
Black plate (11,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-11
To save fuel, run the engine for only
short periods as needed to warm
the vehicle and then shut the engine
off and close the window most of
the way to save heat. Repeat this
until help arrives but only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the
cold. Moving about to keep warm
also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs
faster than the idle speed. This
keeps the battery charged to restart
the vehicle and to signal for help
with the headlamps. Do this as little
as possible to save fuel.If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method.
{WARNING
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and
you or others could be injured.
The vehicle can overheat,
causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the
wheels as little as possible and
avoid going above 55 km/h
(35 mph).
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, see Tire
Chains on page 10‑62.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, or with a manual transmission,
between 1 (First) or 2 (Second) and
R (Reverse), spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑74.

Black plate (1,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition 65Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-13
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14 Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-15
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-21
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-23
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-28
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-29
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Headlamps, Front TurnSignal and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-34
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40

Black plate (14,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2011
10-14 Vehicle Care
2. Press the DIC menu button onthe turn signal lever to enter the
Vehicle Information Menu. Use
the thumbwheel to scroll through
the menu items until you reach
REMAINING OIL LIFE.
3. Press the SET/CLR button to reset the oil life at 100%.
4. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message is off and the REMAINING
OIL LIFE 100% message is
displayed.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat
the procedure.Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer service department and have
it repaired as soon as possible.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, you should
have this done at your dealer
service department. Contact your
dealer for additional information.
The procedure can be found in the
service manual. To purchase a
service manual, see Service
Publications Ordering Information
on page 13‑11.
Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed in Scheduled
Maintenance on page 11‑2, and be sure to use the fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑6.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
manual transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer service department and
have it repaired as soon as
possible. See
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑6 for the
proper fluid to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
For vehicles with a manual
transmission, it is not necessary to
regularly check brake/clutch fluid
unless there is a leak suspected.
Adding fluid will not correct a leak.
A fluid loss in this system could
indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.

Black plate (31,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-31
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, seeReplacement Bulbs on
page 10‑34.
For any bulb‐changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{WARNING
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking
Lamps
Base Headlamp Assembly
(Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar)
A. High‐Beam Headlamp
B. Turn Signal Lamp
C. Low‐Beam Headlamp/Daytime
Running Lamp (DRL)
D. Parking Lamp
E. Sidemarker Lamp
Up–Level Headlamp Assembly
(Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar)
A. High/Low‐Beam Headlamp ‐To
be replaced at the dealer only
B. Turn Signal Lamp
Low-Beam Headlamps/Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL),
High-Beam Headlamps (Base)
1. For the driver side bulb, remove the windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle.

Black plate (32,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2011
10-32 Vehicle Care
2. Remove the outside cap for thelow-beam headlamp/DRL bulb
replacement from the back of the
headlamp assembly.
3. Remove the inside cap for the high-beam headlamp bulb
replacement from the back of the
headlamp assembly.
4. Disconnect the electrical connector.
5. Remove the bulb socket from the headlamp assembly.
6. Replace the bulb in the bulb socket.
7. Install the bulb socket in the headlamp assembly.
8. Reverse Steps 1 through 4 to reinstall the outside or inside cap
on the headlamp assembly.
High/Low‐Beam Headlamps
(Up-Level)
The high/low‐beam headlamps on
the up-level headlamp system are
High Intensity Discharge (HID) and
should be replaced at the dealer.
Front Turn Signal/Parking/Side
Marker Lamps (Base and
Up-Level)
To replace the front turn signal,
parking lamp, or sidemarker lamp:
1. For the driver side bulb, removethe windshield washer bottle
filler neck by firmly pulling it
straight up and out of the bottle.
2. Remove the bulb socket from the headlamp assembly by
turning it counterclockwise.
3. Remove the bulb from the socket.
4. Replace the bulb in the bulb socket.
5. Install the bulb socket in the headlamp assembly by turning it
clockwise. 6. For the driver side, reinstall the
windshield washer bottle filler
neck by firmly pushing it straight
into the bottle. Ensure that the
filler neck clip engages into the
underhood electrical center
retainer.
Fog Lamps
To replace the fog lamp bulb:
1. Locate the bulb assembly under
the front fascia.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector from the bulb
assembly.
3. Remove the bulb by turning it counterclockwise and pulling it
straight out of the assembly.
4. Install the new bulb by turning it clockwise into the assembly.
5. Reconnect the electrical connector to the bulb assembly.

Black plate (33,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-33
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps
A. Taillamp/Sidemarker Lamp
B. Taillamp
C. Stop/Turn Signal Lamp
D. Back-up LampTo replace any one of these bulbs:
1. Open the trunk. See
Trunk
Release on page 1‑5.
2. Remove the taillamp assembly access panel.
3. Remove the two nuts that secure the taillamp assembly.
4. Remove the taillamp assembly and detach the wiring harness
connector.
A. Back-up Lamp
B. Taillamp
C. Stop/Turn Signal Lamp
D. Taillamp/Sidemarker Lamp
5. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove it.
6. Pull the bulb from the socket.
7. Install a new bulb.
8. Turn the bulb socket clockwise to install it.
9. Reverse Steps 2 through 4 to reinstall the taillamp assembly.

Black plate (34,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2011
10-34 Vehicle Care
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
Passenger Side Shown, DriverSide Similar
1. Push the release tab (A) toward the lamp assembly.
2. Pull the lamp assembly down to remove.
A. Bulb Socket
B. Bulb
C. Lamp Assembly
3. Turn the bulb socket (A) counterclockwise to remove it
from the lamp assembly (C).
4. Pull the bulb (B) straight out of the bulb socket.
5. Push the replacement bulb straight into the bulb socket and
turn the bulb socket clockwise to
install it into the lamp assembly. 6. Push the lamp assembly back
into position until the release tab
locks into place.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
Back-up Lamp 3157 K
Fog Lamp H10
Front Turn
Signal Lamp 4157 NAK
Front Sidemarker
Lamp (Base) 194
High‐Beam
Headlamp (Base) H7
License Plate Lamp 194
Low‐Beam
Headlamp/Daytime
Running
Lamp (DRL) H11

Black plate (35,1)Buick Regal Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-35
Exterior LampBulb
Number
Stop Lamp/Turn
Signal Lamp 3157 K
Taillamp/
Sidemarker Lamp 3157 K
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload
The vehicle has fuses and circuit
breakers to protect against an
electrical system overload.
When the current electrical load is
too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes, protecting the circuit
until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed. This
greatly reduces the chance of circuit
overload and fire caused by
electrical problems.
Fuses and circuit breakers protect
power devices in the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road and
a fuse needs to be replaced, the
same amperage fuse can be
borrowed. Choose some feature of
the vehicle that is not needed to use
and replace it as soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away
if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.