedal. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough roomup ahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes. To Use Anti-Lock Don’t pump the brakes. Justhold the brake pedal down and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the system working, or you may notice some noise, but this is normal. Braking in Emergencies Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to. With anti-lock, you can steer and brakeat the same time. In many emergencies, steering can helpyou more than even the very best braking. Steering You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard. Power Steering As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly. If you lose power steering assist becausethe engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort. 146 Steering Tips Driving on Curves It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidentsmentioned on the news happen on curves. Here’s why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction.If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control. Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems -steering and acceleration -- have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand toomuch of those places. You can lose control. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead. Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway. Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems by braking -- if you can stop in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room. That’s the time for evasive action -- steering around the problem. 147 Your Buick can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available. An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object. The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly. 148 Off-Road Recovery Passing You may find sometime that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving. The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver? If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to 1/4 turn until the right front tire contactsthe pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway. Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or abrief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents -- the head-on collision. So here are some tips for passing: I I / e .,- 0 “Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides, and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better time. 0 Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and lines. If you cansee asign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken center line usually indicates it’s all right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or a doublesolid line, even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic. l 149 Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely reduces your area of vision, especially if you’re following a larger vehicle. Also, you won’t have adequate spaceif the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops.Keep back a reasonable distance. 0 0 When it looks like a chanceto pass is coming up, start to accelerate but stayin the right lane and don’t get too close. Time.your move so you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” thatmore than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back. And if something happens to causeyou to cancel your pass, you need only slow downand drop back again and wait for another opportunity. If other cars are linedup to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot. Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. Whenyou are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in you: inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. (Rememberthat your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicleyou just passed may seem to be farther away fromyou than it really is.) Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle. 0 Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the brake lightsare not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn. If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following driver toget ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a littleto the right. Loss of Control Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems. (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’thave enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escaperoute or area of less danger. Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to your Buick’s three control systems. In the braking skid your wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited. While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues -such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lock braking system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid. A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. 151 Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlights behind you. Driving at Night 1 Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. 0 Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlights can light up only so much road ahead. 0 In remote areas, watch for animals. 0 If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest. Night Vision i ’ ~ A Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired -by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue. Here are some tips on night driving. Drive defensively. 0 Don’t drink and drive. 152 No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a20-year-old. What you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from headlights, but they also make a lot of things invisible. You can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare (asfrom a driver who doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlights), slow down a little. Avoid staring directly intothe approaching lights. Driving in the Rain Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean -- inside and out. Glare atnight is made much worse by dirt on the glass.Even the inside of the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would, making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. Remember that your headlights light up far less of a roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly lighted objects. Just as your headlights should be checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night blindness -- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t even awareof it. Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road you can’t stop, accelerate orturn as well because your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on dry roads. And, if your tires don’t have much tread left, you’ll get even less traction. It’s always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement. 153 The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to seeroad signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road, and even people walking. Driving too fast through large water puddles or even going through some car washes can cause problems, too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles. But if you can’t, try to slow down before you hit them. It’s wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts. Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires haven’t much tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone poles, or other vehicles, and raindrops 154 “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning. City Driving Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it is raining. Some Other Rainy Weather Tips Turn on your low-beam headlights -- not just your parking lights -- to help make you more visible to others. Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by road spray. Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.) One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doingand pay attention to traffic signals. 155 Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving: Freeway Driving Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because the corner is busy enough to need it. When a light turns green, and just before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not cleared the intersection or may be running the red light. Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, expressways, turnpikes, or superhighways) are the safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules. The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane. 156 At the entrance there is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow. Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass. Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use your turn signal. Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in your “blind” spot. Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night. The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower than you actually are. Before Leaving on a Long Trip Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re not fresh -- such as after a day’s work -- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily drive in. Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in Buick dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready and willing to help if you need it. When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit do not, under any circumstances, stopand back up. Drive on to the next exit. 157 Here are some things you can check before a trip: 0 Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean inside and outside? 0 Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape? 0 Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels? 0 Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean? 0 Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the recommended pressure? 0 0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system? Highway Hypnosis Is there actually sucha condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lackof awareness, or whatever. There is something about an easy stretchof road with the same scenery, along with the humof the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t letit happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in than a second, and you could crash and be injured. What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can happen. Then here are some tips: 0 Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool interior. 0 Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your instruments frequently. Maps: Do you have ur>-to-date maps? a If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as an emergency. 158 Hill and Mountain Roads I If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. 0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. 0 Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this: let your engine do someof the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep orlong hill. Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or rolling terrain. 159 Winter Driving 0 Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better. 0 Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. 0 As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in yourlane, like a stalled car or an accident. 0 You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action. 160 Here are sometips for winter driving: 0 Have your Buick in good shape for winter. Be sure your engine coolant mix is correct. 0 You may want to put winter emergency supplies in your trunk. I I ............... ...... . . .... .?".<.. . . Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth, and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure these items in your vehicle. I What's the worst time for this? "Wet ice." Very cold snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the 161 If You’re Caught in a Blizzard least traction of all. You can get “wet ice” when it’s about freezing (32 O F ; OOC) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there. Whatever the condition -- smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow -- drive with caution. Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface under the tires even more. Your anti-lock brakes improve your ability to make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even though you have the anti-lock braking system, you’ll want to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement. See “Anti-lock” in the Index. 0 Allow greater following distance on any slippery road. 0 Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot that’s covered with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass may remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If you see apatch of ice ahead of you, brake before you are onit. Try not to brake while you’re actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers. 162 If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a serious situation. You should probably stay with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near help and you can hike through the snow. Here are some things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe: Turn on your hazardflashers. Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that you’ve been stopped by the snow. Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you. If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body insulators from newspapers, burlap - - bags, rags, floormats -- anything you can wrap around yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm. You can run the engine tokeep warm, but be careful. Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster than just idle. Thatis, push the accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your headlights. Let the heater run for awhile. 163 Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until help comes. Towing a Trailer I NOTICE: Pulling a trailer improperlycan damage your vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by your warranty.To pull a trailer correctly, follow the advice in this section, and see your Buick dealer for important information about towing a trailer with your vehicle. Your car can tow a trailer if it is equipped with 3.1L or 3.8L V6 engine and proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that appears later in this section. But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability, and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. That’s the reason for this section. In it are many time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and ‘that of your passengers. So please read this section carefullv before you pull a trailer. 164 I Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer. Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed for trailers, or no more than 55 mph (90 km/h) to save wear on your vehicle’s parts. Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies, and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight. The engineis required to operate atrelatively higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements. Weight of the Trailer If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be? If you do, here are some important points. It should never weigh more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg), unless you have the 2,000 pound (900 kg) trailer towing option package. But even that can be too heavy. 0 0 There are many different laws, incuding speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you’ll be driving. A good source for this information can be state or provincial police. Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls. 0 Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000 miles (1600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged. Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. 0 Three important considerations have to do with weight: It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle. You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or advice, or you can write us at Buick Motor Division, Customer Assistance Center, 902 E. Hamilton Avenue, Flint, MI 48550. In Canada, write to General Motors of Canada Limited, Customer Assistance Center, 1908 Colonel Sam Drive, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7. 165 Weight of the Trailer Tongue The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it affects the total capacity weight of your vehicle. The capacity weight includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. And if you will tow a trailer, you must subtract the tongue load from your vehicle’s capacity weight because your vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index formore information about your vehicle’s maximum load capacity. If you’re using a “dead-weight” hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 10% of the total loaded trailer weight (B). If you have a “weight-distributing” hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 12% of the total loaded trailer weight (B). After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper. If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right simply by moving some items around in the trailer. Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the limit for cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on the Certification label at the rear edge of the driver’s door or see “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index. Then be sure you don’t go over the GVW limit for your vehicle. Hitches A 166 B It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks going by, and rough roads are a few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are some rules to follow: Will you have to make any holes in the body of your vehicle when you install a trailer hitch? If you do, then be sure to seal the holes later when you remove the hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get into your vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index). Dirt and water can, too. The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other bumper-type hitches to them. Use only a frame-mounted hitch that does not attach to the bumper. Safety Chains You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions about safety chains may be provided by the hitch manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety chains. Always leave just enough slack so you can turn with your rig. And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground. Trailer Brakes If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg) loaded, then it needs its own brakes -- and they must be adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust and maintain them properly. Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try to tap into your vehicle’s brake system. If you do, both brake systems won’t work well, or at all. Driving with aTrailer Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly so responsive as your vehicle is by itself. Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform, safety chains, electrical connector, lights, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your electrical connection at the same time. , During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure, and that the lights and any trailer brakes are still working. 167 Following Distance Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking and sudden turns. When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a different turn signal flasher and extra wiring. The green arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lights will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop. Passing You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the passed vehicle before you can return to your lane. Backing Up Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible, have someone guide you. Making Turns When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance. 168 When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus,you may think drivers behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working. Driving On Grades Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you might have to use your brakes so much that they would get hot and no longer work well. On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine and transaxle overheating. If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg), you may prefer to drive in “D” instead of Overdrive (or, as you need to, a lower gear). Parking on Hills 0 Shift into a gear; and You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig could start to move.People can be injured, and both your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged. 0 Release the parking brake. But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s how to do it: 2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels, 3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load. 4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake, and then shift to “P” (Park). 5. Release the regular brakes. When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking on a Hill 2. Let up on the brake pedal. 3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks. 4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks. Maintenance When Trailer Towing Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more on this. Things that are especially important in trailer operation are automatictransaxle fluid (don’t overfill), engine oil, belt, cooling system, and brake adjustment. Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index will help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these sections before you start your trip. Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight. 1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down while you: 0 Start your engine; 169 F I957 Buick Super 170 Part 5 Problems on the Road Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road . Part 5 includes: Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OtherWarningDevices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Jump”Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TowingYourBuick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Engineoverheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IfaTireGoesFlat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ChangingaFlatTire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CompactSpareTire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 173 173 179 187 196 197 205 206 171 Hazard Warning Flashers Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They also let police know you have a problem. Your front and rear turn signal lights will flash on and off. 172 Press down on the switch to make your front and rear turn signal lights flash on and off. Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what position your key is in, and even if the key isn’t in. To turn off the flashers, press down on the switch then as you lift your finger the switch will follow it to the OFF position. When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals won’t work. Other Warning Devices Jump Starting If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumpercables to start your Buick. But please follow the steps below to do it safely. A CAUTION: Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous because: They contain acid that can burn you. They contain gas that can explode or ignite. They contain enough electricity to burn you. If you don’tfollow these steps exactly, some or all of these things can hurt you. If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle. 173 I NOTICE: Ignoring these steps could resultin costly damage to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. Trying to start your Buick by pushing or pulling it won’t work, and it could damage your vehicle. To Jump Start Your Buick: 1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative ground system. NOTICE: If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a negative ground,both vehicles can be damaged. 2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching each other. If they are, it could cause a ground connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to start your Buick, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical systems. You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an automatic transaxle in “P” (Park) or a manual transaxle in “N” (Neutral). 3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren’t needed, and radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it could save your radio! 1 NOTICE: If you leave your radio on, it could be badly damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. 4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on each battery. Your Buick has a remote positive (+)jump starting terminal. The terminal is on the same side of the engine compartment as your battery. You should always use the remote positive (+) terminal instead of the positive (+) terminal on your battery. To uncover the remote positive (+) terminal, lift the red plastic cap. 5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged, too. 175 Before you connect the cables, here are some basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to positive (+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-) or a metal engine part. Don't connect (+) to (-) or you'll get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts, too. 6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the vehicle with the dead battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one. 176 7. Don’t let the other end touch metal. Connect it to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one. 1 8. Now connect the black negative (-) cable to the good battery’s negative (-) terminal. Don’t let the other end touch anything until the next step. Theother end of the negative cable doesn’t go to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy unpainted metal part on the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery. 177 9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that move. The electrical connection is just as good there? but the chance of sparks getting back to the battery is much less. 12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch each other or any othermetal. GOOD BATTERY DEAD BATTERY 10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for a while. 11. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs service. 178 Remove cables in this order. Towing Your Car Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service tow your Buick. The usual towing equipment is a sling-type (A) or a wheel-lift (B) or car carrier (C) tow truck. If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these instructions and illustrations may not be correct, Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers. When you call, tell the towing service: That your vehicle has front-wheel drive. A W 3 The make, model, and year of your vehicle. 0 Whether you can still move the shift lever. If there was an accident, what was damaged. When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator know that this manual contains detailed towing instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to see them. 179 180 When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key off. The steering wheel should be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping device designed for towing service. Do not use the vehicle’s steering columnlock,forthis. The transaxle should be in Neutral and the parking brake released. Don’t have your vehicle towed on the front wheels, unless you must.If the vehicle must be towed on the 55 mph (88 k/h) or front wheels, don’t go more than farther than 500 miles (800 km) or your transaxle will be damaged.If these limits must be exceeded, then the front wheels have to be supported on a dolly. Front TowingHookups (Custom Sedan and Gran Sport Only) ~ Attach “T” hook chains in front of the wheels into the side slots of the cradle on both sides. Position a 4” x 4” wood beam across the sling chains against the bottom of the cradle horns. Position the lower sling crossbar against the front of the 4” x 4” wood beam. Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard end of each lower control arm. 182 Front Towing Hookups (Limited Sedan and Gran SportOnly) Attach “T” hook chains in front of the wheel into the side slots in the cradle on both sides. of the Position the lower sling crossbar against the front 4” x 4” wood beam. Attach a separate safety chain aroundthe outboard end of each lower control ann. . Position a 4” x 4” wood beam across the sling chains and center in the middleof the lower facia. 183 Rear Towing Hookups (Coupes Only) Attach “T” hook chains into slots in the bottom of the floor pan just ahead of the rear wheels on both sides. _ _ _ _ _ _ ~ A 4” x 4” wood beam is NOT needed. Position the lower sling crossbar just ahead of the front edge of the rear bumper. 184 Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard end of each lower control arm. Rear Towing Hookups (Limited 8z Custom Sedans Only) NOTICE: Do not tow with sling-type equipment or the rear bumper valancewill be damaged. Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could damage a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle to groundor vehicle to wheel-lift equipment. To help avoid damage, install a towing dollyand raise the vehicle until adequate clearance is obtained between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment. Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to suspension components when using car carrier equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in T-hooks slots. Use T-hook slots as identified in sling tow hookups on previous page. Use wheel lift or car carrier equipment. Additional ramping may be required for car carrier equipment. Use safety chain and wheel straps. Front Towing Hookups (Coupes Only) NOTICE: Do not tow with sling-type equipment or fascia/fog lamp/griIledamage will occur. Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could damage a vehicle. Damagecan occur from vehicle to groundor vehicle to wheel-lift equipment. To help avoiddamage, install a towing dollyand raise the vehicleuntil adequate clearance is obtained between the ground andlor wheel-lift equipment. Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to suspension componentswhen using car carrier equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in T-hooks slots. Use T-hook slots as identified in sling tow hookups. Use wheel lift or car carrier equipment. Additional ramping may be required for car carrier equipment. Use safety chain and wheel straps. 186 Engine Overheating You will find the coolant temperature gage on your instrument panel. You may also find a low coolant warning light. I NOTICE: If your engine catches fire because you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be covered by your warranty. If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you: Climb a long hill on a hot day. Stop after high speed driving. Idle for long periods in traffic. 0 Tow a trailer. 187 If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam, try this for a minute or so: 1. Turn off your air conditioner. 2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan speed and open the window as necessary. 3. Try to keep your engine under load (in a drive gear where the engine runs slower). If you no longer havethe overheat warning, you can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about ten minutes. If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drive normally. If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right away. If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to seeif the warning stops. But then, if you still have the warning, TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND GET EVERYONE OUT OF THE VEHICLE until it cools down. When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what you’ll see: You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service help right away. 0 Coolant recovery tank 0 Radiator pressure cap 0 Electric engine fan The coolant level should be at or above the“COLD’ mark. If it isn’t, you may have a leakin the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the cooling system. If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling, don’t do anything else until it cools down. I NOTICE: I Engine damage from running your engine without coolant isn’tcoveredbyyourwarranty. I If there seems to be no leak, checkto see if the electric engine fan is running.If the engine is overheating, the fan should be running.If it isn’t, your vehicle needs service. How to Add Coolant tothe Coolant Recovery.Tank If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level isn’t at or above the “COLD” mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and a proper antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant’’ inthe Index for more information about the proper coolant mix.) 190 I NOTICE: In cold weather, water can freezeand crack the engine, radiator, heatercore and other parts. Use the recommended coolant. I A CAUTION: You can be burnedif you spill coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol and it will burn if the engineparts are hot enough, Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine. CAUTION: (Continued) Wait for the cooling system and radiator pressure cap tocool if you ever haveto turn the pressure cap. When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or above the “COLD” mark, start your vehicle. If the overheat warning continues, there’s one more thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant m i x directly to the radiator but be sure the cooling system is cool before you do it. d I A CAUTION: Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling system can blowout and burn you badly. They are under pressure,and if you turn the radiator pressure cap even a fittle they can comeout at high speed. Never turn the cap when the cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap, is hot. CAUTION: (Continued) -- -- 191 How to Add Coolant to the Radiator 1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. NOTICE: Your engine has a specific radiatorfill procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could cause your engine to overheat and be severely damaged. . .., Turn the pressure cap slowly to the leftuntil it first stops. (Don’t press down while turning the pressure cap.) If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means there is still some pressure left. 2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap. 192 3. After the engine cools, open the coolant air bleed valve or valves. 3.1L V6 (VIN Code T or M): There are twobleed valves. One is located on the thermostat housing. The other is located on the thermostat bypass tube. 193 4. Fill the radiator with the proper mix, up to the base of the filler neck. 1 . S 3.8L V6 (VIN Code L27): There is one bleed valve. Itislocatedonthethermostathousing. , If you see a streamof coolant coming from an air bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise, close the valve(s) afterthe radiator is filled. :' 194 5. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the engine and compartment. A 6. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to “COLD.” 7 . Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but leave the radiator pressure cap off. 8. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine fan( s). 9. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator filler neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add more of the proper mix through the filler neck until the level reaches the base of the filler neck. 195 10.Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during this procedure if coolant begins to flow out of the filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure the arrows on pressure cap line up like this. 11. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The level in the coolant recovery tank should be at the “HOT” mark when the engine is hot or atthe “COLD” mark when the engine is cold. If a Tire Goes Flat It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are afew tips about what to expect and what to do: If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a stop well out of the traffic lane. A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well off the road if possible. If a tire goes flat, the next section shows how to use your jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely. Changing a Flat Tire If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard warning flashers. The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and change a tire. 197 The equipmentyou’ll need is in the trunk. 198 If there is a-wheelcover, remove it by using the flat end of the wheel wrench.Pry along the edge of the wheel cover until it comes off. Be careful, the rimedges may be sharp. Don’t try to remove it with your bare hands. f your vehicle has wheel nut covers, remove them to lccess the wheel nuts. If your vehicle has wheel nut caps, remove them using the wheel nut wrench. 199 1 Position the jack under the vehicle. Your Buick has a notch on the frame near each of the wheels. Fit the lift head into the notch nearest the wheel with the flat tire. FRONT If you have a Gran Sport Coupe, remove a rocker panel extension section to expose the place where the jack fits. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts. Don't remove them yet. 200 REAR Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire. ~ NOTICE: Raising yourvehicle with the jack improperly positioned will damage the vehicle or may allow the vehicle tofall off the jack. Be sure tofit the jack lift head into the proper location before raising your vehicle. Raise the vehicleby rotating the jack handle clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enoughoff the ground so there is enough room for the spare tire to fit. 201 I :1 Replace the wheel nuts with the rounded end of the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel is held against the hub. Remove any rust or dirt from thewheel bolts, mounting surfaces or spare wheel. Place the spare on the wheel mounting surface. 202 Lower the vehicle by rotating the jack handle counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a criss-cross sequence as shown. Don’t try to put a wheel cover on your compact spare tire. It won’t fit. Store the wheel cover in the trunk until you have the flat tire repaired or replaced. 203 I NOTICE: Wheel covers won’t fit on your compact spare.If you try to puta wheel cover on your compact spare, you coulddamage the cover or the spare. Now put all the equipment back into the trunk. 204 COVER? WNUT HOLDER I NOTICE: Don’t take your compact spare through an automatic car washwith guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel, and maybe other parts of your vehicle. Compact Spare Tire Although the compact spare was fully inflated when your vehicle was new, it can lose air after atime. Check the inflation pressure regularly. It should be 60 psi (420 kPa). After installing the compact spare on your vehicle, you should stop as soon as possible and make sure your spare tire is correctly inflated. The compact spare is made to perform well at posted speed limits for distances up to 3,000 miles ( 5 000 km). Thecompact spare is made to go up to 3,000 miles ( 5 000 km), so you can finish your trip and have your full-size tire repaired or replaced where you want. Of course, it’s best to replace your spare with a full-size tire as soon as you can. Your spare will last longer and be in good shape in case you need it again. Don’t use your compact spare on some other vehicle. And don’t mix your compact spare orwheel with other wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare and its wheel together. NOTICE: Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using them will damage your vehicle and destroy the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your compact spare. 205 I NOTICE: If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow Spinning your wheels can destroyparts of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle back and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is to spin your wheels. The method known as “rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but you must use caution. I Rocking your vehicle to get it out: ~ 206 First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift back and forth between “R” (Reverse) and a forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal when the transaxle is in gear. If that doesn’t get you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed out. If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your Car” in the Index. I Part 6 Service and Appearance Care Here you will find information about the care of your Buick . This part begins with service and fuel information. and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels . There is also technical information about your vehicle. and a section devoted to its appearance care. Part 6 includes: Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HoodRelease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Engineoil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aircleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Automatic Transaxle Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :. . . . . . . Enginecoolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PowerSteeringFluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Windshield Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BulbReplacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LoadingYourVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appearancecare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 209 212 214 219 220 223 226 227 228 231 232 235 236 244 253 254 260 207 2. You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list Service the mileage and the date of any service work you Your Buick dealer knows your vehicle bestand wants perform. See “Maintenahce Record” in the Index. you to be happy with it.We hope you’ll go to your dealer far all your service needs. You’ll get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and supported service people. We hope you’ll wantto keep your GM vehicle all GM. Genuine GM parts have oneof these marks: n - :- 3 n U Delco Doing Your Own Service Work If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll want to get the proper Buick Service Manual. It tells you much more about how to service your Buick than this manual can. To order the proper service manual, see “Service Publications” in the Index. Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to do your own service work, see “ServicingYour Air Bag-Equipped Buick” in the Index. 208 NOTICE: If you try to do your own service work without knowing enough aboutit, your vehicle couldbe damaged. Fuel Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher. It should meet specifications ASTM D48 14 in the U.S. and CGSB 3.5-92 in Canada. These fuels should have the proper additives, so you should not have to add anything to the fuel. In the U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to be sure you get the right kind of gasoline (unleaded). You’ll see “UNLEADED” right on the pump. And only unleaded nozzles will fit into your vehicle’s filler neck. Be sure the posted octane is at least 87. If the octane is less than 87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage your engine. If you’re using fuel rated at 87 octane or higher and you still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service. But don’t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when you’re accelerating or driving up a hill. That’s normal, and you don’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means you have a problem. What about gasoline with blending materials that contain oxygen (oxygenates), such as MTBE or alcohol? Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol. Properly-blended fuel that is no more than 10% ethanol is fine for your vehicle. Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol. I NOTICE: Fuel that is more than 5% methanol is bad for your vehicle. Don’t use it. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel system and also damage plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t be covered under your warranty. And even at5% or less, there must be “cosolvents” and corrosion preventers in this fuel to help avoid these problems. Gasolines for Cleaner Air Your use of gasoline with deposit control additives will help prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel system. That helps keep your engine in tune and your emission control system working properly. It’s good for your vehicle, and you’ll be doing your part for cleaner air. MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.” Fuel that is no more than 15% MTBE is fine for your vehicle. 209 Many gasolines are now blended with oxygenates. you use gasolines with General Motors recommends that these blending materials, suchas MTBE and ethanol. By doing so, you can help clean the air, especially in those parts of the country that have high carbon monoxide. levels. Fuels in Foreign Countries If you plan on driving in another country outside the U.S. or Canada, unleaded fuel may be hard to find. Do not use leaded gasoline. If you use even one tankful, your emission controls won’t work well or at all. With continuous use, spark plugs can get fouled, the exhaust In addition, some gasoline suppliers are now producing system can corrode, and your engine oil can deteriorate reformulated gasolines. These gasolinesare specially quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor will be damaged. designed to reduce vehicle emissions. General Motors All of that means costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered recommends that you use reformulated gasoline.By by your warranty. doing so, you can help clean the air, especially in those To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or parts of the country that have high ozone levels. contact a major oil company that does business in the You should ask your service station operators if their country where you’ll be driving. gasolines contain deposit control additives and You can also writeus at the following address for oxygenates, and if they have been reformulated to advice. Just tellus where you’re going and give your reduce vehicle emissions. Vehicle Identification Number(VIN). General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation, North American Export Sales (NAES) 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7 210 Filling Your Tank The cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of your vehicle. I I I I While refueling, hang the cap inside the fuel door. To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left (counterclockwise). 211 Checking Things Under theHood Hood Release 1 To open the hood, first pull the handle inside the vehicle. It is located onthe floor next to the driver’s seat. Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from painted surfacesas soon as possible. See “Cleaning the Outside of Your Buick” in the Index. When youput.the cap back on, turn it to the right until you hear a clicking noise. NOTICE: If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get the wrong type,it may not fit or have proper venting, and yourfuel tank and emissions system might be damaged. 212 Then go to the front of the vehicle and release the secondary hood release. Lift the hood. Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on properly. Then just pull the hood down and close it firmly. 213 Engine Oil LOW OIL If the “LOW OIL” light on the instrument panel comes on, it means you need to check your engine oil level right away. For more information, see “LOW OIL” light in the Index. You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is an added reminder. It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground. 214 The engine oil dipstick is located near the front and center of the engine compartment. Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick might not show the actual level. To Check Engine Oil When to Add Oil Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again, keeping the tip lower, and check the level. If the oil is at or below the ADD line, then you’ll need to add some oil. But you must use the right kind. This section explains what kind of oil to use. For crankcase capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications’’ in the Index. A A r NOTICE: Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has so much oil that the oil level gets above the cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating range, your engine could be damaged. The engine oil fill cap is located near the front and center of the engine compartment. Just fill it enough to put the level somewhere in the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way back in when you’re through. 215 What Kind of Oil to Use Beginning midyear 1993, oils of the proper quality for your vehicle will be identified with this new “starburst” symbol. The “starburst” symbol indicates that the oil has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute (API), and is preferred for use in your gasoline engine. w RECOMMENDED SA€ VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE. HOT WEATHER You should look for this on the front of the oil container, and use only oils that display this new symbol. iOOK FOR ONE OF THESE LABELS You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your vehicle, as shown in the following chart: If your vehicle has the 3.8L engine, as shown in the chart, S A E 1OW-30 is best for your vehicle. However, you can use SAE 5W-30 if it’s going to be colder than60°F (16°C) before your next oil change. When it’s very cold, you should use SAE 5W-30. These numbers on an oil container show its viscosity,or thickness. Do not use other viscosity oils, such as S A E 1OW-40 or S A E 2OW-50. 216 COLD WEATHER IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30 GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30 GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C). DO NOT USE SAE 1W-40,SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECTTHE LOWEST I FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE. SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OL LOOK FOR ONE OF THESE LABELS HOT WEATHER If your vehicle has the 3.1L engine, as shown in the chart, SAE 5W-30 is best for your vehicle. However, you can use SAE low-30 if it’s going to be 0°F (- 18“C) or above. These numbers on an oil container Do not use other show its viscosity, or thickness. viscosity oils, such as SAE 1OW-40 or SAE 20W-50. If you cannot find oils with the new “starburst” symbol on the front of the container, you should look for and use oils containing the following three things: 0 SH or SG “SH” or “SG” must be on the oil container, either by itself or combined with other quality designations, such as “SH/CD,” “SH,SG,CD,” “SG/CD” etc. These letters show American Petroleum Institute (API) levels of quality. 0 SAE low-30 (3.8L Engine) r 0 SAE 5W-30 (3.1L Engine) f-30 RED 0 Energy Conserving I1 SAE 1OW-30 r COLD WEATHER IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30 GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 3 0 GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C). Oils with these words on the container will help you save fuel. DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50OR ANY OTHER GRAOE OIL NOT RECOMMENOEO 217 These three things are usually included in a doughnut shaped logo (symbol) on most containers. If you cannot find oils with the “starburst” symbol, you should look for oils with the doughnut shaped symbol, containing the three things noted above. GM Goodwrench@oil (in Canada, GM Engine Oil) meets all the requirements for your vehicle. Engine Oil Additives Don’t add anything to your oil. Your Buick dealer is ready to advise if you think something should be added. When to Change Engine Qil See if any one of these is true for you: I NOTICE: If you use oils that do not have either the “starburst” symbolor an API SH or SG designation, you can cause engine damage not covered by your warranty. 218 0 Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km). 0 It’s below freezing outside and most trips are less than 10 miles ( 16 km). 0 The engine is at low speed most of the time (as in door-to-door delivery, or in stop-and-go traffic). 0 You tow a trailer often. Most trips are through dusty places. If any one of these is true for your vehicle, then you need to change your oil and filter every 3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever comes first. If none of them is true, change the oil every 7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months -- whichever comes first. Change the filter at the first oil change and at every other oil change after that. Engine Coolant Heater (Engine Block Heater) Air Cleaner An engine coolant heater can be a big help if you have to park outside in very cold weather, 0°F (- 18“C) or colder. If your vehicle has this option, see “Engine Coolant Heater” in the Index. What to Do with Used Oil Did you know that used engine oil contains certain elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.) Used oil can be a real threat to the environment. If you change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever dispose of oil by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center for help. The air cleaner is in the right front area of the engine compartment. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to replace the air filter. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index. 219 Automatic Transaxle Fluid When to Check and Change A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid level is when the engine oil is changed. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to change your fluid. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index. How to Check I NOTICE: If the aircleaner is off, a backfire can cause a damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get into yourengine, which willdamage it. Always have the aircleaner in place when you’re driving. Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may choose to have this done at a Buick dealership Service Department. If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions here, or you could get a falsereading on the dipstick. NOTICE: Too much or too little fluidcan damage your transaxle. Too much canmean that some of the fluid couldcome out and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system, starting a fire. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you check your transaxle fluid. Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle fluid level if you have been driving: three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift lever in “P” (Park). Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes. 0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C). 0 0 At high speed for quite a while. Then, without shutting off the engine. follow these steps: In heavy traffic 0 -- especially in hot weather. While pulling a trailer. To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal operating temperature, which is 180°F to 200°F (82°C to 93°C). Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F (10°C). If it’s colder than 50°F (lO”C), you may have to drive longer. To check the fluid level Park your vehicle on a level place. 0 With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever in “P” (Park). 0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through each gear range, pausing for about 1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel. 2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and then pull it back out again. A A A How to Add Fluid Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants’’ in the Index. If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on the dipstick. I . Pull out the dipstick. L L 3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower level. The fluid level must be in the cross-hatched area. 4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the dipstick back in all the way. 222 2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the dipstick hole to bring it to the proper 1evel.It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a pint (OSL). Don’t overfill. We recommend you use only fluid labeled DEXRON@-111or DEXRON@-IIE,because fluids with that label are made especially for your automatic transaxle. Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON@-I11 orDEXRON@-IIEis not covered by your new vehicle warranty. 0 After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as described under “How to Check.’’ 0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the dipstick back in all the way. Engine Coolant The following explains your cooling system and how to add coolantwhen it is low. If youhave a problem with engine overheating orif you need to add coolant to your radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index. The proper coolantfor your Buick will: 0 Give freezing protection down to-34°F (-37°C). 0 Give boiling protection up to 262°F (128°C). Protect against rust and corrosion. 0 Help keep the proper engine temperature. Let the warning lights work as they should. What to Use Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably distilled) and one-half antifreeze that meets “GM Specification 1825-M,” which won’t damage aluminum parts. You can also usea recycled coolant conforming to GM Specification 1825-M with a complete coolant flush and refill. If you use this mixture, you don’t need to add anything else. NOTICE: If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. Too much water in the mix can freeze ‘and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts. 223 Adding Coolant To Check Coolant When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at “COLD” or a little higher. When your engine is warm, the level should be up to “HOT” or a little higher. If this light comes on, it means you’re low on engine coolant. LOW COOLANT The coolant recovery tank is located at the left of the engine compartment. To Add Coolant If you need more coolant, add the proper mix at the coolant recovery tank. If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add coolant to the radiator. (See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.) 224 Radiator Pressure Cap A CAUTION: Turning the radiator pressure cap when the engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and scalding liquidsto blow out and burn you badly. With the coolant recovery tank, you willalmost never haveto add coolant at the radiator. Never turn the radiator pressure cap even alittle when the engine and radiator are hot. -- -- Add coolant mix at the recovery tank, but be careful not to spill it. A CAUTION: You can be burnedifyou spifl coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol, and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine. NOTICE: Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa) pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage from overheating. Besure the arrows on the cap line up withthe overflow tube on the radiator filler neck. When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@ cap is recommended. Thermostat Engine coolant temperatureis controlled by a thermostat in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stopsthe flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant reaches a preset temperature. When you replace your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat is recommended. 225 Power Steering Fluid What to Add Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index. NOTICE: When adding power steeringfluid or making a complete fluid change, alwaysuse the proper fluid. Failure to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and damage hosesand seals. How To Check Power Steering Fluid Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap and completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick. When the engine compartment is hot, the level should be at the “HOT” mark. 0 When the engine compartment is cool, the level should be at the “FULL COLD” mark. 226 Windshield Washer Fluid To Add NOTICE: 0 0 0 0 When using concentratedwasher fluid, follow themanufacturer’s instructions for adding water. Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze and damage your washer fluid tank and other parts of the washer system. Also, water doesn’t clean as well as washerfluid. Fill yourwasher fluid tank only 3/4 full when it’s very cold. This allows for expansion, which coulddamage the tank if it is completely full. Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your windshield washer. It can damage your washer system and paint. Open the caplabeled “WASHER FLUID ONLY.” Add washer fluid until the bottle is full. 227 Brakes Brake Master Cylinder Your brake master cylinder is here. It is filled with DOT-3 brake fluid. There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in your master cylinder might go down. The first is that the brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid level goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you should have your brake system fixed, since a leak means 228 that sooner or later your brakes won’t work well, or won’t work at all. So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak. If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add (or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is done on the brake hydraulic system. When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake warning light will come on. See “Brake System Warning Light” in the Index. Brake Wear What to Add When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake fluid -- such as Delco Supreme 11 (GM Part No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed container only, and always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap before removing it. @ I NOTICE: @ Your Buick has four-wheel disc brakes. Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except when you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly). Don’t let someone put in the wrong kind of fluid. For example,just a few drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in your brake system can damage brake system parts so badly that they’ll have to be replaced. Brake fluid can damage paint, so be careful not to spillbrake fluid on your vehicle. If you do, wash it off immediately. See “Appearance Care’’ in the Index. I NOTICE: Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads could result in costly brake repair. 229 See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble. Vehicles we design and test have top-quality GM brake parts in them, as your Buick does when it is new. When you replace parts of your braking system -- for example, when your brake linings wear down and you have to have new ones put in -- be sure you get new genuine GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no longer work properly. For example, if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the balance between your front and rear brakes can change, for the worse. The braking performance you’ve come to expect can change in many other ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts. Brake Adjustment Battery Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your disc brakes adjust for wear. If you rarely make a moderate .or heavier siop, then your brakes might not adjust correctly. If you drive in that way, then -- very carefully -- make a few moderate brake stops about every 1000 miles (1600 km), so your brakes will adjust properly. Every new Buick has a Delco Freedom@battery. You never have to add water to one of these. When it’s time for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom@ battery. Get one that has the catalog number shown on the original battery’s label. Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly applied. This does not mean something is wrong with your brakes. Brake linings should always be replaced as complete axle sets. Brake Pedal Travel Keplacing Brake SystemParts The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its many parts have to be of top quality and work well together if the vehicle is to have really good braking. 230 Vehicle Storage If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more, take off the black, negative (-) cable from the battery. This will help keep your battery from running down. Headlamp Bulb Replacement Headlight bulbs can be changed as described by the following procedure. Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle for longer storage periods. Halogen Bulbs 231 1. Remove the electrical 4. Install the electrical connector with slotted grooves toi d e front of vehicle. connector (A) from thetoward bulb by raising the lock Taillamp Bulb Replacement tab (B) and pulling the connector down and Remove the plastic nuts that secure the trunk trim over away from the bulb’s the taillights area. plastic base (C). A B 2. Press and turn the plastic base (C) a 1/4 turn counterclockwise and remove from the metal retaining ring (E) by gently pulling back and away from the headlight. 3. Install the new bulb by inserting the smallest tab (D) lqcated on top of the plastic base into the corresponding notch in the metal retaining ring (E). Turn 1/4 turn clockwise until it stops. The small plastic tab should be at the top of the metal ring. 232 1. Remove the plastic wingnuts of the taillamp bulbs you want to replace. 3. Squeeze the bulb socket and turn it 1/4 turn to detach it from the light. 2. Pull the taillight away from body carefully, to avoid scratching the paint or dropping it. 233 Loading Your Vehicle TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION OCCUPANTS VEHICLE CAP. WT. RR. TOTAL LBS. KG CTR. FRT. 4. Pull the bulb straight out to remove it from its socket. The new bulb must be aligned properly, then push it in the socket. Reinstall the socket, taillight, and rear trunk trim. 234 MAX. LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT XXX COLD TIRE TIRE SIZE PRESSURE SPEED PSI/KPa RTG FRT. RR. SPA. IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PS1/28KPa SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL , INFORMATION IlJ@#@i Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label found on the deck lid, tells you the proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you important information about the number of people that can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you can carry. This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight and includes the weight of all occupants, cargo, and all nonfactory-installed options. And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it out. Don’t carry more than167 pounds (76 kilograms) in your trunk. 7 MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP GVWR GAWR FRT GAWR (81DATE RR THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLICABLE U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE. ~~~ NOTICE:. The other label is the Certification label, found on the rear edge of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross weight capacityof your vehicle, called the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating).The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo. Never exceedthe GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)for either the frontor rear axle. Your warranty does not cover parts or components that fail because of overloading. If you put things insideyour vehicle - like suitcases, tools, packages, or anything else -they will go as fast as the vehicle goes.If you have tostop or turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they’ll keep going. 235 will have a tire warranty folder from each of these manufacturers. Tires We don’t make tires. Your new vehicle comes with high quality tires made by a leading tire manufacturer. These tires are warranted by the tire manufacturers and their warranties are delivered with every new Buick. If your spare tire is a different brand than your road tires, you 236 Inflation - Tire Pressure When to Check The Tire-Loading Information label which is on the deck lidCheck your tires once a month or more. shows the correct inflation pressures for your tires, when Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at 60 they’re cold. “Cold” means your vehicle has been sitting for psi (420 kPa). at least three hours or driven no more than a mile. How to Check NOTICE: Don’t letanyone tell you that underinflation or overinflation is allright. It’s not. If your tires don’t have enough air (underinflation)you can get: 0 Too much flexing Too much heat Tire overloading Bad wear 0 Badhandling Bad fuel economy. If your tireshave too muchair (overinflation), you canget: Unusual wear 0 Badhandling 0 Roughride Needless damage from road hazards. Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire pressure. Simply looking at the tires will not tell you the pressure, especially if you have radial tires -- which may look properly inflated even if they’re underinflated. If your tires have valve caps, be sure toput them back on. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture. 237 Tire Inspection and Rotation To make your tires last longer, have them inspected and rotated at the mileages recommended in the Maintenance Schedule. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index. FRONT Use this rotation pattern. After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and rear inflation pressure as shown on the Tire-Loading Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in the Index. 238 When It’s Time for New Tires One way to tell when it’s time for new tires is to check the treadwear indicators, which will appear when your tires have only 2/32 inch (1.6 mm) or less of tread remaining. You need a new tire i f 0 You can see the indicators at three or more places around the tire. 0 You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire’s rubber. 0 The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep enough to show cord or fabric. The tire has a bump, bulge or split. The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that can’t be repaired well because of the size or location of the damage. Buying New Tires To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at the Tire-Loading Information label. The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec) number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires, get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way, your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating, traction, ride and other things during normal service on your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread design, the TPC number will be followed by a “MS” (for mud and snow). If you ever replace your tires with those not having a TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size, load range, speed rating and construction type (bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires. 239 Treadwear The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditiolis on a specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, however,and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate. Uniform Tire Quality Grading The following infortnation relates to the system developed by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which grades tires by tfeadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.) - Traction A, B, C The traction grades, ffom highest to lowest are: A, B, and C. They represent the tire's ability to stop on .wet pavement as measured under controlledconditions on specified governmenttest surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poortraction performance. Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire .is based on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turning) traction. 240 - Temperature A, B, C The temperature grades areA (the highest), B, and C, representing the tire’s resistanceto the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law. Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure. These grades aremolded on the sidewalls of passenger car tires. While the tires available as standard or optional equipment on General Motors vehicles may vary with respect to these grades, all such tires meet General Motors performance standards and have been approved for use on General Motors vehicles. All passenger type (P Metric) tires must conform to Federal safety requirements in addition to these grades. Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life and best overall performance. In most cases, you will not need to have your wheels aligned again. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels may need to be rebalanced. 241 Wheel Replacement Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts should be replaced. If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your Buick dealer if any of these conditions exist. Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need. Each new wheel should have the same load carrying capacity, diameter, width, offset, and be mounted the same way as the one it replaces. If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your Buick model. 242 NOTICE: The wrong wheel can also cause problems with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odometer calibration, headlight aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clearance, and tire or tire chain clearance to the body and chassis. Used Replacement Wheels Tire Chains NOTICE: If your Buick has P215/60R16 or P225/60R16 size tires, don’t use tire chains; they can damage your vehicle. If you have other tires, use tire chains only where legal and only when you must. Use only SAE Class “S” type chains that are the proper size for your tires. Install them on the front tiresand tighten them astightly as possible with the ends securely fastened. Drive slowly and follow the chain manufacturer’s instructions. If you can hear the chains contacting your vehicle, stop and retighten them. If the contact continues, slow down until it stops. Driving toofast with chains on willdamage your vehicle. 243 Appearance Care NOTICE: Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some are toxic. Others can burst into flame if you strike a match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space. When you use anything from a container to clean your Buick, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings and instructions. And always open your doors or windows when you’re cleaning the inside. Don’t use anyof these unless this manual says you can. In many uses, these will damage your vehicle: Alcohol 0 LaundrySoap Bleach ReducingAgents Never use these to clean your vehicle: 0 Gasoline Cleaning the Insideof Your Buick 0 Benzene 0 Naphtha Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather with a clean, damp cloth. 0 Carbon Tetrachloride 0 Acetone 0 Paint Thinner Your Buick dealer has two GM cleaners, a solvent-type spot lifter and a foam-type powdered cleaner. They will clean normal spots and stains very well. Do not use them on vinyl or leather. 0 Turpentine Here are some cleaning tips: 0 Lacquer Thinner 0 Always read the instructions on the cleaner label. a Nail Polish Remover 0 Clean up stains as soon as you can -- before they set. They can all be hazardous -- some more than others -and they can all damage your vehicle, too. 0 Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean area often. A soft brush may be used if stains are stubborn. 244 0 0 Use solvent-type cleaners in a well-ventilated area only. If you use them, don’t saturate thestained area. NOTICE: If a ring forms after spot cleaning, clean the entire Be careful with a hair dryer or heat lamp. You could scorch the fabric. area immediately or it will set. Using Foam-Type Cleaneron Fabric 0 Vacuum and brush the area to remove any loose dirt. 0 Always clean a whole trim panel or section. Mask surrounding trim along stitch or welt lines. 0 0 Wipe with a clean cloth. Using Solvent-Type Cleaner on Fabric Mix Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner following the directions on the container label. First, see if you have to use solvent-type cleaner at all. Some spots and stains will clean off better with just water and mild soap. Use suds only and apply with a clean sponge. If you need to use a solvent: Don’t saturate the material. 0 Don’t rub it roughly. As soon as you’ve cleaned the section, use a sponge to remove the suds. 0 Rinse the section with a clean, wet sponge. 0 Wipe off what’s left with a slightly damp paper towel or cloth. 0 Then dry it immediately with a blow dryer or aheat lamp. Gently scrape excess soil from the trim material with a clean, dull knife or scraper. Use very little cleaner, light pressure and clean cloths (preferably cheesecloth). Cleaning should start at the outside of the stain, “feathering” toward the center. Keep changing to a clean section of the cloth. a When you clean a stain from fabric, immediately dry the area with an air hose, hair dryer, or heat lamp to help prevent a cleaning ring. (See the previous NOTICE.) . Special Cleaning Problems 0 If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine, treat the area with a waterbaking soda solution: 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml) of lukewarm water. 0 If needed, clean lightly with solvent-type cleaner. Greasy or Oily Stains Such as grease, oil, butter, margarine, shoe polish, coffee with cream, chewing gum, cosmetic creams, vegetable oils, wax crayon, tar and asphalt. 0 Carefully scrape off excess stain. 0 Follow the solvent-type instructions described earlier. 0 Shoe polish, wax crayon, tar and asphalt will stain if left on a vehicle seat fabric. They should be removed as soon as possible. Be careful, because the cleaner will dissolve them and may cause them to spread. Combination Stains Such as candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chili sauce and unknown stains. 0 Carefully scrape off excess stain, then clean with cool water and allow to dry. 0 If a stain remains, clean it with solvent-type cleaner. Cleaning Vinyl Non-Greasy Stains Use warm water and a clean cloth. Such as catsup, coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit juice, milk, soft drinks, wine, vomit, urine and blood. 0 Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. You may have to do it more than once. 0 Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain if you don’t get them off quickly. Use a clean cloth and a solvent-type vinyl cleaner. 0 Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the soiled area with cool water. 0 If a stain remains, follow the foam-type instructions described earlier. 246 Cleaning Leather Care of Safety Belts Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or saddle soap. Keep belts clean and dry. 0 For stubborn stains, use a mild solution of 10% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)and 90% water. 0 Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather. Soiled leather should be cleaned immediately. If dirt is allowed to work into finish, it can harm the leather. Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces of the instrument panel. Sprays containingsilicones or waxes may cause annoyingreflections in the windshield and even make it difficult to see through the windshield under certain conditions. I not be able to provide adequate protection. Clean Glass Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films. Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass, because they may cause scratches. Avoid placing decals on the inside rear window, since they may have to be scraped off later. If abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear window, an electric defogger element may be damaged. Any temporary license should not be attached across the defogger grid. 247 Cleaning the Outside of the Windshield and Wiper Blades If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield washer, or if the wiper blade chatters when running, wax or other material may be on the blade or windshield. Clean the outside of the windshield with GM Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami Powder@(GM Part No. 1050011). The windshield is clean if beads do not form when you rinse it with water. Clean the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked in full strength windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the blade with water. Wiper blades should be checked on a regular basis and replaced when worn. Cleaning the Outside of Your Buick The paint finisH on your vehicle provides beauty, depth of color, gloss retention and durability. Washing Your Vehicle The best way to preserve your vehicle’s finish isto keep it clean by washing it often with lukewarmor cold water. Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun. Don’t use strong soaps or chemical detergents. Use liquid hand, dish or car washing (mild detergent) soaps. Don’t use cleaning agents that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agents should be flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on the surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish with a soft, clean chamois or a 100%cotton towel to avoid surface scratches and water spotting. High pressure car washes may cause water to enter your vehicle. Finish Care Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your Buick may be necessary to remove residue from the paint finish. You can get GM approved cleaning products from your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Materials” in the Index.) Your Buick has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish. The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish. 248 I NOTICE: Machine compoundingor aggressive polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may dull the finish or leave swirl marks. Aluminum Wheels (If So Equipped) Your aluminum wheels have a protective coating similar to the painted surface of your car. Don’t use strong soaps, chemicals, chromepolish, abrasive cleaners or abrasive cleaning brushes on them because you could damage this coating. After rinsing thoroughly, a wax may be applied. White Sidewall Tires Your Buick dealer has a GM White Sidewall Tire Cleaner. You can use a stiff brush with the cleaner. Weatherstrips Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every six months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent application may be required. (See “Recommended Fluids & Lubricants” in the Index.) Sheet Metal Damage If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or replaced to restore corrosion protection. If you have aluminum wheels,don’t use an automatic vehicle wash that has hard silicon carbide cleaning brushes. These brushes can take off the protective coating. 249 Foreign Material Underbody Maintenance Calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, and other foreign matter can damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on painted surfaces. Use cleaners that are marked safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter. Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust control can collect on the underbody. If these are not removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust system even though they have corrosion protection. Finish Damage At least every spring, flush these materials from the underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud and other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areas of the frame should be loosened before being flushed. Your dealer or an underbody vehicle washing system can do this for you. Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode quickly and may develop into a major repair expense. Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up materials available from your dealer or other service outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected in your dealer’s body and paint shop. Fiberglass Springs NOTICE: Don’t use corrosive or acidic cleaning agents, engine degreasers, aluminum cleaning agents or other harsh solvents to clean fiberglass springs; they’ll damage the springs. Chemical Paint Spotting Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into the paint surface. Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Buick will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within 12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase, whichever comes first. 251 I I Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials I You can get these from your Buick dealer. ESCRIPTION Silicone Grease * Not recommended for pigskin suede leather. 252 I Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Service Parts Identification Label You’ll find this label on the deck lid. It’s very helpful if you ever need to order parts. Onthis label is: Ip1“l SAMPLE4UXRM072675 ENGINE 4 CODE \ 4 f MODEL YEAR ASSEMBLY PLANT yourVIN, the model designation, paintinformation,and a list of all production options and special equipment. Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle. This is the legal identifier for your Buick.It appears on a plate in the front cornerof the instrument panel, on the driver’s side. You can see it if you look through the windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts labels and the certificatesof title and registration. Engine Identification The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code. This code will help you identify your engine, specifications, and replacement parts. Add-on Electrical Equipment NOTICE: Don’t add anything electrical to your Buick unless you check with your dealer first. Some electrical equipment can damage your vehicleand the damage wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment can keep other components from workingas they should. Your vehicle has an airbag system. before attemptingto add anything electrical to your Buick, see “Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Buick” in the Index. 253 Fuses and Circuit Breakers Headlights The wiring circuits in your car are protected from short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers, and fusible thermal links in the wiring itself. This greatly reduces the chance of fires caused by electrical problems. The headlight wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in the light switch. An electrical overload will cause the lights to go on and off, or in some cases to remain off. If this happens, have your headlight wiring checked right away. Windshield Wipers W The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavy snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor cools. If the overload is caused by some electrical problem and not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed. Power Windows and Other Power Options Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure to replace the bad fuse with a new one of the identical size and rating. 254 Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power windows and other power accessories. When the current load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the circuit until the problem is fixed or goes away. Amp Fuse Block Amp 1. 2. 10 10 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 20 2s IO 15 15 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 1s 13. 20 1s 5 1s 15 Description Radio & Clock, Steering Wheel Radio Switches. Headlight Switch, Air Bag Diagnostic Module, ABS Lamp Driver Module, Daytime Running Lamps Module (w/DRL), TCC/Brake Switch, Cruise Control Cut-Out Switch, Instrument Cluster, Chime Module, Rear Defogger Timer Relay A/C HI Blower Relay Wipermasher Switch Turn Signal Flasher TCC/Brake Switch, Hazard Flasher Vanity Mirror, Lights, I/P Compartment Light, Courtesy Lights, Trunk Courtesy Light, Dome/Reading Lights, Cigar Lighter. Air Bag Diagnostic Module Power Door Locks, Remote Keyless Entry System Cigar Lighter Theft Deterrent Decoder Module Heater, Vent A/C Solenoid Box, A/C LO Blower Relay Chime Module, Electronic Brake Control Module. Theft Deterrent Decoder Module, Radio, Passive Restraint Timer Relay, Low Oil Level Module 14. 15 1s. 5 16. 10 17. 18. 5 Description Air Temperature Valve Motors,InstrumentCluster, Daytime Running Lights Module (w/DRL), HVAC Control Assembly, Multi-Function Lever, Heated Oxygen Sensor #2, Passenger Temperature Control Electronic Brake ControlModule,Underhood Electrical Center #2, ABS Relay Antenna Relay, OutsideMirrorControl, Front Window/Door Lock Switches, Front Door Handle Switches Not Used Air Bag Diagnostic Module n This fuse panel is inside the glove box. Pull the cover down to access the fuses. Some spare fuses and a fuse puller are included. @m@ CTSY ARBGl DRLKS ClLTR VATS HVAC 255 Component Center Under Instrument Panel Amp 1. Description Relay Timer Defogger 2. Air Conditioner Blower Relay 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Air Conditioner Blower Relay 256 30 30 30 Defogger Rear (HI) (LO) Circuit Breaker I Power Accessories Breaker Circuit Power Windows Sunroof and Not Used 20 Fuse Control Lock Chime Module Hazard Flasher . r Circuit Braker I Description Electrical Center Passenger Side - Underhood 12. 60 13. 60 Description Amp Minifuse 1. 2. 3. Used 15 20 4. 15 5. IS 1s 6. 7. 8. 9. ' 1s IS 1s Not Remote Trunk Release Powertrain Control Module (PCM), Fuel Pump/Oil Pressure Switch, Fuel Pump Relay. Fan Control # I Relay Automatic Transaxle, Transaxle Range Switch (w/VIN M only) Generator.Exhaust Digital Recirc'ulation (DEGR), Heated Oxygen Sensor, Fan Control #2 Relay, A/C Compressor Relay (VIN M only) Cruise Control Module. A/C Compressor Relay (VIN L only) Fuel Injectors, High Resolution 24X Crankshaft Position Sensor, Camshaft Position Sensor Powertrain Control Module (PCM), Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor (VIN L only) Electronic Ignition (E1)-Control Module Passenger Side Underhood Electrical Center and I/P Fuse Block: Blower Fuse. Stop Fuse. Door Locks Fuse Fan Control #2 Relay and Component Center: Rear Defog Circuit Breaker, Power ACC Circuit Breaker Relay Fuel Pump A/C Compressor Fan Control #2 - Secondary Cooling Fan (Passenger Side) Fan Control # I - Primary Cooling Fan (Driver Side) Not Used 14. 1s. 16. 17. 18 ~~~~~ ~ Erlmm TCC ENG EMlS CRUISE F/INJN ECM IGN ELEK IGN [I ~~~ Maxifuse 10. 60 11. 60 I/P Fuse Block, Courtesy Fuse. C/Ltr Fuse. Elec. Fuse, ACC Fuse Fdn Control # I Relay 257 Electrical Center Driver Side - Underhood Amp Description Minifuse 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 10 25 1s 7. 8. 9. Not Used Not Used Not Used Fog Lamps Parking Lamps, Headlight Switch Horn Relay, Underhood Light Not Used Not Used Not Used Maxifuse 10. 40 11 40 258 Component Center: Power Windows Circuit Breaker, Passenger Side Underhood Electrical Center, TCC and Engine Emissions Fuses I/P Fuse Block: Radio, Wiper, HVAC, ABS and Turn Signal Fuses; Passenger Side Underhood Electrical Center: Fuel Injections, ECM IGN and ELEK IGN Fuses Amp 12. 13. Description 30 60 Headlight Switch Circuit Breaker ABS Relay Relay 14. 1s. 16. Anti-lock Brake System Fog Lamps Horn Regal Dimensions Inches Unless Otherwise Noted Overall: Coupe Sedan Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193.6 194.8 Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wheelbase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front Tread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rear Tread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72.5 53.0 107.5 59.5 58.0 Interior Front: Leg Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42.3 Head Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.8 Shoulder Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57.6 Hip Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.0 ~ ~ 72.5 54.5 107.5 59.5 58.0 Interior Rear: Coupe Sedan LegRoom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Head Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shoulder Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hip Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.8 37.1 56.8 53.1 36.2 37.8 57.8 53.2 Trunk Capacity . CU. Ft . . . . 15.6 15.9 Passengers: 42.4 38.7 57.8 52.7 Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 Base Curb Weight . Lbs . . . 3258 3 3 3346 259 Replaceable Light Bulbs Application Number EXTERIOR Headlight 9005 HighBeam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9006 H3 FogLamp ............................. Coupe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 890 Park/Turn . 3157 Parkrurn-Sedan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front Side Marker . Coupe . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194NA Front Side Marker . Sedan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Backup-Coupe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 892 Backup-Sedan ........................ 3057 High Level Stop ....................... 3 155 High Level Stop - Luggage Rack . . . . . . . . . . . 89 1 License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Rear Side Marker - Coupe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 260 Application Number EXTERIOR (continued) Rear Side Marker . Sedan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 194 Tail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3057 Tail/Stop/Turn ......................... INTERIOR Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Courtesy Lamp . Rear Quarter . . . . i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 562 Dome ............................... 211-2 Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 561 Glovebox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1816 Luggage Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 920 Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Reading Lamp ........................ 212-2 Underhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 561 Vanity Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TS-14VlCP Capacities and Specifications Engine CodeL (L27) 3.8L V-6 SF1 Belt Tensions Automatically controlled by an idler pulley. Tension adjustment should never be necessary. Cooling System Capacity 11.1 quartsl10.5 liters Crankcase Capacity Oil change without filter change 4 quarts/3.8 liters Oil change with filter change 4.5 quarts/4.25 liters *Air Conditioning Capacity R134A 2.0 lbs. (0.9 kilograms) * Fuel Tank Capacity 16.5 gallons/62.7 liters Transaxle Automatic Overdrive - Drain & Refi 11 6 quarts/5.7 liters Maintenance Item Part Numbers Air Filter - A925C Fuel Filter - GF579 Oil Filter - PF47 PCV Valve - CV892C Radiator Cap -RC27 Spark Plug - 4 1-60 1, GAP 0.060” Not all air conditioning refrigerants are the same. If the air conditioning system in your vehicle needs refrigerant, be sure the proper refrigerant is used. If you’re not sure ask your Buick dealer. For additional information, see your “Warranty and Owner Assistance Information” booklet. 261 Capacities and Specifications Engine Code M (LS2) 3.1L V-6 MFI Belt Tensions Automatically controlled by an idler pulley. Tension adjustment should never be necessary. Fuel Tank Capacity 16.5 gallons/62.7 liters Cooling System Capacity 11.8 quartsll0.7 liters Transaxle Automatic Overdrive - Drain & Refill 6 quarts/5.7 liters Crankcase Capacity Oil change w/o filter change 4 quarts/3.8 liters Oil change with filter change 4.5 quarts/4.25 liters *Air Conditioning Capacity R134A - 2.0 lbs. (0.9 kilograms) Maintenance ItemPart Numbers Air Filter - A 1 129C Fuel Filter - GF48 1 Oil Filter - PF5 1 PCV Valve - CV892C Radiator Cap -RC27 Spark Plug - R44LTS, GAP 0.045” * 262 Not all air conditioning refrigerants are the same. If the air conditioning system in your vehicle needs refrigerant, be sure the proper refrigerant is used. If you’re not sure ask your Buick dealer. Foradditional information, see your “Warranty and Owner Assistance Information” booklet. Part 7 Maintenance Schedule This part covers the maintenance requiredfor your Buick . Your vehicle needs these services to retain its safety. dependability and emission control performance . Part 7 includes: Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... ................ A Word About Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Your Vehicle and the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How This Part is Organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using Your Maintenance Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SelectingtheRightSchedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Schedule1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Schedule11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Section B: Owner Checks and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AtEachFuelFill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Least Once a Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AtLeastOnceaYear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Section C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Section D:Recommendgd Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Section E: Maintenance Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 264 265 265 266 266 267 268 270 272 274 274 275 275 277 279 281 263 Introduction I IMPORTANT: KEEP ENGINE OIL AT THE PROPER LEVEL AND CHANGE AS RECOMMENDED Protection Plan Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your Buick dealer for details. 264 A Word About Maintenance We at General Motors want to help you keep your vehicle in good working condition. But we don’t know exactly how you’ll drive it. You may drive very short distances only a few times a week. Or you may drive long distances all the time in very hot, dusty weather. You may use your vehicle in making deliveries. Or you may drive it to work, to do errands or in many other ways. Because of all the different ways people use their GM vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may even need more frequent checks and replacements than you will find in the schedules in this part. So please read this part and note how you drive. If you have any questions on how-to keep your vehicle in good condition, see your Buick dealer, the place many GM owners choose to have their maintenance work done. Your dealer can be relied upon to use proper parts and practices. Your Vehicle and the Environment Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the environment. All recommended maintenance procedures are important. Improper vehicle maintenance or the removal of important components can sigHificantly affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper fluid levels or even the wrong tire inflation can increase the level of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect our environment, and to help keep your vehicle in good condition, please maintain your vehicle properly. How This Part is Organized The remainder of this part is divided into five sections: “Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows what to have done and how often. Some of these services can be complex, so unless you are technically qualified and have the necessary equipment, you should let your dealer’s service department or another qualified service center do these jobs. If you are skilled enough to do some work on your vehicle, you will probably want to get the service information GM publishes. You will find a list of publications and how to get them in this manual. See “Service Publications” in the Index. “Section B: Owner Checks and Services” tells you what should be checked whenever you stop for fuel. It also explains what you can easily do to help keep your vehicle in good condition. “Section C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections” explains important inspections that your Buick dealer’s service department or another qualified service center should perform. 265 “Section D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” lists some products GM recommends to help keep your vehicle properly maintained. These products, or their equivalents, should be used whether you do the work yourself or have it done. “Section E: Maintenance Record” provides a place for you to record the maintenance performed on your vehicle. Whenever any maintenance is performed, be sure to write it down in this section. This will help you determine when your next maintenance should be done. In addition, it is a good idea to keep your maintenance receipts. They may be needed to qualify your vehicle for warranty repairs. 266 Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services Using Your Maintenance Schedule This section tells you the maintenance services you should have done and when you should schedule them. Your Buick dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to be happy with it. If you go to your dealer for your service needs, you’ll know that GM-trained and supported service people will perform the work using genuine GM parts. These schedules are for vehicles that: 0 carry passengers and cargo within recommended limits. You will find these limits on your vehicle’s Tire-Loading Information label. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index. 0 are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal driving limits. 0 use the recommended unleaded fuel. See “Fuel” in the Index. Selecting the Right Schedule 0 First you’ll need to decide which of the two schedules is right for your vehicle. Here’s how to decide which schedule to follow: The engine is at low speed most of the time (as in door-to-door delivery, or in stop-and-go traffic). 0 You operate your vehicle in dusty areas. 0 You tow a trailer. Schedule I Is any one of these true for your vehicle? If any one (or more) of these is true for your driving, follow Schedule I. Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km). Schedule I1 Most trips are less than 10 miles (16 km) when outside temperatures are below freezing. Follow Schedule I1 only if none of the above conditions is true. 267 Scheduled Maintenance Services Schedule I I Follow Schedule I if your car is MAINLY driven under one or more of the following conditions: 0 When most trips are less than 4 miles (6 kilometers). 0 When most trips are less than 10 miles (16 kilometers) and outside temperatures remain below freezing. 0 When most trips include extended idling and/or frequent low-speed operation as in stop-and-go traffic. 0 Towing a trailer."? 0 When operating in dusty areas. Schedule I should also be followed if the car is used for delivery service, police, taxi or other commercial applications. ' TO BE SERVICED (See Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services Following Schedules I and 11) Item No. 1. Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change" 2. Chassis Lubrication 3. Tire & Wheel Inspection & Rotation 4. Engine Accessory Drive Belt(s) Inspection* 5. Cooling System Service* 268 I I TO BE SERVICED (See Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services Following Schedules I and 11) WHEN TO PERFORM Miles (kilometers) or Months, Whichever Occurs First MILES (000) 3 6 9 12 15 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 KILOMETERS (000) 45 50 a 0 a The services shownin this schedule up to 48 000 miles (80 000 km) should be performed after 48 000 miles at the same intervals. * i‘ An Emission Control Service. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify the enlission warrantyor limit recall liability prior to the completionof vehicle useful life. GeneralMotors. however, urges that$11 recommended maintenance services be performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance be recorded in “Section E:Maintenance Record”. Scheduled Maintenance Services Schedule I1 I Follow Schedule II ONLY if none the driving of conditions specified Schedule in TO BE SERVICED (See Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services Following Schedules I and IIj I WHEN TO PERFORM Miles (kilometers) or ,Months, Whichever First Occurs Item No. I MILES /OOO) KILOMETERS (000) 12.5 1. Engine Oil Change* Oil Filter Change* ~ Every 7 500 mi. (12 500 km) or 12 mos. a At first and then every other oil change a Every 7 500 mi. (12 500 km) or 12 mos. 0 I 2. ChassisLubrication I ,_ . . 3. Tire & Wheel Inspection & Rotation 1 At 7 500 mi. (12 500 km)and then every 15 000 mi. (25 000 km) or as necessary 4. Engine Accessory Drive Belt(s) Inspection* Every 30000 mi. (50 000 km)or 24 mos. 5. Cooling System Service* 270 I I apply. I I TO BE SERVICED (See Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services Following Schedules I and 11) Item No. 6. Transaxle Service WHEN TO PERFORM Miles (kilometers) or Months, Whichever Occurs First I MILES (000) ~I KILOMETERS (000) 37.5 SO I I I 11 .. 11 I I I 1.1 See Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services Following Schedules I and I1 7. Spark Plug Replacement* I 62.5 I I 8. Spark Plug Wire Inspection*? Every 30 000 mi. (50 000 km) 9. Air Cleaner Filter Replacement* 10.Fuel Tank, Cap & Lines Inspection*? The services shown in this schedule up to 45 000 miles (75 000 km) should be performed after 45 000 miles at the same intervals. * An Emission Control Service. -1- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to the completion of vehicle useful life. General Motors, however. urges that a l l recommended maintenance servicesbe performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance be recorded in "Section E:Maintenance Record". 271 Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services Below are explanations of the services listed in Schedule I and Schedule 11. The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in Section D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses these. All parts should be replaced and all necessary repairs done before youor anyone else drives the vehicle. 3. Tire and Wheel Rotation and Inspection -- For proper wear and maximum tire life, rotate your tires following the instructions in this manual. See “Tires, Inspection & Rotation” in the Index. Check the tires for uneven wear or damage. If you see irregular or premature wear, check the wheel alignment. Check for damaged wheels also. NOTE: To determine your engine’s displacement and code, see “Engine Identification” in the Index. 4. Engine Accessory Drive Belt(s) Inspection-- Inspect the belt(s) for cracks, fraying, wear and proper tension. Replace as needed. (Belts can have small cracksin individual ribs without affecting performance). 1. Engine Oil and Filter Change* -- Always use SH or SG Energy Conserving I1 oils of proper viscosity. The “SH” or “SG” designation may be shown alone or in combination with others, such as “SH/CD,” “SH, SG, CD,” “SG/CD” etc. To determine the preferred viscosity for your vehicle’s engine (e.g., SAE 5W-30or SAE 10W-30), see “Engine Oil” in the Index. 5. Cooling System Service* -- Drain, flush and refill the system with new or approved recycled coolant conforming to GM Specification 1825M. Keep coolant at the proper mixture as specified. See “Coolant” in the Index. This provides proper freeze protection, corrosion inhibitor level andengine operating temperature. 2. Chassis Lubrication -- Lubricate the transaxle shift linkage, parking brake cable guides, underbody contact points and linkage. If your vehicle is equipped with grease fittings, lubricate the suspension and steering linkage. 272 Inspect hoses and replaceif they are cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Tighten screw-type hose clamps. Clean the outside of the radiator and air conditioning condenser. Wash the pressurecap and neck. To help ensure proper operation, we recommend a pressure test of both the cooling system and the pressure cap. 6. Transaxle Service -- Change both the fluid and filter every 15,000 miles (25 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or moreof these conditions: In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches 90 F (32 C) or higher. In hilly or mountainous terrain. When doing frequent trailer towing. Uses such as found in taxi, police car or delivery service. If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, changeboth the fluid and filter every 100,000 miles (1 60 000 km). * 7. Spark Plug Replacement* -- Replace spark plugs with the proper type. See “Specifications Chart” in the Index. 8. Spark Plug Wire Inspection*? -- Inspect for burns, cracks or other damage. Check the boot fit at the distributor and at the spark plugs. Replace wires as needed. 9. Air Cleaner Filter Replacement* -- Replace every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or more often under dusty conditions. Ask your dealer for the proper replacement intervals for your driving conditions. 10. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection*? -- Inspect fuel tank, cap and lines (including fuel rails and injection assembly, if equipped) for damageor leaks. Inspect fuel cap gasket for an even filler neck imprint or any damage. Replace parts as needed. Periodic replacement of the fuel filter is not required. An Emission Control Service. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the California Air Resources Board has determined that the failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to the completion of vehicle useful life. General Motors, however,urges that all recommended maintenance services be performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance be recorded in “Section E:Maintenance Record”. s Section B: Owner Checks and Services Listed below are owner checks and services which should be performed at the intervals specified to help ensure the safety, dependability and emission control performance of your vehicle. Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once. Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown in Section D. 0 274 At Each Fuel Fill (It is important for you or a service station attendant to perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.) I CHECK OR SERVICE Engine Oil Level WHAT TO DO Check the engine oil level and add the properoil if necessary. See “Engine Oil” in the Index for further details. Level Check the engine coolant level and add the propercoolant mix if necessary. See “Coolant” in the Indexfor further details. Level Checkthe windshield washer fluid level in the windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in the Index for further details. At Least Once a Month CHECK OR SERVICE Tire Inflation Cassette Deck WHAT TO DO WHAT TO DO Check tire inflation. Make sure they are inflated to the pressures specified on the Tire-Loading Informationlabel located on the rear edge of the driver’s door.See “Tires” in the Index for further details. Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every 15 hours of tape play. See“Audio Systems” in the Index for further details. At Least Once aYear CHECK OR SERVICE WHAT TO DO Key Lock Cylinders Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant specified in Section D. Body Lubrication Lubricate all body door hinges. Also lubricate all hinges and latches, including those for the hood, glove box door and console door. Section D tells you what to use. 1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room around the vehicle. 2. Firmly apply both the parking brake (see “Parking Brake”in the Index. if necessary) and the regular brake. NOTE: Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to turn off the engine immediately if it starts. 3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The starter should work only in “P” (Park) or “ N ’ (Neutral). If the starter worksinany other position,your vehicle needs service. 275 CHECK OR SERVICE Steering Column Lock WHAT TO DO While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn the key to “LOCK” in each shift lever position. 0 The key should turn to“LOCK” only when the shift lever is in “P” (Park). CHECK OR SERVICE Parking Brake and Automatic Transaxle “p’ (Park) Mechanism Check WHAT TO DO Make sure there is room in front -of your vehicle in case it begins to rolL The key should comeout only in “LOCK.” Parkon a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake, setthe parking brake. 0 0 276 To check the parking brake: With the engine running and the transaxle in “ N ’ (Neutral), slowly remove foot pressure from the regular brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held by the parking brake only. To check the “P” (Park) mechanism’s holding ability: Shift to “P” (Park). Then release all brakes. CHECKOR Underbody Flushing I INSPECTION OR SERVICE WHAT TO DO SERVICE At least every spring, use plain water to flush corrosive any materials from the underbody. Take care to clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris can collect. Section C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections Listed below are inspections and services which should be performed at least twice a year (for instance,each spring and fall). You should let your GM dealer’s service department or other qualified service center do these jobs. Make sure any necessary repairs are completed at once. WHAT SHQULD BE DONE Restraint Systems Now and then, make sure all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, anchorages and reminder systems are working properly. Look for any loose parts or damage. Ifyou see anything that might keep a restraint system from doing its jobs, have it repaired Steering, Suspension and Front-WheelDrive Axle Boot md Seal Inspection Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering system for damaged, loose or missing parts, signs of wear, or lack of lubrication. Inspect the power steering lines and hoses for proper hookup, binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Clean and then inspect the drive axle boot seals for damage, tears or leakage. Replace seals if necessary. . 277 CHECK OR SERVICE WHAT TO DO Exhaust System Inspection Inspect the complete exhaust system. Inspect the body near the exhaust system. Look for broken, damaged, missing or out-of-position parts as well as open seams, holes, loose connections, or other conditions which could cause a heat build-up in the floor pan or could let exhaust fumes into the vehicle. See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index. Throttle Linkage Inspection Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding, and for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts as needed. CHECK OR SERVICE Brake System Inspection WHAT TO DO Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and hoses for proper hookup, binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors for surface condition. Inspect other brake parts, including calipers, parking brake, etc. Check parking brake adjustment. You may need to have your brakes inspected more often if your driving habits or conditions result in frequent braking. NOTE: A low brake fluid level can indicate worn disc brake pads which may need to be serviced. Also, if the brake system warning light stays on or comes on, something maybewrong withthe brake system. See “Brake System WarningLight” in the Index. If your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes and the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on, comes on or flashes, something may be wrong with the anti-lock brake system. See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” in the Index. Section D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants NOTE: Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, pai-t number or specification may be obtained from your GM dealer. - USAGE Engine Oil - Engine Coolant USAGE Hydraulic Brake System Delco Supreme l l @ Brake Fluid (GM Part No. 1052535 or equivalent) DOT-3 brake fluid. Parking Brake Guides Chassis lubricant (GM Part No. 1052497 or equivalent) or lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI Grade 2, Category LB or GC-LB. Power Steering System GM Hydraulic Power Steering Fluid (GM Part No. 1052884 or equivalent). Automatic Transaxle DEXRON@-111 or DEXRON@-IIE Automatic Transmission Fluid. Key Lock Cylinders with Multi-Purpose Lubricate Lubricant (GM Part No. 12345120) synthetic SAE 5W-30 engine oil. Automatic Transaxle Shift Linkage Engine oil. FLUIDlLUBRICANT GM Goodwrench Motor or Oil equivalentfor A P I serviceSHorSG Energy Conserving I1 oils of the proper viscosity. The“SH’ or “SG’ designation may be shown alone or in combination with others, “SH/CD,” such as “SH,SG,CD,” “SG/CD” or etc. To determine the preferred viscosity for your vehicle’s engine, see “Engine Oil” in the Index. 50/50 mixture of water (preferably distilled) andgood quality ethylene glycol base antifreeze (GM Part No. 1052753 or equivalent) conforming to GM Specification 1825M or approved recycled coolant conforming to GM Specification 1825M. FLUIDlLUBRICANT 279 .... .,. ..”. USAGE FLUIDlLUBRICANT i:, .. FLUID/LUBRICANT USAGE ’ Chassis Lubrication Chassis lubricant (GM Part No. 1052497 or equivalent) or lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI Grade 2, Category LB or GC-LB. Fuel Filler Door Hinge and Striker Plunger Chassis lubricant (GM Part No. 1052497 or equivalent) or lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI Grade 2, Categdb LB or GC-LB. Windshield Washer Solvent GM Optikleen@Washer Solvent (GM Part NO. 1051515) or equivalent. Weatherstrips Dielectric Silicone Grease! (GM Part No. 12345579 or equivalent). Hood Latch Assembly a. Pivots. and Spring Anchor b. Release Pawl Hood and Door Hinges a. Engine oil. b Chassis lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI Grade 2, Category LB or GC-LB (GM Part No. 1052497 or equivalent). Engine oil or Lubriplate Lubricant(Ghl Part No. 1050109). See “SpecificationsChart” inatheIndex for recommended replacementfiiiers, valves and spark plugs. Section E: Maintenance Record After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading and who performed the service in the columns indicated. When completing the Maintenance Performed column, insert the numbers DATE ODOMETER READING SERVICED BY from the Schedule I or ScheduleI1 maintenance charts which correspond to the maintenance performed. Also, you should retain all maintenance receipts. Your owner information portfolio is a convenient place to store them. MAINTENANCE PERFORMED I Maintenance Record DATE 282 ODOMETER READING SERVICED BY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED Part 8 Customer Assistance Information Here you will find out how to contact Buick if you need assistance. This Part also tells you how to obtain service publications and how to report any safety defects. Part 8 includes: Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistance for Hearing/Speech Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reporting Safety Defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RoadsideAssistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ServicePublications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 285 285 286 287 288 Customer Satisfaction Procedure Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to your dealer and Buick. Normally, any concern with the sales transaction or the operation of your vehicle will be resolved by your dealer’s Sales or Service Departments. Sometimes, however, despite the best intentions of all concerned, misunderstandings can occur. If your concern has not been resolved to your satisfaction, the following steps should be taken: STEP ONE -- Discuss your concern with a member of dealership management. Normally concerns can be quickly resolved at that level. If the matter has already been reviewed with the Sales, Service, or Parts Manager, contact the owner of the dealership or the General Manager. 283 STEP TWO-- If after contacting a member of dealership management, it appears your concern cannot be resolved by the dealership without further help, contact the Buick Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-521-7300. In Canada, contact GM of Canada Customer Assistance Center in Oshawa by calling 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French). In Mexico, call (525) 254-3777 . In Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands, call 1-809-763- 13 15.In all other overseas locations, contact GM North American Export Sales in Canada by calling 1-905-644-41 12. For prompt assistance, please have the following information available to givethe Customer Assistance Representative: 0 Your name, address, home and business telephone numbers 0 Vehicle Identification Number (This is available from the vehicle registration or title, or the plate at the left top of the instrument panel and visible through the windshield.) 284 Dealership name and location 0 Vehicle delivery date and present mileage Nature of concern We encourage you to call the toll free number listed previously in order to give your inquiry prompt attention. However, if you wish to write Buick, write to: Buick Motor Division, Customer Assistance Center, 902 E. Hamilton Avenue, Flint, MI 48550. Refer to your Warranty andOwner Assistance Information booklet for addresses of Canadian and GM Overseas offices. When contacting Buick, please remember that your concern will likely be resolved in the dealership, using the dealership’s facilities, equipment and personnel. That is why we suggest you follow Step One first if you have a concern. Customer Assistance for the Hearing or Speech Impaired (TDD) To assist customers who have hearing difficulties, Buick has installed special TDD (Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf) equipment at its Customer Assistance Center. Any hearing or speech impaired customer who has access to a TDD or aconventional teletypewriter (TTY) can communicate with Buick by dialing: 1-800-TD-BUICK. (TDD users in Canada can dial 1-800-263-3830.) REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to notifying General Motors. in individual problems between you, your dealer, or General Motors. To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in the Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation Washington, D.C. 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline. REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle has a safety defect, you should immediately notify Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to: Transport Canada at Box 8880 Ottawa, Ontario K 1G 3J2. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved 285 REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO GENERAL MOTORS In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in-a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify us. Please call us at 1-800-521-7300, or write: Buick Motor Division, Customer Assistance Center 902 E. Hamilton Avenue Flint, MI 48550. In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write: General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Assistance Center 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7 Courtesy Transportation To Buick Motor Division, Quality Means Service -- and service means “keeping you on the road.” Included with your 1994 Buick new car warranty, (36 months, or 36,000 miles), is Courtesy Transportation, a program which will provide Buick retail customers with: - Reimbursement toward a loaner vehicle, courtesy of Buick Motor Division, for up to five days for vehicles requiring overnight warranty repairs. Also, reimbursement up to $30 a day (5 days maximum) may be available for the cost of a rental car, bus or even a cab. free one-way shuttle ride up to 10 miles from the dealership is available for customers whose vehicles require same-day warranty repairs. - A Courtesy Transportation is Buick’s way ofextending the Premium Service you’ve come to expect for Buick and it’s 3,000 dealers. Please review the Courtesy Transportation glove-box card contained in your vehicle, or consult your Buick dealer for details. In Canada, please consult your GM Dealer for information on Courtesy Transportation. 286 Roadside Assistance Buick Motor Division is proud to offer Buick Roadside Assistance to customers for vehicles covered under the new car warranty during the,36month/36,000 mile (whichever comes first). Our commitment to Buick owners has always included superior servicethrough our network of 3,000 Buick dealers. Buick Roadside Assistance provides an extra measure of convenience and security providing once again that Buick is “The Next Symbol for Quality in America.” For detailsof Buick Roadside Assistance, please consult your Buick Roadside Assistance owner booklet included with your owner’s manual. For needed assistance, call the Buick Roadside Assistance toll-free hotline: 1-800-252- 1112. Canada Roadside Assistance Vehicles purchased in Canada have an extensive Roadside Assistance program accessible from anywhere in Canada or the United States. Please refer to the separate brochure provided by the dealer or call 1-800-268-6800 for emergency services. Buick Roadside Assistance: - Provides owners with access to minor repairs or towing for disabled vehicles. - Takes the anxiety out of uncertain situations by providing easy access to service professionals trained to work with Buick owners, 24-hour a day, 365 days a year, including weekends and holidays. 287 Service Publications ’ Information on how to obtain Product Service Publications, .Subscriptions and Indexes as described below is applicable only in the fifty U.S. states (and the District of Columbia) and only for cars and light trucks with GVWR less than 10,000 pounds (4 536 kg). In Canada, information pertaining to Product Service Bulletins and Indexes can be obtained by writing to: General Motors of Canada Limited Service Publications Department 1908 Colonel Sam Dr. Oshawa, Ontario L 1H 8P7 Buick regularly sends its dealers useful service bulletins about Buick products. Buick monitors product performance in the field. We then prepare bulletins for servicing our products better. Now, you canget these bulletins too. 288 Bulletins cover various subjects. Some pertain to the proper use and care of your vehicle. Some describe costly repairs. Others describe inexpensive repairs which, if done on time with the latest parts, may avoid future costly repairs. Some bulletins tell a technician how to repair a new or unexpected condition. Others describe a quicker way to fix your vehicle. They can help a technician service your vehicle better. Most bulletins apply to conditions affecting a small number of cars or trucks. Your Buick dealer or a qualified technician may have to determine if a specific bulletin applies to your vehicle. You can subscribe to all Buick bulletins. This way you’ll get them as they come out. You can wait a while and get an index to the bulletins. You can also get individual bulletins. However, you’ll need the index to identify them. Subscriptions You can subscribe to all GM Product Service Publications (PSP’s). Thiswill include bulletins for all cars sold by GM and will not be limited to PSP’s applicable to any particular model.When you buy a subscription, you will receive the PSP’s in periodic mailings, shortly afterthey come out. A subscription entitles you to all PSP’s published by GM during the model year. You can purchase a subscription and get pricing information by calling Helm at 1-800-782-4356. Individual PSP’s If you don’t want to buy all the PSP’s issued by GM for all models in the model year, you can buy individual PSP’s, such as those which may pertain to a particular model. To do this, you will first need to see our index of PSP’s. It provides a variety of information. Here’s what you’ll find in the index and how you can get one: What You’ll Find in the Index: A list of all PSP’s published by GM in a model year ( 1990 or later). PSP’s covering all models of GM cars are listed in the same index. Ordering information so you can buy the specific PSP’s you may want. Price information for the PSP’s you may want to buy. How You Can Get an Index: Indexes are published periodically. Most of the PSP’s which could potentially apply to the most recent GM models will be listed in the most recent publication for that model year. This means you may want to wait until the end of the model year before ordering an index, if you are interested in buying PSP’s pertaining to a current model year car or truck. Some PSP’s pertaining to a particular model year vehicle may be published in later years, and these would be listed in the later year’s index. When you order an index for a model year that is not over yet, we’ll send you the most recently published issue. Check the ordering form for indexes for earlier model years. 289 Cut out the ordering form, fill it out, and mail it in. We will then see to it that an index is mailed to you. There is no charge for indexes for the 1990- 1994 model years. Toll-Free Telephone Number If you want an additional ordering form for an index or a subscription, just call toll-free and we’ll be happy to send you one. Automated recording equipment will take your name and mailing address. The number to call is 1-800-551-4123, Copies at Participating Dealers Copies of Indexes and individual PSP’s are at your participating Buick dealer. You can ask to see them. A VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER: These PSP’s are meant for technicians. They are not meant for the “do-it-yourselfer.” Technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job quickly and safely. Buick Service Publications You can get these by using the order form: 290 W 291 -0f I n t3 C ? 292 Part 9 Index Adding 228 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125.253 Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 2 14 Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 Transaxle Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 227 Windshield Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Air Bag (Supplemental Restraint System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 35 Air Bag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aircleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 122 Air Conditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Air Conditioner Refrigerant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 1. 262 Alcohol. Driving Under the Influence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Alcohol in Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 249 Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Antenna Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Antifreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Anti-lock Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244 Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials . . . . . . . . . . 252 Ashtrays and Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Assistance Customer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 Hearing/Speech Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 287 Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Astroroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Audio Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Automatic Overdrive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Automatic Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 TorqueLock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 173 Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WarningGage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 162 Blizzard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Block Heater (Engine Coolant Heater) . . . . . . . . . . . . 83.219 293 'Blowout. Tire ................................... 196 Brake Adjustment .................................. 230 Anti-lock .................................... 145 Fluid .................................; ..... 228 228 MasterCylinder .............................. Parking ...................................... 87 PedalTravel ................................. 230 Replacement ................................. 230 System. Anti-lock Warning Light................. 115 SystemWarningLight ......................... 114 Wear ....................................... 229 Brakes. Trailer .................................. 167 144 Braking ........................................ Braking in Emergencies . . . . . . . . . : ................. 146 79 Break-In. New Vehicle ............................ 260 BulbChart ..................................... Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 1 Bulbs. Halogen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 Capacities and Specifications Chart ............. 261. 262 91 CarbonMonoxide . . . . . . : ......................... 111 Carrier. Luggage ................................ Cassette Tape Player ......................... 128, 132 135 Cassette Tape Player Care ......................... 10 Cautions, Safety .................................. CB Radio, Adding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125,253 Cellular Telephone, Adding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125,253 243 Chains, Tire .................................... Changing a Flat Tire .............................. 197 294 119 Check Gages Light ............................... Checking BrakeFluid ..................................228 Engine Coolant ................................223 Engine Oil .................................... 214 Power Steering Fluid .......................... 226 Restraint Systems ............................... 67 220 Transaxle Fluid ............................... Underhood .................................. 212 Windshield Washer Fluid ....................... 227 251 Chemical Paint Spotting........................... Child Restraints .................................. 52 50 Children and Safety Belts ........................... CigaretteLighter ................................ 110 Circuit Breakers and Fuses ........................ 254 CityDriving .................................... 155 Cleaner. Air .................................... 219 Cleaning AluminumWheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249 Antenna ..................................... 136 Cassette Player ............................... 135 Fabric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245 Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247 Inside Your Buick ............................. 244 247 Instrument Panel .............................. Leather ..................................... 247 Outside YourBuick ........................... 248 Safety Belts .................................. 247 Underbody Maintenance ........................ 250 Vinyl ....................................... 246 White Sidewall Tires ........................... 249 Windshield Wiper and Blades.................... 248 Clock Setting ............................... 128.132 121 Comfort Controls ................................ Compact Disc Player ............................. 129 136 Compact Disc Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 143 Control of a Vehicle .............................. 69 Controls. Features and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Convenience. Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coolant. Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 WarningGage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 83.2 19 Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safety Warnings .............................. 187 105 Courtesy Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286 98 Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Customer Assistance Hearing /Speech Impaired ...................... 285 Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 Daytime Running Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Defogger. Rear Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Defrost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dimensions Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Disposal of Used Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DoorLocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Downshifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Driving City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 140 125 121 259 2 19 71 84 155 147 140 Drunken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Foreign . Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Freeway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hill and Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LongDistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Through Deep Standing Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 210 156 159 157 152 153 82 160 Electrical Equipment. Adding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125.253 Emergency Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 173 Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Engine Block Heater (Coolant Heater) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83,219 Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Coolant Temperature Warning Gage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Identification (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Oil Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Oil Pressure Warning Gage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 187 Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Ethanol in Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 91 Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expectant Mothers, Use of Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 295 . . . . -. ~ . . Fabric Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245 Features and Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Fiberglass Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 1 Filling the Fuel Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 1 Filter. Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214 Finish Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Finish Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 FirstGear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Flash-To-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 172 Flashers. HazardWarning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 FloodedEngine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Fluid Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228 Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 1. 262 Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226 220 Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Windshield Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 Fluids and Lubricants Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 103 FogLights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Foreign Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 10 Francais. Guide En . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 156 Freeway Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . French Language Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 26 1. 262 Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FillingYourTank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 Gage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 In Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 10 LowLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254 Gage Battery (Voltage Indicator) ...................... 119 Engine Coolant Temperature .................... 116 117 EngineOil Pressure ........................... Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 211 Gasoline Tank Filling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gear Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Glasscleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247 231 Halogen Bulbs ................................. Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 23 Headlamp Bulb Replacement ........................ Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 96 High-Low Beam Changer ....................... 103 Headlight “On” Warning ....................... Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Hearing Impaired Assistance ....................... 285 Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Heater. Engine Block (Engine Coolant Heater) . . . . . . 83.219 Highway Hypnosis ............................... 158 Hill and Mountain Roads .......................... 159 166 Hitches. Trailer .................................. 212 Hood Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Hot Coolant Warning Gage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Hot Engine Safety Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 154 Hydroplaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Identification Label. Service Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .253 Identification Number. Vehicle (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 91 Idling Your Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indicators. Warning Lights and Gages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 52 Infant Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inflation. Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237 111 Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack. Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 173 K e y l e s s Entry System. Remote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IgnitionPositions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PASS SecuritySystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 70 80 78 L a b e l . Service Parts Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Lane Change Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 LapBelt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Lap-Shoulder Belt 27 Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.44 LeatherCleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247 Leaving Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Lighter. Cigarette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 10 Lights Air Bag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 103 DaytimeRunning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 103 “On” Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Readingk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Removmg and Replacing 231 Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wdrning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Loading YourVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234 Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 157 Long Distance Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 Lubricants and Fluids, Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 Luggagecarrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Maintenance Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277 252 Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281 Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 250 Underbody . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon) . . . . . 120 Manualseat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 MasterCylinder. Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Mountain Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 108 N e t . Convenience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neutral Gear Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 297 NightDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 Number. Vehicle Identification (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 O c t a n e Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 1 11 Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Off-RoadRecovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Oil. Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 16 WarningLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Overdrive. Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Overheated Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 P a i n t Spotting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 ParkPosition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Park. Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 169 With a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . With the Engine Running ........................ 91 Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 PASS-Key Security System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Polishing andWaxing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Power Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 DoorLocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 106 Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298 Steering ..................................... Steering Fluid ................................ Windows ..................................... Pregnancy. Safety Belts Use ........................ Problems on the Road ............................ Publications. Service ............................. 146 226 92 38 171 288 187 Radiator Overheating ............................ 225 Radiator Pressure Cap ............................ Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 104 Reading Lights .................................. Rear Window Defogger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ! . . . . . . . 125 16 Reclining Seatbacks ............................... Remote Keyless Entry System ....................... 74 Remote Trunk Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Replacing Brake System Parts ............................ 230 Lights Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . 231 68 Safety Belts ................................... Tires ....................................... 239 242 Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 Reporting Safety Defects .......................... Restraint System. Supplemental (Air Bag) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Restraint Systems ................................. 19 Restraints. Child .................................. 52 17 Restraints. Head .................................. 84 Reverse Gear Position ............................. Roadside Assistance .............................. 287 206 Rocking YourVehicle ............................ Rotation. Tire ................................... 238 Running Your Engine While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Automatic Lap-Shoulder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Canadian Supplement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247 40 Center Passenger Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 50 Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Driver Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 67 Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Lap-Shoulder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.41. 44 64 Larger Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pregnancy. Use During . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 26 Properly Worn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Questions About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 47 Rear Comfort Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rear Seat Passenger Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.44 Reminder Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 39 Right Front Passenger Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Torn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Twisted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 20 Why Safety Belts Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Safety Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safety Defects. Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 Scheduled Maintenance Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 18 SeatbackLatches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seats and Restraint Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 SecondGearPosition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Securing a Child Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.55.58. 60 Service and Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 Service Engine Soon (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) . . . . . 120 Service Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Service Parts Identification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Service Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288 Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Buick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Sheet Metal Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 Shifting the Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 151 Skidding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sound Equipment. Adding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125.253 125 Soundsystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SpareTire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Specifications Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 1. 262 Speech Impaired Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 Speed Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Stains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 Starting Your Car (Jump Starting) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Starting Your Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 147 Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wheel Radio Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 93 Wheel.Tilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Stereo Sound Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Storage Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Storing Your Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 206 Stuck. If Your Car is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supplemental Restraint System (Air Bag) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taillight Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tape Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 231 132 299 Tape Player Care ................................ 135 Temperature Warning Light ........................ 116 77 Theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thermostat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225 Third Gear Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 93 Tilt Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128. 132 Time (Setting the Clock) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243 Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Inflation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237 Inspection and Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238 Loading Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234 237 Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240 239 Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Wear Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 White Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 TorqueLock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 TowingHookups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 179 TowingYourBuick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Transaxle. Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 Transaxle Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trunk Release. Remote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Turn Signalmeadlight Beam Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Turn Signal Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Turn Signal Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 300 Underbody Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Unleaded Gasoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 Upholstery Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 UsedOilDisposal Used Replacement Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Vehicle Identification Number (VI N) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Vehicle Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234 Vehicle Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Vinyl Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 119 VoltsGage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . w a r n i n g Flashers. Hazard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Warning Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Air Bag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 115 Anti-lock Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 114 Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CheckGages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Engine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Engineoil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 LowCoolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 114 LowFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 LowOil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SafetyBelt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Service Engine Soon (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) . . 120 Washer. Windshield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Washing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Weatherstrip .................................... 249 Weight Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ............ 234 Trailer ....................................... 165 Wheel 24 1 Alignment .................................... Aluminum ................................... 249 Cover Removal ............................... 198 NutTorque .................................. 203 Replacement ................................. 242 92 Windows ....................................... Windshield 248 Cleaning .................................... Washer ......................................97 Washer Fluid .................................227 Wipers ....................................... 96 Winter Driving .................................. 160 179 Wrecker Towing ................................. Your Driving and the Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Your Vehicle and the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265 301 Owner’s Record of Upkeep and Fuel Usage 302 Owner’s Record of Upkeep andFuel Usage 303 Fuel Mileage Chart MILES PER GALLON 10 11 12 5 50 55 60657075 6 60667278849096102108114120126 7 70 8 80 88 96 9 9099108117126 10 100110120 130 140 50 160 I70 11 110 121132 143 154 65 176 187 198 209 220 23 12 120 132 144 156168 13 130 143 I56 169 182 195 208 22 14 140 IS4 168 I82 196 21 15 I 50 16 I60 176 192 208 224 240 256 272 288 304 320 336 352 368 384 400 416 432 448 464 480 496 17 170 I87 204 22 18 I80 198 19 190 209 228 247 266 285 20 !00 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 420 440 460 480 500 520 540 560 21 ?I0 23 I 525 546 567 588 609 630 65 I 672 693 71 4 735 756 13 778491 14 17 16 15 18 X0 105 98 X5 304 20 9095100 26 22252423 21 110 115 120 125130 105 133 140 147 154 161 168175 112119126 104 1 12 I20 I28 136 144 I52 160 I68 176 1 X0 135 140145 34 3635 150 155 16016517017518C 2 I6 225 234 243 252 261 270 279 288 297 306 I 234 247 260 273 286 299 0 224 238 252 266 280 294 308 322 336 238 255 272 289 306 3 I2 325 338 35 I 364 377 390 3 15 336 357 378 399 420 441 462 483 504 504 435 450 46s 4x0 495 5 10 525 540 5 12 528 544 560 576 5 10 527 544 561 578 595 61 414 432 450 468 486 504 522 8 437 456 475 494 432 403 416 429 442 4.55 468 350 364 378 392 406 420 434 448 462 476 490 323 340 357 374 391 408 425 442 459 476 493 304 323 342 361 380 399 41 3I0 320 330 340 350 360 312 324 336 348 360 372 384 396 408 420 315 330 345 360 375 390 405 420 2I6 234 252 270 288 306 324 342 360 378 396 3 15 324 341 352 363 374 385 396 242 253 264 275 286 297 308 319 330 80 I92 204 21 6 228 240 252 264 276 288 300 1 2 16 224 232 240 248 256 264 272 280 288 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 16s 1 no 19s 210 225 240 255 270 285 300 252 273 294 33 I82 189 196203210217224231238245252 1 84 I92 200 208 35 144 I53 162 171 180 I89 198 207 1 323130292827 132 138 144 IS0 156162168174180186192198204210216 - !20 242 264 286 308 330 352 374 396 41 12 19 2 540 558 576 594 61 2 630 648 5 I3 532 551 570 589 608 627 646 665 684 580 600 620 640 660 680 700 720 8 440 462 484 506 528 550 572 594 616 638 660 682 704 726 748 770 792 1 THIS MANUAL IS PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER USING MINIMUM 50% WASTEPAPER, 10%POST CONSUMER WASTE - . - -
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File Type : PDF File Type Extension : pdf MIME Type : application/pdf PDF Version : 1.3 Linearized : No XMP Toolkit : Adobe XMP Core 5.5-c021 79.153613, 2013/07/11-05:21:54 Creator Tool : Acrobat Capture 3.0 Metadata Date : 2001:11:20 10:40:12.000-06:00 Modify Date : 2001:11:20 10:40:12.000-06:00 Create Date : 2001:11:09 21:32:57.000-06:00 Extracted : 2014:10:17 11:08:27.351-05:00 Author : Creative Document Solutions, LLC. Sha 1 : dc7fed9ab8ce106cecb2ca384ad81642bf2c1c68 Size : 16307390 Format : application/pdf Modified : 2014:10:26 07:06:34.715-04:00 Creator : Creative Document Solutions, LLC. Description : Owner's Manual Subject : Owner's Manual Title : Owner's Manual Producer : Adobe PDF Library 4.0 Style : Searchable Image (Exact) Tags : OwnerCenter:GMNA/asset_type/owner_manual, OwnerCenter:GMNA/1994/buick/regal Page Layout : SinglePage Page Mode : UseOutlines Page Count : 308EXIF Metadata provided by EXIF.tools