2000 BUICK LESABRE coolant temperature

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Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
In very cold weather, 0
F (-18
C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The engine coolant heater cord is located on
the passenger's side of the vehicle, above the
headlamp assembly.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110
-volt AC outlet.
CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three
-prong
11 0
-volt AC outlet. If the cord won't reach, use a
heavy
-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store
the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving
engine parts. If you don't, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.

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The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:

If you turn the system off by pressing the button
located on the end of the gearshift lever, the warning
light will come on and stay on. To turn the system
back on, press the button again. The warning light
should go off. (See ªTraction Control Systemº in the
Index for more information.)

If there's a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light will come on. If
your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will come
on until your brakes cool down.

If the traction control system is affected by an
engine
-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into
the red area, your engine
is too hot!
A temperature indicator light will come on and a
chime will sound.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions and the temperature indicator light
turns on, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle
and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
The ªProblems on the Road,º section of this manual
explains what to do. See ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index.

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GAGE INFO: Use this button to display oil pressure,
oil life, coolant temperature, tire pressure and
battery information.
Press the GAGE INFO button until OIL PRESSURE
appears in the display. If there are no problems
detected with the oil pressure, the display will show
OIL PRESSURE NORMAL. If a low oil pressure
condition is detected, the display will show OIL
PRESSURE LOW. If you see the OIL PRESSURE
LOW message, your vehicle could be low on oil or
the oil is not going through the engine properly.
See your dealer for service.
Press the GAGE INFO button until COOLANT
TEMP appears in the display. If there are no
problems detected with the temperature, COOLANT
TEMP NORMAL will appear in the display. If the
temperature is too high, COOLANT TEMP HOT
will appear in the display. If you see the COOLANT
TEMP HOT message, the engine is overheated. You
should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn
off your engine as soon as possible. This manual
explains what to do. See ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index.Press the GAGE INFO button until the display
shows BATTERY STATE. If the voltage is normal
the display will show BATTERY STATE NORMAL.
If the voltage drops below 10.5 volts, the display will
show BATTERY STATE LOW. If the voltage is
above 16 volts, the display will show BATTERY
STATE HIGH. If the display shows the high or low
message, you need to have your battery and charging
system checked.
Press the GAGE INFO button until OIL LIFE
INDEX appears in the display. The OIL LIFE
INDEX NORMAL display will show an estimate of
the oil's remaining useful life. When the oil life
index is less than 10%, the display will show OIL
LIFE INDEX CHANGE OIL. When you have the
oil changed according to the maintenance schedule
(see ªMaintenance Scheduleº in the Index), you will
have to reset the oil life monitor. To reset the Oil
Life System (Index), see ªOil Life Systemº or
ªEngine Oil, When to Changeº in the Index.

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Temperature Button
To adjust the comfort level you want maintained inside
the vehicle, push the TEMP button. If you want a
warmer comfort level, push the up arrow. If you want a
cooler comfort level, push the down arrow. Your
comfort setting is shown in the display. The display will
then return to the outside temperature.
Fan Button
The speed of the blower fan is controlled automatically if
you have the system set for AUTO. Pressing the FAN
button will display and hold the current blower fan setting.
If you want the blower fan to run at a lower speed, push
the bottom of the FAN button. The fan speed will
decrease with every push of the button until the lowest
speed is reached. If you want to increase the fan speed,
push the top of the FAN button. Notice the fan
indicators in the display.
Mode Controls
Press the AIR FLOW button to deliver air through the
floor, middle or windshield outlets. The system will stay
in the selected mode until the AUTO button is pushed.
Use the up and down arrows on the AIR FLOW button
to cycle through the available modes.Automatic Operation
Press the AUTO button when you want the system to
automatically adjust to changes in the temperature inside
the vehicle, the outside temperature and the sun load on
the vehicle. When the system is set for automatic
operation, air will come from the floor, middle or
windshield outlets depending on the temperature inside
the vehicle, the outside temperature and sun load.
Fan speed will vary as the system gets to and maintains
the comfort setting you have selected through the use of
the TEMP button.
To find your comfort setting, start with the system in
AUTO mode and the TEMP button adjusted to 75
F
(24
C), give the vehicle about 20 minutes to stabilize,
and adjust your comfort setting if necessary, by using
the TEMP button. The display will show the comfort
setting for a few seconds and then it will display the
outside temperature. If you want to see your current
automatic fan speed, airflow direction and comfort
setting, press the AUTO button.
In cold weather, the system will delay turning on the
fan, to avoid blowing cold air. The length of the delay
depends on the engine coolant temperature and the
outside temperature. Pushing the FAN, AIR FLOW or
FRONT buttons will override this delay, turn off the
AUTO setting and change the fan speed.

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NOTICE:
Use the proper towing equipment to avoid
damage to the bumper, fascia or fog lamp areas
of the vehicle.
With current trends in automotive styles and design, it is
essential that the correct towing equipment is used to
tow a vehicle. Your vehicle can be towed with wheel
-lift
or car
-carrier equipment.
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your vehicle towed. See ªRoadside
Assistanceº in the Index.
Engine Overheating
You will find a warning light about a hot engine as well as
an engine coolant temperature gage on your vehicle's
instrument panel cluster. If your vehicle is equipped with
the optional Driver Information Center (DIC), an ªEngine
Coolant Lowº warning will appear on the display.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation.
Should an overheated engine condition exist, an
overheat protection mode which alternates firing groups
of cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
you will notice a significant loss in power and engine
performance. The low coolant light may come on and
the temperature gage will indicate an overheat condition
exists. Towing a trailer in the overheat protection mode
should be avoided.
NOTICE:
After driving in the overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine damage, allow
the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause of coolant loss and change
the oil. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.

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6-21 How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid to use. See ªRecommended
Fluids and Lubricantsº in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross
-hatched area
on the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long
-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level.
It doesn't take much fluid, generally less than one
pint (0.5 L). Don't overfill.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON
-III, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON

-III
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under ªHow to Check.º
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX
-COOL
engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX
-COOL
extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
-COOL
coolant will:

Give freezing protection down to
-34F (-37C).

Give boiling protection up to 265F (129C).

Protect against rust and corrosion.

Help keep the proper engine temperature.

Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.

Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance
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100,000 Miles (166 000 km)

Inspect spark plug wires.
An Emission Control Service.

Replace spark plugs.
An Emission Control Service.

Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter 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.
± In hilly or mountainous terrain.
± When doing frequent trailer towing.
± Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you haven't used your vehicle under severe service conditions listed
previously and, therefore, haven't changed your automatic transaxle fluid,
change both the fluid and filter.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every 60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck. Pressure test
the cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
ACTUAL
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ACTUAL
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