The 1998 Buick Regal Owner’s Manual 1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system. 2-1 Features and Controls This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle. 3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
I BUICK L GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK, the BUICK Emblem and the name REGAL are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latestinformation 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 inthis manual.
How to Use this Manual Many people read theirowner’s manual from beginning to end when they first receive theirnew vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls foryour vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly. Index A good place to lookfor what you need is the Index in back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s in the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it.
Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find thesenotices: NOTICE: These mean thereis something thatcould damage your vehicle. In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals,you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words.
Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
@% NOTES vi
@ Section 1 SeatsandRestraintSystems 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 air bags and safety belts.
Seats and Seat Controls 2-Way Manual Seat This section tells you how to adjust the seats and explains the reclining seatbacks and head restraints. Manual Front Seat A C. UTION: - - 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 make you push a pedal when you don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicleis not moving.
6-Way Power Seat (If Equipped) This switch is designed to imitate themovements of your seat cushion. Thedriver’s switch is located on the left side of the driver’s seatcushion. The passenger’s switch is located on the rightside of the passenger’s seat cushion. To move the seatforward or rearward,push the switch forward or rearward. To raise or lower the entire seat, push the switch up or down. To raise or lower the front portion of your seat, push the frontof the switch up or down.
Reclining Front Seatbacks If your vehicle is equipped with heated seats, the driver’s side and passenger’s side three-position switches are located on the center console, just behind your automatic transaxle shift lever. Press LO to warm the seat at a lower temperature. Press HI to warm the seat at ahigher temperature. To turn this featureoff, return the switch to its center position.
But don’t have a seatback reclinedif your vehicle is moving. Sitting ina reclined position when your vehicleis if you buckle in motion can be dangerous. Even up, your safety belts can’t do their job when you’re reclined like this. The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it won’t be against your body. Instead, itwill be in front of you. In a crashyou could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the belt couldgo up over your abdomen.
b Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone This partof the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. It is extremely dangerousto ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are morelikely to be seriously injuredor killed. Do not allow peopleto ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts.
Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. (See “Safety Belt Reminder Light” in the Index.) Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work. You never know if you’ll be in a crash.If you do have a crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive.
I Put someone on it. Get it up to speed.Then stop the vehicle. The rider doesn’t stop.
The person keeps going until stopped by something. or the instrument panel ... In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...
Here Are Questions Many PeopleAsk About Safety Belts-- and the Answers Q."Won't I be trappedin the vehicle afteran accident if I'm wearing a safety belt? A: You could be -- whether you're wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you're upside down. And yourchance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, ismuch greater if you are belted. Q.
Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why shouldI 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 greatestnumber of serious injuries and deaths occurat speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure itis secure. If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender’’ atthe 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. 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don’t let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it.
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you. 3 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 thelap 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 shouldgo over the shoulder and acrossthe chest.
Adjust the height so that the shoulder portionof the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be awayfrom your face and neck, but not fallingoff your shoulder. &: A: What’s wrong with this? The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly as much protection this way. 1-14 You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body.
What’s wrong with this? I 1 You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. aIncrash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The at the pelvic belt forces would be there, not bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you. 1 A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
Q.’ What’s wrong with this? You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would movetoo far forward, which would increase the chanceof head and neck injury. to the Also, the belt would apply too much force ribs, which aren’t as strongas shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times.
&= What's wrong with this? A c 4UT'OT': You can be seriously injuredby a twisted belt. In a crash, you wouldn't have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straightso it can work properly, or ask your dealer tofix it. A: The belt is twisted across the body.
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy 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. To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle.
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 iswearing them properly. Right Front Passenger Position To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see “Driver Position” earlier in this section.
Air bags inflate withgreat force, faster than the blink of an eye. If you’re too close to an inflating air bag, it could seriouslyinjure you. This istrue even with reduced-forcefrontal air bags. Safety belts help keep you in position before and during a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with reduced-force air bags.
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the air bag symbol. How the Air Bag System Works .-. . The system checks the airbag electrical system for malfunctions. The lighttells you if there is an electrical problem. See “Air Bag Readiness Light” in the Index for more information. Where are the air bags? The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
1 A CAUTION: I If something is between an occupant and an air bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person. The path of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t put anything betweenan occupant and anair bag, and don’t attach or put anything on the steering wheelhub oron or near any other air bag covering. The right front passenger’s air bag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
When should anair bag inflate? What makes an air bag inflate? An air bag is designed to inflate in moderate a to severe frontal or near-frontal crash. The airbag will inflate only if the impact speed is above the system’s designed “threshold level.” If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn’t move or deform,the threshold level is about 9 to 15 mph (14 to 24 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,so that it can be somewhat above or below this range.
What will you see after an air bag inflates? After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module -- the steering wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, or the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag -- will be hot for a short time. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch.
NOTICE: If you damage the covering for thedriver’s or the right frontpassenger’s air bag, the bag may not work properly.You may haveto replace the air bag module in the steering wheel or both the air bag module and the instrument panel for the right frontpassenger’s air bag. Do not open or break the airbag coverings.
Rear Seat Passengers It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckleup! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashesthan 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 strikeothers in the vehiclewho are wearing safety belts. Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions Y Lap-Shoulder Belt The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder belts.
When the shoulderbelt is pulled outall the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again.If the belt is not long enough, see“Safety Belt Extender”at the end of this section. Make sure the release buttonon the buckleis positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quicklyif you ever had to. 3. To make the lap part tight,pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.
The safety belt locks if there's a sudden stop or a crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. A CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder isbelt too loose. In a crash, youwould move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt shouldfit against your body. To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guidesfor Children and Small Adults Rear shoulderbelt comfort guides will provide added safety beltcomfort for childrenwho have outgrown child restraintsand for small adults.When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide pullsthe belt away from theneck and head. There is one guide for each outside passenger position in the rear seat.
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. 1-30 3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top.
4. Buckle, positionand release the safetybelt as described in “Rear Seat OutsidePassenger Positions’’ earlier in this section. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses theshoulder. To remove and store thecomfort guides, squeeze the belt edges togetherso that you can take them out from the guides.Pull the guideupward to expose its storage clip, and then slide theguide onto the clip.
w Center Passenger Position Lap Belt When you sit in the 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.
Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! That includes infants and all children smallerthan adult size.Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, touse safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province sayschildren up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle. Smaller Children and Babies To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until the belt is snug.
‘4 ... , Smaller children and babies should always be restrained in a child or infantrestraint. The instructions for the restraint will say whetherit is the right type and size for yourchild. A very young child’ship bones are so small that a regular belt mightnot stay low on the hips, as it should. Instead, the belt will likely be overthe child’s abdomen.In a crash, the belt would apply force right on the child’s abdomen, which could cause serious or fatal injuries.
at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12-lb. (5.5 kg) baby will suddenly become a240-lb. (110 kg) force on your arms. The baby would be almost impossible to hold. Secure the baby in an infant restraint. /r\ CAUTION: Never hold a baby in your arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby doesn’t weigh much until a crash. During a crash a babywill become so heavy you can’t hold it.
Built-in Child Restraint (Option) r If your vehicle has this option, there’s a built-in child restraint in the center rear seat position. This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. This child restraint is designed for use only by children who weigh between 22 and 60 pounds (10 and 27 kg) and whose height is between 33.5 and 51 inches (850 and 1 295 mm) and who are capableof sitting upright alone. The child should also be at least one year old.
Q: Which slots should I use for my child? A: With the child seated on the child restraint cushion, use the pair of slots that is at or just above the top of the child’s shoulders. With this built-in child restraint, you can adjust the height of the harness.Depending on the seated height of the child,you can route it throughthe upper pair of slots (A), the middle pair of slots (B) or the lower pair of slots (C). For the child shown here, the harness should go through the middle pair of slots (B).
@ What if the top of my child’s shouldersis above the highest pairof slots? A: A child whose shoulders are above the highest slots shouldn’t use this child restraint. Instead, the child should sit on the vehicle’s seat cushion and use the vehicle’s safety belts. Adjusting the Harness Height A C * “TidN: MAKE SURE THE TOP OF THE CHILD’S SHOULDERS IS BELOW THE SLOTS THAT THE HARNESS GOES THROUGH. A CHILD WHOSE SHOULDERS ARE ABOVE THOSE SLOTS COULD BE INJURED DURING A SUDDEN STOP OR CRASH.
2. If the left and right halvesof the shoulderharness clip are fastened together, separate them. 3. If the lap-shoulder harness is buckled, unlatch it by pushing the button on the buckle.
4. Pull down the seatback part of the pad (D). 1-40 5. Select one sideof the harness. Add some slack to the shoulder part by pulling up on the lap part. You’ll keep most of this slack until you finish Step 9.
6. Feed a small amount of harness slackback into the slot. 7 . m i s t the harness slightly to remove it from the slot. 8. Move the harnessup or down to the correct slot. The correct slotis the onethat will be at or just above the top of the child's shoulder.
10. Pull on the harness. Make sure it is properly routed and isn't twisted or flipped over. 11. Repeat Steps 5 through 10 for the other side of the harness. Be sure both sides are adjusted to the same height. 12. Move the pad back against the child restraint seatback. Make sure the harness goes through the slots in the pad that match the height adjustment slots being used. 13. Press the upper edge of the pad against the fastener strip. 9. Twist the harness slightly to route it through the correct slot.
Securing a Child in theBuilt-in Child Restraint Using the vehicle’s regular safety belts ona child seated onthe child restraint cushion can cause serious injury to the child ina sudden stop or crash. If a child isthe propersize for thebuilt-in child restraint, secure the child usingthe child restraint’s harness. But children who are too large forthe built-in child restraint should sit on the vehicle’s regular seat and use the regular safety belts.
1. If the left and right halves of the shoulder harness clip arefastened together, separate them. 2. If the lap-shoulder harness is buckled, unlatch it by pushing the button on the buckle. 3. Place the child on the child restraint cushion.
4. Select only one side of the harness. Pull the lappart of the harness out, and place the harness over the child’s shoulder. If both sides of the harness are pulled out, the lap parts will lock. If the lapparts lock, letboth sides of the harness go back all the way so each side will move freely again. Then repeat this step, pulling only one side of the harness out. 5. Push the latchplate (F) into the buckle untilit clicks.
7. Push the latch plate into the buckle untilit clicks. Pull on both latch plates tomake sure they are L Q C ~A . green indkatw will show in each latch plate window ((3). If the harness locks befme the latch plate reaches the buckle, let the harness go all the way back SO it will move fjreely again.Then repeat Steps6 and 7. Be sure to keep the lamess pulled all the way out until you buckle it. Qnce both sides of the lap-shoulder harness a e pulled outof the retractor and buckled, the hmess will lock.
8. Now fasten the leftand right halves of the shoulder harness cliptogether. The indicatorwindow (H) on the clip willshow green when the two halves are fastened together. The purpose of this clipis to help keep theharness positioned on the child’s shoulders. A CAUTION: An unfastened shoulder harness clip won’t help keep the harness in place onthe child’s shoulders. If the harness isn’t on the child’s shoulders, it won’t be able to restrainthe child’s upper body in asudden stop or crash.
If the harness still doesn’t lock, don’tuse the child restraint. See your dealer to have the built-in child restraint serviced. 9. On both sides of the harness, pull up on the lap part a little to be sure it’s locked. If the harness isn’t locked, orif it becomes too tight, unfasten the harness clip. Then unlatch the harness by pushing the button on the buckle, and let both sides of the harness go all the way back so they will move freely again. Then, repeat Steps 4 through 8. 1-48 10.
Removing the Child from theBuilt-in Child Restraint 2. Unlatch the harness by pushing the button on the buckle. 1. Unfasten the shoulder harness clip. 3. Move one sideof the harness off the child’s shoulder, and let the harness go all the way back. 4. Move the other side of the harness off the child’s shoulder, and let it go all the way back. 5. Remove the child from the child restraint cushion.
Storing theBuilt-in Child Restraint Always properly store the built-in child restraint before using the vehicle’s lap belt in the center rear seat position. 1. Buckle the harness and fasten the harness clip. 4. Then press the leg rest firmly into the seatback, and secure it by pressing the upper corners against the fastener strips on the seatback. 2. Fold the child restraint cushion and leg rest up into the seatback. 3. Press the child restraint cushion firmly into the seatback.
Child Restraints Every time infantsand young children ride in vehicles, they should have protectionprovided by appropriate restraints. What are the different typesof add-on child restraints? A: Add-on child restraintsare available in four basic types. When selecting a child restraint, take into consideration notonly the child’s weight and size, but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehiclein which it will be used.
A rear-facing infant restraint (B) positions an infant to face the rear of the vehicle. Rear-facing infant restraints are designed for infants of up to about 20 lbs. (9 kg) and about one year of age. This type of restraint faces the rear so that the infant’s head, neck and body can have the support they need in a crash. Some infant seats come in two parts -- the base stays secured in the vehicle and the seat part is removable.
A forward-facing child restraint (C-E) positions a child upright to face forward in the vehicle. These forward-facing restraints are designed to help protect children who are from 20 to 40 lbs. (9 to 18 kg) and about 26 to 40 inches (66 to 102 cm) in height,or up to around four years of age. One type, a convertible restraint, is designed to be used either as a rear-facing infant seat ora forward-facing child seat.
A booster seat (F, G) is designed for children who are about 40 to 60 lbs. ( I 8 to 27 kg) and about four to eight years of age. It’s designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Booster seats with shields use lap-only belts; however, booster seats without shields use lap-shoulder belts. Booster seats can also help a child to see out the window.
When choosing a child restraint, be sure the child restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label sayingthat it meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Then follow the instructions forthe restraint. You may find theseinstructions 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 besecured within the restraint tohelp reduce the chance of personal injury.
Top Strap If your child restraint has a top strap, your dealer can obtain a kit with anchor hardware and installation instructions specifically designed for this vehicle. The dealer can then install the anchor for you. In Canada, this work will be done for you free of charge. Or, you may install the anchor yourself using the instructions provided in the kit. Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position U If your child restraint has a top strap, it should be anchored.
2. Pick up the latch plate,and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safetybelt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. If the shoulderbelt goes in front of the child’s face or neck, put itbehind the child restraint. 4. Pull the rest of the shoulderbelt all theway out of the retractor to set the lock. 3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able tounbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it goback all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger. Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Rear Seat Position 5 . To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor while you push down on the child restraint.
1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch plate and pulling it along the belt. 2. Put the restraint on the seat. 3. Run the vehicle's safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. 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. 5. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push down on the child restraint.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure itis secure. 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. Securing a Child Restraint in theRight Front Seat Position U 1-60 Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat.
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See theearlier part about the top strap if the child restraint has one. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the childrestraint when and as the instructionssay. 1. Because your vehicle has a right front passengerair bag, always move the seatas far back as it willgo before securing a forward-facing child restraint. (See “Seats’’ in the Index.) 2. Put the restraint on the seat. 3.
D 5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor while you push downon the child restraint. You may fmd it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt. 7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure itis secure. To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let itgo back all the way.
Larger Children If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a window so the childcan wear a lap-shoulderbelt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. Accident statistics show that childrenare safer if they are restrained in therear seat. But they need to use the safety beltsproperly. Children who aren’t buckled up can be thrown out in a crash. 0 Children who aren’t buckled up can strike other people who are.
Never do this. Here twochildren are weanng me same belt.The belt can't properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two childrencan be crushed together and seriously injured. A belt must be used by only one personat a time.
Never do this. Here a child issitting in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. If the child wearsthe belt in this way, in a crashthe child might slideunder the belt. The belt’s force wouldthen be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could causeserious or fatal injuries. Wherever the child sits, the lapportion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force tothe child’s pelvic bones in a crash.
be just for you,and just forthe 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 regularsafety belt. Checking Your Restraint Systems Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are working properly.
Section 2 Features and Controls Here you can learn about themany standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting, shifting and bralung. Also explained are the instrumentpanel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is working properly -- and what to do if you have a problem.
Keys fi CAUTION: Leaving young children in a vehicle with the ignition keyis dangerous for many reasons. A child or others could be badly injured or even killed. They could operate power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. Don't leave the keys in a vehicle with young children.
The ignition key is for the The ignition and door keys don’t have plugs. Your dealer or Buick Premium Roadside Assistance has the code for your keys. If you need a new ignition or door key, contact your dealer who can obtain the correct key code, or, in an emergency, call Buick Premium Roadside Assistance at 1-800-252- 11 12. In Canada, call 1-800-268-6800. NOTICE: The door key is for the doors and all other locks. Your vehicle has a number of features that can help prevent theft.
Door Locks Unlocked doors canbe dangerous. Passengers especially children -- can easily a door is open the doors and fall out. When locked, the inside handle won’t open it. Outsiders caneasily enter through an unlocked door when you slow down or stop your vehicle. This may not beso obvious: You increase the chance of being thrown outof the vehicle in a crash if the doors aren’t locked. Wear safety belts properly, lock your doors, andyou will be far better off whenever you drive yourvehicle.
Lockout Protection Feature Power Door Locks E /- \ Press the power door lock switch to lock or unlock all doors. The rear doors donot have power door lock switches. The lever on each rear doorworks only that door’s lock. It won’t lock or unlock all the doors. This featureprevents a driver who has left the key in the vehicle’s ignition from locking the doors by using the power door locks while any door is open.
Rear-Door Child Security Locks Your vehicle is equipped with rear-door child security locks that help prevent passengers from opening the rear doors of your vehicle from theinside. To use oneof these locks: 1. Open one of the rear doors. 2. On the inside of the rear door will be a lock. Insert your key into this lock and rotate it upward. This will engage the safety lock. To disengage the feature, rotate the lock downward. 3. Close the door. 4. Do the same thing to the other rear door lock.
Programmable Automatic Power Door Locks Programmable Automatic Power Door Locks is a standard featurethat is intended to provide enhanced security and convenience by automatically locking and unlocking doors. This feature provides four operating modes. For your vehicle, you may select and program one of the following four operatingmodes: Mode 1: No automatic door lock or unlock. Mode 2: Automatic all-door lock when the transaxle is shifted out of PARK (P); no automatic door unlock.
Disconnecting the vehicle’s battery for up to a year will not change the programmed mode of the Programmable Automatic Power Door Locks. Delayed Locking Delayed Locking allows the doors to belocked while passengers are exiting the vehicle. This featurealso provides a brief time period after all the doors are closed, but before the doors are locked, in which the doors may be reopened. Delayed Locking is user programmable for the enabling or disablingof the feature.
You may also customize your vehicle to activate the Delayed Locking feature as described above, or you may choose to completely disablethe feature at all times. If disabled, thepower door lockswill activate immediately when a power door lock switch is pressed. The enabled/disabled stateof the Delayed Locking feature will be toggled when you perform the following sequence with the doors closedand the ignition key in RUN: 1. Apply your regular brakes. 2. Press and hold the power door unlock switch.
This devicecomplies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this devicemust accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. Changes or modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment. This system has a rangeof about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m).
Security Feedback Security Feedback provides audible and/orvisible feedback that a remote keyless entry lock orunlock command has been received and executed. Your vehicle’s ignition must be off for this feature towork. You may select oneof four operatingmodes for reception of a lock command. You may also select one of four operatingmodes for reception of an unlock command. The selectionand programming of the lock and unlock operating modes are independent of each other.
The operating mode of the Security Feedback unlock feature will be changed when you perform the following sequence with your vehicle’s doors closed and the ignition key in RUN: 1. Press and hold the power door unlock switch. While holding the door unlock switch, press and release the RKE transmitter unlock button. This will initialize the customization mode. 2. While in the customization mode, the feature will sound the number of chimes corresponding to the current unlock mode.
Matching Transmitter(s)To Your Vehicle Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to prevent another transmitter from unlockingyour vehicle. If a transmitteris lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased throughyour dealer. Remember to bringany remaining transmitterswith you when you go to your dealer. When the dealermatches the replacement transmitter toyour vehicle, any remaining transmitters must also bematched.
To replace your battery: Trunk 1. Insert a flat object like a dime into the slot on the back of the transmitter. Gently pry apart the front and back. 2. Gently pry the battery out of the transmitter. 3. Put the new battery into the transmitter as shown on the transmitter (use type CR2032 battery or equivalent). 4. Put the two halves back together. Make sure the halves are together tightly so water won’t get in. 5. Resynchronize and then test the transmitter.
Trunk Lock Parking at Night To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the door key and turn it. You can also press the carsymbol on your remote keyless entrytransmitter. 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. Theft Parking Lots Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
PASS-Key@I1 Your vehicle is equipped with the PASS-Key I1 (Personalized Automotive Security System) theft-deterrent system. PASS-Key I1 is a passive theft-deterrent system. It works when you insert or remove the key from the ignition. PASS-Key I1 uses a resistor pellet in the ignition key that matches a decoder in your vehicle. When the PASS-KeyI1 system senses that someoneis using the wrong key,it shuts down the vehicle’s starter and fuel systems.
Ignition Positions 1 sw Vehicle “Break-In” NOTICE: Your vehicle doesn’t needan elaborate “break-in.” But itwill perform better in the long run if you followthese guidelines: 0 Don’t drive at any one speed fast or slow for the first500 miles (805 km). Don’t make full-throttle starts. 0 Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles (322 km) orso. During this time your new brake linings aren’t yet broken in. Hard stops withnew linings can mean premature wear and earlier replacement.
LOCK (B): Before you put the key into the ignition switch, the switch is in LOCK. It’s alsothe only position from which you can remove your key. This position locks your ignition, steering wheel and transaxle. It’s a theft-deterrent feature. OF” (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but still turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering wheel. Use OFF if you must have your vehicle pushed or towed. RUN (D): This position is where the key returns after you start your vehicle.
Starting Your Engine Move your shift leverto PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a safety feature. To restart when you’re alreadymoving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. I NOTICE: I NOTICE: Holding your key in START for longer than 15 seconds at a time will cause your battery tobe drained much sooner. And theexcessive heat can damage your startermotor. ~ Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Buickis moving. If you do, you could damage the transaxle.
3. If your engine still won’t start (,or starts but then stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline. Tly pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and holding it there as you hold the key i n START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts brkfly 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. After waiting about 15 seconds, repeat the noma1 starting procedure.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater 1. Turn off the engine. 2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The cord is attached to the underside of the diagonal brace located behind the air cleaner. 3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt AC outlet. 4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving engine parts. If you don’t, it could be damaged.
Automatic Transaxle Operation )1 Your automatic transaxle will have a shift lever on the console between the seats. The above graphic is also displayed on your instrument panel cluster. Maximum engine speed is limited on automatic transaxle vehicles when you’re in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) to protect driveline components from improper operation.
There are severaldifferent positions for your shift lever. PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best position to usewhen you start your engine because your vehicle can’t move easily. r It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK(P) with the parking brake firmlyset. Your vehiclecan roll. Don’t leave yourvehicle when the engine is running unlessyou have to. If you have left the engine running, thevehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine doesn’t connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed. NOTICE: Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)with the engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty. 2-24 Going less than 35 mph (55 k d h ) , push your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving, butit offers more power and lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@). Here are some timesyou might choose THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0): 0 When driving on hilly, winding roads. 0 When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears. 0 When going down a steep hill. 0 When driving in non-highway scenarios (i.e. city streets, etc.). SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power (but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1)’ the transaxle won’t shift Driver SelectableShift (If Equipped) Press the driver selectable shift button to allow the transaxle to shift at higher engine speeds,increasing acceleration performance. into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Shift Lock Release 1 P 2 If your vehicle’s battery should go dead or there is a lack of electrical power, there is an access slot that will allovJ you to override the PARK (P) lock if your shifter is stuck in PARK (P). The access slot is located beneath a small cap on the right side of the console shiftpanel. To remove the cap, use a screwdriver orkey. Then insert the key or screwdriver intothe slot, press down and hold.
NOTICE: Driving with the parking brake on can cause your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to replace them, andyou could also damage other parts of your vehicle. If you are towing a trailer and parking on any hill, see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position like this: 0 Hold in the button on thelever, then push the lever all the way toward the front of your vehicle. 0 Move the ignition key to LOCK. 3. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave your vehicle with the ignitionkey in your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P). Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine running.
Torque Lock Shifting Out of PARK (P) If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the Your vehicle has a Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock (BTSI). You must fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See “Automatic Transaxle Operation” in the Index. vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift lever outof PARK (P).
Parking Over Things That Burn . :' .. ' :'! Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust parts under yourvehicle and ignite. Don't park over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that can burn. Engine Exhaust Engine exhaust cankill. It contains the gas carbon monoxide(CO), which you can't see or smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death. You might have exhaust coming in if: 0 Your exhaust system sounds strange or different. Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you ever have to, here aresome things to know. Idling the engine with the climate control system off could allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle (seethe earlier Caution under “Engine Exhaust”). Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into yourvehicle evenif the fan switchis at the highest setting. One place this can happenis a garage. Exhaust with CO can come ineasily.
Windows Power Windows The driver’swindow switch has an express-down feature. Thisswitch is labeled AUTO. Tap the rearof the switch,and the driver’swindow will open a small amount. If the rear of the switch is pressed all the way down, the window will go all theway down. To stop thewindow while itis lowering, press the front of the switch.To raise thewindow, press and hold the front of the switch. The driver’swindow controls also include a lock-out switch.
TILT-WHEEL Adjustable Steering Column TM Turn SignaYMultifunction Lever 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 into place.
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two downward (for left) positions. These positionsallow you to signal a turn or a lane change. To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down. When the turn is finished, the leverwill return automatically. An arrow on the instrument panel will flash in the direction of the turn or lane change. To signal a lane change, just raise lower or the lever until the arrow starts to flash.
Flash-to-Pass Feature Windshield Wipers This featurelets you use your high-beam headlamps to signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass. It works even if your headlamps are off. To use it, pull the turn signal levertoward you a little, but not so far that you hear a click. If your headlamps are off or on low beam, your high-beam headlamps will turn on. They’llstay on as long as you hold the lever toward you and the high-beam indicator on the dash will come on.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band to LO. For high-speed wiping, turn the band further, to HI.To stop the wipers, turn the band to OFF. You can set the wiper speed for a long or shortdelay between wipes, This canbe very useful in light rain or snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The closer to LO, the shorter thedelay between wipes. Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before using them. If they’re frozen to thewindshield, carefully loosen orthaw them.
Cruise Control (Option) Cruise control can be dangerouswhert: y’ou can’t drive safelyat a steady speed.So, don’t use your cruise control on winding roads or in heavy traffic. Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can cause needless wheel spinning, andyou could lose control.Don’t use cruise controlon slippery roads. With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about 25 mph (40 k d h ) or more without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
Resuming a Set Speed Setting Cruise Control Suppose you set your cruise controlat a desired speed and then you apply the brake. This,of course, shutsoff the cruise control.But you don’t need to reset it. If you leave your cruise control switch on when you’re not using cruise,you might hita button and go into cruise whenyou don’t want to. You could be startled and even lose control. Keep the cruise control switchoff until you want to use it. 1 1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
0 Move the cruise switch from ON to WA. Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want, and then release the switch. (To increase your speed in very small amounts, move the switchto R/A for less than half a second and then release it.Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 k m k ) faster.) The accelerate feature will only work after you set thecruise control speed by pushing the SETKOAST button.
Exterior Lamps The lamp controls are located on the instrument panel. They control thesesystems: 0 Headlamps 0 Taillamps 0 Parking Lamps If you pull the knob out halfway, it will turn on your parking lamps and your other operating lamps. If you pull the knob all the way out, your headlamps will then come on. a License Lamps 0 Sidemarker Lamps 0 Instrument Panel Lights 0 Courtesy Lamps Push theknob in all theway to turn off the lamps.
Daytime Running Lamps/ Automatic Headlamp Control Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for others to see the front of your vehicle during the day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short periods after dawn and before sunset. A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the DRL work, so be sure itisn’t covered.
Twilight Sentinel Twilight Sentinel providesa period of exterior illumination as you leave the vicinity of your vehicle. The feature is activated when your vehicle’s headlamps are on due to the automatic headlamp control feature described previously in this section, and when your vehicle’s ignition is turned off. Your headlamps will then remain on until the headlamp switch is moved from OFF to the parking lamp position or until a 90 second illumination period has elapsed.
Interior Lamps Fog Lamps To turn the fog lamps on, press the log lamps switch located below the headlamp switch on the left side of the steering column. Instrument Panel Brightness Control You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by moving the LIGHTS dial. If you turn the dial past MAX, your courtesy or interior lamps will come on. Courtesy Lamps A light will glow on the switch to let you know that they are on. (Your parking lamps must be on or your fog lamps won’t come on.
dim after the delay time until they go out. The delay time is canceled if you turn the ignition key to RUN or START, so the lamps will dim right away. When the ignition is on,Illuminated Entry is inactive, which means the courtesy lamps won’t come on unless a door is opened. Delayed Entry Lighting Delayed Entry Lighting illuminatesyour vehicle’s interior fora period of time after all the doorshave been closed. The ignition must be off for Delayed Entry Lighting to work.
Rearview Mirror Reading Lamps (If Equipped) Battery Rundown Protection Your vehicle has a feature to helpprevent you from draining the battery in case you accidentally leave the interior courtesy lamps, reading/map lamps, visorvanity lamps, trunk lamp, underhood lamp or glovebox lamps on. If you leave any of these lamps on, they will automatically turn off after 20 minutes, if the ignition is in OFF.
Mirrors Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you are sittingin a comfortable driving position. Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror To reduce glare from lampsbehind you, pull the lever at the bottom of the mirror toward you (to the night position). To return the mirror back to the day position, push the lever away from you. Electrochromic Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror (If Equipped) Your vehicle may have an electrochromic dayhight rearview mirror.
Power Outside Foldaway Mirrors The power mirror control switches arelocated near the driver’s side window, on the armrest. To choose either the left or right outside mirror, move the top switch from left through neutral to right. Press any of the four buttons located below the top switch to move the mirrors in the desired direction. Adjust each mirror so you can see the side of your vehicle and the area behind your vehicle. These mirrors can also be folded rearward manually.
Storage Compartments Glove Box Use the doorkey to lock and unlock theglove box. To open, lift the latch. Center Console To access the cupholders,press on the topof the cupholder door, located justbehind the console shift lever. Two cupholders willpop into an upright position. The consolehas cupholders, a cassette tape storage area and a coinholder. To open the console’s storage area, press the latch located toward the frontof the console lid on the driver’s sideof the vehicleand pull up.
Rear Seat Pass-Through(If Equipped) Trunk Convenience Net (If Equipped) Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You’ll see it on 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. Storethose in the trunk as farforward as you can. You can unhook the net so that it will lie flatwhen you’re not using it.
NOTICE: Don’t put papers and other things that burn into your ashtrays. If you do, cigarettesor other smoking materials could set them on fire, causing damage. To use thelighter, just push it in all the way and let go. When it’s ready, it will pop back by itself. NOTICE: Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand while itis heating. If you do, itwon’t be able to back away from the heating element when it’s ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the lighter and the heating element.
Accessory Power Receptacle Your vehicle is equipped with a 12-volt outlet. It is located on the console’s passenger’s side, near the floor. Open the cover to use the outlet. This feature can be used to add aftermarket electrical equipment to your vehicle. 1 NOTICE: Adding some electrical equipment to your vehicle can damage it or keep other things from working as they should. This wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop) Your vehicle is equipped with an auxiliary power connection. This feature providespower, ground and accessory wires which can be accessed toadd aftermarket electrical equipment to your vehicle. It is located on the passenger’s side of the vehicle, under the glovebox, and is labeled with a wire functionand fuse rating. For information on accessing the connectionand electrical hookup, please referto your service manual.
Cellular Phone Readiness Package (If Equipped) Your vehicle may be equipped with a wiring harness that will work with a dealer-installed GM Hughes@portable phone. The phone has integrated features with the radio and car audio speakers. See your dealer for more details. OnStar System (Option) Your vehicle has been prewired for dealerinstallation of the OnStar System.
Instrument Panel -- Your Information System A. Lamp Controls D. Glove Box B. Instrument Cluster E. Audio System C.
Instrument Panel Cluster Standard Cluster: United States Version Shown, Canadian Similar Your instrument cluster is designedto let you know at a glance how your vehicleis running. You’ll know how fast you’re going, abouthow much fuelis in your tank andmany other things you need to drive safelyand economically.
Optional Cluster: United States Version Shown, Canadian Similar 2-57
Speedometer and Odometer Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven in either miles (used in the United States) or in kilometers (used in Canada). Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer. If you see ERROR, you’ll know someone has probably tampered with it and the numbers may not be accurate. If the button is pressed and held for longer than 1.
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators This part describesthe warning lights and gages that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them. Warning lights and gages can signalthat 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 frominjury. Warning lights come on when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
Air Bag Readiness Light There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system check includes the airbag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag system, see “Air Bag” in the Index. This lightwill come on when you start your engine, and it will flash for a few seconds.
Brake System Warning Light Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two parts. If one part isn’t working,the other part can still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need both parts working well. If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem. Have your brake system inspected rightaway. BRAKE This light should come on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then, have it fixedso it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
Anti-Lock Brake SystemWarning Light ANTI LOCK With the anti-lock brake system, this light will come on when you start your engine and it will stay on for three seconds. That’s normal. If the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there could bea 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 go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop. Have the vehicle towed for service.
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, stopas soon 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, yourvehicle needs service.
Traction Control System Warning Light (3800 Supercharged Engine Only) TRAC OFF The traction control system warning light may come on for the following reasons: If you turn the system off by pressing the traction control button located on the black panel directly behind your automatic transaxle shift lever, the warning light will come on and stay on. To turn the system back on, press the button again. The warning light should go off. (See “Traction Control System” in the Index for more information.
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light (If Equipped) If the traction control system is affected by an engine-related problem, the system will turn off and the warning light will come on. When this warning light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly. TRAC OFF The Enhanced Traction System warning light may come on for the following reasons: 0 0 If you turn the system off by pressing the traction control button,the warning light will come on and stay on.
Enhanced Traction System Active Light LOW TRAC When your Enhanced Traction System is limiting wheel spin, this light will come on. Slippery road conditions may exist if the Enhanced Traction System active lightcomes on, so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will stay on for a few seconds after the Enhanced Traction System stops limiting wheel spin. The Enhanced Traction System active light also comes on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN.
Engine Coolant Temperature Light - Engine Coolant Temperature Gage You have a gage that shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too hot! This light tells you that your engine coolanthas overheated oryour radiator cooling fan is not working. TEMP TEMP The lightwill come onbriefly when your ignition is turned on to show you that it is working.
Low Coolant Warning Light LOW COOLANT If this light comes on, your system is low on coolant and the engine may overheat. See “Engine Coolant” in the Index and have your vehicle serviced as soon as you can. The light will come on briefly when your ignition is turned on to show you that it is working properly. Low Tire Light (If Equipped) LOW TIRE 2-68 The tire pressure monitor system can alert you to a large change in the pressure in one tire.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light) Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which monitors operation of the SERVICE ENGINE fuel, ignition and emission SOON control systems. This system is called OBDI1 (On-Board Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels the forlife of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment.
If the LightIs Flashing If the LightIs On Steady The followingmay prevent more serious damage to your vehicle: You may be able to correct the emission system malfunction by considering the following: 0 Reducing vehicle speed. Did you recently put fuel intoyour vehicle? Avoidinghard accelerations. If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed.
Have you recently cnanged brands of fuel? If so, be sure to fuelyour vehicle with quality fuel (see “Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stallingwhen you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go away once the engineis warmed up.) This will be detectedby the system and cause the light to turn on.
Low Oil LevelLight Don’t keep driving if the oil pressL-d is low. If you do, your engine can becomeso hot that it catches fire.You or others couldbe burned. Check your oil as soonas possible and have your vehicle serviced. I NOTICE: Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems can be costly and is not covered by your warranty. LOW OIL Your engine is equipped with an oil level monitoring system. When the ignition key is turned on, the LOW OIL light will come on briefly.
Change Oil Soon Light CHANGE OIL SOON Your CHANGE OIL SOON light should come on as a bulb check when you start the engine. If this light stayson for about 20 seconds after you turn on the ignition, have the oil changed. When to change your oil also depends on driving habits and conditions because they directly affect engine speed, coolant temperatureand vehicle speed.Because of this, the CHANGE OILSOON light may come on as early as 2,000 miles (3,200 km)or less forharsh conditions.
Cruise Light Service VehicleSoon Light The CRUISE light comes on whenever you set your cruise control. See “Cruise Control” in the Index. CRUISE Performance Shift Light(IfEquipped) PERF SHIFT 1 The PERF SHIFT light comes on when you press the performance shift button to indicate that your vehicle is in performance shifting mode. See “Performance Shifting” in the Index. SERVICE VEHICLE SOON This light will come on if you have certain non-emission related vehicle problems.
Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light DOOR/TRUNK 0 It takes a little more or less fuelto fill up than the gage indicated.For example, the gage may have indicated thetank was half full, but it actually took a little more or lessthan half the tank’s capacity to fill it. 0 The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or speed up. This light will come on if your trunk or any door is not completely closed.
Driver Information Center (Option) u "b! PSI kPa AVGnm D 1 INST-MPG % OIL L/100 km LIFERANGE SC BOOST - in nl umb! AVG )'I( INST-MPG % OIL ),I L/100 km LIFERANGE 3.8L L36 Engine 3.8L L67 Supercharged Engine 2-76 Your Driver Information Center, (DIC) located below the tachometer on the instrument panel cluster, gives you important safety and maintenance facts. When you turn the ignition on, the entire centerlights up for justa few seconds.
The driver information center has three buttons that control its functions. Control Buttons EM, RESET AND MODE: The EnglishMetric, reset and mode buttons for the driver information center are located to the left of the steering wheel, justbelow the instrument panel cluster. I RESET EM: Press this button to change the display from English to metric units or metric to English. RESET Press this button for one second to reset the mode displayed MODE: Press this button to change the mode being displayed.
Modes AVG ECON: Shows your average fuel economy since you last reset this mode. Average fuel economy is viewed as a long term approximation of your overall driving and driving conditions.To learn the average fuel economy from a new starting point, press the RESET button while the average fueleconomy is displayed in the DIC. INSTANTANEOUS FUELECONOMY Shows your current fueleconomy.
Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems In this section, you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
~~~ Temperature Knob Comfort Controls Manual Single Zone Climate Control The center knob changes the temperature of the air coming through the system. Turn this knob toward red (to the right) for warmer air. Turn it toward blue (to the left) for cooler air. Mode Knob The right knob has several settings to control the direction of airflow: [ODI MAX: This setting recirculates much of the air inside COMFORT CONTROL With this system, you can control the heating, cooling and ventilation in your vehicle.
and side window vents. The air conditioningcompressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40°F (4°C). VENT This setting brings in outside air and directs it through the instrumentpanel outlets. HTR: This setting sendsmost of the air through the ducts near the floor. The rest comes out of the defroster and side window vents. BLEND: This setting allowshalf of the air to go to the floor ductsand half to the defrosterand side window vents.
Heating On cold days, use HTR with the temperature knob all the way in the red area. Thesystem will bring in outside air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts. Dual ComforTemp Climate Control (If Equipped) If your vehicle has an engine coolantheater, you can use it to helpyour system provide warm air faster when it’s cold outside(0°F (-18°C) or lower). An engine coolant heater warms the coolant your engine and heating system use to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant Heater” in the Index.
Driver’s Temperature Knob The centerknob sets the temperature forthe driver’s outlets. Turn the knob toward red (to theright) for warmer air. Turn it toward blue (to the left) for cooler air. Passenger’s Temperature Lever The bottom lever adjuststhe air temperatureon the passenger’s side independent of the temperatureset by the driver. Slide the levertoward the right to raise the temperature. Slidethe lever toward the left to lower the temperature.
FRONT This settingdirects most of the air through the defroster and side window vents. Some of the air goes to the floor ducts and the side window vents. The airconditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40°F (4°C). (Even when the compressor is running, you can control the temperature.) Air Conditioning On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time for the vehicle to cool down.
Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control (If Equipped) Automatic Control For the most efficient operation, you should set the system temperature and press AUTO. The system will select thebest fan speed and airflow settings to keep you comfortable. Theair conditioning compressor will run if the outside temperatureis above 40°F (4°C). You may notice adelay of two to threeminutes before the fan comes on at startup in cool weather. Driver’s Temperature Control With this system,you set atemperature.
Passenger’s Temperature Control Manual Control The PASSENGER CONTROL buttons with the arrows adjust the temperatureon the passenger’s side so it is warmer or coolerthan the temperature set by the driver. Push the DUAL button so that the indicator light is lit. Press the right arrow button to raisethe temperature. Press the left arrow button to lower the temperature. The display will not show the passenger’s temperature, only that of the driver.
9FRONT This setting brings in outside air and Air Conditioning directs most of the air through the defrostvent. Some of the air also goes to the floor ductsand the side window defogger outlets. The indicator onthe button will light and WINDSHIELD will be lit in thedisplay. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this settingunless the outside temperature isbelow 40°F (4°C). On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot, inside air escape.
Heating On cold days, use HTR with the temperature knobs all the way in the red area. Thesystem will bring in outside air, heat it and send it to the floorducts. Ventilation System Adjust the direction of airflow by moving the vents. If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use it to help your system provide w m air fasterwhen it’s cold outside(0°F (-18°C) or lower). An engine coolant heater w m s the coolant your engine and heating system use to provide heat.
Ventilation Tips 0 Keep the hood and front air inlet freeof ice, snow or any other obstruction,such as leaves. The heater and defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of fogging the inside of your windows. 0 0 When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, adjust the mode knob or button to FLOOR and the fan tothe highest speed for a few seconds before driving off. This helps clearthe intake ducts of snow and moisture and reduces the chance of fogging the inside of your windows.
I NOTICE: Do not attach anything like a temporary vehicle license or decal across the defogger grid. I NOTICE: Don’t use a razor blade or anything else sharp on the inside of the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage the warming grid, and the repairs wouldn’t be coveredby your warranty. 3-12 Audio Systems Your Delco Electronics audio system has been designed to operateeasily and give years of listening pleasure. You will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it first.
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player RECALL: Press the upper knob briefly to recall the station being played or to displaythe clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press the knob until you see the display you want, then hold the knob until the display flashes. If you press the knob when the ignition is off, the clock will show for a few seconds. Finding a Station AM-FM: Press the lower knob to switch between AM, FMl and FM2. The display shows your selection.
PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FMl and six FM2). Just: Setting theTone 1. Turn the radio on. TREB: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decreasetreble. If a station is weak or noisy, you maywant to decreasethe treble. 2. Press AM-FM to select the band. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons. The sound will mute.
E l l : The tape is broken. Try a new tape. Playing a Cassette Tape 0 The longer sidewith the tape visible should face tothe right. If the ignition and the radio are on,the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. If you hear nothing or hear a garbled sound,the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJECTto remove the tape and start over. If any error occursrepeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, please contact your dealer.
SIDE ( 5 ) : Press this button to change the side of the tape that is playing. AM-FM Stereo with CassetteTape Player and Automatic Tone Control(If Equipped) 00 (6):Press this button to reduce background noise. The display will show either OFF or ON for a few seconds when you press the button. Dolby Noise Reduction is manufactured under a license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.
RECALL: Press this button briefly to recall the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press this button until you see the display you want, then hold the button until the display flashes. If you press the button when the ignition is off, the clock will show for a few seconds. PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FM 1 and six FM2). Just: 1.
AUTO SET Press this button and the system will seek and set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset buttons (depending on which band (AM or FM) you are listening to). AUTO SET will flash while seeking and will remain on until this function is complete. To return to the stations you manually set, press AUTO SET again. Setting the Tone BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decreasebass. TREB: Press this knob lightly so it extends.
If you want to insert a tape when the ignition or radio is off, first press EJECT or RECALL. Note that the cassette tape adapterkits for portable compact disc players will work in your cassette tape player. NEXT (2): Press this button to search for the next selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection forNEXT to work. The sound will mute while seeking. Your tape bias is set automatically.
AM-FM: Press this button to play the radio when a tape is in the player. SOURCE: Press this button to change to the tape function when the radio is on.TAPE PLAY with an AM-FM Stereo with CassetteTape and Compact Disc Player with Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped) arrow will appear on the display when the tape is active. EJECT Press this button to remove the tape. The radio will play. CLN: If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned.
RECALL: Press this button briefly to recall the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press the RECALL button untilyou see thedisplay you want, then hold the RECALL button until display the flashes. If you press the buttonwhen the ignition isoff, the clock will show for afew seconds. PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let you return toyour favorite stations.You can setup to 18 stations (six AM, six F M l and six FM2).
AUTO SET Press this button and the system will seek and set the 12 strongest FWI or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset buttons. AUTO SET will flash while seeking and will remain on until this function is complete. To return to the stations you manually set, press AUTO SET again. Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Press this knob lightlyso it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound to the leftor right speakers. The middle position balances the sound betweenthe speakers.
If E and a number appear on the radio display, the tape won’t play because of an error. ElO: The tape is tight and the player can’t turn the tape hubs. Remove the tape. Hold the tape with the open end down and tryto turn the right hub to the left with a pencil. Turn the tape over and repeat.If the hubs do not turn easily, your tape maybe damaged and should not be used in the player.Try a new tape to make sure your playeris working properly. E l l : The tape is broken. Try a new tape.
EJECT: The system has two EJECT buttons. Press the button near the CD slot to remove a disc. Pressthe button near the tape slot to remove a tape and the radio will play. CLN: If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See “Care of Your Cassette Tape Player” in the Index.
.. 44 (3): Press and hold this button to quickly reverse within a track. You will hear sound. (4): Press and hold this button to quickly advance within a track. You will hear sound. RAND (6): Press this button to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. Press RAND again to turn off random play. RECALL: Press this button to see which track is playing. Press itagain within five seconds to see how long it hasbeen playing.
Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature 5. Press MIN and 000 will appear on the display. The instructions which follow explain how to enter your secret code to activate the THEFTLOCK system. It is recommended that you read through all nine steps before starting the procedure. 6. Press MIN again to make the last two digits agree with your code. NOTE: If you allow more than 15 seconds to elapse between any steps, the radio automatically reverts to time and you must start the procedure over at Step 4. 1.
Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a Power Loss Enter your secret code as follows;pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. LOC appears when the ignition is on. 2. Press MIN and 000 will appear on the display. 3. Press MIN again to make the last two digits agree with your code. Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature Enter your secret codeas follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY or RUN. 2. Turn the radiooff. 3.
To unlock a secured radio see“Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a Power Loss” earlier in this section. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped) If your vehicle has this feature, you can control certain radio functionsusing the buttons on your steering wheel. SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to tune to the next or previous radio station. If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, the player will advance to the next or previous selection.
Understanding Radio Reception AM The range formost AM stations is greater than for FM, especially atnight. The longer range,however, can cause stations to interferewith each other. AM can pick up noise fromthings like stormsand power lines. Try reducing thetreble to reduce this noise if you ever getit. FM Stereo FM stereo will give you the best sound, butFM signals will reach only about10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km).Tall buildings orhills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go.
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or adamaged 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 may cause failure of the tape player. Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every 50 hours of use.
Care of Your Compact Discs Fixed Mast Antenna Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective casesand away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a discis soiled, dampen a clean, softcloth in a mild, neutral detergentsolution and clean it, wiping from the center tothe edge. 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.
NOTICE: Do not try to clear frost or other material from the insideof the rear window witha razor blade or anything else thatis sharp. This may damage the rear defogger grid and affect your radio’s ability to pick up stations clearly. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. ~ Because this antenna is built intoyour rear window, there is areduced risk of damage caused by car washes and vandals.
Section 4 Your Driving and the Road Here you’ll find information about drivingon different kindsof roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also included many other useful tipson driving.
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads or freeways,it means “always expect the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians or other drivers aregoing to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Beready 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 city and rural driving.
Death and injury associatedwith drinking and driving is a nationaltragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousandsof victims every year. The obvious way to solve thishighway safety problem is forpeople never to drink alcoholand then drive. But what if people do?How much is “toomuch” if the driver plans to drive? It’s a lot lessthan many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is somegeneral information on the problem.
I I. 1 Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC level than a man of her same body weight when each has the same number of drinks. The law in many U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In a growing number of U.S. states, and throughout Canada, the limit is 0.08 percent. In some other countries, it’s even lower. The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United States is 0.04 percent. The BAC will be over 0.
The body takes aboutan hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink.No amount of coffee ornumber 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 intothe street? A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision. There’s something else about drinkingand driving that many people don’tknow.
Control of a Vehicle Braking You have three systems that make your vehicle go where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road. Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decideto 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.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Somepeople drive in spurts -- heavy acceleration followedby heavy braking -- rather than keeping pacewith traffic. This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time tocool between hard stops. Your brakes willwear out much faster if you do a lotof heavy braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,you will eliminate a lotof unnecessary braking. Thatmeans better braking and longer brake life.
The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could.The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire and road conditions. 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. You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard. A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to getyour foot up to thebrake pedal or always decrease stopping distance. If you get too close tothe vehicle in front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes if that vehiclesuddenly slows or stops.Always leave enough room upahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes. Using Anti-Lock Don’t pump the brakes. Justhold the brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock work for you.
1 TRAC OFF This lightshould come on briefly when you start the engine. If it stays on or comes on while you are driving, there’s a problem with your traction control system. To turn the system off, press the TRACTION button on the black panel located directly behind your automatic transaxle shift lever. See “Traction Control System Warning Light” in the Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
Enhanced Traction System (Option: Not Available with 3800 Supercharged Engine) Your vehicle may have an Enhanced Traction System (ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road conditions. Thesystem operates only if it senses that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the system reduces enginepower and may also upshift the transaxle to limit wheel spin.
To turn the system on or off, press the TRACTION button on the black panel located directly behind your automatic transaxle shift lever. Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort. Magnetic Variable Effort Steering TM When you turn the system off, the Enhanced Traction System warning light will come on and stay on.
The traction you can get in a curve dependson 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 theone factor you can control. Suppose you’re steering througha 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 too much of those places.You can lose control.
Off-Road Recovery You may find that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving. 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, steerquickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object.
Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, followingtoo closely reduces your area of vision, especially if you’re following alarger vehicle. Also, you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable distance.
0 0 Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lanechange signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to seeits front in your inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. (Remember that your right outside mirror is convex. Thevehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is.) Try not topass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel or other material ison the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. Itis important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distancewill be longer and vehicle controlmore limited. Driving at Night While drivingon a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or braking (including enginebraking by shifting to a lower gear).
Here are some tips on night driving. 0 Drive defensively. 0 Don’t drink and drive. 0 Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare fromheadlamps behind you. 0 Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. e Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps can light up onlyso much road ahead. 0 In remote areas, watch for animals. 0 If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safeplace and rest.
Driving in Rain and onWet Roads 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’llget 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 drivingon dry pavement. The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see.
A CAUTION: - Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won't work as well in a quick stop and may cause pullingto one side.You could lose controlof the vehicle. After driving through a large puddle of water or a car wash, applyyour brake pedal lightlyuntil your brakes work normally. 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.
Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires thatthey can actually rideon the water. This canhappen 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 do not have much treadif or the pressure in one or more is low. It canhappen if a lotof water is standing on the road.
City Driving Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving: 0 Know the best way to get to where you are going. Get a city map and plan your trip intoan unknown part of the city just asyou would for a cross-country trip. 0 Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the next part, “Freeway Driving.”) 0 One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on them.
Freeway Driving 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 overyour shoulder as often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow.
The exitspeed is usually posted. Here are some things you can check before a trip: 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.
Highway Hypnosis Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? it Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call highway hypnosis, lackof awareness, or whatever. There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road, the droneof the engine,and the rushof the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
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 U 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. Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down. They could get so hot that they wouldn’t work well.
Winter Driving Here are some tips for winter driving: 0 Have your vehicle in good shape for winter You may want to put winter emergency supplies in your trunk. Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom,' a supply of windshield washer fluid, arag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, ared cloth and a couple of reflective warning triangles.
Driving on Snow or Ice Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the road probably have good traction. However, if there is snow or icebetween your tires and the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll have a lot less traction or “grip” and will need to be very careful. 4-28 What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold snow or icecan be slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the least traction of all.
Your anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even though you have the anti-lock braking system,you’ll want to begin stopping soonerthan 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. Theroad might be fine until you hit a spotthat’s covered with ice.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that you’ve been stopped by the snow. Put on extra clothing orwrap a blanket around you. If you have no blankets or extra clothing,make body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor mats -- anything you can wrap around yourself or tuck under your clothing tokeep warm. You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful. 4-30 Snow can trap exhaustgases under yourvehicle. This can cause deadlyCO (carbon monoxide) gas to get inside.
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 acceleratorslightly. This uses less fuel for theheat that you get and it keeps the battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling lateron with your headlamps. Let the heaterrun for a while. Loading Your Vehicle Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all the way to preserve the heat.
/ MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP u 11 Do not load yourvehicle any heavier than the GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear GAWR. If you do, parts on yourvehicle can break, orit can change theway your vehicle handles. These could cause you to lose control. Also, overloading can shorten the life of your vehicle. The other label is the Certification label,found on the rear edge of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross weight capacity of your vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
Towing a Trailer Things you put inside your vehicle can strike and injurepeople in asudden stop or turn, orin a crash. Put things in the trunk of your vehicle. In a trunk, putthem as farforward as you can. Try to spread the weight evenly. Never stack heavier things, like suitcases, inside the vehicle so that some of them are above the tops of the seats. Don’t leave an unsecured child restraint in your vehicle. When you carry something inside the vehicle, secureit whenever you can.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it isequipped with the 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 drivingyour vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safetrailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. That’s the reason for this part.
Three important considerationshave to do with weight: the weight of the trailer, the weight of the trailer tongue and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires. Weight of the Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be? It should never weigh more than 1,000 lbs.(450 kg). But even that can be too heavy. It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much your vehicle isused to pull a trailer are all important.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it affects the total or gross weight of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it, and the peoplewho will be riding in the vehicle. And if youtow a trailer, you must add the tongue load to the GVW because your vehicle will be carrying that weight, too.
Hitches Safety Chains It’s important tohave the correct hitch equipment. Crosswinds, largetrucks going by and rough roads are a few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are some rules to follow: You should always attach chainsbetween 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.
Driving witha Trailer Following Distance Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before setting out forthe 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 longerand not nearly as responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Making T h n s Turn Signals When Towinga Trailer I NOTICE: When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a different turn signal flasher and/or extrawiring. Check with your Buick dealer. The green arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other driversyou’re about to turn, change lanes or stop. Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailerto come in contact with the vehicle.
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: 1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into PARK (P) yet. 2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer’s wheels. 3.
,&I NOTES 4-41
k% 4-42 NOTES
Section 5 Problems on the Road Here you’ll find what to do aboutsome problems that can occur on the road.
Hazard Warning Flashers ................ .................. Press the switch on top of the steering column to make your front and rear turn signal lamps flash on and off. Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what position your key is in; they even work if the key isn’t in the ignition. To turn off the flashers, press the switch again. When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals won’t work.
Jump Starting If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicleand some jumper cables tostart your vehicle. But please follow the steps below to do it safely. Batteries can hurtyou. They can be dangerous because: They contain acid that can burnyou. They contain gas that can explode or ignite. 0 They contain enough electricity to burn you. If you don’t follow these stepsexactly, some or all of these things canhurt you.
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 vehicle, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical systems. To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in the jump start procedure. Put your automatic transaxle in PARK (P) before setting the parking brake. 3.
5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on each battery. Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) jump starting terminal. The terminal is on the same side of the engine compartment as your battery. To uncover the remote positive (+) terminal, squeeze the sides of the red plastic cap and pull the cap upward. You should always use the remote positive (+) terminal instead of the positive (+) terminal on your battery. Using a match neara battery can cause battery gas to explode.
6. Check that the jumper cables don’thave loose or missing insulation. If they do, you could geta shock. The vehicles could bedamaged too. 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 positive (+) to negative (-) or you’ll get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts too. I A CAUTION: I Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you badly.
8. 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 vehiclehas one. 10. Attach the cable at least18 inches (45 cm) away from thedead battery, but not near engine partsthat move. The electricalconnection is just as good there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the battery is much less. 11. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for while. a 12.
14. Reinstall the red protective remote jump start cover on thevehicle that was jump started. Towing Your Vehicle Try to have a dealer or a professional towing service tow your vehicle. If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog lamps, aeroskirting, or special tires and wheels, these instructions and illustrations may not becorrect. Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers.
When the towing service arrives,let the tow operator know that this manual contains detailed towing instructions and illustrations. The operatormay want to see them. To help avoid inj y to you or others: Never let passengers ride in a vehiclethat is being towed. Never tow faster than safeor posted speeds. Never tow with damaged parts not fully secured. Never get under your vehicle after it has been lifted by thetow truck. Always secure the vehicle on each side with separate safety chains when towing it.
NOTICE: A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t a collision, adequately secured. This can cause serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or steel cables beforeit is transported, Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps, canvas webbing,etc.) that can be cut by sharp edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Neveruse J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and suspension components.
Front Towing NOTICE: Do not tow with sling type equipment or fascidfog lamp damage will occur. Use wheel-lift or car-carrierequipment. Additionalramping may berequired for car-carrier equipment. Use safety chainsand wheel straps. Use the T-slots for car-carrier securing. Towing a vehicle over roughsurfaces could damage a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle toground or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment.
Attach a separatesafety chain around the outboard end of each lower control arm. Attach T-hook chains in front of the wheels, into the slots of the front shipping brackets on the cradle (both sides). Insert the hook from the inward side of the slot and not the outward side. These slots are to be used when securing to car-carrier equipment. NOTICE: When attachingT-hooks to the shipping slots in the frame rail, attach them inside of the frame to avoid damage to the frameor front fascia.
Rear Towing NOTICE: Do not tow with sling-type equipment or the rear bumper valance will be damaged. Use wheel-lift INOTICE: or car-carrier equipment. Additional ramping may be required for car-carrier equipment. Use safety chains and wheel straps. Use the T-slots for car-carrier securing. Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could damage a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle to ground orvehicle to wheel-lift equipment.
Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard end of both lateral arms. Attach T-hook chains into slots in the bottom of the floor pan, just ahead of the rear wheels, on both sides. These slots are to be used when securing to car-carrier equipment. I NOTICE: Take care not to damage the brake pipes and cables.
Engine Overheating You will find a coolant temperaturegage and a hot engine warning light on your instrument panel. See “Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light” in the Index.You also have a low coolant lighton your instrument panel. See “Low Coolant Light” in the Index. If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine Steam from an overheated engine can burn you badly, evenif you just open thehood. Stay away from the engineif you see or hear steam coming from it.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine If you get the overheat warning but see or hearno 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. 0 Idle for long periods in traffic. Tow a trailer. If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam, try this for aminute or so: 1. Turn off your air conditioner. 2.
Cooling System When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what you’ll see: An electric engine cooling fan under the hood can start up even when the engineis not running and can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any underhood electric fan. If the coolant inside thecoolant recovery tank is boiling, don’t do anything elseuntil it cools down. A. Coolant Recovery Tank B. Electric Engine Cooling Fans C.
Heater and radiatorhoses, and other engine parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you do, you can be burned. Don’t run the engineif there is a leak. If you run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could cause an engine fire, and you could be burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive thevehicle. The coolant level should be at or above the COLD mark on the overflow hose in the coolant bottle.
How to Add Coolant to theCoolant Recovery Tank If you haven’t found aproblem yet, but the coolant level isn’t at the COLD mark, add50/50 a mixture of clean water (preferably distilled)and DEX-COOL@ engine coolant at the coolantrecovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the Index for more information.) I NOTICE: In cold weather,water can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and otherparts. Use the recommended coolant and the proper coolant mixture.
A CAUTION: You can be burned if you spill 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. When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at 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 mixture directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling system is cool before you do it.
'A CAUTION: Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling system can blow out andburn you badly. They are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator pressure cap even a little they can come out at high speed. Neverturn the cap when the cooling system,including the radiator pressure cap, is hot. Waitfor thecooling systemand radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever have to turn the pressure cap.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator I NOTICE: 2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap. Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could cause your engine to overheat and be severely damaged. . . You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until it first stops.
3. After the engine cools, open the coolant air bleed valve. There is onebleed valve. It is located on the thermostat housing. I 4. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler neck. (See "Engine Coolant'' in the Index for more information about the proper coolant mixture.) If you see a stream of coolant coming from an air bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise, close the valve(s) after the radiator is filled. 5.
I Then fill the coolant recovery tank to theCOLD mark on the overflow hose in the coolant bottle. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but leave thepressure cap off. 8. Start the engineand let it run untilyou can feel the upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine cooling fans. 9. By this time, the coolant level insidethe radiator filler neck may be lower.
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. a But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are few tips about what to expect and what to do: If a front tire fails,the flat tirewill create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Changing a Flat Tire If a tiregoes flat, avoid further tireand wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard warning flashers. Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle can slip off the jack androll over youor other people. You and they could be badly injured. Find a level placeto change your tire.To help prevent the vehicle from moving: 1. Set the parking brakefirmly. 2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P). 3. Wrn off the engine.
Removing the Spare Tire andTools (See “Compact Spare Tire” later in this section for more information aboutthe compact spare.) 1. Pull the carpeted mat up from the floor of the trunk and turn the center nut on the compact spare cover to the left to remove it. Then lift and remove the cover. 2. Remove the spare tire.
A 3. Turn the nut holding the jack to the left and remove it. Then remove the jack and wrench. 5-28 The tools you’ll be using include the jack (A), extension and protection guide (B) and wheel wrench (C).
Wheel Covers To remove a center cap, use the wrench to pry gently at the notch. Don’t use a tool that is narrower than the wrench to pry at thisnotch. Then pry off the cap. If your vehicle is equipped with wheel covers, be sure to use awheel wrench to begin the process of loosening the plastic wheel nut caps. They won’t come off.You will only be able to loosen them. Once you have loosened the plastic nut caps with the wheel wrench, if needed, you can finish loosening them with your fingers.
Removing the FlatTire and Installing the Spare Tire Getting undera vehicle when it is jacked up is dangerous. If the vehicle slipsoff the jack,you could be badly injured orkilled. Never getunder a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack. I 1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts. Don’t remove them yet. 2. Turn the jack handle to the right to raise the jack lift head a few inches.
FRONT VEHICLE \\ \\ - REAR EDGE OF FRONT WHEEL OPENING 3. For jacking at the vehicle’s front location,put the jack lift head about 6 inches (1 5 cm) from the rear edge of the front wheel opening or justbehind the two bolts as shown. FRONT EDGE OF REAR WHEEL OPENING 4. For jacking at the vehicle’s rear location, put the jack lift head about 5 inches (13 em) from the front edge of the rear wheel opening or justbehind the off-set as shown. Put the compact spare tire near you.
7. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces and spare wheel. A 5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle to the right. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground for the spare tire to fitunder the vehicle. 6. Remove all wheel nuts and take off the flat tire. 5-32 CAUTION: Rust or dirton the wheel, or on the parts to which it is fastened, can make thewheel nuts become loose after a time. Thewheel could come off and cause an accident.
I A CAUTION: Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could fall off, causinga serious accident. Replace the wheel nuts with therounded end of the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel is held against the hub. 9. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handleto the left. Lower the jackcompletely.
10. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence as shown. NOTICE: Improperly tightenedwheel nuts can leadto brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper torque specification. /!1 CA’, TION: Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become loose and even come off. This could lead to an accident. Be sure to use the correct wheel nuts.
Storing the Flat Tireand Tools Storing ajack, a tireor other equipment in the passenger compartmentof the vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place. After you’ve putthe compact spare tireon your vehicle, you’ll need to store the flat tire in your trunk. Use the following procedure to secure the flattire in the trunk.
Storing the Spare Tire and Tools 1. Retainer 2. Cover 3. Retainer (full-size tire) 4. Compact Spare Tire Storing a jack,a tire or other equipment in the passenger compartmentof the vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place. 5. Nut 6. Jack 7. Wrench 8. Lock Nut Tool 9. Foam Holder The compact spare is for temporary use only. Replace the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon as you can.
Compact Spare Tire Although the compact spare tire was fully inflatedwhen your vehicle was new, it can lose air aftertime. a Check the inflation pressureremhrly. It should be 60 psi (420 Wa). After installingthe compact spare on your vehicle, you should stop as soon as possible and make sureyour spare tire is correctly inflated.
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is to spin your wheels too fast. The method known as “rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but you must -usecaution. If yaa let your tiresspin at M~JIspeed, theycan expIode, and you or others could be injured. And, the transaxleor other parts of the vehicle can overheat. That could cause an engine compartment fire or other damage.When you’re stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible.
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care Here you will find informationabout the careof your vehicle. This sectionbegins with service and fuel information, and then it shows how to check important fluidand lubricant levels. Thereis also technicalinformation about your vehicle, and a partdevoted to its appearance care.
Service Doing Your Own Service Work Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your dealer for all your service needs. You’ll get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and supported service people. If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll want to usethe proper Buick Service Manual. It tells YOU much rnOre about how to service Your vehicle than this manual can. To order the proper service manual, see “Service and Owner Publications” in the Index.
Fuel I You can be injured and your vehicle could be damaged if you try to doservice work on a vehicle without knowing enough aboutit. e Be sure you have sufficient knowledge, experience, the proper replacement parts and tools before you attempt any vehicle maintenance task. e Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and other fasteners. “English” and “metric” fasteners can beeasily confused. If you use the wrong fasteners, parts can later break or fall off. You could be hurt.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use should meet specifications ASTM D4814 in the United States and CGSB 3.5-M93 in Canada. Improved gasoline specifications have been developed by the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) for better vehicleperformance and engine protection. Gasolines meeting the AAMA specification could provide improved driveability and emission control system protection compared to other gasolines.
To provide cleanerair, all gasolines in the United States are now required to contain additivesthat will help prevent depositsfrom forming in your engine and fuel system, allowingyour emission control system to function properly. Therefore, you should not have to add anything to thefuel. In addition, gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gasolinesmay be availablein your area to help clean the air.
Filling Your Tank The tethered cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of your vehicle. While refueling, let the cap hang by the tether below the fuel fill opening. Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns violently, and that can cause very bad injuries. Don’t smoke if you’re near gasoline or refueling your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking materials away from gasoline. 6-6 To remove the cap, turn it slowly to the left (counterclockwise).
If you get gasolineon yourself and then something ignites it,you could be badly burned. Gasoline can spray out on you if you open the fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen if your tank is nearly full, andis more likely in hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew the cap all the way. When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right (clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make sure you fully install the cap.
Filling a Portable Fuel Container Never filla portable fuel container while it is in your vehicle. Static electricity dischargefrom the container can ignitethe gasoline vapor.You can be badlyburned and your vehicle damagedif this occurs. To help avoidinjury to you and others: 0 Dispense gasoline onlyinto approved containers. 0 Do not fill acontainer while it is inside a vehicle, in a vehicle'strunk, pickup bedor on anysurface other than the ground.
Hood Release To open the hood, first pull the handle inside the vehicle,located just below the instrumentpanel and to the left of the steering column. Then go to the front of the vehicle and release the secondary hood release. Lift the hood.
When you open the hood on the 3800 (Code K) Engine, you’ll see: A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir B. Battery C. Radiator Fill Cap D. Remote Positive (+) H. Automatic Transaxle Battery Terminal E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir F. Engine Oil Dipstick G. Engine Oil Fill Cap Fluid Dipstick I. Brake Fluid Reservoir J. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank K.
When you open the hood of the 3800 (Code 1) Supercharged Engine, you’ll see: H A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir B.Battery C. Radiator Fill Cap D. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir E Engine Oil Dipstick G. Engine Oil Fill Cap H. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick I. Brake Fluid Reservoir J. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank K.
Before closing thehood, be sure all the filler caps are on properly. Then just pull the hood down and close it firmly. 3800 Supercharged (Code 1) Engine (If Equipped) Your vehicle may have a 3800 Supercharged engine. The supercharger is a device which is designed to pump more air intothe engine than it would normally use. This air is mixed with fuel, which creates increased engine power.
Checking Engine Oil Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove itagain, keeping the tip down,and check thelevel. The engine oil dipstick handle is the yellow loop near the frontof the engine. Turn off the engineand give the oil afew minutes to drain back into the oilpan. If you don't, the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
When to Add Engine Oil If the oil is at or below the ADD mark, then you’ll need to add at least one quart of oil. But you must use the right kind. Thispart explains what kind of oil to use. For crankcase capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications’’ in the Index. NOTICE: Don’t addtoo much oil.If your engine hasso much oil that the oil level gets above the cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating range, your engine could be damaged.
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use Oils recommended for your vehicle canbe identified by looking for the “Starburst” symbol. This symbol indicates that the oil has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute (API).Do not use any oil which does not carry this Starburstsymbol. I 1 RECOMMENDED VISCOSITY SAE GRADE FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTINC;, SELECT THE LOWEST SAE VISCOSITY GRADEOIL FOR THEEXPECTEDTEMPERATURERANGE.
As shown in the chart, SAE 1OW-30 is best for your vehicle. However, you can use SAE 5W-30 if it’s going to be colderthan 60°F (16 O 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 SAE 20W-50. NOTICE: Engine Oil Additives Don’t add anything to your oil. Your dealer is ready to advise if you think something should be added.
then start the vehicle.If the CHANGE OIL SOONlight comes back on, the system has not reset. Repeat the procedure. (If you have a driver informationcenter, the system may be reset by depressing the DIC RESET button for five seconds while viewing the oil life display on the DIC. See “Driver Information Center”in the Index.
Passenger CompartmentAir Filter Operating the engine withthe air cleaner off can cause you or others to be burned. The air cleaner not only cleansthe air, it stops flameif the engine backfires. If it isn’t there, and the engine backfires, you could be burned. Don’t drive with it off, and be careful working onthe engine with the air cleaner off. I NOTICE: If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get into your engine, which will damage it.
To change the passenger compartment air filter, usethe following steps: 1. Turn off the ignition when the windshield wipers are in theup position. 2. Raise the hood. 3. Remove (disconnect) the windshield washer pump hose fromthe fender rail and air inlet grille. 4. Reposition the hood weatherstrip from the right side of the vehicle (peelback halfway to center). 5. Remove (disconnect) the air inlet grille retainers. 11. Reposition the hood weatherstrip. 12.
How to Check and Add Oil Automatic Transaxle Fluid Check oil only when the engine is cold.Allow the engine to cool two to three hours after running. When to Check and Change A CAUTION: ~ ~ If you remove the supercharger oil fill plug while the engine is hot, pressure may cause hot oil to blow outof the oil fill hole. You may be burned. Do not remove the plug until the engine cools. 1. Clean the area around the oilfill plug before removing it.
How to Check Because this operationcan be a little difficult,you may choose to have this done at your Buick dealership Service Department. If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick. NOTICE: Too much or too little fluid can damage your transaxle. Too much can mean that some of the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower level. The fluid level must be in the cross-hatched area. The automatic transaxle fluid dipstick is the red loop located toward the rear of the engine. 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. 4. If the fluid level is inthe acceptable range, push the dipstick back in all the way.
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 levelis low, add only enough of the proper fluid to bring thelevel into the cross-hatchedarea on the dipstick. 1 . Pull out the dipstick. 2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the dipstick hole tobring it to the proper level. It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than one pint (0.5 L). Don’t overfill. 4.
What to Use NOTICE: When adding coolant, it is important thatyou use only DEX-COOL@(silicate-free) coolant. If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to the system, premature engine, heater core or In addition, the radiator corrosion may result. engine coolantwill require change sooner at 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or24 months, whichever occurs first. Damage causedby the use of coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
NOTICE: Checking Coolant - If you use an improper coolant mixture, your engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts. If you have to add coolant more than four times a year, have your dealer check your cooling system. NOTICE: If you usethe proper coolant,you don’t have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to improve the system.
LOW COOLANTI If this lightcomes on, it means you’re low on engine coolant. - Adding Coolant If you need more coolant, addthe proper DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture ut the coolant recovery tank, but be careful not to spill it. If the coolantrecovery tank is completely empty, add coolant to the radiator. (See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.) n r n i n g the radiator pressure cap when the engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and scalding liquids to blow out and burnyou badly.
Radiator Pressure Cap Power Steering Fluid NOTICE: Your radiator capis a 15 psi (105 kPa) pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap line up with the overflow tube on the radiator filler neck. When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@ cap is recommended. Thermostat Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat in the engine coolant system.
How To Check Power Steering Fluid When the engine compartment is cool, wipe the cap and the top of the reservoirclean, then unscrew the capand wipe the dipstickwith a clean rag. Replace the cap and completely tighten it. Thenremove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick. When the enginecompartment is hot, the levelshould be at the HOT mark. If the fluid is at theADD mark, you should add fluid.
Adding Washer Fluid NOTICE: 0 0 0 Open thecap labeled WASHER FLUID ONLY. Add washer fluid untilthe tank is full. 0 When usingconcentrated 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 fluidtank and other partsof the washer system. Also, water doesn’t cleanas well as washer fluid. Fill your washer fluidtank only three-quarters full when it’s very cold.
Brakes Brake Fluid of the brake system. If it is, you should have your brake system fixed, sincea leak means that sooner or later your brakes won’t work well, or won’t work at all. So, it isn’t a good idea to “topoff’ 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.
What to Add NOTICE: When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake fluid -- such as Delco Supreme 1 l @(GM Part No. 12377967). Use new brake fluid from a sealed container only. Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area around the cap before removing it. This will help keep dirt from entering thereservoir. With the wrong kind of fluid in yourbrake system, yourbrakes may not work well,or they may not even workat all. This could cause a crash. Alwaysuse the properbrake fluid.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake squeal when the brakes are firstapplied or lightly applied. This doesnot mean something is wrong with your brakes. Brake Wear Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes. Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that makea 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 firmy).
Replacing Brake System Parts Vehicle Storage The braking systemon a modern vehicle is complex. Its many parts have tobe of top quality and work well together if the vehicle is to havereally good braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality GM brake parts. 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 approved GM replacement parts.
Bulb Replacement Headlamps In this section you’ll find directions for changing the bulbs in some of the lamps on your vehicle. See “Replacement Bulbs” in the Index to find the type of bulb you should use. Halogen Bulbs Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or others could be injured. Be sure to read and follow the instructions on the bulb package. 1. Pull up on the headlamp retainers to release the assembly locator tabs. 2.
4. Connect the new headlamp assembly to the wiring harness, making sure the connector tab snaps into place. To check the aim, the vehicle should be properly prepared as follows: 0 Place the vehicle on a level pad or surface. 0 The vehicle should not have any snow, ice or mud attached to it. 0 The vehicle should be fully assembled and all other work stopped while headlamp aiming is being done. Your vehicle has a modular headlampsystem. These headlamps have horizontaland vertical aim indicators.
For the vertical adjustment, state inspection stations will generally allow a reading of plus 0.76 degrees or minus 0.76 degrees from the center of the bubble. down If you find that the headlamp aiming needs adjustment, follow these steps: It is recommended that the upper limit not exceed plus 0.4 degrees from the center of the bubble. Other drivers may flash their high beams at you if your adjustment is much above plus 0.4 degrees. Driver's Side Headlamp Shown A. Vertical aim adjustment screw B.
NOTICE: Horizontal aimof the headlamp must be done first. Adjusting verticalaim first will result in 2. Using an E8 Torx@ socket, turn the horizontal aiming adjustment screw(B) until the “0” (zero) on the pointeris lined up with the center marking on the horizontal block index plate (C). 3. To adjust the vertical aim, use anE8 Torn@socket and turn the vertical aiming adjustment screw (D) is centered at until the bubble inside the level “0” (zero). Front Parking and I’urn Signal Lamp 1.
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp 1. Open the trunk. 3. Remove the bulb by turning it one-quarter of a turn right to left. 4. Place the new bulb into the bulb socket. 2. Reach through the access opening in the trunk. 5. Turn the bulb one-quarter of a turn to the right to replace. 6. Close the trunk.
Tail/Stop/Turn Signal Lamp 4. Pull out the socket. 1. Remove the three plastic wing nuts (A). (Pliers may 5. Pull the bulb out of the socket. (There are twobulbs on each taillamp.) be required to remove the wing nuts.) 6. Push in a new bulb. A 7. Replace the socket into the housing and turn to the right. A 8. Replace the taillamp housing to the body of the vehicle. 9. Install the wing nuts. B 10. Tighten the plastic nuts. 2. Pull the taillamp housing away from the body of the vehicle (B). 3.
Trunk Lid Applique Then: 1. Install the new bulbs into the applique sockets (B). 2. Connect the applique to the lid. A\ \ 3. Reconnect the wing nuts to the studs on the applique and hand-tighten. 4. Close the trunk lid. Back-up Lamp The back-up lamps are located in the trunk lid applique. (Refer to the trunklid applique removal procedure earlier in this section for graphic and further instructions.) 1. Remove the trunk lid applique. 2.
Dome Lamp Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement 1. Grasp the front centerand rear center positions of the dome lamp housingand squeeze together until the housing releases from the base plate. A flat-bladed screwdriver may be necessary to pry the assembly loose. 2. Lift the plastic locking tab on the electrical connector and pull the connector fromthe dome lamp assembly. 3. Grasp the bulb housing located in the center of the assembly and pull straight up. 4. Pull the bulb outof the socket. 5.
2. Turn off the ignition while the wipers are at the outer positions of the wiper pattern. The blades are more accessible for removalh-eplacement while in this position. 3. Pull the windshield wiper arm 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm) away from thewindshield. 4. While holding the wiper arm away from the glass, push the release clip fromunder the blade connecting point and pull the blade assembly down toward the glass to remove it from the wiper arm. 5 .
Inflation -- Tire Pressure The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the inside of the trunk lid, shows the correct inflation pressures for yourtires when they’re cold. “Cold” means your vehicle has been sitting forat least three hours or driven no morethan 1 mile (1.6 km). NOTICE: Don’t let anyonetell you that underinflation or overinflation is all right. It’s not.
Tire Pressure Monitor System(If Equipped) The tire pressure monitor system can alert you to a large change in the pressure of one tire. The system “learns” the pressure at each tire throughout the operating speed range of your vehicle. The system normally takes between 45 and 90 minutes of driving tolearn the tire pressures. This time may be longer depending on your individual driving habits. Learning need not be accumulated during a single trip.
The red RESET button is located insideyour instrument panel fuse block. (It’s the first button in the top row of the fuse block.) The LOW TIRElight will come on and flash three times. Then itwill go off. If the light doesn’t go off, see your dealer for service. Tire Inspection and Rotation Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles (10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires as soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires or wheels.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation pattern shown here. Don’t includethe compact sparetire in your tire rotation. When It’s Time for New Tires 1 time for new tires is to check thetreadwear indicators, which will appear when your tires have only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or less of tread remaining. After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened.
0 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 Specnumber.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Treadwear The followinginformation relates to the system developed by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.) The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car tires.
Temperature -- A, B, C The temperature grades areA (the highest), B, and C, representing thetire’s resistance to 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 reducetire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
Used Replacement Wheels Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous. It could affect the braking and handling of your vehicle, make your tireslose air and make you losecontrol. You could have a collision in which you or otherscould be injured. Always use the correctwheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts forreplacement. Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used or how far it’s been driven.
NOTICE: (Continued) Use another type of traction device onlyif its manufacturer recommends it foruse on your vehicle and tiresize combination and road conditions. Followthat manufacturer’s instructions. To help avoid damage to your vehicle, drive slowly, readjust orremove the device if it’s contacting your vehicle, and don’t spin your wheels. If you do find traction devices that will fit, install them on the fronttires. If you have other tires, use tire chains only where legal and only when you must.
Don’t use any of these unless this manual says you can. In many uses, these will damage your vehicle: 0 Alcohol Laundry Soap Bleach Reducing Agents Using Multi-Purpose Interior Cleaner on Fabric 1. Vacuum and brush the area to removeany loose dirt. 2. Always clean a whole trim panel or section. Mask surrounding trim along stitch orwelt lines. Cleaning the Insideof Your Vehicle 3. Mix powdered cleaner following the directions on the container label to form thick suds.
Special Fabric Cleaning Problems Cleaning Vinyl Stains caused by such things as catsup, coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit juice, milk, soft drinks, vomit, urine and blood can be removed as follows: Use warm water and a clean cloth. 1. Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the soiled areawith cool water. 2. If a stain remains, follow themulti-purpose interior cleaner instructions describedearlier. 3.
Cleaning theTop of the Instrument Panel Care of Safety Belts and Built-in Child Restraint Harness Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces of the instrument panel. Sprays containingsilicones or waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield and even make it difficult to seethrough the windshield under certain conditions. Keep the safety belts and the built-in child restraint harness clean and dry.
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 areused on the inside of the rear window, an electric defogger elementmay be damaged. Any temporary license should not be attached across the defogger grid.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter your vehicle. Cleaning Exterior LampsLenses Use lukewarmor cold water, a soft cloth and a liquid hand, dish orcar washing (mild detergent) soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses. Follow instructions under ‘‘Washing Your Vehicle.” NOTICE: Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on a basecoatklearcoat paint finish may ddl the finish or leave swirl marks.
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome Wheels (If Equipped) Keep your wheels cleanusing a soft clean cloth with mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel. A wax may then be applied. The surface of these wheels is similarto the painted surface of your vehicle. Don’t use strong soaps, chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners or abrasive cleaning brushes on them because you could damage the surface.
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. 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 frameshould be loosened before being flushed. Your dealer or anunderbody car washing system can do this for you.
Appearance Care Materials Chart I mats I 1 PART NUMBER 994954 1050172 1050173 1050174 1050214 1050427 1052870 1052918** 1052925 floor I I I I USAGE SIZE DESCRIPTION 23 in. x 25 in. Polishing Cloth - Wax Treated Exterior polishing cloth Removes tar, road oil and asphalt Tar and 16 02. (0.473 L) Road Oil Remover Chrome Cleanerand Polish 16 Use on chrome, stainless steel, nickel, copper and brass 02. (0.473 L) Removes soil and black marks from whitewalls White Sidewall oz. (0.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) IIIIIIIIIIIII 11l1111111111I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1111IIIIIIIIIIII 7 Engine Identification The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This code will help you identify your engine, specifications and replacement parts. Service Parts Identification Label . f -\ ASSEMBLY ENGINE/l&8 CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT This is the legal identifier for your vehicle. It appears on a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on the driver’s side.
Electrical System Headlamp Wiring Add-on Electrical Equipment The headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in the underhood electrical center. An electrical overload will cause the lamps to go on and off, or in some cases to remain off. If this happens, have your headlamp system checkedright away. 1 NOTICE: Don’t add anything electrical to your vehicle unless you check with your dealer first. Some electrical equipment can damage your vehicle and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers The wiring circuits in your vehicle 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. Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical size and rating.
Fuse Description Fuse Description 1 Ignition Key Solenoid 24 Stoplamps 4 Ignition Signal -- Hot in RUN and Start -- PCM, BCMU/H Relay 26 Parking Lamps, Fog Lamps 27 Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop) -- Hot in ACC and RUN 6 Power Mirrors 8 Panel Dimming 28 10 Ignition Signal -- Hot in RUN, Unlock and Start -- Cluster, Powertrain Control Module, Body Control Module Crank Signal -- Body Control Module, Cluster, Powertrain Control Modules 29 Ignition Signal -- HVAC Control Head 13
-- Description Underhood Electrical Center Passenger’s Side 39 Anti-lock Brakes 40 Turn Signals, Cornering Lamps Some fuses and relays are in the underhood electrical center on the passenger’s sideof the engine compartment.
Fuse 3 4 5 Description Power Seats, Rear Defog, Heated Seats High Blower, Hazard Flasher, Stoplamps, Power Mirror, Door Locks Ignition Switch, BTSI, Stoplamps, ABS, Turn Signals, Cluster,Air Bag, DRL Module 6 Cooling Fan 7 Interior Lamps, RetainedAccessory Power, ABS, Keyless Entry, CEL TEL, Data Link, HVAC Head, Cluster, Radio, AUX Power (Power Drop), Cigarette Lighter 8 Relay Description 9 Cooling Fan 2 10 Cooling Fan 3 11 Starter Solenoid 12 Cooling Fan 1 13 Ignition Main 14 Not Used
Fuse Description Fuse Description 20 Not Used 33 Rear Compartment Release 21 Generator 34 Parking Lamps 22 ECM 35 Fuel Pump 23 A/C Compressor Clutch 36 Headlamp (Left) 24 Not Used 37 Spare 25 Electronic Ignition 38 Spare 26 Transaxle 39 Spare 27 Horn 40 Spare 28 Fuel Injector 41 Spare 29 Oxygen Sensor 42 Spare 30 Engine Emissions 43 Fuse Puller 31 Not Used 32 Headlamp (Right) SYMBOL A/C Compressor Clutch Diode
Replacement Bulbs NumberBulb Lamps Exterior Back-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1156 Center High-Mounted Stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3155 Front Parking/Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . 4 157NAK Headlamp, High Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9005 Headlamp, Low Beam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9006 Sidemarker, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 194 Sidemarker, Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine Specifications 3.8L (Code 1) (Code 3.8L K) V6 ...................... V6 Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 1 CID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 1 CID Displacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Firing Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6-5-4-3-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6-5-4-3-2 Thermostat Temperature . . . . . . . . . 195°F(91°C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195°F (91°C) Horsepower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .240 0 5200 . . . .
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts Air Cleaner Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . AC Type A 1208C PassengerCompartmentAirFilter . . . . 10406026 Battery 3.8L (Code K) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AC Type 690 CCA 3.8L (Code 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AC Type 770 CCA Engine Oil Filter All Engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AC Type PF47 PCV Valve All Engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AC Type CV892C Radiator Cap All Engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AC Type RC27 RKE Batteries .
b 6-70 NOTES
n Section 7 Maintenance Schedule This section covers the maintenance required for your vehicle. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its safety, dependability and emission control performance.
Introduction Your Vehicle and the Environment 1 Plan Have you purchased the Ghl Protection Plan? The Plan supplements Elour new vehicle warranties. Seeyour Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet, or your Buick dealer for details. 7-2 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 can even affect the quality of the air webreathe.
How This Section is Organized The remainder of this section is divided into five parts: “Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows what to have done andhow often. Some of these services can be complex, so unless you are technically qualified and have thenecessary equipment, you should let your dealer’s service department or another qualified service center do these jobs. I I Performing maintenancework on a vehicle can be dangerous. In trying to do some jobs, you can be seriously injured.
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services Using Your Maintenance Schedule We at General Motors want to helpyou 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 aweek. Or you may drive long distances allthe 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.
I MaintenanceSchedule I The services shown in this scheduleup to 100,000 miles (166 000 km)should be performed after 100,000miles shown (166 000 km) at the same intervals. The services at 150,000 miles (240 000 km)should be performed at the same interval after150,000 miles (240 000 km). See “Owner Checks and Services”and “Periodic Maintenance Inspections” following. Footnotes The U.S.
I MaintenanceSchedule I 7,500 Miles (12 500 knt) 0 Check Oil LifeMonitor. If engine oil and filter are changed,reset monitor. See “Engine Oil” in the Index. An Emission Control Sewice. (See footnote *.) 0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote+.) 15,000 Miles (25 000 km) 0 Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor. See “Engine Oil” in the Index. An Emission Control Sewice.
Maintenance Schedule 0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation”in the Index for proper rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.) 30,000 Miles (50000 km) DATE 17 Check Oil LifeMonitor. If engine oil and filter are changed,reset monitor. See “Engine Oil” in the Index. An Emission Control Service.(See footnote *,) 0 Replace passenger compartment airfilter. 0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper rotation pattern and additional information.
I MaintenanceSchedule I 37,500 Miles (62 500 km) DATE 0 Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor. See “Engine Oil”in the Index. An Emission Control Service. (See footnote *.) 0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote+.) 45,000 Miles (75 000 km) 0 Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor. See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
I MaintenanceSchedule I In hilly or mountainous terrain. - When doing frequent trailer towing. - Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service. If you donot use your vehicle under anyof these conditions,the fluid and filter donot require changing. - 52,500 Miles (87 500 km) DATE I Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed,reset monitor. See “Engine Oil” in the Index. An Emission Control Service. (See footnote *.) 0 Rotate tires.
I MaintenanceSchedule I 60,000 Miles (100 000 km) (Continued) 0 For supercharged engines only: Check the supercharger oil level and add oil as needed (or every 36 months, whichever occurs first). See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in this section. An Emission Control Service. (See footnote?.) 0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote+.) 0 Inspect engine accessory drive belt. An Emission Control Service.
I MaintenanceSchedule I 75,000 Miles (I25 000 km) DATE 0 Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor. See ACTUAL MILEAGE “Engine Oil” in the Index. SERVICED BY: An Emission Control Service. (See footnote *.) 0 Inspect air cleanerfilter if you are drivingin dusty conditions. Replace filterif necessary. An Emission Control Service. (See footnote“f) 0 Replace passenger compartment air filter. 0 Rotate tires.
I MaintenanceSchedule 1 90,000 Miles (150 000 km) (Continued) 0 Replace passenger compartment air filter. 0 Replace air cleaner filter. An Emission Control Service. 0 Inspect fueltank, cap and lines for damage or leaks. Inspect fuel capgasket for any damage. Replaceparts as needed. An Emission Control Service. (See footnote?.) 0 For supercharged engines only: Check the supercharger oillevel and add oil as needed (or every 36 months, whichever occurs first).
1 MaintenanceSchedule I 100,000 Miles (166 000 km) 0 Inspect spark plug wires. An Emission Control Service. 0 Replace spark plugs. An Emission Control Service. 0 Change automatic transaxle fluidand filter if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or moreof these conditions: - In heavy city traffic where the outside temperatureregularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher. - In hilly or mountainous terrain. - When doing frequent trailer towing. - Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
Part B: Owner Checks and Services Engine Coolant Level Check Listed below are owner checksand services which should be performed at the intervals specified to help ensure the safety, dependability and emission control performance of your vehicle. Check the engine coolant leveland add DEX-COOL’ coolant mixture if necessary. See “Engine Coolant” in the Index for furtherdetails. Be sure any necessary repairs arecompleted at once.
At Least Twicea Year Automatic Transaxle Check Check the transaxle fluid level; add if needed. See “Automatic Transaxle” in the Index. A fluid loss Make sure the safety belt reminder lightand all your may indicate a problem. Check the systemand repair belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are if needed. working properly.
Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock (BTSI) Check Starter Switch Check L L CAUIION: I 1 When you are doing this check, the vehicle could move suddenly. If it does, you or others could be injured. Follow the steps below. 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.
Ignition TransaxleLock Check While parked, and with the parking brake set,try to turn the ignition key to LOCK in each shift lever position. The key should turn to LOCK only when the shift lever is in PARK (P). 0 The key should come out only in LOCK. Parking Brake andAutomatic TransaxlePARK (P) Mechanism Check 1AC A UTION: When you are doing this check, your vehicle could begin to move. You or otherscould be injured and propertycould be damaged.
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections build-up in the floor pan or could let exhaust fumesinto the vehicle. See “Engine Exhaust” inthe Index. 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 dealer’s service department or other qualij?ed service centerdo these jobs. Make sure any necessary repairs are completedat once. Proper procedures to perform theseservices may be found in a service manual.
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants NOTE: Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part number or specification may be obtained from your dealer. USAGE FLUIDLUBRICANT Engine Oil Engine Oil with the American Petroleum InstituteCertified For Gasoline Engines “Starburst” symbol of the proper viscosity. To determine the preferred viscosity for your vehicle’s engine, see “Engine Oil” in the Index.
Part E: Maintenance Record After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometerreading and who performed the service in theboxes provided after the maintenance interval. Any additional information from “Owner Checksand Services” or“Periodic Maintenance” can be added on the following record pages. Also, you should retain all maintenance receipts. Your owner information portfolio is a convenient place to store them.
Maintenance Record DATE ODOMETER READING SERVICED BY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED 7-21
Maintenance Record MAINTENANCE PERFORMED -- 7-22
Maintenance Record 7-23
Maintenance Record READING DATE 7-24 I ODOMETER I SERVICED BY I MAINTENANCE PERFORMED I
Maintenance Record DATE ODOMETER READING SERVICED BY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED 7-25
I 1 Maintenance Record DATE 7-26 ODOMETER READING SERVICED BY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED
Section 8 Customer Assistance Information Here you will find out how to contact Buick if you need assistance. This section also tells you how to obtain service publications and how to report any safety defects.
Customer Satisfaction Procedure Buick dealers havethe facilities, trained technicians and up-to-date information to promptly address any concerns you may have. However, if a concern has not been resolved to your complete satisfaction, take the following steps: STEP ONE -- Discuss your concernwith a member of dealership management. Normally, concerns can be quickly resolved at that level.
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 Relations Center by calling 1-800-521 -7300.In Canada, contact GM of Canada Customer Communication Centrein Oshawa by calling 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French).
For prompt assistance, please have the following information available to givethe Customer Assistance Representative: 0 Your name, address, home and business telephone numbers 0 0 Vehicle Identification Number (This is available from the vehicle registration or title, or the plate at the top left of the instrument panel and visible through the windshield.
Roadside Assistance Our commitment to Buick owners has always included superior service through our network of over 2,800 Buick dealers. Buick Premium Roadside Assistance provides an extra measure of convenience and security. BUICK PREMIUM ROADSIDEASSISTANCE: Provides owners with access to minor repairs or towing for disabled vehicles.Although Roadside Assistance isnot a repair facility, it is a means of assisting customers in an emergency situation.
Courtesy Transportation To Buick Motor Division, Quality Means Service -- and service means “keeping you on the road.” Included with your Buick new car warranty (3 years/36,000 miles (60 000 km), whichever occurs first), is Courtesy Transportation, a program which will provide Buick retail and lease customers with: Reimbursement toward a loaner vehicle, courtesy of Buick Motor Division, up to $30 a day (five days maximum) for vehicles requiring overnight warranty repairs.
GM Participation in an Alternative Dispute Resolution Program This program is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Canadian ownersrefer to your Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet for information on the Canadian MotorVehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP). General Motors reserves theright to change eligibility limitations and/or to discontinue its participation in this program.
We prefer you utilize the Customer Satisfaction Procedure beforeyou resort to AUTO LINE, but you may contact the BBB at any time. The BBB will attempt to resolve the complaintserving as an intermediary. If this mediation is unsuccessful, an informal hearing will be scheduled where eligible customers may present their case to an impartial third-party arbitrator. The arbitrator will make a decision which you may accept or reject. If you accept the decision, GM will be bound by that decision.
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 Box 8880 Ottawa, OntarioK 1G 352 REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO GENERAL MOTORS In Canada, please callus at 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French).
1998 BUCK SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDERINGINFORMATION The following publications covering the operation and servicing of your vehiclecan be purchased by filling out the Service Publication Order Form in this book and mailing it in with your check, money order, or credit card information to Helm, Incorporated (address below.
ORDER TOLL FREE Orders will be mailed within 10 days of receipt. Please allowade uate time for postal service. If further information is needed, write to the address sghown below or call 1-800-782-4356. Material cannot be returned for credit without packing slip with return information w!thln 30 days of delivery. On returns, a re-stocking fee may be applied against the original order.
$& 8-12 NOTES
Section 9 Index Accessory Power Receptacle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-52 Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle . . . . . . 6-3 Air Bag How Does it Restrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23 How it Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21 Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.21. 1-22 1.21.2.60 Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Servicing . . . . . . . . . . .
9-2
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-50 Circuit Breakers and Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-60 Cleaner. Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-17 Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-57 Built-in Child Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-54 Built-in Child Restraint Harness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-54 Fabric . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-75 2-76 Driver Information Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Driver Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1- 11 Driver Selectable Shifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-26 Driving 4-22 City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Filter. Passenger Compartment Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6- 18 6-56 Finishcare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Finish Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-58 First Gear. Automatic Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-26 Flashers. HazardWarning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 Flat Tire. Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26 Fluids and Lubricants . . . .
Inspections Brakesystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18 Exhaust Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 18 Front Drive Axle Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 18 Front Drive Axle Seal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18 7- 18 Radiator and Heater Hose ...................... Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18 Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oilwarning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-71 Performance Shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.26.2.74 Safety Belt Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.7.2.59 Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-73 Service Engine Soon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-69 Service Vehicle Soon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-74 Traction Control System Active . . . . .
Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-25 2-34 Multifunction Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-50 N e t . Trunk Convenience ........................ Neutral.AutomaticTransaxle ..................... 2-24 New Vehicle “Break-In” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2- 17 Nightvision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-58 2-16 Odometer . . . . . . .
Radiator. Adding Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22 6-27 Radiator Pressure Cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29 Radios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13 Rain. Driving In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 19 Rainy Weather Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stains. Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-52 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16 Starting Your Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2- 19 Steam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15 Steering 4- 13 in Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magnetic Variable Effort ” ..................... 4- 12 Power . . . . . . . . .
Trailer BackingUp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38 Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37 Driving on Grades ............................ 4-39 Drivingwith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38 Engine Cooling When Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40 Following Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38 Hitches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
w a r n i n g Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2 Warning Lights. Gages and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-59 Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8 Washing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-53 6-55 Weatherstrips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wheel Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-46 5-34.
Service Station Checkpoints WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID P6-28 ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK P6-13 SECONDARY HOOD RELEASE P6-9 ENGINE COOLANT RECOVERY TANK P5-19 AND P6-26 REMOTE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL P5-5 / TI RES I1 I I P \\ HOOD RELEASE P6-9 FUEL DOOR P6-6 For detailed information, refer to the page number listed, or see the Index in the back of the owner’s manual.