Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Buick. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how
to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
6-2
6-3
6-5
6-5
6-7
6-11
6-1
1
6-16
6-19
6-22
6-26
6-27
6-28
6-3
1
6-32 6-39
6-47
6-48
6-5
1
6-5 1
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
Service
Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
3800 Supercharged (Code 1) Engine
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery
Bulb Replacement
Tires
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside
of Your Buick
Cleaning the Built-in Child Restraint
Care
of Safety Belts and Built-in Child
Restraint Harness 6-5
1
6-52
6-52
6-52
6-53
6-54 6-54
6-54
6-55
6-55
6-5 6
6-57
6-57
6-58
6-63
6-63
6-64
6-65
6-65 Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Cleaning
the Outside of the Windshield and
Wiper Blades
Weatherstrips Cleaning the Outside of Your Buick
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome Wheels
Cleaning Tires
Sheet Metal Damage
Finish Damage
Underbody Maintenance
Chemical Paint Spotting
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN)
Service Parts Identification Label
Electrical System Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Vehicle Dimensions
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
6-1
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When you open the hood on the 3800 (Code K) Engine, you’ll see:
A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap
B. Radiator Fill Cap
G. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
C. Remote Positive Battery Terminal H. Brake Fluid Reservoir
D. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
I. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
E. Engine Oil Dipstick J. Air Cleaner
6-9
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When you open the hood of the 3800 (Code 1) Supercharged Engine, you’ll see:
A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
B. Radiator Fill Cap
C. Remote Positive Battery Terminal
D. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
E. Engine Oil Dipstick
E Engine Oil Fill Cap
G. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick
H. Brake Fluid Reservoir
I. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank
J. Air Cleaner
6-10
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Power Steering Fluid
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.
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, wipe the cap and
the top of the reservoir clean, then unscrew the cap and
wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace
the cap and
completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again and
look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
3800 or 3800 Supercharged Engine
When the engine compartment is hot, the level should
be at the
HOT mark. If the fluid is at the ADD mark,
you should add fluid.
6-26
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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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Net. Convenience .............................. 2-50
New Vehicle "Break-In"
......................... 2- 18
Nightvision ................................... 4-18
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-24
odometer
.................................... 2-58
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-58
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- 14
Oil. Engine
.................................... 6-11
Oil Warning Light
.............................. 2-7 1
Overdrive (0). Automatic ................... 2-25. 2-26
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-39
Owner Publications. Ordering
..................... 8- 10
Overheating Engine
............................. 5-
15
Paint Spotting. Chemical ........................ 6-55
Park
Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2-23
Shifting Into
................................. 2-29
Shifting Out of
............................... 2-3 1
Parking
AtNight
.................................... 2-16
Brake
...................................... 2-28
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-42
Lots
....................................... 2-16
Over Things That Burn ........................ 2-3 1
With a Trailer ................................ 4-39
Passing
....................................... 4-15
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter .................. 6- 17
PASS-Key 11 2-17
Pass-through Trunk Cushion Cupholders
............ 2-50
8 .................................
Pass-through Trunk ............................. 2-50
Performance Shift Light
..................... 2-27. 2-74
Performance Shifting
............................ 2-27
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-43
Auxiliary Connection
.......................... 2-53
DoorLocks
................................... 2-5
Option Fuses
...... ......................... 6-58
Outside Mirrors
.............................. 2-48
Retained Accessory
........................... 2-46
Seat (Six-Way)
................................ 1-3
Steering
.................................... 4-12
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-26
Windows
................................... 2-33
Pregnancy. Use
of Safety Belts .................... 1-18
Problems on the Road
............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and Owner ................... 8-10
Publications. Service and Owner. Ordering in Canada
... 8-9
Power
Radiator. Adding Coolant
....................... 5-21
Radiator Pressure Cap
........................... 6-25
Radio Reception
................................ 3-34
Rain. Driving
In ................................ 4-19
Rainy Weather Tips
............................. 4-21
Reading Lamps. Rearview Mirror
.................. 2-46
Radios
....................................... 3-13
9-8
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