1996 BUICK REGAL heating

Engine Overheating
YOU will find a coolant temperature gage and a warning
light about a hot engine on your instrument panel. See
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Engine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light” in the Index.
You also have a LOW COOLANT warning light on
your instrument panel. See “Low Coolant Light” in
the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even
if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is
no sign of steam or coolant before
opening the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You
or others could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get out of the vehicle
until the engine is cool.
5-12
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If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at or above the COLD mark. 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.
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
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine
fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
I NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see
if the electric engine fans are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fans should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants’’
in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add
only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
1.
2.
0
0
Pull out the dipstick.
Using
a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring
it to the proper level. It doesn’t
take much fluid, generally less than a pint
(0.5 L).
Don t overfill. We recommend you use only fluid
labeled DEXRONO-111, because fluid with that label
is made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON@-I11
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level
as
described under “How to Check.”
When
the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant
is designed to remain in your
vehicle for
5 years or 100,000 miles (166 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when
it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or
if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your Buick will:
Give freezing protection down to
-34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up
to’ 265 “F ( 129” C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
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LOW
COOLANT
If this light comes on, it
means you’re low on engine
coolant.
Addinq Coolar A
If you need more coolant, add the proper mix at the
coolant recovery tank.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant to the radiator. (See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.)
I
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
With the coolant recovery tank, you will almost
never have to add coolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure cap
-- even a
little -- when the engine and radiator are hot.
Add coolant mix at
the recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill
it.
I
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn
if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on
a hot engine.
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Radiator Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overflow tube on the radiator filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@
cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches
a preset temperature.
When
you replace your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat
is recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
3.lL L82 (Code M) Engine 3.8L L36 (Code K) Engine
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise.
A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
6-24
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Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield.
Tires
We don’t make tires. Your new Buick comes with
high-quality tires made by a leading tire manufacturer. If
you ever have questions about your tire warranty and
where to obtain service, see your Buick Warranty
booklet
for details.
2. Lift the release clip with a screwdriver and pull the
3. Push the new wiper blade securely onto the wiper arm.
blade off the wiper arm.
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are
dangerous.
0 Overloading your tires can cause
overheating
as a result of too much friction.
You could have an air-out and a serious
accident. See ‘(Loading Your Vehicle” in
the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued)
6-34
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Convex Outside Mirror .......................... 2-37
Coolant
....................................... 6-20
Bleedvalves
................................. 5-19
RecoveryTank
............................... 5-16
Coolant Heater. Engine
.......................... 2- I3
Cooling System
................................ 5- I4
Courtesy Lamps
................................ 2-33
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-5
Cruise Control
................................. 2-29
CruiseLight
................................... 2-56
Cupholders
.................................... 2-38
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users
......... 8-3
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8- 1
Damage. Finish ............................... 6-49
Damage. Sheet Metal
............................ 6-48
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-32
Dead Battery
................................... 5-2
Defects. Reporting Safety ......................... 8-7
Defensive Driving ............................... 4- 1
Defogger. Rear Window .......................... 3-6
Defogging
..................................... 3-5
Defrosting
..................................... 3-5
Dimensions, Vehicle
............................ 6-62
Dolby@
B Noise Reduction ................... 3-9, 3- 12
DoorLocks
..................................... 2-3
Driver Position
................................. 1 - 1 1
Driving
City
........................................ 4-17
Defensive
.................................... 4-1
Drunken
..................................... 4-2
Freeway
.................................... 4-18 InaBlizzard
................................. 4-25
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-4
IntheRain
.................................. 4-15
Night
...................................... 4-13
OnCurves
................................... 4-8
On Grades While Towing
a Trailer ............... 4-34
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-21
OnSnowandIce
............................. 4-24
Through Deep Standing Water
................... 4-17
WetRoads
.................................. 4-15
Winter
...................................... 4-23
With a Trailer
................................ 4-33
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-2
Electrical Equipment, Adding
..... 2- I I, 2- 12, 3-24, 6-52
Electrical System
............................... 6-52
Electronic Climate Control
........................ 3-1
Engine
.................................... 6-8, 6-9
Coolant
..................................... 6-20
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-13
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-35
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-51
Coolant Temperature Light
..................... 2-50
Exhaust
..................................... 2-23
Fuse Block (Driver’s Side)
...................... 6-58
Fuse Block (Passenger’s Side)
................... 6-56
Identification
................................ 6-51
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-35
Overheating
................................. 5-12
Running While Parked
......................... 2-23
Specifications
................................ 6-62
Starting
Your ........................... 2- 11, 2- 12
0.
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Engineoil .................................... 6-10
Adding
..................................... 6-11
Additives
................................... 6-14
Checking
................................... 6- I I
Used ....................................... 6-15
When to Change
.............................. 6- I5
Ethanol ........................................ 6-4
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-23
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-43
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-5
Filter. Air
..................................... 6-16
Filter. Engine Oil ............................... 6- 15
Finish Care .................................... 6-47
Finish Damage
................................. 6-49
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2- 17
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5- 1
Flat Tire. Changing ............................. 5-22
Fluids and Lubrlcants
............................ 7-40
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-4
Four-Way Manual Seat
........................... 1-2
French Language Manual
11
FrontTowing ................................... 5-9
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Canadian
.................................... 6-3
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-5
Gage
....................................... 2-57
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-4
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-53
.. ...........................
Gapes
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-51
Fuel ....................................... 2-57
GAWR
....................................... 4-27
Gear Positions. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2-14
GloveBox
.................................... 2-38
Gross
Axle Weight Rating ........................ 4-27
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-27
Guide en Franpis
II
GVWR ....................................... 4-27
.. .................................
Halogen Bulbs ................................ 6-31
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-1
Head Restraints ................................. 1-5
Headlamps .................................... 2-32
Bulb Replacement ............................ 6-31
High/Low Beam .............................. 2-27
On Reminder
................................ 2-32
Wiring
..................................... 6-52
Hearing Impaired
. Customer Assistance .............. 8-3
Heating
........................................ 3-4
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-27
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-20
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-21
Hitches
. Trailer .................................. 4-32
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-6
Release ...................................... 6-7
Horn
......................................... 2-25
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-16
9-4
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