1998 BUICK REGAL jump start

Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5-2
5-3
5-8
5-15
5- 17 Hazard Warning
Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Cooling System 5-25
If a Tire Goes Flat
5-26 Changing a Flat
Tire
5-37 Compact Spare Tire
5-38
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
5-1
ProCarManuals.com

Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
vehicle. But please follow the steps below to do
it safely.
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
0 They contain enough electricity to
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
burn
you.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling
it won’t work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
I NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
5-3
ProCarManuals.com

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause
a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump
start procedure. Put your automatic
transaxle in
PARK (P) before setting the
parking brake.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter
or accessory power outlet. Turn off all lamps
that aren’t needed as well
as radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries. In addition, it
could save your radio!
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t
be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. (Your
vehicle’s battery is located toward the front
of the
passenger’s side
of the vehicle’s engine, underneath
a diagonal brace.)
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood
electric fan.
5-4
ProCarManuals.com

5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery. Your vehicle has a remote positive (+)
jump starting terminal. The terminal is on the same
side
of the engine compartment as your battery. To
uncover the remote positive (+) terminal, squeeze the
sides
of the red plastic cap and pull the cap upward.
You should always use the remote positive
(+)
terminal instead of the positive (+) terminal on
your battery. Using
a match near
a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded.
Use a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need to add water to the ACDelco Freedom@
battery installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if
a battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take care
of that first.
If you don’t, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you.
If you accidentally get it in
your eyes
or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
5-5
ProCarManuals.com

14. Reinstall the red protective remote jump start cover
on the vehicle that was jump started.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a dealer or a professional towing service tow
your vehicle.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
0 That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front or
rear with sling-type equipment.
0 That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
The make, model and year of your vehicle.
0 Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
5-8
ProCarManuals.com

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

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
9-6
ProCarManuals.com