1993 BUICK RIVIERA engine

When the “LOW OIL LEVEL” light comes on you
should check your engine oil level and
fill if necessary.
See Engine Oil in the Index.
There are three ways the
LOW light can come on
briefly. Those
three are normal and don’t show a
problem. These three ways are:
1.
2.
3.
could be low on oil, or you might have some other
oil problem.
CAUTION:
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
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Volts Gage and Light
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Tachometer
When you turn the key to “Run,” the “LOW’ light will The tachometer tells you how fast the engine is go\
ing. It
come on briefly, to show that your alternator and battery disp\
lays engine speed
in revolutions per minute (RPM).
charging systems are working. If a light stays on, you As engine speed increases, the bars light up on the
need service, and you should take your Buick to the tachometer\
display. Each bar represents
100 RPM. Do
dealer at once. To save your battery until you get there, not operate your car’\
s engine in the red line range. If
turn
off all accessories, and set your air system to you do, you can cause severe engine damage.
“OFF.”
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
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If the light stays on or comes on when you’re driving,
stop as soon as possible and turn the key off. Then start
With anti-lock, this light the engine to reset the system.
If the light still stays on,
will go on when you start or comes on again while you’re driving, your Buick
your engine and may stay needs service. Unless the regular brake system’ warning
on for several seconds or light is also on, you will still have brakes, but not
so. anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning
light
is also on, see “Brake System Warning Light”
earlier in this part.
The anti-lock brake system warning light may also come on when you are driving with
a compact spare tire. If
this happens, the light means you won’t have anti-lock
until you replace the compact spare, with a full-size tire.
If the warning light stays on after you replace the
compact spare with
a full-si.ze tire, or if it comes on
again when you’re driving, your Buick needs service.
That’s normal.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it fixed
~ so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Light and Gage Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service
Engine Soon Light)
the engine off 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. 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 vehicle in for
service soon.
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Auto
I- - To choose the temperature When the system is set
far
you- want maintained inside automatic, air
will come
the vehicle, press the
TEMP from the floor outlets, the
A or for warmer or instrument panel outlets or
cooler. both. Fan speed will vary
(unless a blower
LO or HI
:.if, button has been pushed) as
the system gets to and
maintains the temperature setting you have selected.
-
,..I . .
a
~
You can choose from 60 OF (1 6 " C), for maximum
1 cooling, and 90' F (33 "C), for maximum heating. It is The display will show the selected temperature and
blower speed.
! not necessary to choose the extreme temperature to get In cold weather the system will delay turning on the
the system to heat
or cool at the maximum. The system
blower, to avoid blowing cold air. The length of the
does it automatically. delay depends
on engine coolant temperature, outside
temperature and time since the engine was last started.
Pushing a
LO or HI blower button will override this
delay, and will turn on the blower.
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Audio Systems
Your Delco@ audio system has been designed to operate
easily and give years
of listening pleasure. But you will
get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself
with it first. Find out what your DelcoQ 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.
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). And,
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 pick
up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try
redu
~ --lg the treble to reduce this noise.
AM Stereo
This means the Delcoa system can receive C-QUAM@
stereo broadcasts. Many AM stations around the country
use C-QUAM@ to produce stereo, though some do not.
(C-QUAM@ is
a registered trademark of Motorola, Inc.)
If your Delcoa system can get C-QUAM@, your
STEREO light will come on when you’re receiving it.
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Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be
a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your disc
brakes adjust for wear.
If you rarely make a moderate or heavier stop, then your
brakes might not adjust correctly.
If you drive in that
way, then
-- very carefully -- make a few moderate
brake stops about every
1000 miles ( 1600 km), so your
brakes will adjust properly.
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 fails to function, 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.
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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.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide (as when you turn a corner
on a wet, snow- or ice-covered road), ease your foot
off
the acceleratorpedal as soon as you feel the vehicle start
to slide. Quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you
start steering quickly enough, your vehicle
will straighten out.
As it does, straighten the front
wheels.
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 enoughewater, ice or packed snow on the road to make
a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down when you
have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock braking system
(ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid. Steer the way you want to
go.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason
is that some drivers are likely to be impaired --
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