1993 BUICK RIVIERA service

GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem,
BUICK, and the BUICK Emblem are registered
trademarks
of General Motors Corporation.
Please keepthis manual in your Buick,
so it will be there if
you ever need it when you're on the road.
If you sell the
vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so the new owner can
use
it.
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CERTIFEA~NTHROUOH
Nmoonal Instltute for
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer
French Language Manual:
,. 4, 3Sk
Aux nronriCtaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer
un exemplaire de ce guide en franGais chez votre
concessionaire ou
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'3

HowtoUsethisManual ................................................................
This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safety and vehicle damage warnings & symbols.
SeatsandSafetyBelts ..................................................................
This part tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly.
Featuresandcontrols ..................................................................
This part explains how to start and operate your Buick.
This part tells you how to adjust the ventilation
& comfort controls and how to operate your sound system.
YourDrivingandtheRoad ..............................................................
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
ProblemsontheRoad ..................................................................
This part tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine overheating.
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good.
Maintenanceschedule ..................................................................
This part tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubrica\
nts to use.
Customer Assistance Information ........................................................
This part tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service publications. It also gives
you information on “Reporting Safety Defects.”
Index ........................................................................\
........
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something
you want to read.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems .....................................................
10
13
59
117
139
183
215
269
289
297

I A CAUTION:
Air bags :..Hate with great force, faster than the
blink of an eye. If you’re too close to an inflating
air bag, it could seriously injure you. Safety
belts help keep you
in position for an air bag
inflation
in a crash. Always wear your safety
belt, even with an air bag, and sit as far back as
you can while
still maintaining control of your
vehicle.
-
Air Bag System Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows “INFLATABLE RESTRAINT”. You
will see this light flash
for
a few seconds when you
The system checks itself and. $helight
?: tells you if there is
a problem. turn your ignition
to “Run”
or
“Start.” Then the light
should go out, which means
the system
is ready.
A CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on
when you start your vehicle, or stays on, or
comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your
vehicle serviced right away.
33

-T
A C UTION:
A
0 Don’t attach anything to the steer J
wheel pad. It mi -It injure the driver if 1
air bag inflates.
The air bag is designed to inflate only
once. After
it inflates, you’ll need some
new parts for your air bag system.
If you
don’t get them, the air bag system won’t
be there to help protect you
in another
crash.
A new system will include the air
bag module and possibly other parts. The
service manual has information about the
need to replace other parts.
Let only qualified technicians work on
your air bag system. Improper service can
mean that your air bag system won’t work
properly. See your dealer for service.
Servicing Your Buick with the Air Bag
System
Please tell or remind anyone who works on your Buick
that it has the air bag system. There are parts
of the air
bag system in several places around your vehicle. You
don’t want the system to inflate while someone is
working on your vehicle. The air bag system does not
need regular maintenance. Your Buick dealer and the
1993 Riviera Service Manual have information about
the air bag system, including repair or disposal.
A CAUTION:
For up to 10 minutes a1 r the ignition key is
turned off and the battery disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service.
You can be injured
if you are close to an air bag
when
it inflates. Be sure to follow the proper
I service procedures.
When electrical work is done under the hood or inside
your vehicle, the ignition should be in “Lock” if
possible.

PASS-Key I1 TM
Your vehicle is equipped with the PASS-Key I1
(Personalized Automotive Security System) theft
deterrent system. PASS-Key
11 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 TM system senses that someone is
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 someone
tries to start your vehicle again or uses another key during this time, the vehicle will not start. This
discourages someone Erom randomly trying different
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 doesn’t 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
.
If you accidentally use a key that has a damaged or
missing resistor pellet, the starter won’t work and the
69

Se6urity light will flash. But you don’t have to wait three
minutes before trying one
of the ignition keys.
See
your Buick dealer or a locksmith who can service
the Pass-Key
11 TM to have a new key made.
If you’re ever driving and the “SECURITY” light comes on and continues to flash,
you will be able to restart
your engine if
you turn it off. Your PASS-Key 11 TM
system, however, is not working properly and must be
serviced by your Buick dealer. Your vehicle is not
protected
by the PASS-Key 11 system.
If you lose
or damage a PASS-Key 11 ignition key, see
your Buick dealer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key I1
TM to have a new key made.
70

Volts Gage and Light
c 1
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.”
110

Brake System Warning Light
1 Your Buick’s hydraulic
I two parts. If one part isn’t
~ working, the other part can
~ still work and stop you. For ’ good braking, though, you
brake system is divided
into
1 well.
need both parts working
If the
warning light goes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on as you start the vehicle. If it
doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to
warn you if there’s a problem. This light will
also come
on when you set your parking
brake, and will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t
release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake
is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem. If the
light comes on while driving, pull
off the road and stop
carefully. You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push. Or, the pedal may
go closer to the floor. It may
take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
I A CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake warning light is on. Driving with the
brake warning light on can lead
to an accident.
If the light is still on after you’ve pulled off the
road and stopped carefully, have the vehicle
towed for service.
I
111
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