1993 BUICK RIVIERA Owners Manual

0 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.
0. Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the
If a stain remains, follow the foam-type instructions
If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine, treat
soiled area with cool water.
above.
the area with a waterbaking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml)
of lukewarm water.
Finally, if needed, clean lightly with solvent-type
Combination Stains: Like candy, ice cream,
mayonnaise, chili sauce and unknown stains.
Carefully scrape off excess stain, then clean with
If a stain remains, clean it with solvent-type cleaner.
cleaner.
cool water and allow to dry.
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 vinylfieather 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.
255

Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
A CAUTION:
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them. In a crash they
might not be able to provide adequate
protection. Clean safety belts only with mild
soap and lukewarm water.
Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part
No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals on the inside rear
window, since they may have to be scraped
off later. If
abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across the
defogger grid.
I
Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or if the wiper blade chatters when running, wax
or other material may be on the blade or windshield.
Clean the outside
of the windshield with GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami Powders (GM Part
No.
105001 1). The windshield is clean if beads do not form
when you rinse it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth
soaked in full strength windshield washer solvent. Then
rinse the blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked on a regular basis and
replaced when worn.
Cleaning the Outside of Your Buick
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s finish is to keep
it clean by washing it often with lukewarm or cold
water.

Aluminum Wheels
If your Buick has these, don’t use chrome polish on
them. Use wax after you clean them. Also, don’t use
abrasive cleaners or cleaning brushes
on them -- you
could damage the protective coating.
White Sidewall Tires
Your Buick dealer has a GM White Sidewall Tire
Cleaner. You can
use a stiff brush with it.
257

Weatherstrips
-These are places where glass or metal meets rubber.
Silicone grease there will make them last longer, seal
better, and not squeak. Apply silicone grease with a
clean cloth at least every six months.
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 fi-om 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.

Fiberglass Springs Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can falhpon 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 int he paint job causes this, Buick
will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces new
vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within 12
months or
12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever comes first.
259

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Service Parts Identification Label
.I You'll find this label on the spare tire cover. It's very
helpful if you ever need to order parts. On this label is:
1111 1111111 IIII 11ll1l11III'1ll1I 1l11IIIl11l11111l111111llIII I IHII1II I 0 Your VIN.
I Its model designation.
ENG'INE Ai3 7 ASSEMBLY ' 0 Paint information.
CODE MOlDEL YEAR PLANT 0 A list of all productibn options and special
equipment.
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 Add-on Electrical Equipment
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also Be
sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
261

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.
Be sure to use the correct fuse if you need to replace
one.
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.
There are two fuse block areas inside your vehicle. One is located on the left side of the console under a carpeted
panel cover. Remove the cover to access the fuses.