1993 BUICK SKYLARK engine overheat

A CAUTION:
I
An electric fan under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from
any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
don’t
do anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at or above
“FULL COLD.”
If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
A CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a leak. If you run
-le engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Nt any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, check to see if the electric
engine fan is running.
If the engine is overheating, the
fan should be running.
If it isn’t, your vehicle needs
service.
199

1
A CAUTION':
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some lother
liquid li~ke alcohol, can boil before tihe proper
coolant
mix will. Your whicl'e's CoOilant warning
You can1 be burned if you spill coolant on hot ,,
engilne ~parts. Coolaint contains ethylene glycol
and lit wil~il burn if the enlgine parts are ,hot
enough. hn't spill coolant
on a hot engine. I
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wron.g, mix, your engi'ne could8 1
get too h,ot but you wouldn't get thie overheat
warning. Your engine could catclh fire and
you or
others could
be burned. Use ;a 50/50 mix of clean
water and a proper antifreeze.
1
I
1-
1. You can remove the
coolant surge tank
pressure cap when the
cooling system,
including the coolant
surge
tank pressure cap
and upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot. Turn
the pressure cap slowly
i about one-quarter turn
1 to the left and then stop. I
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
201

Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the
passenger compartment
of the vehicle COL
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, lo ~ ~e
equipment could strike s-neone. Store all these
in the r-7per place.
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck
is to spin your wheels. The method known as “rocking ”
can help you get out when you’re stuck, but you must
use caution.
If you let yow tires spin at Mgh speed, they can
expl’ode and
yo’u or ,others could be injured. And,
the tra.nsaxle
or other parts of ,the vehilcle cs--
overheat. That could cause an engine fire or
other damage. When you’re stuck, spin the
wheels as little as possible. Do:n’t spin the
wheel~s’ above 35 mph (55
speedometer.,
I
he
213

~~~x~~~~ of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half antifreeze that meets
“GM
Specification 1825-M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts. You can also use a recycled coolant conforming to
GM Specification 1825-M with a complete coolant-flush
and refill. Use
GM Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer)
with any complete coolant change. If you use these, you
don’t need to add anything else.
n
1 A CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50150 mix of clean
water and a proper antifreeze.
I
warrantv. Too much water in the mix can freeze
Adding Coolant
The surge tank is located on
the passenger’s side
of the
engine compartment.
To Check Coolant: When
.your engine is cold, the
coolant level should be at
“FULL COLD,” or a little
higher.

.... +,..
Maintenance Inspections
.................................. 279
Record
...................................... 282
Schedule
.................................... 265
Underbody
.................................. 255
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
....................... 1 13
Manual Lumbar Support
........................... 15
Manualseat
..................................... 14
Manual Seat. Four Way
............................ 15
Markings. Pavement
............................. 144
Master Cylinder. Brake
........................... 236
Methanol In Gasoline
............................. 217
Mirrors
........................................ 102
Mirrors. Convex Outside
.......................... 104
Mirrors. Visor Vanity
............................. 104
Mist. Driving in
................................. 164
Mountain Driving
................................ 170
MTBE in Gasoline
............................... 2 17
. Mobile Telephone. Adding a ....................... 123 Octane
Required for Your Car
..................... 217
Odometer
...................................... 108
Odometer. Trip
.................................. 108
Off (Ignition Key Position)
......................... 73
Off-Road Recovery
.............................. 156
Oil. Engine
..................................... 223
Oil Pressure Warning Light
........................ 114
Oil. Change Your Engine
.......................... 223
Operation in Foreign Countries
..................... 218
Operation
of Lights ............................... 90
Outside Mirrors ................................. 103
Overheated Engine
............................... 197
Owner Checks and Services
........................ 276
P (Park) Position ................................. 77
Paint Spotting
................................... 255
Park. Shifting Into
................................ 81
Park. Shifting Out of
........................... 77. 83
Parking Brake
.................................... 80
Parking on Hills
................................. 172
N (Neutral) Gear Position ......................... 78 Parking Over Things That Burn ...................... 84
Net. Convenience
................................ 104 Passing ........................................ 156
New Vehicle Break-In
............................. 71 Pavement Markings .............................. 144
NightDriving
................................... 159 PedalTravel. Brake .............................. 153
Night Vision
.................................... 160 Perception Time in Braking ........................ 149
Notices About Damage
............................ 11 Periodic Maintenance Inspections ................... 279
Number. Vehicle Identification
..................... 257 Polishing and Waxing ............................ 253

Power Antenna
..................................... 134
Door Locks
................................... 65
Seat Controls
................................... 16
Steering
..................................... 154
Windows
..................................... 87
Pregnancy. Use
of Safety Belts During ................ 35
Pressure. Tire
................................... 242
Problems on the Road
............................ 185
Publications. Service
............................. 288
Publications Order Form .......................... 291
Push-Starting Your Car
........................... 188
Steering
Fluid
................................ 234
Proper Safety Belt Usage for Adults
.................. 28
Racing. Shifting When Your Engine is
............... 78
Radiator Overheating
............................. 197
Radio. Adding a Two-way
......................... 123
Radio Systems
.................................. 122
Rain. Driving in
................................. 161
Reaction Time
in Braking ......................... 149
Reading Lights
.................................. 10 1
RearBrakes .................................... 153
Rear Door Security Lock
........................... 69
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides
.................... 40
Rear Seatbacks. Folding
............................ 20
Rear Window Defogger ........................... 121 Reclining Front Seatbacks
.......................... 16
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
................. 281
Recovery. Off-Road
.............................. 156
Recreational Vehicle Towing
....................... 179
Remote Fuel Door Release
.......................... 219
Remote Keyless Entry System
....................... 67
Remote Trunk Release
............................. 66
Remote Trunk Release Lockout
...................... 66
Replaceable Light Bulbs
.......................... 262
Replacing Brake System Parts
...................... 237
Replacing Safety Belts
............................. 60
Replacing Tires
................................. 244
Replacing Wheels
............................... 247
Restarting Your Car When It’s Moving
................ 78
Restraint. Child
.................................. 46
Restraint Systems. Checking Your
.................... 59
Restraints. Head .................................. 18
Reverse Gear Position
............................. 78
Ride Control System. Adjustable
..................... 86
“Riding” the Brakes
.............................. 149
Roads. Hill and Mountain
......................... 170
Rocking Your Vehicle
............................ 213
Rotation. Tire
................................... 243
Run (Ignition Key Position)
......................... 73
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
............ 85
Reporting Safety Defects
.......................... 287
Roadsigns
..................................... 138
Running Lights. Daytime
.......................... 100

Starting Your Car if the Battery is “Dead” .............. 188
Steam From Hot (Overheated) Engine ................ 197
Steering ........................................ 154
Steering in Emergencies ........................... 155
Steering Wheel, Tilt ............................... 88
Steering Without Power Assist ..................... 154
Stereo Sound Systems ............................ 122
Storage Console ................................. 106
Storing Your Vehicle ............................. 237
Stuck. If Your Ignition Key is ....................... 73
Stuck. IfYour Car Is ............................. 213
Subscribing to Buick Product Service Publications ...... 288
Surge Tank Pressure Cap .......................... 233
Symbols on Your Car .............................. 12
Table of Contents ................................. 9
Tachometer ..................................... 1 17
Tamper-Resistant Odometer ........................ 108
Tape Player Care ................................ 133
Temperature. Engine Coolant Warning Light .......... 112
Theft ............................................ 70
Thermostat ..................................... 233
Third Gear ...................................... 78
Tilt Steering Wheel ............................... 88
Time. Setting the ......................... 125.127. 129
Tire Balance .................................... 246
Tire Chains ..................................... 248
Tire. Flat ....................................... 204
Tire Inflation ................................... 242
Tire Inspection and Rotation ....................... 243
Tire Quality Grading ............................. 245
Tires .......................................... 241
Tires. When to Replace ........................... 244
Tires. White Sidewall Cleaning ..................... 254
Torn Safety Belts ................................. 60
Torque Lock (Automatic Transaxle) ................. 174
Towing Your Buick .............................. 193
Towing a Trailer ................................. 179
Trademarks. GM ................................ 216
Traffic Lights ................................... 143
Traffic Officer .................................. 144
Trailer Brakes ................................... 182
Trailer Towing .................................. 179
Transaxle/Transmission. Automatic ................... 77
Transaxle Fluid .................................. 227
Trip Odometer .................................. 108
Trunk Release. Remote ............................ 66
Turn Signal and Headlight Beam Lever ................ 88
Turn Signal “On” Chime ............................ 90
Twisted Safety Belts .. I ............................ 35
Two Children Wearing the Same Safety Belt ............ 58
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator ............... 89