1998 BUICK REGAL Owners Manual

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be
of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Your vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality
GM brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system
-- for example, when your brake linings wear
down and you have to have new ones put in
-- be sure
you get new approved GM replacement parts. If you
don’t, your brakes may no longer work properly. For
example,
if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong
for your vehicle, the balance between your front and
rear brakes can change
-- for the worse. The braking
performance you’ve come to expect can change in many
other ways if someone puts
in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
Battery
Every new Buick has an ACDelco Freedom@ battery.
You never have to add water to one of these. When it’s
time for a new battery, we recommend an ACDelco
Freedom battery. Get one that has the replacement
number shown on the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, remove
the black, negative (-) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See “Jump Starting” in the Index
for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature”
in the Index.
6-33
ProCarManuals.com

Bulb Replacement
In this section you’ll find directions for changing the
bulbs in some
of the lamps on your vehicle. See
“Replacement Bulbs”
in the Index to find the type of
bulb you should use.
Halogen Bulbs
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst
if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured.
Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
Headlamps
1. Pull up on the headlamp retainers to release the
assembly locator tabs.
2. Slide the headlamp assembly out of the slots.
3. Lift the plastic locking tab on the electrical
connector and pull the connector from the headlamp
bulb socket.
6-34
ProCarManuals.com

4. Connect the new headlamp assembly to the wiring
harness, making sure the connector tab snaps
into place.
5. Insert the headlamp into the slots in the fascia.
6. Slide the retainers downward until they are
fully seated.
Headlamp Aiming
Your vehicle has a modular headlamp system. These
headlamps have horizontal and vertical aim indicators.
The aim has been optically pre-set at the factory and
should need
no further adjustment.
If your vehicle is damaged in an accident and the
headlamp aim seems to be affected,
see your dealer.
Headlamps on damaged vehicles may require
recalibration of the vertical and horizontal aim by
your dealer.
To check the aim, the vehicle should be properly
prepared as follows:
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Place the vehicle on a level pad or surface.
The vehicle should not have any snow, ice or mud
attached to it.
The vehicle should be fully assembled and all other
work stopped while headlamp aiming
is being done.
There should not be any cargo
or loading of the
vehicle, except it should have a full tank
of gas and
one person or
160 lbs. (75 kg) on the driver’s seat.
Close all doors.
Tires should be properly inflated.
Rock the vehicle to stabilize the suspension.
I I
NOTICE:
To make sure your headlamps are aimed
properly, read all the instructions before
beginning. Failure to follow these instructions
could cause damage to headlamp parts.
6-35
ProCarManuals.com

For the vertical adjustment, state inspection stations
will generally allow a reading of plus
0.76 degrees or
minus
0.76 degrees from the center of the bubble.
down
It is recommended that the
upper limit not exceed
plus
0.4 degrees from the
center of the bubble.
Other drivers may flash
their high beams
at you if
your adjustment is much
above plus
0.4 degrees.
If you find that the headlamp aiming needs adjustment,
follow these steps:
Driver's Side Headlamp Shown
A. Vertical aim adjustment screw
B. Horizontal aim adjustment screw
1. Start by opening the hood and locating the vertical
and horizontal aim indicators. The aiming screw for
the vertical aim indicator is at the center of the
headlamp cover
(A) and the aiming screw for the
horizontal aim indicator
is on the outboard side of
the headlamp cover (B).
6-36
ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE:
Horizontal aim of the headlamp must be done
first. Adjusting vertical
aim first will result in
2. Using an E8 Torx@ socket, turn the horizontal
aiming adjustment screw
(B) until the “0” (zero) on
the pointer is lined up with the center marking on the
horizontal block index plate
(C).
3. To adjust the vertical aim, use an E8 Torn@ socket
and turn the vertical aiming adjustment screw
until the bubble inside the level
(D) is centered at
“0” (zero).
Front Parking and I’urn Signal Lamp
1. Remove the headlamp assembly. Refer to the
removal procedure earlier in this section.
2. Remove the rubber bulb access cover.
3. Twist and pull the sidemarker lamp socket from the
4. Holding the base of the bulb, pull the bulb from
5. Push the new bulb into the socket.
headlamp assembly.
the socket.
B.
C.
D.
Passenger’s Side Headlamp Shown
Horizontal aim adjustment screw Horizontal block index plate
Vertical aiming level
6. Put the socket back into the headlamp assembly and
turn it to the right until it is secure.
7. Replace the rubber bulb access cover.
6-37
ProCarManuals.com

Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
1. Open the trunk.
2. Reach through the access opening in the trunk.
3. Remove the bulb by turning it one-quarter of a turn
right to left.
4. Place the new bulb into the bulb socket.
5. Turn the bulb one-quarter of a turn to the right
to replace.
6. Close the trunk.
6-38
ProCarManuals.com

Tail/Stop/Turn Signal Lamp
1. Remove the three plastic wing nuts (A). (Pliers may
be required to remove the wing nuts.)
A A
B
2. Pull the taillamp housing away from the body of the
3. Squeeze the tab on the socket and turn the socket
vehicle
(B).
right to left.
4. Pull
out the socket.
5. Pull the bulb out of the socket. (There are two bulbs
on each taillamp.)
6. Push in a new bulb.
7. Replace the socket into the housing and turn to
the right.
8. Replace the taillamp housing to the body of
the vehicle.
9. Install the wing nuts.
10. Tighten the plastic nuts.
6-39
ProCarManuals.com

Trunk Lid Applique Then:
1. Install the new bulbs into the applique sockets (B).
A
1. Open the trunk lid halfway.
2. Remove the wing nuts (A) from the studs on the
applique. (There are eight wing nuts. Pliers may be
required to remove them.)
3. Remove the applique from the trunk lid.
2. Connect the applique to the lid.
3. Reconnect the wing nuts to the studs on the applique
and hand-tighten.
4. Close the trunk lid.
Back-up Lamp
The back-up lamps are located in the trunk lid applique.
(Refer to the trunk
lid applique removal procedure earlier
in this section for graphic and further instructions.)
1. Remove the trunk lid applique.
2. Twist and pull the back-up lamp socket from the
trunk lid applique.
3. Twist and pull the bulb from the back-up lamp socket.
To install the new bulb:
1. Twist and push the bulb into the back-up lamp socket.
2. Twist and push the back-up lamp socket into the
trunk lid applique.
3. Reinstall the trunk lid applique.
6-40
ProCarManuals.com