
Vehicle Symbols
These
are some of the symbols you will find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
Q
CAUSTIC
BURNS AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
4
BELTS
WINDOW POWER
These symbols
have
to do with
your lights:
LIGHTING - 8 -
MASTER 8
SWITCH 0 ,
SIGNALS e 9
TURN
LIGHTS
Pf
HIGH BEAM OR = =o
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD ' ' ' 4- e-
WASHER
wlNDsHIELDw DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
HEADLAMP
- r~.c.r
WASHER :Q
WIPER -
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT F*
TEMP -.--
ENGINE
CHARGING
I-1
BATTERY SYSTEM
RADIATOR
a
COOLANT
FUEL
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
TEMP OIL
&
ANTILOCK (@)
BRAKE
Here are some
other symbols
you
may see:
FUSE
RADIO >
VOLUME
CONDITIONING
AIR 33
HATCHBACK /y
TRUNK
RELEASE
t LIGHTER

@ Part 3 Comfort Controls & Audio Systems
In this part you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control systems and audio systems offered with your Buick . Be
sure to read about the particular system supplied with your vehicle
.
Part 3 includes:
Comfort Control System
........................................................ 122
Heater and Defroster
....................................................... 123. 126
Airconditioner
........................................................... 119. 125
Rear Window Defogger
.................................................... 124. 127
Ventilation
................................................................... 126
Audiosystems
.................................................................... 127
Settingtheclock
................................................. 130. 132. 134. 137
RadioControls
....................................................... 129. 130. 133
TapePlayerControls
................................................... 132. 134. 136
CDPlayerControls
............................................................ 138
Understanding Radio Reception .................................................. 127
CareofCompactDiscs
......................................................... 142
Antennacare
................................................................ 142
Care
of Cassette
Tape Player & Tapes ............................................. 141
117
-

If your Buick has this climate control system, the
following information tells you how it works.
Your Buick's flow through ventilation system supplies
outside air into
the vehicle when it is moving. When the
heater or air conditioning fan is running, outside air
will
also enter the vehicle.
Fan Speeds
The fan control is used to select the speed you want the
blower to control the air flow.
Lever Controls
The upper lever changes the fan speeds. The lower lever
changes the temperature
of the air coming through your
air outlets.
Air Conditioning
The next three selections cool the air. The air
conditioner won't work well unless all the windows are
closed. On very hot days, open the windows long
enough
to let hot inside air out. This reduces the amount
of work your air conditioner's compressor will have to
do, which should help fuel economy.
Max
This setting provides maximum cooling with the least
amount of work.
MAX recirculates much of the air
inside your vehicle
so it maximizes your air
conditioner's performance and fuel economy.
Norm
Use NORM for normal cooling on hot days. This setting
cools outside air and directs it through the instrument
panel outlets.
125

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

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

which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
B and
A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Those grades are molded on the sidewalls of passenger
car tires.
While the tires available as standard or optional
equipment on General Motors vehicles may vary with respect to these grades, all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have been approved
for use on General Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at
the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance. In most cases, you will not need
to have your wheels
aligned again. However, if you notice unusual tire wear
or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to be reset.
If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your
wheels may need
to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air
out, replace it (except some aluminum wheels, which
can sometimes be repaired). See your Buick dealer if
any
of these conditions exist.
Your dealer
will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset, and be mounted the
same way as
the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original
equipment
parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your Buick model.
260

Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Foreign Material
Calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting agents,
road oil and tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals from
industrial chimneys, and other foreign matter can
damage your vehicle’s finish if
they remain on painted
surfaces. Use cleaners that are marked
safe for painted
surfaces for
these stains.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop
into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and Scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody.
If these are not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the
underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and
exhaust system even though they have corrosion
protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect.
Dirt packed in closed areas of
the frame should be
loosened before being flushed. Your
dealer or an underbody vehicle washing system can do this
for
you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces
on your vehicle. This damage can
take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped discolorations,
and small irregular dark spots etched into the paint
surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Buick
will repair, at
no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever comes first.

Capacities and Specifications
Engine Code L1 (L27)2 3.8L V-6 SF1
Belt Tensions -
Automatically controlled by a Self-Tension idler
pulley. Tension adjustment should never
be
necessary.
Cooling System Capacity -
Crankcase Capacity -
Air Conditioning Capacity4 -
With air conditioning: 13 quarts/l2.5 liters
4 quarts/4 liters
R134
- 2.0 lbs. (0.90 kilograms)
R12 - 2.42 lbs. ( 1.09 kilograms)
Fuel Tank Capacity -
18 gallons/68 liters
Transaxle -
Drain & Refill - 6 quarts/5.7 liters
Maintenance Item Part Numbers3 -
Air Filter - A1096C
Fuel Filter
- GF580
Oil Filter
- PF47
Radiator Cap - RC27
Spark Plug
- 41-600, GAP 0.060”
PCV Valve
- CV892C
1 8th Character of the Vehicle Identification Number.
2 Made in a GM plant in the United States.
3 Part numbers are AC type.
4 Air Conditioning Refrigerant: Not all air-conditioning refrigerants are the same. If the air conditioning system in your
vehicle needs refrigerant, be sure the proper refrigerant
is used. If you’re not sure ask your Buick dealer.