1993 BUICK ROADMASTER maintenance

A CAUTION:
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 Roadmaster Service Manual have information
about the air bag system, including repair
or disposal.
A CAUTION:
For up to 2 minutes after 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
service procedures.
When electricai work is done under the hood or inside
your vehicle, the ignition
should be in "Lock" if
possible.

.
RAILROAD ADVANCE
CROSSING
NARROW
BRIDGE
x h
h
h
Y
I
LOW W WOBKE
SHOULDER FLAGGER AHEAD
AHEAD
YELLOW indicates a general warning. Slow down and
be careful when you see
a yellow sign. It may signal a
railroad crossing ahead, a no passing. zone, or somi
other potentially dangefous situation. Likewise, a yellow
.solid line painted on the road means “Don’t Cross.”
I
ORANGE indicates road construction or maintenance. I
You’ll want to slow down when you see an .orange sign,
as part of the road may be closed off .or torn up. And
there may be workers and maintenance vehicles -around,
too.
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Service Doing Your Own Service. Work
perform. see “Maintenance Record” in the Index.

Air Cleaner
The air cleaner is located behind the engine fan. To
access the filter, lift up on the latches and let the cover
down. Replace the filter and snap the latches.
Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to replace-the air filter and the
PCV filter.
See “Scheduled .Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
Operath e engine wltn tne air cleaner off can
cause you or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air,
it stops flame i
the engine backfires. If it isn’t there, and the
engine backfires, you could be burned. Don’t
drive
with it off, and be careful working on tT
engine with t‘ air cf - - -- -8r om-
_.
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Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your auiomatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in
the Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at
a Buick,dealership Service
Department.
If
you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading on the
.
dipstick. Wait
at least
30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level
if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above. 90 F ‘(32 C);
0 At high speed for quite a while. I
In heavy traffic - &specially in hot weathEr.: . .
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
180 F to 200 *F (82 C
To check transmission fluid hot: Get the vehicle ‘warmed
up
by driving about 15 miles (24 krn) when outside
temperatures are above
50 F (1 0 C). If it’s colder than
50 F ( 10 C), drive the vehicle in “D” (3rd Gear) until
the engine temperature gage moves and then remains
steady for ten minutes. Then follow the hot check
procedures.
To check transmission fluid cold: A cold check is made
after the vehicle has been sitting for
8 hours or more
with the engine
off and is used only as a reference. Let
the engine run at idle for
5 minutes if outside
temperatures are
50 F (10 C) or more. If ‘it’s colder
than
50 OF (10 * C), you may have to idle the engine
longer.
A hot check must €0110~ when fluid is added
during
a cold check.
..
to 93 C).
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How to Add Fluid:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transmission fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and.lLubricants” in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level up to the COLD area for a cold
check or the
HOT area fora hot check. It doesn’t take
much fluid, generally less than a pint. Don’t overfill.
we
recommend you use only fluid labeled DEXRONBIIE,
because fluids with that label are made-especially for
you automatic transmission. Damage caused by fluid
other than DEXRON@IIE
is not covered by your new
vehicle warranty.
0 After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.77
0 When the correct-fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Rear Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Periodic Maintenance Inspections” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant:
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom
of the filler plug hole.
What
to Use:
Standard Differential
Use Axle Lubricant (GM Part
No. 1052271) or SAE
80W-90 GL-5 gear lubricant.
Limited-Slip Differential
To add lubricant when the level is low, use Axle
Lubricant (GM Part
No. 1052271) or SAE 8OW-90
GL-5 gear lubricant.
To completely refill after draining,
add
4 ounces (1 18 ml) of Limited-Slip Differential
Lubricant Additive (GM Part
No. 1052358). Then fill to
the bottom of the filler plug hole with Axle Lubricant
(GM Part
No. 1052271) or SAE 80W-90 GL-5 gear
lubricant.

How To Check Power Steering Fluid: , ’ .
’ Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
Replace the cap and completely tighten it. Then remove
the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
When the engine compartment is hot, the level %-‘- L
should be at the “HOT” mark. *. s
When the engine Compartment is cool, the level
should be at the “FULL
COLD’; mark.
What to Add:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of fluid to use. See (‘Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
k‘ T, ’ . I

When to Check: Check your tires once .a month or
more.
Don’t forget
your compact spare-tire (if SO equipped). It
should be at 60 psi (420 Pa).
How to Check: Use a good quality pocket-type gage to
check tire pressure. Simply looking at the tires will not
tell you the pressure, especially if
you have radial tires
- which may look properly inflated even if they’re
underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back
.on. They help prevent leaks by keeping
out dirt and
moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have them inspected and
rotated at the mileages recommended in the, Maintenance Schedule. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
Use this rotation pattern.
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