2002 BUICK REGAL maintenance schedule

2-84 Modes
AVG ECON (Average Economy): Shows your average
fuel economy since you last reset this mode. Average
fuel economy is viewed as a long term approximation of
your overall driving and driving conditions. To learn the
average fuel economy from a new starting point, press
the RESET button while the average fuel economy is
displayed in the DIC.
INSTANTANEOUS FUEL ECONOMY: Shows your
current fuel economy. Instantaneous fuel economy
varies with your driving conditions, such as
acceleration, braking and the grade of the road being
traveled. The instantaneous fuel economy display cannot
be reset, therefore the reset button has no effect while in
this mode.OIL LIFE MONITOR: Shows an estimate of the oil's
remaining useful life. When the oil life index is less than
10%, the CHANGE OIL SOON light will come on.
When you have the oil changed according to the
maintenance schedule (see ªMaintenance Scheduleº in
the Index), you will have to reset the CHANGE OIL
SOON light.
To reset the CHANGE OIL SOON light, see ªOil Life
Systemº in the Index.
Also, see ªEngine Oil, When to Changeº and
ªMaintenance Scheduleº in the Index.
RANGE: Shows the approximate distance you can
drive without refueling. This is based on the amount of
fuel in the tank and on the fuel economy of the most
recent 25 miles (40 km). Pressing RESET while in this
mode will have no effect.
BOOST GAGE: If you have the supercharged engine,
this gage will show the amount of boost your engine is
receiving. Pressing RESET while in this mode will have
no effect.

3-2
Comfort Controls
Dual ComforTemp
Climate Control
With this system, the driver and passenger can maintain
separate temperatures in their seating areas. The system
works best if you keep your windows closed while using it.
FAN:
Turn the knob clockwise toward HI to increase fan
speed and counterclockwise toward LO to decrease
fan speed. The fan must be turned on for the air
conditioning compressor to operate.
If the airflow seems very low when the fan is adjusted
to the highest setting regardless of the mode setting,
your passenger compartment air filter may need to be
replaced. See ªMaintenance Scheduleº or ªPassenger
Compartment Air Filterº in the Index.
OFF: To turn off the fan, turn the knob all the way
counterclockwise to off.
DRIVER (Driver's Side Temperature):
The lever on the left adjusts the air temperature on the
driver's side outlets independent of the temperature set by
the passenger. Slide the lever up to raise the temperature.
Slide the lever down to lower the temperature.
PASSENGER (Passenger's Side Temperature):
The lever on the right adjusts the air temperature on the
passenger's side independent of the temperature set by
the driver. Slide the lever up to raise the temperature.
Slide the lever down to lower the temperature.

3-9 Ventilation System
Adjust the direction of
airflow by moving the
vent levers.
Your vehicle's flow
-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the air conditioning
fan is running.
If the airflow seems very low when the fan is adjusted to
the highest setting regardless of the mode setting, your
passenger compartment air filter may need to be
replaced. See ªMaintenance Scheduleº or ªPassenger
Compartment Air Filterº in the Index.Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction, such as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of
fogging the inside of your windows.

When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, adjust the
mode knob or button to FLOOR and the fan to the
highest speed for a few seconds before driving off.
This helps clear the intake ducts of snow and
moisture and reduces the chance of fogging the
inside of your windows.

Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle.

For mild outside temperatures, when little heating or
cooling is needed, use VENT to direct outside air
through your vehicle.

4-42 When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:

start your engine,

shift into a gear, and

release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don't overfill),
engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you're trailering, it's
a good idea to review this information before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.

6-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is located underneath a
diagonal brace in the engine compartment on the
driver's side of the vehicle. See ªEngine Compartment
Overviewº in the Index for more information
on location.
To check or replace the engine air cleaner/filter,
do the following:
1. Loosen the wing nut on the air duct.
2. Lift up on the two clips
located on the top of
the filter assembly.3. Then disconnect the duct and reposition it while
removing the side cover.
4. Pull out the filter.
5. Replace the filter if needed.
6. Be sure to reinstall the filter and install the cover
tightly when you are finished.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.
See ªScheduled Maintenance Servicesº in the Index.
CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/filter
off can cause you or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it stops flame if
the engine backfires. If it isn't there, and the
engine backfires, you could be burned.
Don't drive with it off, and be careful working
on the engine with the air cleaner/filter off.

6-19
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner/filter is off, a backfire can
cause a damaging engine fire. And, dirt can
easily get into your engine, which will damage it.
Always have the air cleaner/filter in place when
you're driving.
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
The passenger compartment air filter is located
underneath your hood below the windshield wiper
arm, on the passenger's side (below the air inlet grille)
of the vehicle.
The filter traps most of the pollen from the air entering
the air conditioning module. Like your engine's air
cleaner/filter, it may need to be changed periodically.
For information on how often to change the passenger
compartment air filter, see ªMaintenance Scheduleº in
the Index.To change the passenger compartment air filter, use the
following steps:
1. Turn off the ignition when the windshield wipers are
in the up position.
2. Raise the hood.
3. Disconnect the windshield washer pump hose from
the fender rail and air inlet grille.
4. Remove the hood weatherstrip from the passenger's
side of the vehicle (peel back halfway to center).
5. Remove the three air inlet grille retainers.
6. Remove the air inlet grille.

6-21 How to Check and Add Oil
Park the vehicle on a level surface. Check oil only when
the engine is cold. Allow the engine to cool two to three
hours after running.
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. Clean the area around the oil fill plug before
removing it.
2. Remove the oil fill plug using a 3/16 inch
Allen wrench.
3. The oil level is correct when it just reaches the
bottom of the threads of the inspection hole.
4. Replace the oil plug with the O
-ring in place.
Tighten 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 90F (32C) or higher.

In hilly or mountainous terrain.

When doing frequent trailer towing.

Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, change the fluid and filter at
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
See ªScheduled Maintenance Servicesº in the Index.

6-24 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.