Walter Marr and Thomas Buick
Buick’s chief engineer, Walter L. Marr (left), and
Thomas D. Buick, son of founder David Dunbar Buick,
drove the first Flint Buick in a successful Flint-Detroit
round trip in July 1904.
David Buick was building gasoline engines by 1899,
and Marr, his engineer, apparently built the first auto to
be called a Buick in
1900. However, Buick traditionally
dates
its beginnings to 1903. That was the year the
company was reorganized, refinanced and moved from
Detroit to Flint. Buick has always been a product innovator.
Buick engineers developed the
“valve-in-head” engine, a light, powerful and reliable
engine which would eventually influence the entire
automotive industry.
William
C. Durant was instrumental in promoting
Buicks across
the country using his Durant-Dort
Carriage
Co. outlets and salespeople as the nucleus of a
giant distribution system. He knew the Buick as a
“self-seller”. If automobiles could be this good, he
thought, maybe it was time to switch from the horse and
buggy business to automobiles.
William C. (Billy) Durant
At the 1905, New York
Auto Show, Durant took
orders for
1,000 Buicks
before the company had
built 40. On Buick’s
success, Durant created a
holding company,
September
16, 1908. He
called
it General Motors.
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Durant also created a racing team that won 500 racing
trophies
in 1909 and 19 10, including successes at
Indianapolis two years before the Indy
500 began.
The success of Buick engines was visible not
only on
the race track, but
in endurance tests across the country
and around the world. Buick was the only car
to
complete a 1,000-mile Chicago-to-New York race in
1906. And a Buick was the first car to travel across
South America, driven from Buenos Aires, Argentina,
over the Andes
to Santiago, Chile in 1914.
1911 Model 21 Touring Car 011 Buick's Test Hill
Buick drew plenty of attention because it could climb
hills and run through mud like
no other car. Buick's
endurance and reliability were world famous.
During World War
I, Buick built Liberty aircraft engines
as
well as Red Cross ambulances so successful that one
Buick ambulance was awarded the Croix de Guerre by
the French government.
As a builder
of premier automobiles, Buick was hard hit
by the Great Depression. However, new General
Manager, Harlow
H. Curtice created popular new
models including the Special and the Roadmaster. Buick
sales soon flourished.
First Buick Factory
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In World War 11, Buick built aircraft engines, tanks and
other military hardware. This post-war period brought
great styling and engineering changes which resulted
in
increased sales. The torque converter automatic
transmission, Dynaflow, was introduced
in the 1948
Roadmaster. Buick’s famous “portholes” came along
in
1949.
1949 Roadmaster.
A high-compression V-8 engine was introduced in ,1953.
And Buick’s famous vertical pillar “toothy” grille,
(introduced
in 1942), became more massive in the
post-war era.
1953 Skylark
Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 Buick Special,
“Car
of the Year”. The first production V-6 engine was
used in the Special.
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Table of Contents
HowtoUsethisManual ................................................................ 10
This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safety and vehicle damage warnings and symbols.
Seats and Restraint Systems .............................................................
This part tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the ”SRS” system.
Featuresandcontrols ..................................................................
This part explains how to start and operate your Buick.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems .....................................................
This part tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
sound system.
Here you’ll
find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
This part tells you what to do
il‘ you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine
overheating. etc.
Service and Appearance Care.. ..........................................................
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 Iluids and lubricants 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” on page 285.
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.
YourDrivingandtheRoad ..............................................................
ProblemsontheRoad ..................................................................
13
69
121
139
171
207
263
283
293
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Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BURNS AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR
,\I/,
FLAME
COULD
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
4
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e
TURN
WARNING
A
HAZARD
FLASHER
These symbols are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD WIPER Q7
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
HIGH BEAM
=
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are used
on
warning and
indicator lights:
CHARGING I-1
BATTERY
SYSTEM
RADIATOR COOLANT
FUEL
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
Wb
TEMP OIL &
ANTILOCK (a)
BRAKE
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
RADIO
>
VOLUME
CONDITIONING
AIR a
LIGHTER
m
SPEAKER
b
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Part 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Buick. and information on starting. shifting
and braking
. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is working
properly
.. and what to do if you have a problem .
Part 2 includes:
Keys ........................................................................\
.... 70
DoorLocks
....................................................................... \
71
NewVehicleBreak-In
.............................................................. 79
StartingtheEngine
................................................................. 80
ShiftingtheTransaxle .............................................................. 84
Windows ........................................................................\
. 92
Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever
.................................................... 94
Headlight High-Low Beam Changer
.............................................. 96
Windshield Wipermasher
...................................................... 96
CruiseControl
................................................................ 98
Headlights ........................................................................\
103
Mirrors ........................................................................\
.. 106
Instrumentpanel
................................................................... 111
Speedometer and Odometer ..................................................... 111
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
............................................. 112
TiltSteeringWheel
................................................................ 93
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PASS-Key@II
Your vehicle is
equipped
with the
PASS-Key@II
(Personalized
Automotive Security
System) theft deterrent
system. PASS-Key(%
is a passive theft
deterrFnt 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% uses a resistor pellet
in the
ignition key that matches a decoder
in your vehicle.
When the PASS-Key% 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 from 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 does not start, the key may be dirty or wet. Turn
the ignition off.
Clean and dry the key. Wait about three minutes and
try
again. 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@II.
If you accidentally use
a key that has a damaged or
missing resistor pellet, the starter won’t work. But you
don’t have to wait three minutes before trying one of
the
other ignition keys.
See your Buick dealer or a locksmith who can service
the PASS-Key(% to have a new key made.
If you lose or damage a PASS-Key% ignition key, see
your Buick dealer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key@II to have a new key made.
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E
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five different positions.
(A) Accessory: This position lets you use things like the
radio and the windshield wipers when the engine is off.
To
use, push in the key and turn it toward you. Your
steering wheel
will remain locked, just as it was before
you inserted the key.
(B) Lock: Before you put the key in, your ignition will
be in the Lock position. This position locks your
ignition, steering wheel and transaxle. It’s an theft
deterrent feature.
(C) Off: This position lets you turn off the engine but
stili
turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering
wheel like “Lock.” Use “Off’
if you must have your car
in motion while the engine is off (example, if your car is
being pushed).
(D) Run: This is the position for driving.
(E) Start: This position starts your engine.
I NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in “Lock” and you can’t
turn’it, be sure
it is all the way in. If it is, then turn
the steering wheel left and right while you turn
the key hard. But turn the key only with your
hand. Using
a tool to force it could break the key
or the ignition switch. If none of this works, then
your vehicle needs service.
Starting Your Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) shows the code letter or
number for your engine. You will find the VIN at the top
left of your instrument panel. (See “Vehicle
Identification Number’’
in the Index.) Follow the proper
steps to start the engine.
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