1996 BUICK REGAL check engine

Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher.
At a minimum, it should meet specifications ASTM
D4814
in the United States and CGSB 3.5-M93 in Canada.
Improved gasoline specifications have been developed by
the American Automobile Manufacturers Association
(AAMA) for better vehicle performance and engine
protection. Gasolines meeting the
AAMA specification
could provide improved driveability and emission control
system protection compared to other gasolines.
Be sure
the posted octane is at least 87. If the octane is
less than
87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough,
it can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at
87 octane or higher and you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t worry
if you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating or driving up a hill. That’s normal,
and you don’t
have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have a problem. If
your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated
on the underhood tune-up label), it
is designed to operate on fuels that meet California specifications. If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle will
operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal specifications, but emission control system pexformance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on your
instrument panel may turn on and/or your vehicle may
fail
a smog-check test. If this occurs, return to your authorized
Buick dealer for diagnosis to determine the cause of
failure. In the event
it is determined that the cause of the
condition is
the type of fuels used, repairs may not be
covered by your warranty.
In Canada, some gasolines contain an octane enhancing
additive called MMT. If you use such fuels, your
emission control system performance may deteriorate
and the malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may turn on.
If this happens, return to your
authorized Buick dealer for service.
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To provide cleaner air, all gasolines are now required to
contain additives that will help prevent deposits from
forming
in your engine and fuel system, allowing your
emission control system to function properly. Therefore,
you should not have to add anything to the fuel. In
addition, gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be
available in your area to help clean the air. General
Motors recommends that you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
Fuels id Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation,
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
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CAUTION:
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you if
you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and
is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait
for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline
from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside
of Your Buick” in the Index.
When you put the cap back on, turn
it to the right until
you hear at least three clicks. Make sure you
fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap
has been left off or improperly installed. This would
allow fuel
to evaporate into the atmosphere. See
“Malfunction Indicator Lamp”
in the Index.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit
or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system
might be damaged.
Checking Things Under the Hood
A CAUl iON:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine
is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
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Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
on properly. Then just pull the hood down and close
it firmly.
hgine
If the LOW OIL LEVEL
light on the instrument
panel comes on, it means
you need to check your
engine oil
level right away.
For more information, see
“Low Oil Level Light” in
LOW OIL
LEVEL
the Index.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil after you get
fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must be
hot and the vehicle must be on level ground. 3.1L
LS2 (Code
M) Engine
The engine oil dipstick handle is the yellow loop near
the front
of the engine.
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3.8L L36 (Code K) Engine
Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove
it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD mark, then you’ll
need to add some oil. But
you must use the right
kind. This part explains what kind
of oil to use. For
crankcase capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications”
in the Index.
Turn off the engine and give the oil
20 minutes to drain
back into
the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick might
not show the actual level. NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that
shows the proper
operating range, your engine could be damaged.
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L
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off
can cause you or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it stops flame if
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 the
engine with the air cleaner
off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine
oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous ten-ain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
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How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done
at your Buick dealer 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.
NOTICE:
~ Too much or too little fluid can damage your
1 transaxle. Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall
on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be sure
to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
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.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially 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
1 I (82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed
up by driving about 15 mues
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), you may
have to drive longer.
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Checking the Fluid Level
1. Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
engine running.
in
PARK (P).
3. With
your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in
PARK (P).
4. Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes,
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
The transaxle dipstick
handle is the red loop
near the back of
the engine.
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
3. Check both sides of the
dipstick, and read the
lower level: The fluid
level must be in the'
cross-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
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