1995 Buick Regal Owners Manual

In this section you'll find out how to operate the comfort control systems and audio systems offered with your Buick. Be sure to read about the particular system supplied with your vehicle. Air Conditioning with Electronic Controls

With these systems, you can control the heating, cooling and ventilation in your vehicle. The systems work best if you keep your windows closed while using them.

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System Controls Fan Lever The bottom lever selects the force of air you want.

Temperature Lever The upper lever changes the temperature of the air coming through the system. Slide the lever toward WARM for warmer air. Slide the lever toward COOL for cooler air. If your system has the auxiliary temperature control option, this lever controls the temperature for the whole vehicle unless DUAL is pressed. When DUAL is pressed, this lever controls the temperature for the driver.

Passenger Temperature Lever (Option)

Press the DUAL button on the system face so the light on it is lit. Slide the lever on the door toward H to raise the temperature. Slide it toward C to lower the temperature. To allow the driver to set the temperature, push the DUAL button again.

Mode Buttons The panel has several settings to control the direction of air flow. The indicator light on the button will glow when the button is pressed. OFF: The system, including the fan, is off. RECIRC: This setting recirculates much or tne air inside your vehicle. If your system has the auxiliary temperature control option, you do not have this button on your system. VENT This setting brings in outside air and directs it through the instrument panel outlets. HTR: This setting sends most of the air through the ducts near the floor. The rest comes out of the defroster and side window vents. BLEND: This setting allows half of the air to go to the floor ducts and half to the defrost and side window vents.

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FRONT This setting directs most of the air through the defroster and side window vents. Some of the air goes to the floor ducts. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40°F (4.5"C). MAX: This setting recirculates much of the air inside your vehicle and sends it through the instrument panel outlets. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40°F (4.5"C). NORM: This setting brings in outside air and sends it through the instrument panel outlets. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40°F (4.5 " C). BI-LEV This setting brings in the outside air and directs it two ways. Half of the air is directed through the instrument panel outlets. Most of the remaining air is directed through the floor ducts and a little to the defrost and side window vents. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40°F (4.5"C).

Air Conditioning On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot inside air escape. This reduces the time the compressor has to run, which should help fuel economy. For quick cool-down on very hot days, use MAX with the temperature lever all the way to COOL. If this setting is used for long periods of time, the air in your vehicle may become too dry. For normal cooling on hot days, use NORM with the temperature lever all the way to COOL. The system will bring in outside air and cool it. On cool but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper body, but your lower body may not be warm enough. You can use BI-LEV with the temperature knob in the middle. The system will bring in outside air and direct it to your upper body, while sending slightly warmed air to your lower body. You may notice this temperature difference more at some times than others.

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Heating On cold days use HTR with the temperature lever all the way to WARM. The system will bring in outside air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts. If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use it to help your 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. Ventilation For mild outside temperatures when little heating or cooling is needed, use VENT to direct outside air through your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the flow-through ventilation system described later in this section. Defogging and Defrosting Windows Your system has two settings for clearing the front and side windows. To defrost the windows quickly, use FRONT with the temperature lever all the way to WARM. To warm passengers while keeping the windows clean, use BLEND.

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Rear Window Defogger

The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog from the rear window. Press the button to turn the defogger on. It will turn itself off after about ten minutes.

If you turn it on again, the defogger will only run for about five minutes before turning off. You can also turn it off by turning off the ignition or pressing the button again. Do not attach anything like a temporary vehicle license or decal across the defogger grid.

1 NOTICE:

Don’t use a razor blade or something 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 covered by your warranty.

Flow-Through Ventilation System Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside air will also enter the vehicle when the air conditioning fan is running. Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlet free of 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. When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, adjust the mode to HTR and the fan to the highest speed for a few moments before driving off. This helps clear the intake ducts of snow and moisture and reduces the chance of fogging the inside of your windows. Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects. This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.

Audio Systems Your Delco@ audio system has been designed to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure. You will get the most enjoyment out of it if you ac uaint yourself with it first. Find out what your Delco system can do and how to operate all its controls, to be sure you’re getting the most out of the advanced engineering that went into it. Setting the Clock 1. Press and hold HRS until the correct hour appears. 2. Press and hold MIN until the correct minute appears.

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RECALL: Press the upper knob briefly to recall the station being played or the clock display. 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 this button to get AM, FMI or FM2. The display shows your selection. TUNE: Turn the lower knob to choose radio stations. SEEK: Press the forward or backward arrow to go to the next higher or lower station. The sound will be muted while seeking. SCAN: Press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds, and SCAN will appear in the display. Use SCAN to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press SEEK again to stop scanning.

AM/FM Stereo Radio Playing the Radio Turn the VOLUME knob to turn the system on and off. VOLUME: Turn the upper knob clockwise to increase volume. Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume.

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Presets: The six pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (6 AM, 6 FMl and 6 FM2). 1. Press AM-FM to select the band. 2. Find the station you want. 3. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons. 4. The sound will mute. When it returns, release the

button.

Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return. P SCAN: Press P SCAN to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to the first preset station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press P SCAN again to stop scanning. The radio will not stop at a preset if the station is weak.

Setting the Tone BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease bass. The middle position is a detent. TREB: Press this button lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease treble. The middle position is a detent. Push the knobs back in when you’re not using them.

Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Turn the control behind the upper Knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position is a detent and balances the speakers. FADE: Turn the control behind the lower knob to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position is a detent and balances the speakers.

Playing a Cassette Tape The longer side with the tape visible should face to the right. The tape will begin playing as soon as you insert it. If you hear nothing or hear a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over. While the tape is playing, use the VOL, FADE, BAL, TREB and BASS controls just as you do for the radio. Other controls may have different functions when a tape is inserted. The display will show an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing. If you want to insert a tape when the ignition or radio is off, fist press EJECT or RECALL. Note that cassette tape adapter kits for portable compact disc players will not work in your cassette player. These adapters will cause an error message in the display, and the adapter cassette will be ejected. SEEK: Press the forward or backward arrow to search for the next or previous selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for SEEK to work.

Stereo Radio with Cassette Tape

A". Player If your Buick has this radio with cassette tape player, follow the instructions earlier in this manual under "A" Stereo Radio" to play the radio. For other features, see the following instructions. If your radio has a cassette tape player, it will not have an AM-FM button. Instead, press the lower knob to select AM, FMl or FM2.

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44 (3): Press this button to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape reverses. bb (4): Press this button to advance quickly to another part of the tape. Press the button again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape advances. SIDE (5): Press this button to change the side of the tape that is playing. on (6): Press this button to reduce background noise. The display will show either OFF or ON for a few seconds when you press the butt.on. Dolby@ B Noise Reduction manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. “Dolby” and the on@ symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. EJECT: Press this button to remove the tape. The radio will play. Cln: This message may appear on the display. If it does, your 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 your tapes and player. See “Care of Your Cassette Tape Player” in the Index. After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for five seconds to reset the Cln indicator. “- - -” will appear in the display to show the indicator was reset.

AM/FM Stereo Radios with Automatic Tone Control If your Buick has a radio with Automatic Tone Control, the instructions below will explain how to use the radio. To find out if your radio has Automatic Tone Control, look for a TONE button. If the system has one, you have Automatic Tone Control. If not, see the systems explained earlier in this section.

Playing the Radio Press the VOLUME knob to turn the system on and off. VOLUME: Turn this knob clockwise to increase volume. Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume. RECALL: Press this button briefly to recall the station being played or the clock display. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press the 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.

Finding a Station AM-FM: Press this button to get AM, FMl or FM2. The display shows your selection.

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AUTO SET Press this button and the system will set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset buttons. To return to the stations you manually set, press the AUTO SET button again. P SCAN: Press P SCAN to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to the first preset station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press P SCAN again to stop scanning. The radio will not stop at a preset if the station is weak.

Setting the Tone BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease bass. The middle position is a detent. TREB: Press this button lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease treble. The middle position is a detent. Push the knobs back in when you’re not using them.

TUNE: Press the up or down arrow to choose radio stations. SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next higher or lower station. The sound will be muted while seeking. SCAN: Press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds, and SCAN will appear in the display. Use SCAN to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press SEEK again to stop scanning. Presets: The six pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (6 AM, 6 FMl and 6 FM2). You can also set an equalization setting with each preset station. 1. Press AMaFM to select the band. 2. Find the station you want. 3. Press TONE to choose the equalization setting for

the station.

4. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons. 5. The sound will mute. When it returns, release the

button.

Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return.

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TONE: This feature allows you to choose preset treble and bass equalization settings designed for classical, pop, rock, jazz, talk and country/western stations. CLASS will appear on the display when you first press TONE. Each time you press it, another setting will appear on the display. Press it again after C&W appears and MANUAL will appear. Tone control will return to the treble and bass knobs. Also, if you use the treble and bass knobs, control will return to them and MANUAL will appear.

Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Press this button lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position is a detent and balances the speakers. FADE: Press this button lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position is a detent and balances the speakers. Push the knobs back in when you’re not using them.

Playing a Cassette Tape The longer side with the tape visible should face to the right. The tape will begin playing as soon as you insert it. If you hear nothing or hear a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over. If you want to insert a tape when the ignition is off, first press EJECT or RECALL.

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..

While the tape is playing, use the VOL, FADE, BAL, TREB and BASS controls just as you do for the radio. Other controls may have different functions when a tape is inserted. The display will show TAPE and an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing. Your tape bias is set automatically. PREV (1): Press this button to search for the previous selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for PREV to work. 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 for NEXT to work. The SEEK down and up arrows will also find the previous and next selections on the tape. 44 (3): Press this button to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape reverses.

(4): Press this button to advance quickly to

another part of the tape. Press the button again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape advances. SIDE (5): Press this button to change the side of the tape that is playing. 00 (6): Press this button to reduce background noise. Dolby@ B Noise Reduction manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. “Dolby” and the no@ symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. AM=FM: Press this button to play the radio when a tape is in the player. SOURCE: Press this knob to change to the tape function when the radio is on. TAPE with an arrow will appear on the display when the tape is active. EJECT Press this button to remove the tape. The radio will play.

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It is dirty, scratched or wet.

0 It is very humid. If so, wait about an hour and try

again.

RECALL: Press this button to see which track is playing. Press it again within five seconds to see how long it has been playing. To change what is normally shown on the display (track or elapsed time), press the button until you see the display you want, then hold the button until the display flashes. PREV (1): Press this button to go to the start of the current track, if more than eight seconds have played. If you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving back through the disc. NEXT (2): Press this button to go to the next track. If you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the disc. 44 (3): Press and hold this button to return to a passage quickly. You will hear sound. bb (4): Press and hold this button to advance to a passage quickly. You will hear sound.

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Playing a Compact Disc Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in. The disc should begin playing. If you’re driving on a very rough road or if it’s very hot, the disc may not play and ERR may appear on the display. Press RECALL to take ERR off the display. When things get back to normal, the disc should play. If the disc comes out, it could be that: 0 The disc is upside down.

RAND (6): Press this button to hear the tracks in random order. AM-FM: Press this button to play the radio when a disc is in the player. SOURCE: Press this knob to change to the disc function when the radio is on. CD PLAY will appear on the display when the disc is active. EJECT: Press this button to remove the disc. The radio will play. If you turn off the ignition or radio with a disc in the player, it will stay in the player. When you turn on the ignition or system, the disc will start playing where it was stopped. If you press EJECT but don’t remove the disc withing 25 seconds, the player will pull the disc back in to protect it.

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Playing Both Cassette Tapes and Compact Discs If your system has both a cassette tape player and a compact disc player, most of the functions work as described above. The only unique features are noted below. 10: The pla er automatically reduces background noise from Dolby B NR-encoded tapes. Dolby@ B Noise Reduction manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. “Dolby” and the On@ symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

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AUTO PRESET Press it and the system will set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset buttons. To return to the stations you manually set, press the AUTO PRESET button again. (This button performs the same function as AUTO SET described above.) EJECT The system has two EJECT buttons. Press the button near the CD slot to remove a disc. Press the button near the tape slot to remove a tape. The radio will play. SOURCE: Press this knob to change to the tape or disc function when the radio is on. If both a tape and a disc are installed, the system will first go to tape play; TAPE will appear on the display. If SOURCE is pressed again, the system will go to disc play; CD will appear on the display. THEFTLOCK TM Your system has this feature if it shows Theftlock on its face. THEFTLOCK is a theft-deterrent feature that can be used or ignored. If you ignore it, your system will play normally. If you use it, your system can’t be turned on if it is stolen because it locks anytime battery power is removed. To unlock it, a code must be entered. These instructions will tell you how to enter a code into your system. They also tell you how to unlock the system with your code and how to shut off the THEFTLOCK system.

Entering a Code 1. Write down any number from 000 to 1999. This is

your code.

2. Turn the ignition to ACC or RUN. 3. Turn the radio off. 4. Press the I and 4 preset buttons at the same time and

hold until “- - - ” shows on the display. You now have only I5 seconds between each of the following steps.

5. Press MIN and “000” will appear on the display. 6. Press MIN again and hold until the last two digits of

your code appear.

7. Press and hold HRS until the first digit or digits of

your code appear.

8. Press AM-FM after you make sure the code matches

the one you wrote down. “rEP” will appear on the display, meaning you should repeat steps 5 through 7 .

9. After you repeat the steps, press AM-FM. SEC

should appear on the display, meaning your system is secured. If your ignition is off, THEFTLOCK will flash in the display.

Store the paper with your code written on it in a safe place.

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Unlocking the System If battery power is removed for any reason, LOC will appear on the display when power is reapplied. You will need to enter your code to unlock the system. You have only 15 seconds between each of the following steps. 1. 2. 3.

Turn the ignition on. LOC will appear o n the display. Press MIN and “000” will appear on the display. Press MTN again and hold until the last two digits of your code appear. Press and hold HRS until the first digit or digits of your code appear. Press AM.FM after you make sure the code matches the one you wrote down. SEC should appear on the display, meaning you can now use your system, and it is secured.

4.

5.

Disabling THEFTLOCK If you want to turn off THEFTLOCK, you will need to enter your code. If you lose or forget your code, see your dealer. 1.

Press the 1 and 4 preset buttons at the same time and hold until SEC shows on the display. You now have only I5 seconds between each of the following steps. Press MIN and “000” will appear on the display. Press MIN again and hold until the last two digits of your code appear. Press and hold HRS until the first digit or digits of your code appear. Press AMaFM after you make sure the code matches the one you wrote down. ‘9- - -” should appear on the display, meaning your system is u1xecure.d.

2. 3.

4.

5.

Understanding Radio Reception

FM Stereo FM Stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals will reach only about 10 to 40 miles ( 16 to 65 km). Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go.

AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM. especially at night. The longer range, however, can cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can also pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. To lower this noise, try reducing the treble level. Tips About Your Audio System Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable unt.il it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe sound level before your hearing adapts to it.

To help avoid hearing loss or damage: 0 Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting. 0 Increase volume slowly until you hear cornfortably

and clearly.

NOTICE: vehicle -- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile Before you add any sound equipment to your telephone or two-way radio -- be sure you can add what you want. If you can, it's very important to do it properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with the operation of your vehicle's engine, Delco" radio or other systems, and even damage them. And, your vehicle's systems may interfere with the operation of sound equipment that has been added improperly. So, before adding sound equipment, check with your dealer and be sure to check Federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units.

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Care of Your Cassette Tape Player A tape player that is not cleaned regularly is subject to reduced sound quality, ruining the cassette, or damaging the mechanism. Tape cassettes that are not properly stored in their plastic cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight, and extreme heat may not operate properly and could cause premature failure of the tape player. Your tape player should be cleaned with every 50 hours of use to provide optimum performance. Your radio may display Cln to indicate that you have used your tape player for 50 hours without resetting the tape clean timer. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, regardless of when the tape player was last cleaned, try playing a different cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at fault. Tf the second cassette results in no improvement in sound quality, try cleaning the tape player. Proper tape player cleaning should be done with a scrubbing action, nonabrasive cleaner cassette. This is a wet-type cleaning system that uses a cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. To properly clean your tape player, follow the instructions with the cleaning cassette. If you use this type of cleaner, the radio may display an error and eject the cartridge. This is normal and is the result

of an added feature in the tape player that detects broken tapes. If an error occurs, you will need to insert the cleaning cassette at least three times to thoroughly clean the tape player. You may prefer to use a non-scrubbing action, wet-type cleaner. This type of cleaner uses a fabric belt to clean the tape head. This type of cleaner cassette will not cause an error, but it may not clean the tape player as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner. A scrubbing action cleaner is available through your dealer (GM Part No. 12344600). Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always verify that the cassette tape is in good condition and the tape player is clean before obtaining service on your tape player. Care of Your Compact Discs Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge. Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.

Fixed Mast Antenna The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes without being damaged. If the mast should ever become slightly bent, you can straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent, as it might be by vandals, you should replace it. Check every once in a while to be sure the mast is still tightened to the fender. Power Antenna Mast Care Your power antenna will look its best and work well if it’s cleaned from time to time, To clean the antenna mast: 1. 2.

Turn on the ignition and radio to raise the antenna. Dampen a clean cloth with mineral spirits or equivalent solvent. Wipe the cloth over the mast sections, removing any dirt. Wipe dry with a clean cloth. Make the antenna go up and down by turning the radio or ignition off and on. Then repeat if necessary.

3.

4. 5.

6.

NOTICE: Don’t lubricate the power antenna. Lubrication could damage it.

NOTICE: Before entering an automatic car wash, turn off your radio to make the power antenna go down. This will prevent the mast from possibly getting damaged. If the antenna does not go down when you turn the radio off, it may be damaged or need to be cleaned. In either case, lower the antenna by hand by carefully pressing the antenna down.

If the mast portion of your antenna is damaged, you can easily replace it. See your dealer for a replacement kit and follow the instructions i n the kit.

SEEK: Press the up or down arrows to tune to the next or previous radio station. If a tape or compact disc is playing, the player will advance to the next or previous selection. SCAN: Press to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press again to stop scanning. AM FM: Press to choose AM, FM1 or FM2. If a tape or disc is playing, press this button to hear the radio instead. VOL: Press the up or down arrows to increase or decrease volume. SRCE: Press to change to the tape or disc function when the radio is on. MUTE: Press to silence the audio system.

Steering Wheel Touch Controls (Option)

You can control certain audio system functions using the buttons on your steering wheel.

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NOTES

NOTES

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Section 4 Your Driving and the Road

Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your Buick: Buckle up. (See “Safety Belts” in the Index.) Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads, or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Be ready for their mistakes. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following distance. It’s the best defensive driving maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.

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Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also included many other useful tips on driving.

Drunken Driving Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims every year. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle:

Judgment Muscular Coordination

0 Vision 0 Attentiveness Police records show that almost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, some 18,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured. Many adults -- by some estimates, nearly half the adult population -- choose never to drink alcohol, so they never drive after drinking. For persons under 2 1 , it’s against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological and developmental reasons for these laws.

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The obvious way to solve this highway safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. But what if people do? How much is “too much’’ if the driver plans to drive? It’s a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem. The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon four things:

How much alcohol consumed

0 The drinker’s body weight

The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking The length of time it has taken the drinker to consume the alcohol

According to the American Medical Association, a 180-pound (82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce (355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the same BAC by drinking three 4-ounce (1 20 ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1-1/2 ounces (45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.

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 U.S. is 0.04 percent. The BAC will be over 0. 10 percent after three to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we’ve seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them. But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of this driver having a collision is twelve times greater; at a level of 0. IS percent, the chance is twenty-five times greater!

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It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis ( 3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level. There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since alcohol is carried i n body water, this means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC level than a

The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up. “I’ll be careful” isn’t the right answer. What if there’s an emergency, a need to take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street? A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision. There’s something else about drinking and driving that many people don’t know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord or heart. This means that when anyone who has been drinking -- driver or passenger -- is in a crash, that person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the person had not been drinking.

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Control of a Vehicle 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 Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction time. Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread; and the condition of your brakes.

Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control of your vehicle.

4-5

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking -- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much fidster if YOLI do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means better braking and longer brake life. If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake normally but don’t pump your brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.

Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) Your Buick has an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent a braking skid.

This light on the instrument panel will come on briefly when you start your vehicle.

When you start your vehicle, or when you begin to drive away, you may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise. And you may even notice that your brake pedal moves a little while this is going on. This is the ABS system testing itself. If there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, the anti-lock brake system warning light will stay on or flash. See ”Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” in the Index.

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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 o u t in front of you. You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS. A colnputer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one of the wheels is about t o stop rolling, the computer will separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at the rear wheels.

You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard. As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.

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Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes. To Use Anti-Lock Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the system working, or you may notice some noise, but this is normal. When your anti-lock system is adjusting brake pressure to help avoid a braking skid, the LOW TRAC light will come on. See “Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light” in the Index. Braking in Emergencies Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to. With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking.

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. Steering Tips Driving on Curves It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here’s why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.

Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems -- steering and acceleration -- have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. What should you do if this ever happens‘? Ease up on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead. Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.

Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems by braking -- if you can stop in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room. That’s the time for evasive action -- steering around the problem. Your Buick can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes. (See “Braking in Emergencies” earlier in this section.) It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available.

An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object.

The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly. 4-10

Off-Road Recovery You may find sometime that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving. If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to 114 turn until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.

OFF ROAD RECOVERY

SLOW DOWN

edge of paved surface

Passing The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver? Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly pst the passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents -- the head-on collision. So here are some tips for passing:

“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides, and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better time.

0 Watch for traffic signs, pavernent markings, and lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken center line usually indicates it’s all right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or a double solid line, even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic.

Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely reduces your area of vision, especially if you’re following a larger vehicle. Also, you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable distance.

0 When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,

start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t get too close. Time your move so you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” that more than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back. And if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need only slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity.

0 If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot.

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Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its 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. The vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is.) Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle. Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the brake lights are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn. If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to the right.

Loss of Control Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger. Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to your Buick’s three control systems. In the braking skid your wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.

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A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited. While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues -- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid.

Driving at Night

Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired -- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue. Here are some tips on night driving. 0 Drive defensively. 0 Don’t drink and drive.

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e

Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlamps behind you. Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps can light up only so much road ahead. Jn remote areas, watch for animals. If you‘re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.

Night Vision No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. What you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re driving, don‘t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot of things invisible.

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You can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching lights. Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean -- inside and out. Glare at night is made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would, making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night blindness -- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t even aware of it.

Driving in the Rain

The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road, and even people walking. It’s wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts.

Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road you can’t stop, accelerate or turn as well because your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on dry roads. And, if your tires don’t have much tread left, you’ll get even less traction. It’s always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.

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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 LIP under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.

Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires haven’t much tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone poles, or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning. Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it is raining. Some Other Rainy Weather Tips

Turn on your low-beam headlamps -- not just your parking lamps -- to help make you more visible to others. Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by road spray. Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)

City Driving

Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving: Know the best way to get to where you are going. Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown part of the city just as you would for a cross-country trip. Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the next part, “Freeway Driving.”) Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because the corner is busy enough to need it. When a light turns green, and just before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not cleared the intersection or may be running the red light.

One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to traffic signals.

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Freeway Driving

Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, eXpreSSWayS, turnpikes, Or superhighways) are the Safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.

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The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane. At the entrance there is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow. Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass. Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use your turn signal. Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly Over your shoulder to make Sure there isn’t another vehicle in your “blind” spot.

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night. When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the next exit. The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower than you actually are. Before Leaving on a Long Trip Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re not fresh -- such as after a day’s work -- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily drive in.

Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained. it’s ready to go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in Buick dealers all across North America. They’ll be ready and willing to help if you need it. Here are some things you can check before a trip:

Windshield Wc~slwr Fluid: Is the reservoir full‘? Are all windows clean inside and outside? Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape? Fuel, Eqirze Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels‘? Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean? Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the recommended pressure‘? Weather Fowcvzsrs: What’s the weather outlook along your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system‘? A4up.s: Do you have up-to-date maps?

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Hill and Mountain Roads

Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or rolling terrain.

Highway Hypnosis Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain fdling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of 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 drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than a second, and you could crash and be injured. What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can happen. Then here are some tips:

Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool interior. Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your instruments frequently. If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as an emergency.

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If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. 0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid

levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain roads.

0 Know how to go down hills. The most important

thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill.

A CAUTION:

If you don’t shift down, your brakes eould get so

Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better. Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident. You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.

Winter Driving

Here are some tips for winter driving: 0 Have your Buick in good shape for winter. Be sure

your engine coolant mix is correct.

0 You may want to put winter emergency supplies in

your trunk.

Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth, and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure these items in your vehicle.

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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 ice between 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.

What’s the worst time for this‘? “Wet ice.” Very cold snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the

least traction of all. You can get “wet ice” when it’s about freezing (32” F; 0” C) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there. Whatever the condition -- smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow -- drive with caution. Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface under the tires even more. Your anti-lock brakes improve your ability to make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even though you have the anti-lock braking system, you’ll want to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement. See “Anti-Lock” in the Index.

Allow greater following distance on any slippery road. Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot that’s covered with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass may remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you are on it. Try not to brake while you’re actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers.

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If You’re Caught in a Blizzard

cloth to your vehicle to alert police that you’ve been stopped by the snow. Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you. If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, tloor mats -- anything you can wrap around yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm. You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.

If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a serious situation. You should probably stay with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near help and you can hike through the snow. Here are some things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe: Turn on your hazard tlashers. Tie a red

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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. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This uses ‘less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly .for signaling later on with your headlights. Let the heater run for awhile. Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until help comes.

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/

- - -7

MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP DATE GVWR

GAWR FRT GAWR RR

Loading Your Vehicle

OCCUPANTS

I FRT. CTR. RR.

TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION

VEHICLE CAP. WT.

TOTAL

LBS.

KG

MAX. LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT

XXX

TIRE SIZE

SPEED RTG

TIRE COLD PRESSURE PSIiKPa

FRT. RR. SPA. IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PSIj28KPa SEE OWNER’S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

~-__I__-__

-d

Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label is on the rear edge of the driver’s door on four-door models and inside the trunk lid on two-door models. The label tells you the proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you important information about the number of people that can be in your vehicle and the total weight you can carry. This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight and includes the weight of a l l occupants, cargo and all nonfactory-installed options. 4-26

THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI- CABLE U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, BUMPER, A N D THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.

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 GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo. Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear axle. If you do have a heavy load, spread it out. Don’t carry more than 167 pounds (75 kg) in your trunk.

I NOTICE:

Your warranty does not cover parts or components that fail because of overloading.

If you put things inside your vehicle -- like suitcases, tools, packages or anything else -- they will go as fast as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they’ll keep going.

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Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that appears later i n this section. But traiiering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability, and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. That’s the reason for this part. In it are many time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that of your passengers. So please read this section carefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies, and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight. The engine is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance. increasing the pulling requirements.

Towing a Trailer

advice and information about towing a trailer with your vehicle.

I ’

NOTICE: Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by your warranty. TO pull a trailer correctly, follow the advice in this part, and see your Buick dealer for important information about. towing a trailer with your vehicle.

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If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer If you do, here are some important points. 0 There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you’ll be driving. A good source for this information can be state 01- provincial police. Consider using a sway control.

You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls.

Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 1000 miles ( 1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged. Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 kmrdh) and don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer. Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed for trailers (or no more than 55 mph (90 km/h)) to save wear on your vehicle’s parts.

Three important considerations have to do with weight: Weight of the Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be? It should never weigh more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg), unless you have the 2,000-pound (900 kg) trailer towing option package. But even that can be too heavy. It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle. You can ask your dealer for O L I ~ trailering information or advice, or you can write 11s at Buick Motor Division, Customer Assistance Center, 902 E. Hamilton Avenue, Flint, MI 48550. In Canada, write to General Motors of Canada Limited, Customer Assistance Center, 1908 Colonel Sam Drive, Oshawa, Ontario L 1 H 8P7.

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Weight of the Trailer Tongue The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it affects the total capacity weight of your vehicle. The capacity weight includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. And if you will tow a trailer, you must subtract the tongue load from your vehicle’s capacity weight because your vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index for more information about your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.

If you’re using a “dead-weight” hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 10% of the total loaded trailer weight (B). If you have a “weight-distributing” hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 12% of the total loaded trailer weight (B). After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper. If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right simply by moving some items around in the trailer. Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the recommended pressure for cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on the Tire-Loading Information label (found inside the trunk lid) or see “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index. Then be sure you don’t go over the GVW limit for your vehicle, including the weight of the trailer tongue.

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Hitches It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks going by, and rough roads are a few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are some rules to follow:

Will you have to make any holes in the body of your vehicle when you install a trailer hitch? If you do, then be sure to seal the holes later when you remove the hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get into your vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index). Dirt and water can, too. The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other bumper-type hitches to them. Use only a frame-mounted hitch that does not attach to the bumper.

Safety Chains You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions about safety chains may be provided by the hitch manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufxturer’s recommendation for attaching safety chains and do not attach them to the bumper. Always leave just enough slack so you can turn with your rig. And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground. Trailer Brakes If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg) loaded, then it needs its own brakes -- and they must be adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust and maintain them properly. Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try to tap into your vehicle’s brake system. If you do, both brake systems won’t work well, or at all.

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Driving with a Trailer Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as responsive as your vehicle is by itself. Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform (and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector, lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your electrical connection at the same time. During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes are still working.

Following Distance Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer, This can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking and sudden turns. Passing You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the passed vehicle before you can return to your lane. Backing Up Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible, have someone guide you.

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Making Turns

NOTICE: Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering.

When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance. Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a different turn signal flasher and extra wiring. The green arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.

When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working. Driving On Grades Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear Oefbve you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you might have to use your brakes so much that they would get hot and no longer work well. On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine and transaxle overheating. If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg), you may prefer to drive in THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D) (or, as you need to, a lower gear).

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Parking on Hills 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. 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 wheels. 3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.

4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking

brake, and then shift to PARK (P).

5. Release the regular brakes.

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When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking on a Hill I . Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down

while you:

Start your engine;

0 Shift into a gear; and 0 Release the parking brake.

2. Let up on the brake pedal. 3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks. 4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks. Maintenance When Trailer Towing Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more on this. Things that are especially important in trailer operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill), engine oil, belt, cooling system, and brake adjustment. Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index will help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these sections before you start your trip. Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.

NOTES

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NOTES

n Section 5 Problems on the Road

5-1

I NOTICE:

Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. Trying to start your Buick by pushing or pulling it won’t work, and it could damage your vehicle.

To Jump Start Your Buick 1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt

battery with a negative ground system.

I NOTICE:

If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.

Other Warning Devices If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle. Jump Starting If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your Buick. But please follow the steps below to do it. safely.

5-2

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching each other. If they are, it could cause a ground connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to start your Buick, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical systems. You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or a manual transaxle in NEUTRAL (N).

3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all

iamps that aren’t needed, and radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it could save your radio!

NOTICE: If you leave your radio on, it could be badly damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.

4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.

A CAUTION:

An electric fan can start up even when the engine is not running and can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any underhood electric fan.

5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on each battery. Your Buick has a remote positive (+) jump starting terminal. The terminal is on the same side of the engine compartment as your battery. You should always use the remote positive (+) terminal instead of the positive (+) terminal on your battery. To uncover the remote positive (+) terminal, lift the red plastic cap.

3-3

6. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or

missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged, too. Before you connect the cables, here are some basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to positive (+) and .negative (-) will go to negative (-) or a metal engine part. Don’t connect (+) to (-) or you’ll get a short that would damage the batterv and maybe other parts, too.

5-4

7. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the vehicle with the dead battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.

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 vehicle has one.

9. Now connect the black negative (-) cable to the good battery's negative (-) terminal. Don't let the other end touch anything until the next step. The other end of the negative cable d o c w ~ 'I go to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy, unpainted. metal part on the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery.

5-5

IO. Att.ach the cable at least I8 inches (45 cm) away

from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that move. The electrical connection is just as good there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the battery is much less.

1 1. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run

the engine for a while.

12. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it

won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs service.

5-6

13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent

electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch each other or any other metal. A. Heavy Metal Engine Part B. Good Battery C . Dead Battery

Towing Your Vehicle

If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these instructions and illustrations may not be correct. Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers. When you call, tell the towing service:

Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service tow your Buick. The usual towing equipment is: A. Sling-type Tow Truck B. Wheel-lift Tow Truck C. Car Carrier

That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front or rear with sling-type equipment. That your vehicle has front-wheel drive. The make, model, and year of your vehicle. Whether you can still move the shift lever. If there was an accident, what was damaged.

When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator know that this manual contains detailed towing instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to see them.

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5-8

A CAUTION:

When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key off. The steering wheel should be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping device designed for towing service. Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this. The transaxle should be in NEUTRAL (N) and the parking brake released. Don’t have your vehicle towed on the front wheels, unless you must. If the vehicle must be towed on the front wheels, don’t go more than 35 mph (56 km/h) or farther than 50 miles (80 km) or your transaxle will be damaged. If these limits must be exceeded, then the front wheels have to be supported on a dolly.

5-9

r ront Towing Hookups

Attach T-hook chains in front of the wheels into the side slots of the cradle on both sides.

Use wheel lift or car carrier equipment. Additional ramping may be required for car carrier equipment. Use safety chains and wheel straps.

Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard end of each lower control arm.

NOTICE: Do not tow with sling-type equipment or fascia/grille damage will occur. Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could damage a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment. To help avoid damage, install a towing dolly and raise th.e vehicle until adequate clearance is obtained between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment. Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to suspension components when using car carrier equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in T-hooks slots.

Rear Towing Hookups

Att.ach 'T-hook chains i n t o slots in the bottom of the floor pan just ahead of the rear wheels on both sides.

Use wheel lift or car carrier equipment. Additional ramping may be required for car carrier equipment. Use safety chains and wheel straps.

Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard end of each lower control arm.

NOTICE: Do not tow with sling-type equipment or the rear bumper valance will be damaged. Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could damage a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment. To help avoid damage, install a towing dolly and raise the vehicle until adequate clearance is obtained between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment. Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to suspension components when using car carrier equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in T-hooks slots.

Engine Overheating You will find a coolant temperature gage and a warning light about a hot engine on your instrument panel. See “Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light” i n the Index. You also have a low coolant light on your instwrnent panel. See “Low Coolant Light” in the Ilrdex.

If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine

A CAUTION:

Steam from an overheated engine can burn you badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam corning from it. Just turn it off and get everyone away from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or coolant before opening the hood. is If you keep driving when your engine fire. You or overheated, the liquids in it can catch if others could be badly burned. Stop your engine it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the engine is cool.

NOTICE: If your engine catches fire because you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be covered by your warranty.

If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you: 0 Climb a long hill on a hot day. 0 Stop after high speed driving. Idle for long periods in traffic. Tow a trailer.

If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam, try this for a minute or so: 1. Turn off your air conditioner 2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan

speed and open the window as necessary.

3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);

otherwise, shift to the highest gear while driving -- DRIVE (D) or THIRD (3).

If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about ten minutes. If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drive normally. If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right away. If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see if the warning stops. But then, if you still have the warning, r w r l ojftlw engine ~-rnd get owryotw out of’ the vehicle until it cools down. You may decide not to lift the hood but help right away.

to get service

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3.1 L L82 (Code M) Engine

3.8L L27 (Code L) Engine

When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what you’ I1 see: A. Coolant Recovery Tank B. Radiator Pressure Cap C. Electric Engine Fan

5-16

An electric fan under the hood can start up even when the engine is not running and can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any underhood electric fan.

If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling, don’t do anything else until it cools down.

I A CAUTION:

Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. do, you can be burned. Don’t run the engine i€ 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 the vehicle.

If you

NOTICE: