Page 277 of 389

6-7
CAUTION:
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any ªhissº noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See ªCleaning
the Outside of Your Vehicleº in the Index.
When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly
installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. See ªMalfunction Indicator Lampº in
the Index.The GAS CAP LOOSE
-CHECK CAP message will
be displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC)
(if equipped) if the fuel cap is not properly reinstalled.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit properly. This may
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light
and your fuel tank and emissions system may be
damaged. See ªMalfunction Indicator Lampº in
the Index.
Page 278 of 389

6-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
CAUTION:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into
approved containers.
Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed
or on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.
Don't smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under the Hood
CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
Page 281 of 389
6-11 Underhood Lamp
Your vehicle is equipped with an underhood lamp.
For the underhood lamp to be on, the exterior lamps
must be on and the hood must be up.
Engine Oil
If the ENGINE OIL LOW-
CHECK LEVEL DIC
message appears on the
instrument panel, it means
you need to check your
engine oil level right away.
For more information,
see ªDIC Warnings and
Messagesº in the Index.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It's a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick is
located right behind the
engine fans and in front
of the engine oil filler cap.
The top of the dipstick
is a round yellow loop.
See ªEngine Compartment Overviewº in the Index for
more information on location.
Page 305 of 389

6-35
If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the headlamp
aim may be affected. Aim adjustment to the low beam
may be necessary if it is difficult to see lane markers
(for horizontal aim), or if oncoming drivers flash their
high beams at you (for vertical aim). If you believe your
headlamps need to be re
-aimed, we recommend that
you take your vehicle to your dealer for service.
However, it is possible for you to re
-aim your
headlamps as described in the following procedure.
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.
The vehicle should be properly prepared as follows:
The vehicle should be placed so the headlamps
are 25 ft. (7.6 m) from a light colored wall or
other flat surface.
The vehicle must have all four tires on a perfectly
level surface which is level all the way to the wall or
other flat surface.
The vehicle should be placed so it is perpendicular to
the wall or other flat 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.
The vehicle should be normally loaded with a full
tank of fuel and one person or 160 lbs. (75 kg) on
the driver's seat.
Tires should be properly inflated.
Headlamp aiming is done with the vehicle low beam
lamps. The high beam lamps will be correctly aimed
if the low beam lamps are aimed properly.
Page 314 of 389

6-44 Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on
the rear edge of the driver's door, shows the correct
inflation pressures for your tires when they're cold.
ªColdº means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
NOTICE:
Don't let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right. It's not. If your tires
don't have enough air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
Too much flexing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Bad wear
Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
NOTICE: (Continued)
NOTICE: (Continued)
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don't forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket
-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can't tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they're underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
Page 329 of 389

6-59
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch
-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer's body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these are
not removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur
on the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame,
floor pan and exhaust system even though they
have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody car washing system can do
this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create
a chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon
and attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This
damage can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet
-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched
into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Buick
will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs first.
Page 337 of 389
6-67
Rear Underseat Bussed Electrical Center (BEC)
The rear BEC is located
beneath the rear seat on the
driver's side. The rear seat
cushion must be removed to
access the BEC. See
ªRemoving the Rear Seat
Cushionº in the Index.
Minifuses Usage
1 Fuel Pump
2 HVAC Blower
3 Memory
4 ALDL
5 Rear Fog Lamps
6CD
7 Driver's Door Module
8 Air Bag System (SIR)
9 Not Used
10 Right Parking Lamp
11 Vent Solenoid
12 Ignition 1
13 Left Parking Lamp
14 Dimmer
15 Not Used
16 Left Front Heated Seat
17 Not Used
Page 338 of 389
6-68
Minifuses Usage
18 Rear Door Module
19 Stoplamp
20 NSBU
21 Audio
22 Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
23 Not Used
24 Not Used
25 Passenger Door Module
26 Body
27 Interior Lamps
28 Not Used
29 Ignition Switch
30 Not Used
31 Right Front Heated Seat
32 Not UsedMinifuses Usage
33 HVAC
34 Ignition 3 Rear
35 Anti
-Lock Brake System (ABS)
36 Turn Signal/Hazard
37 HVAC Battery
38 Dimmer
Micro Relays Usage
39 Fuel Pump
40 Parking Lamp
41 Ignition 1
42 Rear Fog Lamp
43 Not Used
44 Park
45 Reverse
46 Retained Accessory Power (RAP)