
Bi-Level
This setting is designed for use on sunny days when the
air is only moderately warm or
cool. On days like these,
the sun may adequately warm your upper body, but your
lower body may
not be warm enough.
The Bi-level setting directs outside air into your vehicle
in two ways. Cool air is directed toward your upper
body through the instrument panel outlets, while slightly
warmed air is directed through the heater outlet at your
feet.
The air conditioner compressor operates in all Air
Conditioning positions and the Defrost position when
the outside temperature is above
48 OF (9OC).
When you don’t need to cool the outside air, use the
VENT, HEAT, or DEFROST settings. Adjust the
temperature control for comfort. You’ll get better fuel
economy (gas mileage) if you’re
not cooling the outside
air. When
you cool the air, your engine runs a
refrigeration compressor, and it has to work harder.
Vent
For mild outside temperature, when little heating or
cooling is needed, use the
VENT setting. Air will flow
through the instrument panel outlets. Use
the air outlets to
turn on, adjust and turn
off the air flow. Adjust the
temperature lever to the desired temperature.
Heater
When outside temperatures are cold, pressing the HTR
setting and adjusting the temperature lever
will send
warm air through the floor outlets, and some through the
defroster vents.
Def
The Defrost setting directs most of the air flow toward
the windshield. Use defrost when
you want to remove
fog or ice from
the windshield. When it’s 48 OF (9 “C) or
warmer, you’ll get cooled air.
Defog
Air entering the car will be evenly split between the
floor outlets and the outlets near the windshield. You
can control the temperature of the air and the fan speed
to clear the foggy windows.
126

0 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 skidding.
This light
on the instrument panel will go on when you
start your vehicle.
See “Anti-lock Brake System Warning Light”
in the
Index.
@
ANTI
LOCK
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a,
rn
e,
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet.
You’re. driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps
out in
front
of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. The
computer separately works the brakes at each front
wheel and at the rear wheels.
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.
160

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.
Making nrns
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 lights 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 before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down,
you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down to “D” (Drive) and
reduce your speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to
reduce the possibility of engine and transaxle
overheating.
193

Engine Overheating
You will find the warning light about a hot engine on
your Buick instrument panel,
If you have the optional gage cluster, you may also have
a coolant temperature warning gage.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine:
CAUTION:
eam 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 coming
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.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine
if it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool. badly
damaged. The costly
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:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
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 “N” (Neutral).
208

A CAUTION:
If you get gasoline on you 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, and is 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 until
you hear a clicking noise.
1
If you need a new cap, be sure to get tlie rlgnt
type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you ge
the wrong type, it may
not fit or have propor
venting, and your fuel tank
and emissions
system might be damaged
Checking Things Under the Hood
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the
vehicle.
It is located on the lower
left side
of the instrument
panel,
next to the parking
brake.
234
.I

Special Cleaning Problems
Greasy or Oily Stains: Like grease, oil, butter,
margarine, shoe polish, coffee with cream, chewing
gum, cosmetic creams, vegetable oils, wax crayon, tar
and asphalt.
Carefully scrape off excess stain.
Then follow the solvent-type instructions above.
Shoe polish, wax crayon, tar and asphalt will stain if
left on a vehicle seat fabric. They should be removed
as soon as possible. Be careful, because the cleaner
will dissolve them and may cause them to bleed.
Non-Greasy Stains: Like catsup, coffee (black), egg,
fruit, fruit juice, milk, soft drinks, wine, vomit, urine and
blood.
Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the
soiled area with cool water.
If a stain remains, follow the foam-type instructions
above.
If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine, treat
the area with a waterbaking soda solution:
1
teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml) of
lukewarm water.
0 Finally, if needed, clean lightly with solvent-type
cleaner.
Combination Stains: Like candy, ice cream,
mayonnaise, chili sauce and unknown stains.
Carefully scrape off excess stain, then clean with
cool water
and allow to dry.
0 If a stain remains, clean it with solvent-type cleaner.
Cleaning Vinyl or Leather
Just use warm water and a clean cloth.
Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. You
Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain if may have to do it more than once.
you don’t get them
off quickly. Use a clean cloth and
solvent-type vinylbeather cleaner.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument
Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield
and even make it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
264

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
ENGINE A3 f ASSEMBLY
~ CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT
This is the legal identifier for your Buick. It appears on
a plate in the front corner
of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side. You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle.
The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates
of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code for
your
GM engine. This code will help you identify your
engine, specifications, and replacement parts in this
section.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on the rear edge of the driver’s
door.
It’s very helpful if you ever need to order parts. On
this label is:
Your VIN.
Its model designation.
Paint information.
A list of all production options and special
Be sure that this label is
not removed from the vehicle.
equipment.
Add-on
Electrical Equipment
unless you check with your dealer first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some
of it can just kee
from working as they should.

Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your car are protected from short
circuits by a combination
of fuses, circuit breakers, and
fusible thermal links
in the wiring itself. This greatly
reduces the chance
of fires caused by electrical
problems.
You’ll find some spare
fuses in the fuse block. Be sure
to use the correct fuse.
If you ever have a problem on
the road and don’t have a spare fuse,
you can “borrow”
one
of the correct value. Just pick some feature of your
car that
you can get along without -- like the radio or
cigarette lighter
-- and use its fuse, if it is of the value
you need. Replace it as soon as you can.
The fuse panel
is located under the instrument panel,
next to the parking brake.
To release and lower the fuse
panel, squeeze the two tabs together. Then, pull it
towards you.
It will come down so the fuses can be
accessed.
c m
k
Remove the cover to access the fuses.
270