1998 BUICK REGAL Running lean

Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
SERVICE ENGINE fuel, ignition and emission
monitors
operation of the
SOON control systems.
This system is called OBD
I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The SERVICE ENGINE
SOON light
comes on and a chime will sound to indicate that there is
a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often
will be indicated by the system before any problem is
apparent. This may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist
your service technician in correctly diagnosing
any malfunction.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may
not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition
is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system
on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction
has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer
or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
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How to Check and Add Oil
Check oil only when the engine is cold. Allow the
engine
to cool two to three hours after running.
~ ~ -
A CAUTION:
If you remove the supercharger oil fill plug while
the engine is hot, pressure may cause hot oil to
blow out
of the oil fill hole. You may be burned.
Do
not remove the plug until the engine cools.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Clean the area around the oil fill plug before
removing it.
Remove the oil fill plug using a
3/ 16 inch
Allen wrench.
The oil level is correct when it just reaches the
bottom of the threads of the inspection hole.
Replace the oil plug with the O-ring
in place. Torque
to
88 lb-in (10 N-m).
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32” C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the
fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
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Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals on the inside rear
window, since they may have to be scraped off later. If
abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across the
defogger grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or if
the wiper blade chatters when running,
wax, sap or other material may be on the blade
or windshield.
Clean the outside
of the windshield with GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon Ami@ Powder (non-scratching
glass cleaning powder), GM Part
No. 105001 1. The
windshield is clean
if beads do not form when you rinse
it with water.
Grime from
the windshield will stick to the wiper blades
and affect their performance. Clean
the blade by wiping
vigorously with
a cloth soaked in full-strength windshield
washer solvent. Then rinse the blade with water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;
replace blades that look worn.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with
a clean cloth at least every six
months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent
application may be required. (See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.)
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehcle’s finish is to keep it
clean by washing it often
with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle
in the direct rays of the sun.
Don’t use strong soaps or chemical detergents. Use
liquid hand, dish
or car washing (mild detergent) soaps.
You can get GM-approved cleaning products from your
dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Materials” in the
Index.) Don’t use cleaning agents that are petroleum
based, or that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning
agents should be flushed promptly and not allowed to
dry on the surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish
with
a soft, clean chamois or an all-cotton towel to
avoid surface scratches and water spotting.
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Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition key to LOCK in each shift lever position.
The key should turn to LOCK only when the shift
lever is
in PARK (P).
0 The key should come out only in LOCK.
Parking Brake and Automatic Transaxle PARK (P)
Mechanism Check
1 A C A UTION:
When you are doing this check, your vehicle
could begin to move.
You or others could be
injured and property could be damaged. Make
sure there is room in front
of your vehicle in case
it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your
foot on the regular brake,
set
the parking brake.
To check the parking brake’s holding ability: With
the engine running and transaxle in NEUTRAL
(N),
slowly remove foot pressure from the regular brake
pedal.
Do this until the vehicle is held by the parking
brake only.
To check the PARK (P) mechanism’s holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to PARK (P). Then
release all brakes.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to flush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
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Cigarette Lighter ............................... 2-50
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-60
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-17
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome Wheels
................... 6-57
Built-in Child Restraint
........................ 6-54
Built-in Child Restraint Harness
................. 6-54
Fabric
...................................... 6-50
Glass Surfaces
............................... 6-54
Inside of Your Vehicle
......................... 6-52
Instrumentpanel
............................. 6-54
Interior Plastic Components
..................... 6-54
Leather
..................................... 6-53
Outside of Your Vehicle
........................ 6-55
Special Problems
............................. 6-53
Stains
...................................... 6-50
Tires
....................................... 6-57
Vinyl
....................................... 6-53
Wheels
..................................... 6-54
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-55
Cleaning Exterior LampsLenses
................... 6-56
Clock. Setting the
............................... 3-12
Comfort Controls
................................ 3-2
Compact Disc Care
............................. 3-3 1
Compact Disc Player
............................ 3-25
Compact Disc Player Care
........................ 3-3 1
Compact Disc Player Errors
....................... 3-24
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-37
Console Storage
................................ 2-49
Control. Loss
of ................................ 4- 16
Control
of a Vehicle .............................. 4-6 Convex
Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-48
Coolant Bleedvalve
................................. 5-23
RecoveryTank
............................... 5-19
Coolant Heater. Engine
.......................... 2-20
Cooling System
................................ 5-17
Courtesy Lamps
................................ 2-44
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-6
Cruise Control
................................. 2-38
CruiseLight
................................... 2-74
Cupholders
............................... 2-49. 2-50
Customer Assistance for
Text Telephone Users ......... 8-4
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8-1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
.................... 8-2
Damage. Finish
............................... 6-55
Damage. Sheet Metal
............................ 6-55
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-42
Dead Battery
................................... 5-3
Defects. Reporting Safety
......................... 8-8
Defensive Driving
............................... 4-2
Defogger. Rear Window
......................... 3-11
Defogging
............................ 3.4.3-6. 3-10
Defrosting
............................ 3.4.3.6. 3.10
Delayed Entry Lighting .......................... 2-45
Delayed Exit Lighting
........................... 2-45
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-66
Dolby@
B Noise Reduction ............. 3.16.3.19. 3.23
Dome Lamp Bulb Replacement
.................... 6-41
DoorLocks
..................................... 2-4
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Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light ................... 2-75
Driver Information Center
........................ 2-76
Driver Position
................................. 1 - 1 1
Driver Selectable Shifting ........................ 2-26
Driving City
........................................ 4-22
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken
..................................... 4-3
Freeway
.................................... 4-23
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-29
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-5
IntheRain
.................................. 4-19
Night
...................................... 4-17
OnCurves
.................................. 4-12
On Grades While Towing a Trailer
............... 4-39
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-25
On Snow
or Ice .............................. 4-28
Through Deep Standing Water
................... 4-21
WetRoads
.................................. 4-19
Winter
...................................... 4-27
With a Trailer
................................ 4-38
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-3
Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control
......... 3-7
Dual ComforTemp Climate Control
.................. 3-4
Electrical Equipment, Adding
..... 2-20. 2-52. 3-29, 6-61
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview Mirror
.......... 2-47
Engine
.................................. 6-10, 6-11
Coolant
..................................... 6-23
Electrical
System
............................... 6-61 Coolant
Heater
............................... 2-20
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-14
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-67
Coolant Temperature Light
..................... 2-67
Exhaust
..................................... 2-31
Identification
................................ 6-60
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-14
Overheating
................................. 5-15
Running While Parked
......................... 2-32
Specifications
................................ 6-68
Starting Your
................................ 2-19
Adding ..................................... 6-14
Checking
................................... 6-13
Engineoil
.................................... 6-12
Additives
................................... 6-16
Supercharger
................................ 6-19
Used
....................................... 6-17
What Kind to Use
............................. 6-15
Whentochange
.............................. 6-16
Enhanced Traction System
........................ 4-11
Enhanced Traction System Active Light
............. 2-66
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
........... 2-65
Ethanol
........................................ 6-5
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-31
Exterior Lamps ................................. 2-41
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-50
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-6
Filter, Air
..................................... 6-17
Filter. Engine Oil
............................... 6-16
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Inspections Brakesystem
................................ 7-18
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7- 18
Front Drive Axle Boot
......................... 7- 18
Front Drive Axle Seal
......................... 7-18
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7- 18
Steering
.................................... 7-18
Suspension
.................................. 7-18
Throttle System
.............................. 7-1 8
InstrumentPanel ............................... 2-55
Cleaning .................................... 6-51
Cluster
................................ 2-56. 2-57
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-62
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
................ 2-44
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-44
Jack. Tire
........... 5.26.5.28.5.30.5.31.5.32. 5.33
Jump Starting
................................... 5-3
Key Lock Cylinders Service
..................... 7-15
Key Reminder Warning
.......................... 2-15
Keys
.......................................... 2-2
Labels Certification
................................. 4-32
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-58
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-3 1
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-58 Lamps
Cornering
................................... 2-44
Courtesy
.................................... 2-44
Dome
...................................... 2-46
Fog
........................................ 2-44
Interior
..................................... 2-44
Reading. Rearview Mirror
...................... 2-46
Leaving Your Vehicle
............................. 2-9
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-29
Lighter
....................................... 2-50
Lights Air Bag Readiness
....................... 1-21, 2-60
Anti-Lock Brake System Active
............. 2-63, 4-9
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-62, 4-7
BrakeSystemWarning
......................... 2-61
Charging System
............................. 2-60
Cruise
...................................... 2-74
Door/Trunk Ajar Warning
...................... 2-75
Engine Coolant Temperature Light
............... 2-67
ChangeOilSoon
............................. 2-73
Enhanced Traction System Active
................ 2-66
Enhanced Traction System Warning
.............. 2-65 .
Interior ..................................... 2-44
Low Coolant Warning
.................... 2.68, 6.26
LowFuel
................................... 2-75
Low Oil Level
.......................... 2.72, 6.12
LowTire
.................................... 2-68
Low Traction
................................ 2-66
Low Washer Fluid Warning
................ 2.37, 2.74
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