
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
BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
ACID COULD
x
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
BELTS
4
These symbols
have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e
TURN
POWER
WINDOW
HIGH LAMPSoR BEAM
= =o
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are on
some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
1. *td -1
WINDSHIELD c)
WASHER a
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT F-
TEMP --
ENGINE
CHARGING BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
RADIATOR COOLANT
a
FUEL
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
w4
TEMP OIL 4%
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKE
Here are some other symbols
you may
see:
FUSE
RADIO
VOLUME
AIR
CONDITIONING
TRUNK
e
RELEASE
t
LIGHTER n
SPEAKER
b
X
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PASS-Key@II
Your vehicle is equipped
with the PASS-Key%
(Personalized Automotive
Security System) theft
deterrent system.
PASS-Key% 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% 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 and the SECURITY light is 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 may 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
another 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, and the
SECURITY light will flash. But
you don’t have to wait
three minutes before trying another ignition key.
See your Buick dealer or a locksmith who can service
the PASS-Key%
to have a new key made.
If you’re ever driving and the SECURITY light comes
on, you will be able to restart your engine if you turn it
off. Your PASS-Key% system, however, is not
working properly and must be serviced by
your Buick
dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by the
PASS-Key@II system.
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.
2-9
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NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Buick is
moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to
PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
To start your 3.1 Liter engine:
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When
the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer man
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If your engine won’t start (or starts but then stops),
it could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way
to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but t.hen stops again, do the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for
five or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline
from the engine.
~
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in
your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts
or accessories, you could change the way
the fuel injection system operates. Before adding
electrical equipment, check with your dealer.
If
you don’t, your engine might not perform
properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part
of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
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To start your 3.8 Liter engine:
I. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition
key to START. When the engine starts, let
go
of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
I NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in
START for about three to five seconds at a time until
your engine starts. Wait about
15 seconds between
each try
to help avoid draining your battery.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal
all the way to the
floor and holding
it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
brietly but then stops again, do the
same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for
five or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine. After
waiting about 15 seconds, repeat the normal starting
procedure.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the fuel injection system operates. Before adding
electrical equipment, check with
your dealer. If
you don’t, your engine might not perform
properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
2-13
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Driving Through Deep Standing
Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or
standing water, water can come in through your
engine’s
air intake and badly damage your
engine. Never drive through water that
is slightly
lower than the underbody
of your vehicle. If you
can’t avoid deep puddles or standing water, drive
through them very slowly.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
To use the coolant heater:
I. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt outlet.
In very cold weather,
0°F (- 18 O C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum
of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
2-14
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SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy.
You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed
as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then
you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than 5 miles
(8 km), or at speeds over 55 mph (88 km/h), or you
can damage your transaxle. Use DRIVE (D) or
THIRD
(3) as much as possible.
Don’t shift into SECOND
(2) unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage your engine. FIRST
(1): This
position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is
put in FIRST (I), the transaxle won’t shift
into first gear until the vehicle
is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were
up against a solid
object.
You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into
PARK
(P) to hold your vehicle in position
on
a hill.
2-18
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Instrument Panel -- Your Information System
United States Version Shown, Canadian Similar
Your instrument cluster
is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, about how much fuel
is in your tank and many other things you need to drive safely and economically.
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Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help
you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save
you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As
you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come
on briefly when you start the
engine just to let
you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should
not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is
a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle. When
one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells
you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting
to do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re
a big help.
Fuel Gage
I UNLEADED FUEL ONLY
I
Your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left when the ignition
is on. When the indicator
nears
EMPTY (E), you still
have a little fuel left, but
you should get more soon.
Here are some things owners ask about. All these
situations are normal and do not show
a problem with
your fuel gage:
0 At the service station, the pump shuts off before the
gage reads
FULL (F).
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