1998 BUICK REGAL Owners Manual

3. After the engine
cools, open the
coolant air
bleed valve.
There is one bleed valve. It is located on the
thermostat housing.
I
4. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler neck.
(See "Engine Coolant'' in the Index for more
information about the proper coolant mixture.)
If you see
a stream of coolant coming from an air
bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise, close the
valve(s) after the radiator is filled.
5. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the engine
and the compartment.
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Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the COLD
mark on the overflow hose in the coolant bottle.
Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the pressure cap
off.
8. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch
out for the
engine cooling fans.
9. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add
more of the proper
DEX-COOL@ coolant mixture
through the filler neck until the level reaches the
base of the filler neck.
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If a Tire Goes Flat
10. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure
if coolant begins to flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure the
arrows on the pressure cap line
up like this.
11. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at the HOT
mark when the engine is hot or at the COLD mark
when the engine is cold. It’s
unusual for a tire
to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have
a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off
the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering
the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake
to a stop -- well off the road if possible.
If
a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
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Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Wrn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side
of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
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Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
(See “Compact Spare Tire” later in this section for more
information about the compact spare.)
1. Pull the carpeted mat up from the floor of the trunk
and turn the center nut
on the compact spare cover to
the left to remove it. Then lift and remove the cover.
2. Remove the spare tire.
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3. Turn the nut holding the jack to the left and remove
it. Then remove the jack and wrench. The tools you’ll
be using include the jack (A), extension
and protection guide (B) and wheel wrench (C).
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Wheel Covers
To remove a center cap, use
the wrench to pry gently at
the notch. Don’t use a tool
that is narrower than the
wrench
to pry at this notch.
Then pry off the cap. If
your vehicle is equipped
with wheel covers, be sure
to use a wheel wrench to
begin the process
of
loosening the plastic wheel
nut caps.
They won’t come off. You will only be able to loosen
them. Once you have loosened the plastic nut caps with
the wheel wrench, if needed, you can finish loosening
them with your fingers.
Then, using the flat end
of the wheel wrench, pry along
the edge of the wheel cover until
it comes off. Be
careful; the edge may be sharp. Don’t try to remove the
cover with your bare hands.
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Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous. If the vehicle slips
off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed. Never get under
a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
2. Turn the jack handle to the right to raise the jack lift
Don’t remove them yet.
head
a few inches.
I A CAUTION:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned can damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall.
To help avoid personal
injury and vehicle damage, be sure to
fit the jack
lift head into the proper location before raising
the vehicle.
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