
Turn off the  ignition. 
Remove  the SlR/SRS (air  bag) fuse (see “Fuses and 
Circuit  Breakers” in  the  Index). 
Disconnect the yellow  connector  at the  base of the 
steering  column. 
When  the work  is complete,  if the  air  bag system was 
disconnected,  be  sure  to  reattach everything  and replace 
the  fuse  before  turning the ignition  on. When  you turn 
the  ignition  key on, be sure 
you see  the inflatable 
restraint  light 
on the  instrument  panel. If  you don’t  see 
this  light  flash  and then go 
out as usual, have your  air 
bag system repaired. 
Safety  Belt Use During Pregnancy 
Safety  belts  work for  everyone,  including  pregnant 
women.  Like all occupants,  they are more likely 
to be 
seriously injured  if 
they don’t wear safety  belts. 
A pregnant  woman should wear a  lap-shoulder  belt, and 
the  lap portion should be worn  as low 
as possible 
throughout  the  pregnancy.  The best way 
to protect  the  fetus  is  to  protect the 
mother.  When a safety belt 
is worn properly, it’s more 
likely that the  fetus won’t  be hurt  in a  crash.  For 
pregnant women,  as for  anyone, 
the key  to making 
safety belts effective  is wearing them properly. 
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will  sound for several minutes,  then will go off to save 
battery  power. 
Remember, the theft  deterrent system won’t arm if  you 
lock 
the doors  with a key  or  manual  door lock.  It arms 
only  if  you  use 
a power  door lock switch  or Remote 
Keyless  Entry System.  You should  also remember  that 
you can start  your  vehicle  with the correct ignition  key 
if  the alarm  has  been set 
off. You must still shut  off the 
alarm  by inserting  the key’in  the  door  lock. 
Here’s  how  to  avoid setting 
off the alarm  by accident: 
0 
0 
If  you  don’t  want  to arm the theft deterrent  system, 
the  vehicle should  be locked  after  the  doors  are 
closed. 
Always  unlock a  door  with’a  key, or use  the Remote 
Keyless Entry System. Unlocking  a door any other 
way  will  set 
off the alarm.  If 
you set 
off  the alarm  by accident,  unlock  any  door 
with  your 
key. 
You  can also  turn  off  the alarm  by using  the Remote 
Keyless  Entry System, 
if you have  it. The  alarm  won’t 
stop 
if you  try  to unlock  a  door any other  way. 
How to Test  The Alarm 
The alarm can be tested  by first  having  the driver’s 
window  down. Arm 
the system  by locking the  doors 
with  the  power door  lock switch  or the Remote Keyless 
Entry  System.  Get  out 
of the car  and  close  the door, wait 
for  the  security light  to go  out,  then reach  in through  the 
window,  unlock  the door  with the manual door  lock, 
then  open  the door.  This should  set  the alarm off. 
If  the  alarm  does not  sound  when 
it should, check  to see 
if  the  horn  works.  The horn  fuse may  be  blown.  To 
replace the  fuse, see “Fuses and  Circuit Breakers” in the 
Index. 
72 
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PASS-Key I1 TM 
Your vehicle is equipped with  the PASS-Key I1 TM 
(Personalized  Automotive Security System) theft 
deterrent  system.  PASS-Key 
I1 TM is a passive  theft 
deterrent  system.  This  means you don’t have to do 
anything  different  to  arm or disarm the  system. It works 
when you  insert  or  remove  the key from the  ignition. 
PASS-Key 
TM uses a  resistor  pellet in the  ignition key 
that matches a decoder in your vehicle.  When the PASS-Key 
I1 system  senses that someone 
using  the wrong  key, it  shuts  down the vehicle’s  starter 
and 
fuel systems. For  about  three  minutes,  the starter 
won’t work and fuel won’t  go  to the engine.  If  someonl 
tries  to start  your  vehicle  again or uses  another  key 
during  this  time,  the  vehicle  will not start. This 
discourages  someone from randomly  trying  different 
is 
e 
keys with different resistor pellets in an  attempt  to make 
a match. 
The  ignition 
key must  be clean  and dry  before  it’s 
inserted  in the  ignition  or  the  engine  may not start.  If the 
engine  does  not  start and  the “SECURITY” light comes 
on,  the key  may be  dirty  or  wet. Turn the  ignition 
off. 
Clean and dry the  key.  Wait about  three  minutes and try 
again.  The  security  light will remain on  during  this time. 
If  the starter still won’t work, and the key  appears  to  be 
clean  and dry, wait  about three minutes and try  the  other 
ignition  key. 
At this  time,  you  may also want to check 
the  fuse  (see  “Fuses and Circuit Breakers”  in  the  Index). 
If  the  starter  won’t work with  the  other key, your vehicle 
needs  service.  If your  vehicle  does  start,  the  first  ignition 
key  may 
be faulty.  See your Buick  dealer  or a locksmith 
who can  service  the  PASS-Key  I1 
TM . 
If you accidentally use a key that has a damaged  or 
missing resistor  pellet, the starter  won’t work and the 
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A green arrow on the 
instrument  panel 
will flash 
in the direction of the turn 
or lane change. 
To signal  a lane  change,  just  raise or lower the lever 
until 
the green arrow  starts  to flash. Hold  it  there until 
you complete your lane  change.  The lever will return by 
itself  when  you  release it. 
As you signal a turn  or  a  lane  change, if the arrows  don’t 
flash but  just stay  on, a signal  bulb may  be  burned out 
and  other drivers  won’t see your turn  signal. 
If  a bulb  is burned  out,  replace  it to  help avoid an 
accident.  If 
the green arrows don’t  go on at all when  you 
signal  a  turn, check the  fuse (see “Fuses” 
in the Index) 
and for burned-out bulbs. 
If you have a trailer towing option  with added wiring  for 
the trailer lights,  a different turn signal flasher is used. 
With  this flasher installed, the signal indicator  will flash 
even 
if a  turn  signal  bulb is burned out. Check the front 
and  rear  turn signal lights regularly  to make  sure they 
are  working. 
Operation of Lights 
Although  your vehicle’s lighting system (headlights, 
parking lights,  fog lamps,  side marker lights and 
taillights) meet all  applicable federal lighting 
requirements, certain  states and provinces  may apply 
their own lighting regulations that  may require special 
attention before 
you operate  these  lights. For example, 
some  jurisdictions  may require that  you operate your 
lower beam lights  with fog lamps  at all  times,  or that 
headlights be turned  on whenever  you must  use  your 
windshield wipers. In  addition, most jurisdictions 
prohibit  driving solely with parking lights, especially at 
dawn  or  dusk.  It is  recommended that 
you check with 
you  own  state  or provincial highway authority  for 
applicable lighting regulations. 
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I 
I 
Here you  will  find information  about  the  care  of your  Buick . This part begins  with service  and fuel  information. and 
then  it shows  how to check  important  fluid  and lubricant  levels 
. There  is also  technical information  about your 
vehicle.  and  a  section  devoted to its  appearance  care 
. 
Part  6  includes: 
ServiceTips 
...................................................................... 
Engineoil ....................................................................... \
242 
Fuel 
........................................................................\
..... 243 
Hood Release  248 
251 
AirFilter 
........................................................................\
. 255 
Automatic Transaxle Fluid 
........................................................... 
Enginecoolant .................................................................... 258 
PowerSteeringFluid 
............................................................... 261 
Windshield  Washer Fluid 
............................................................ 262 
Brakes 
........................................................................\
... 263 
Battery 
........................................................................\
... 265 
266 
268 
270 
278 
Vehicle  Identification  Number  (VIN) 
.................................................. 286 
Fuses  .and Circuit Breakers 
........................................................... 287 
Capacities  and Specifications 
.......................................................... 292 
..................................................................... 
256 
BulbReplacement 
................................................................. 
LoadingYourVehicle ............................................................... 
Tires ........................................................................\
.... 
Appearancecare .................................................................. 
241 
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Fuses and Circuit Breakers 
The wiring circuits  in your  car  are  protected from short 
circuits  by a combination  of fuses  and circuit breakers. 
This  greatly reduces the chance  of fires  caused  by 
electrical  problems. 
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. 
tl R 
towards you.  It  will come down so the fuses can be 
accessed. 
Remove the cover  to  access the fuses. 
To put the cover 
on, insert the tabs into the lower part  of the  fuse  panel 
and  snap 
it in place. Squeeze the tabs together and then 
push  the fuse panel  back  up into the instrument panel 
until it locks in place. 
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 
287 
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There  are  additional  fuses  located behind the right sound 
insulator  panel on the  passenger  side.  If these  require 
service,  see  your Buick  dealer. 
Maxifuse/Relay Center 
To check  the  fuses in this underhood  fuse center,  turn 
the  two  knobs 
1/4 turn counterclockwise  and remove the 
cover.  The  inside  of 
the cover has a  chart that explains 
the  features  and  controls  governed by each  fuse and 
relay. 
The  PASS-Key  'I1 
TM fuse is located  in the right  side relay 
center. 
Headlights 
The  headlight  wiring is protected  by a  circuit  breaker in 
the underhood  fuse center. An electrical  overload will 
cause 
the lights  to  go  on and off, or in some  cases  to 
remain 
off. If this  happens,  have your headlight  wiring 
checked  right away. 
* 
Windshield  Wipers 
The windshield  wiper motor  is protected  by a  circuit 
breaker and  a  fuse. If the motor overheats  due to  heavy 
snow,  etc., the wiper  will  stop until the motor cools.  If 
the  overload is caused  by some  electrical  problem and 
not  snow,  etc., be sure  to get  it fixed. 
Power Windows and Other Power Options 
Circuit  breakers in the fuse  panel  protect  the power 
windows and  other power  accessories.  When 
the current 
load  is  too heavy,  the circuit  breaker opens  and closes, 
protecting  the  circuit  until the problem  is  fixed or goes 
away. 
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Fasteners. Replacement .......................... 242 
Features and Controls 
............................. 59 
Fetus.  Risk  to 
.. From Safety  Belt Use ................ 39 
Filling  Your Fuel  Tank 
............................ 246 
Filter.  Oil 
.................................. 254.  292 
Finish  Care 
..................................... 282 
Finish  Damage 
.................................. 283 
First  Gear.  When  to  Use 
............................ 83 
FlatTire 
....................................... 228 
Flooded  Engine.  Starting 
........................... 76 
Fluid  Fuels  in 
Foreign Countries 
......................... 245 
Fuses  and Circuit  Breakers 
........................ 287 
Fuseusage 
..................................... 288 
Gages  Engine Coolant  Temperature 
.................... 122 
Engine  Oil Pressure 
........................... 123 
Fuel 
........................................ 118 
Volts 
....................................... 127 
Garage Door Opener Storage 
....................... 110 
Gasoline 
....................................... 244 
Gasoline  Tank. Filling  Your 
........................ 246 
Gear Positions 
................................... 80 
Glass Cleaning .................................. 281 
Graphic Symbols 
................................. 12 
Guard  Against  Theft 
.............................. 71 
Guide  En Francais 
................................. 2 
Capacities 
................................... 292 
Brake 
....................................... 263 
Power  Steering 
............................... 261 
Transaxle/Transmission 
........................ 256 
Windshield  Washer 
............................ 262 
Fluids and Lubricants Recommended 
................ 309 
FM  Stereo Radio Reception 
........................ 139 
Fog.  Driving 
in .................................. 186 
Foreign  Operation 
............................... 245 
Francais.  Guide 
En ................................. 2 
Freedom Battery ................................. 265 Halogen  Bulbs ................................. 265 
Freeway  Driving 
................................ 188 Hazard  Warning  Flasher ........................... 210 
FrenchLanguageManual 
........................... 2  Haze.  Drivingin ................................. 186 
Front  Towing  Hook-Up 
........................... 219  Headlamp  Bulb Replacement ....................... 266 
Fuel 
.......................................... 243  Headlight  High-Low  Beam Switch ................... 93 
Fuel  Tank.  Filling Your 
........................... 246  Head Restraints .................................. 18 
FuelGage ...................................... 118  Headlightonwarning ............................ 101 
325 
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