1997 BUICK REGAL brake fluid

Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level
if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
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
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(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.
Checking the Fluid Level
0 Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
0 With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
engine running.
in PARK
(P).
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in
PARK (P).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
The automatic transaxle fluid dipstick is the red
loop
located toward the rear 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.
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NOTICE:
0
0
0
0
When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze
and damage your washer fluid tank and
other parts
of the washer system. Also,
water doesn’t clean as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when
it’s very cold.
This
allows for expansion if freezing occurs,
which could damage the tank if it is
completely full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your
windshield washer. It can damage your
washer system and paint.
Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is here. It is filled
with
DOT-3 brake fluid.
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There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir might go down. The
first is that the brake fluid
goes down
to an acceptable level during normal brake
lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid level
goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out
of the brake system.
If it is, you should have your brake
system fixed, since
a leak means that sooner or later your
brakes won’t work well, or won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill
on the engine. The fluid will burn
if the engine
is hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See “Brake System Warning
Light” in the Index.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3
brake fluid -- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 12377967). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
1 CAUTIC
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
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NOTICE:
e
0
Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a few
drops
of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind
of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not
to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in
the Index.
Brake Wear
Your Buick has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the brake
pads are worn and new pads are needed. The
sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the brake
pedal firmly).
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
~~
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
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Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
This section covers the maintenance required for your Buick. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its safety,
dependability and emission control performance.
7-2
7-2
7-3 7-4
7-4
7-4
7-7
7-28
7-39
7-39
7-39 Introduction
Your Vehicle
and the Environment
How This Section is Organized
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
Selecting the Right Schedule
Footnotes
Footnotes
Part
B: Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Fill
At Least Once a Month 7-40
7-40
7-43
7-43
7-43 7-43
7-43
7-43
7-44
7-46 At Least Twice
a Year
At Least Once a Year
Part
C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
Exhaust System Inspection
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Brake System Inspection
Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Part E: Maintenance Record
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Part D: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants
NOTE: Fluids and lubricants identified below by name,
part number or specification may be obtained from your
GM dealer.
USAGE
Engine Oil
Engine Coolant
FLUIDLUBRICANT
Engine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certified For
Gasoline Engines “Starburst”
symbol
of the proper viscosity. To
determine the preferred viscosity
for your vehicle’s engine, see
“Engine Oil”
in the Index.
50/50 mixture of clean water
(preferably distilled) and use only
GM Goodwrench’ DEX-COOL@
or Havoline@ DEX-COOL’
coolant. See “Engine Coolant”
in
the Index.
USAGE
Hydraulic Brake
System
Power Steering
System
Automatic
Transaxle
Key Lock
Cylinders
Supercharger
FLUIDLUBRICANT
Delco Supreme 11 ’ Brake Fluid
(GM Part
No. 12377967 or
equivalent DOT-3 brake fluid).
GM Power Steering Fluid (GM
Part
No. 1052884 - 1 pint,
1050017
- 1 quart, or equivalent).
DEXR0N’-I11 Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Multi-Pur ose lubricant,
Superlube (GM Part
No. 1234624 1 or equivalent).
Supercharger
Oil (GM Part
No. 12345982). See “Supercharger
Oil” in the Index.
b
7-44
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Section 9 Index
Accessory outlet .............................. 2-52
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle ...... 6-3
AirBag
....................................... 1-19
How Does it Restrain .......................... 1-23
How
it Works ................................ 1-2 1
Location .................................... 1-21
Readiness Light
......................... 1-20. 2-60
Servicing
................................... 1-24
What Makes
it Inflate .......................... 1-22
What Will You See After
it Inflates ............... 1-23
When Should it Inflate ......................... 1-22
Aircleaner .................................... 6-16
Air Conditioning
........................ 3-3.3-6. 3-9
Air Conditioning Refrigerants ..................... 6-65
Alarm. Instant
................................. 2- 12
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-45
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-53
AM-FMStereo ................................ 3-13
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and
AM-FM Stereo
with Cassette Tape and Compact
Antenna AM-FM Stereo
with Cassette Tape Player ........... 3- I5
Automatic Tone Control
...................... 3- 18
Automatic Tone Control
...................... 3-22
Disc Player
with Automatic Tone Control ........ 3-26
Backglass
................................... 3-37 Fixed Mast
.................................. 346
Antifreeze ..................................... 6-22
Anti-Lock
Brake System Active Light
................. 2.63. 4.9
Brake System Wa-ning Light
................ 2.62. 4.7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Using
....................................... 4-9
Anti.Theft. Radio .............................. 3-31
Appearancecare
............................... 6-47
Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-56
Arbitration Program
.............................. 8-7
Ashtrays
...................................... 2-51
Audio Controls. Steering Wheel Touch Control
....... 3-33
Audio Equipment. Adding ........................ 3-35
AudioSyste~ns
................................. 3-12
Auto-Down Window
............................ 2-33
Automatic
Audio Systems.
Tips
............................ 3-34
Headlamp Control ............................ 2-42
Overdrive
(a) .......................... 2.25. 2.26
Power Door Locks
............................. 2-7
Transaxle Check
.............................. 7-40
Transaxle Fluid
............................... 6-19
Transaxle Operation ........................... 2-22
Transaxle PARK
(P) Mechanism Check ........... 7-42
Auxiliary Power Connection
...................... 2-53
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Flat Tire. Changing ............................. 5-25
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-44
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-5
French Language Manual
11
Front Parking and Turn Signal Lamp
Bulb Replacement
........................... 6-33
FrontTowing
.................................. 5-11
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Canadian
................................ 6-3, 6-5
Filling
Your Tank .............................. 6-5
Gage
....................................... 2-76
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-5
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-59
.. ...........................
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-68
Fuel
....................................... 2-76
GAWR
....................................... 4-32
Gear Positions, Automatic Transaxle
................ 2-23
GloveBox
.................................... 2-49
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-32
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-32
Guide en Franpis
11
GVWR ....................................... 4-32
.. .................................
Halogen Bulbs ................................ 6-32
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-2
Head Restraints
................................. 1-5
Bulb Replacement ............................ 6-33
Flash-to-Pass
................................ 2-36
Headlamps
.................................... 2-42 High/LowBeam
.............................. 2-36
OnReminder
................................ 2-42
Wiring
..................................... 6-58
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance
.............. 8-4
Heated Foldaway Outside Mirrors
.................. 2-48
Heatedseat
.................................... 1-3
Heating
............................... 3-4,3-6, 3-10
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-36
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-25
HillandMountainRoads
......................... 4-25
Hitches, Trailer
................................. 4-36
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-8
Horn
......................................... 2-34
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-21
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2-18
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
.................... 7-42
Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-44
Inflation, Tire
.................................. 6-40
Inside Daymight Rearview
Mirror ................. 2-47
Inspections
Brakesystem
................................ 7-43
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-43
Front Drive Axle Boot
......................... 7-43
Front Drive Axle Seal
......................... 7-43
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-43
Steering
.................................... 7-43
Suspension
.................................. 7-43
ThrottleLinkage
.............................. 7-43
9-5
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