1998 BUICK REGAL maintenance

Heating Ventilation System
On cold days, use HTR with the temperature knobs all
the way in the red area. The system will bring in outside
air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use
it
to help your system provide wm air faster when it’s
cold outside
(0°F (-18°C) or lower). An engine coolant
heater wms the coolant your engine and heating
system use to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant
Heater” in the Index.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows.
To defrost the windows quickly, press the
FRONT button; set the temperature to 90 OF (32”C),
select high fan speed and turn the DUAL button off. To
warm passengers while keeping the windows clear, push
the AIR
FLOW button until WINDSHIELDFLOOR
appears in the display. Select fan speed for comfort and
windshield clearing performance. Adjust the direction
of airflow by moving
the vents.
Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when it
is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the air conditioning
fan is running.
If the airflow seems very low when the fan knob is
turned
to the highest setting regardless of the mode
setting, your passenger compartment air filter may
need
to be replaced. See “Maintenance Schedule’’
in the Index.
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Parking on Hills 0 Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on
a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the
trailer’s wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and shift to
PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and brake
adjustment. Each of these
is covered in this manual, and
the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you’re
trailering, it’s a good idea to review this information
before you start your trip.
Check periodically
to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
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Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. 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
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
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6-49 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
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6-67 6-67 Cleaning the Built-in
Child Restraint
Care of Safety Belts and Built-in Child
Restraint Harness
Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Cleaning the Outside of the Windshield and
Wiper Blades
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome Wheels
Cleaning Tires
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
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Service Doing Your Own Service Work
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll
be happy with it. We hope you’ll
go to your dealer for want
to use the proper Buick Service Manual. It tells
all your service needs. You’ll get genuine GM parts and
YOU much rnOre about how to service Your vehicle than
GM-trained and supported service people. this
manual can.
To order the proper service manual, see
We hope you’ll want to keep your GM vehicle all
GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks: Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
“Service and Owner Publications”
in the Index.
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Vehicle” in the Index.
Genuine
”M
F
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date
of any service work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in the Index.
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I
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
e
e
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confused.
If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off. You could be hurt.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your dealer before adding equipment to the outside of
your vehicle.
Fuel
The 8th digit of your vehicle identification number
(VIN) shows the code letter for your engine.
You will
find the VIN at the top left of your instrument panel.
(See “Vehicle Identification Number”
in the Index.)
If you have the 3800 engine (VIN Code K), use regular
unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher. If you’re
using fuel rated at the recommended octane or higher
and you 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 you have the 3800 Supercharged engine (VIN Code
l), use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher. With the 3800 Supercharged engine, in
an
emergency, you may be able to use a lower octane -- as
low as 87 -- if heavy knocking does not occur. If you
are using 9
1 or higher octane unleaded gasoline and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
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then start the vehicle. If the CHANGE OIL SOON light
comes back on, the system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.
(If you have a driver information center, the
system may be reset by depressing the DIC
RESET
button for five seconds while viewing the oil life display
on the DIC. See “Driver Information Center” in
the Index.)
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don’t
let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be a real threat to the environment.
If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever dispose of oil
by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams
or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
Air Cleaner
To check or replace the air
filter, loosen the wing nut
on the air duct and lift
up on
the two clips located on the
top of the filter cover.
Disconnect the duct and
reposition
it while removing
the side cover.
Pull out the filter. Be sure
to install the air filter and
install the cover tightly when you are finished.
Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services’’ in the Index.
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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.
I 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.
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
The passenger compartment
air filter is located
underneath your hood just
below the windshield wiper
arm on the car’s passenger
side (Underneath the air
inlet grille).
The filter traps
most of the pollen from the air entering
the air conditioning module. Like your engine’s air
filter, it may need to be changed periodically. For
information on how often
to change the passenger
compartment air filter, see “Maintenance Schedule” in
the Index.
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To change the passenger compartment air filter, use the
following steps:
1. Turn off the ignition when the windshield wipers
are in the up position.
2. Raise the hood.
3. Remove (disconnect) the windshield washer pump
hose from the fender rail and air inlet grille.
4. Reposition the hood weatherstrip from the right
side
of the vehicle (peel back halfway to center).
5. Remove (disconnect) the air inlet grille retainers.
6. Remove (disconnect) the air inlet grille.
7. Remove (disconnect) the passenger compartment
8. Then install the new air filter. For the type of filter
to use, see “Normal Maintenance Replacement
Parts” in the Index.
air
filter.
9. Reposition the air inlet grille.
10. Replace the air inlet grille retainers. 11.
Reposition the hood weatherstrip.
12. Reconnect the windshield washer pump hose to the
fender rail and air inlet grille.
13. Close the hood.
14. Return the windshield wipers to the park position.
Supercharger Oil
Unless you are technically qualified and have the proper
tools,
you should let your dealer or a qualified service
center perform this maintenance.
When to Check
Check oil level every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or every
36 months, whichever occurs first.
What Kind of Oil to Use
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index
and use only the recommended oil.
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