
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
If you have the Gage Cluster, you have a gage that
shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage
pointer moves into the red area, your engine
is too hot!
That reading means the same thing as the warning light.
It means that
your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off
the engine as soon as possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
,ENGINE SOON
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition
and emission control systems. This light should come
on
when the ignition is on, but the engine is not running, as
a check to show
you it is working. If it does not come on
at all, have
it fixed right away. If it stays on, or it comes
on while you are driving, the computer
is indicating that
you have a problem. You should take your vehicIe in for
service soon.
111

Traction Control System (Option)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially
useful in slippery
road conditions. The traction control system works at
low speeds only, such
as when you accelerate from a
stop. It applies brake pressure
to an individual wheel
that the system senses is about to spin.
You may feel the system working, or
you may notice
some noise, but this is normal.
OFF
The “TRACTION OFF” warning light lets you know if
your traction control system is not working. See
“Traction Control System Warning Light” in the Index.
Disc Brake Wear Indicators
Your Buick has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except
when you are pushing
on the brake pedal firmly).
A CAUTION:
0
The brake wear warning sound means that
sooner or later your brakes won’t work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear the
brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
1 LC3

c:
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that can’t be repaired well because of the size or location
.
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires, get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way,
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating, traction, ride and other things during normal service on your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by a
“MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS
You need a new tire if:
you can see the indicators at three places around the
tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to show cord or fabric.
258

Electric Outside Mirror Control .................... 100
Electrical Equipment. Adding
.................. 128. 269
Emergencies. Braking
............................ 163
Emergencies on the Road
.......................... 195
Emergencies. Steering in
......... ; ................ 164
Emergency Starting. Dead Battery
................... 198
Emergency Wrecker Towing
....................... 203
Engine Energy Conserving
Oil ............................ 237
Block Heater
.............................. 72. 239
Coolant
................................. 21 1. 243
Coolant Temperature Warning Light
.............. 110
Exhaust
...................................... 81
Identification
................................. 269
Oil
......................................... 236
Oil Additives
................................. 239
Oil Life Monitor
.............................. 114
Oil Pressure Warning Light
..................... 112
Oil. When to Change
...................... 239. 277
Overheating
.................................. 208
Starting
...................................... 70
Warning Light. Need for Service
................. 111
Ethanol in Gasoline
.............................. 231
Expectant Mothers. Use of Safety Belts
............... 37
Explanation of Scheduled Services
.................. 286
Expressway Driving
.............................. 176
Extender. Safety Belt
.............................. 55
Exterior Appearance ............................. 265 Fasteners.
Replacement
.......................... 230
Features and Controls
............................. 57
Fetus. Risk to
.. From Safety Belt Use ................ 37
Filling Your Fuel Tank
............................ 233
Filter. Oil
...................................... 275
Finish Care
..................................... 266
Finish Damage
.................................. 267
First Gear. When to Use
............................ 75
Flat Tire
....................................... 216
Flooded Engine. Starting a
.......................... 70
Fluid
Capacities
................................... 275
Brake
....................................... 248
Power Steering
........... ; ................... 246
Transaxle/Transmission
........................ 241
Windshield Washer
............................ 247
Fluids and Lubricants Recommended
................ 293
FM Stereo Radio Reception
........................ 127
Fog. Driving
in .................................. 173
Francais. Guide En
................................. 2
Freedom Battery
................................. 249
Freeway Driving
................................ 176
French LanguageManual
........................... 2
Front Brake Disc Wear Indicators
................... 162
Front Towing Hook-Ups
.......................... 206
Fuel
.......................................... 231
Fuel Gage
...................................... 106
Fuel Tank. Filling Your
........................... 233
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
........................ 270
Fuseusage ..................................... 271
Foreign Operation
............................... 232
308

Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 11 1
Engine Oil Pressure
........................... 112
Fuel
........................................ 106
Volts
....................................... 115
Gasoline
....................................... 231
Gasoline Tank. Filling Your
........................ 233
Gear Positions
................................... 73
Glass Cleaning
.................................. 265
Graphic Symbols
................................. 12
Guard Against Theft
.............................. 66
Guide En Francais
................................. 2
I
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
“I
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Ialogen Bulbs ................................. 250
[azard Warning Flasher
........................... 196
[aze. Driving in
................................. 173
[eadlamp Bulb Replacement
....................... 250
[eadlight On Warning
............................. 96
[ead Restraints
.................................. 17
[earing Impaired Customer Assistance
............... 298
[eater
..................................... 123. 126
.eater. Engine Block
.......................... 72. 239
Highway Hypnosis”
............................. 179
:ill and Mountain Roads
.......................... 180
ills. Parking on
................................ 182
.itches. Trailer
.................................. 191
:olding a Baby in Your Car
......................... 42
.ood. Opening the
............................... 234
:orn ........................................... 83
:ot Coolant Warning Light
........................ 110
[eadlight High-Low Beam Switch ................... 87
:igh Speed Shifting When Your Engine is Running
...... 74 Hot Engine. Safety Warnings About
................. 208
Hydroplaning ................................... 172
Ice. Driving
on ................................. 186
Identification Label. Service Parts
................... 269
Identification Number. Vehicle
..................... 269
Idling Your Engine
................................ 81
If You’re Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow
........... 228
Ignition Key Positions
............................ -69
Indicator.
Turn Signal ............................. 85
Indicators. Disc Brake Wear ....................... 162
Indicators. Warning Lights and Gages
................ 106
Infant Restraint
................................... 43
Inflation. Tire
................................... 256
Inside Mirror
.................................... 99
Inspection. Tire
................................. 257
Instrument Panel
................................ 104
Interior Cleaning
................................ 262
Interlock. Brake-Transaxle Shift
.................. 73. 80
Introduction How to Use This Manual ................ 10
..................................... J ack. Tire 216
Jacking Up the Car
.............................. -216
Jump Starting
................................... 198
Keys
.......................................... 58
Keyless Entry System. Remote
...................... 61
Kilometer Indicator
.............................. 105
309
.._ .. .

Label. Service Parts Identification .................. 269
Lane Change Indicator
............................. 85
LapBelt
........................................ 38
Lap-Shoulder Belt. Usage by Children
................ 53
Leaving Your Vehicle .............................. 79
Light. Safety Belt
................................. 24
Light.
Turn Signal Indicator ......................... 85
Lighter. Cigarette ................................ 103
Lights
.......................................... 95
Lights
Daytime Running
.............................. 98
Panel
........................................ 96
Time Out Feature
.............................. 96
Traffic
...................................... 152
“On” Warning
................................. 96
Operation
.................................... 86
Lights and Gages. Warning Indicators ................ 106
Loading Your Vehicle
............................ 253
Locks. Door
..................................... 59
Locks. Rear Door Security
.......................... 65
Long Distance Driving ............................ 178
Loss of Control
................................. 168
Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
.................... 112
Maintenance Schedule
.......................... 277
Maintenance Inspections
.................................. 292
Record
...................................... 295
Schedule
.................................... 280
Underbody
.................................. 267
Malfunction Indicator Light
........................ 11 1
Manualseat ..................................... 14 Markings. Pavement
............................. 153
Master Cylinder. Brake ........................... 248
Methanol
in Gasoline ............................. 231
Mirrors Convex Outside
.............................. 100
Heated Outside Rearview
....................... 100
Inside
....................................... 99
Outside
...................................... 99
Visor Vanity
................................. 102
Mist. Driving
in ................................. 173
Mobile Telephone. Adding a
....................... 128
Mountain Driving
................................ 180
MTBE in Gasoline
............................... 231
N (Neutral) Gear Position ......................... 74
Net. Convenience
................................ 101
New Vehicle “Break-In”
........................... 68
NightDriving
................................... 169
Night Vision .................................... 170
Notices About Damage
............................ 11
Octane Required for Your Car
..................... 231
Odometer
...................................... 105
Odometer. Trip
.................................. 105
Off (Ignition Key Position)
......................... 69
Off Road Recovery
.............................. 166
Oil. Engine
..................................... 236
Oil Pressure Warning Light
........................ 112
Operation
in Foreign Countries ..................... 232
Operation of Lights
............................... 86
Oil. Change Your Engine
...................... 239. 277
310 __ .. ~

Steam From Hot (Overheated) Engine ................ 208
Steep Hill Parking
............................... 182
Steering
....................................... 163
Steering in Emergencies
........................... 164
Steering Wheel. Tilt
............................... 84
Steering Without Power Assist ..................... 163
Stereo Sound Systems
............................ 127
Storage Armrest
................................. 104
Storing Your Car
................................ 249
Stuck. If Your Ignition Key
is ....................... 70
Stuck. If Your Car is
.............................. 228
SunVisors
..................................... 101
Subscribing to
Buick Product Service Publications
...... 301
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System
(SIR) ......... 33
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System Light
......... 33
Symbols on Road Signs
........................... 15 1
Symbols Used
on Your Car ......................... 12
Table of Contents
................................ 13
Tachometer
..................................... 116
Taillamp Bulb Replacement
........................ 252
Tamper-Resistance of Odometer
.................... 105
TapePlayerCare
................................ 141
Theft
........................................... 66
Theft Deterrent System. PASS-Key
................... 67
Thermostat ..................................... 246
Third Gear. When to Use
........................... 75
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................... 84
Time. Setting the
..................... 130.132.134. 137
Time Out Feature. Lights
........................... 96
Tire Balance
.................................... 260
Tire Chains
..................................... 261 Tire. Flat
....................................... 216
Tire Inflation
................................... 256
Tire Inspection and Rotation
....................... 257
Tire Quality Grading
............................. 259
Tires
.......................................... 255
Tires. When
to Replace ........................... 258
Tires. White Sidewall Cleaning
..................... 266
Torn Safety Belts
................................. 56
Torque Lock. Automatic Transaxle
.................. 184
Towing a Trailer
................................. 189
TQwing Your Car ................................ 203
Traction Control System
.......................... 162
Trademarks.
GM ................................ 230
Traffic Lights
................................... 152
Traffic Officer
.................................. 153
Trailer Brakes
................................... 192
Trailer Towing
.................................. 189
Transaxleflransmission Automatic
................... 73
Transaxle Fluid
.............................. 241. 277
Travel. Brake Pedal
.............................. 163
Trip Odometer
.................................. 105
Trunk Release. Remote
............................ 83
Turn Signalmeadlight Beam Lever
................... 85
Twisted Safety Belts ............................... 31
Traction
Control System Warning Light
.............. 109
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
............... 85
Two Children Wearing the Same Safety Belt ............ 53
Underbody Maintenance ......... .... ... ... ...... 267
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
...................... 259
Unleaded Gasoline
............................... 231
Uphill Parking
.................................. 183
. 313

Upholstery Care ................................. 263
Used Oil. How to Dispose
of ....................... 240
Vehicle Damage. Warnings
........................ 1 1
Vehicle Identification Number
...................... 269
Vehicle Storage
................................. 249
Vehicle Symbols
.................................. 12
Vinyl. Cleaning
................................. 264
Visors. Dual
Sun ................................ 10 1
Visor Vanity Mirror .............................. 102
Volts Gage
..................................... 11 5
Warning
Devices
..................................... 197
Flasher. Hazard
............................... 196
Light. Antilock Brake System
................... 108
Light. Battery
................................ 1 15
Light. Brake System
........................... 107
Light. Engine Oil Pressure
...................... 1 12
Light. Security Warning
......................... 67
Light.
Engine Coolant Temperature
............... 11 0
Light. Service Engine Soon ..................... 11 1
Light. Traction Control System
.................. 109
Lights and Indicators
on Instrument Panel .......... 106 Warnings. Safety
................................. 10
Washer. Windshield .............................. 247
Wear Indicators. Disc Brake
....................... 162
Weather Strips. Cleaning
.......................... 266
Wet Road Driving
............................... 171
Wheel Alignment
................................ 260
Wheel Cover Removal
............................ 218
WheelNutTorque
............................... 226
Wheel Replacement
.............................. 260
Wheel. Tilt ...................................... 84
White Sidewall Tires. Cleaning
..................... 266
Why Wear Safety Belts?
............................ 23
Windows. Power
................................. 82
Cleaning .................................... 265
Washer
...................................... 88
Washer Fluid
.............................. 88. 247
Wipers
................................... 87. 265
Winter Driving
.................................. 185
Wire Wheel Cover
............................... 219
Working on Your Car
............................. 230
Worn Tires
..................................... 258
WreckerTowing
................................. 203
Windshield
Your Driving and the Road ....................... 145
Your Own Signs
................................. 153
Your Vehicle and the Environment .................. 279
314