check oil BUICK LUCERNE 2007 Owner's Manual

2. If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather (below 0°F
or−18°C), it could be ooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the accelerator pedal all
the way to the oor and holding it there as you
hold the key in START for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least 15 seconds between
each try, to allow the cranking motor to cool
down. When the engine starts, let go of the key
and accelerator. If the vehicle starts briey but
then stops again, do the same thing. This
clears the extra gasoline from the engine. Do
not race the engine immediately after starting
it. Operate the engine and transaxle gently
until the oil warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.Notice:Your engine is designed to work with
the electronics in your vehicle. If you add
electrical parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine operates. Before
adding electrical equipment, check with
your dealer. If you do not, your engine might
not perform properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by your vehicle’s
warranty.
Engine Coolant Heater
If your vehicle has this feature, 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.
At temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the
coolant heater is not required.
117

Oil Pressure Light
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is
low. If you do, your engine can become so
hot that it catches re. You or others could
be burned. Check your oil as soon as
possible and have your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always follow
the maintenance schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.This light tells you if
there could be a
problem with your
engine oil pressure.
The light goes on when you turn your key to RUN or
START. It goes off once you start your engine. That
is a check to be sure the light works. If it does not
come on, be sure to have it xed so it will be there
to warn you if something goes wrong.
When the light comes on and stays on, it means
that oil is not owing through your engine properly.
You could be low on oil and you might have
some other system problem.
209

CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when service is required for
the vehicle. See your dealer. SeeEngine Oil on
page 337andScheduled Maintenance on
page 442for more information.
Acknowledging the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will not reset the OIL LIFE REMAINING.
That must be done at the OIL LIFE screen
under the vehicle information menu. See “Oil Life”
underDIC Controls and Displays on page 212
andEngine Oil Life System on page 340.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
This message displays when the tire pressure in
one of the tires needs to be checked. This message
also displays LEFT FRONT, RIGHT FRONT, LEFT
REAR, or RIGHT REAR to indicate which tire needs
to be checked. You can receive more than one tire
pressure message at a time. To read the other
messages that may have been sent at the same
time, press the set/reset button. If a tire pressure
message appears on the DIC, stop as soon as you
can. Have the tire pressures checked and set to
those shown on the Tire Loading Information Label.SeeTires on page 385,Loading Your Vehicle
on page 307, andInation - Tire Pressure on
page 392. The DIC display also shows the tire
pressure values for the front and rear tires by
pressing the vehicle information button. SeeDIC
Controls and Displays on page 212. If the tire
pressure is low, the low tire pressure warning light
comes on. SeeTire Pressure Light on page 205.
DRIVER DOOR OPEN
This message displays when the driver’s door is
not closed properly. When this message appears,
make sure that the driver’s door is closed
completely.
ENGINE HOT A/C
(Air Conditioning) OFF
This message displays when the engine coolant
becomes hotter than the normal operating
temperature. To avoid added strain on a hot engine,
the air conditioning compressor is automatically
turned off. When the coolant temperature returns to
normal, the A/C operation automatically resumes.
You can continue to drive your vehicle. If this
message continues to appear, have the system
repaired by your dealer as soon as possible to
avoid compressor damage.
222

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
`
BAL/FADE (Balance/Fade):To adjust the
balance or fade, press this button or the tune knob
until the desired speaker control label displays.
Turn the tune knob clockwise or counterclockwise
to adjust the setting. The setting can also be
adjusted by pressing either the SEEK, FWD,
or REV buttons.
Radio Messages
Calibration Error:The audio system has been
calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If
Calibration Error displays, it means that the radio
has not been congured properly for your vehicle
and it must be returned to your dealer for service.
Loc (Locked):This message displays while the
THEFTLOCK
®system has locked up the
radio. Take the vehicle to your dealer for service.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error
cannot be corrected, contact your dealer.
Playing a CD (Single CD Player)
Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up.
The player pulls it in and the CD should begin
playing.
If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the
player, it stays in the player. When the ignition or
radio is turned on, the CD starts playing where it
stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.
When a CD is inserted, the CD symbol displays.
As each new track starts to play, the track number
displays.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm)
single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs
and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same
manner.
If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the
quality of the music that has been recorded, and the
way the CD-R has been handled. There can be an
increase in skipping, difficulty in nding tracks,
and/or difficulty in loading and ejecting. If these
problems occur, check the bottom surface of the
CD. If the surface of the CD is damaged, such as
cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD will not play
properly. If the surface of the CD is soiled, seeCare
of Your CDs on page 273for more information.
247

When a CD is inserted, the CD symbol displays
on the CD. As each new track starts to play,
the track number displays.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm)
single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs
and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same
manner.
If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the
quality of the music that has been recorded, and the
way the CD-R has been handled. There can be an
increase in skipping, difficulty in nding tracks,
and/or difficulty in loading and ejecting. If these
problems occur, check the bottom surface of the
CD. If the surface of the CD is damaged, such as
cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD will not play
properly. If the surface of the CD is soiled, seeCare
of Your CDs on page 273for more information.
If there is no apparent damage, try a known
good CD.Notice:If you add any label to a CD, insert
more than one CD into the slot at a time, or
attempt to play scratched or damaged CDs, you
could damage the CD player. When using the
CD player, use only CDs in good condition
without any label, load one CD at a time, and
keep the CD player and the loading slot free of
foreign materials, liquids, and debris.
Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught in
the CD player. If a CD is recorded on a personal
computer and a description label is needed, try
labeling the top of the recorded CD with a
marking pen.
If an error displays, see “CD Messages” later in
this section.
ZEJECT:Press the CD eject button to eject
CD(s). To eject the CD that is currently playing,
press and release this button. A beep sounds and
Ejecting Disc displays. Once the disc is ejected,
Remove Disc displays. The CD can be removed. If
the CD is not removed, after several seconds, the
CD automatically pulls back into the player and
begin playing.
For the Six-Disc CD player, press and hold the eject
button for two seconds to eject all discs.
258

File System and Naming
The song name that displays is the song name that
is contained in the ID3 tag. If the song name is not
present in the ID3 tag, then the radio displays the
le name without the extension (such as .mp3) as
the track name.
Track names longer than 32 characters or four
pages are shortened. The display does not show
parts of words on the last page of text and the
extension of the lename is not displayed.
Preprogrammed Playlists
Preprogrammed playlists that were created using
WinAmp™, MusicMatch™, or Real Jukebox™
software can be accessed, however, you do not
have playlist editing capability using the radio.
These playlists are treated as special folders
containing compressed audio song les.
Playing an MP3
Insert a CD-R partway into the slot (Single CD
Player), or press the load button and wait for the
message to insert disc (Six-Disc CD Player), label
side up. The player pulls it in, and the CD-R should
begin playing.If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD-R in
the player it stays in the player. When the ignition or
radio is turned on, the CD-R starts to play where it
stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.
As each new track starts to play, the track number
and song title displays.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm)
single CD-Rs with an adapter ring. Full-size CD-Rs
and the smaller CD-Rs are loaded in the same
manner.
If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the
quality of the music that has been recorded, and the
way the CD-R has been handled. There can be an
increase in skipping, difficulty in nding tracks,
and/or difficulty in loading and ejecting. If these
problems occur, check the bottom surface of the
CD. If the surface of the CD is damaged, such as
cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD will not play
properly. If the surface of the CD is soiled, seeCare
of Your CDs on page 273for more information.
265

Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you
checked all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses
clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inated
to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather
outlook along your route? Should you delay
your trip a short time to avoid a major storm
system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as highway
hypnosis? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the
wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of
awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road
with the same scenery, along with the hum of the
tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the
rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make
you sleepy. Do not let it happen to you! If it does,
your vehicle can leave the road in less than a
second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis?
First, be aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated,
with a comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead
and to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors
and your instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service, or parking area and take a nap, get
some exercise, or both. For safety, treat
drowsiness on the highway as an emergency.
299

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.
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 uid (don’t overll), engine oil,
drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you nd 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. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 351.
322

Service........................................................ 325
Accessories and Modications................... 325
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 326
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 326
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 327
Fuel............................................................. 327
Gasoline Octane........................................ 327
Gasoline Specications.............................. 328
California Fuel........................................... 328
Additives................................................... 328
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 329
Filling the Tank......................................... 330
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 332
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 332
Hood Release........................................... 333
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 334
Engine Oil................................................. 337
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 340
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 342
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 343
Engine Coolant.......................................... 347
Radiator Pressure Cap.............................. 351
Engine Overheating................................... 351Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 353
Cooling System (3.8L V6 Engine).............. 354
Cooling System (4.6L V8 Engine).............. 360
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 364
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 365
Brakes...................................................... 367
Battery...................................................... 370
Jump Starting............................................ 372
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 377
Bulb Replacement....................................... 380
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 380
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps ................................. 380
Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps.................. 382
License Plate Lamp................................... 383
Replacement Bulbs................................... 383
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 383
Tires............................................................ 385
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 386
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 389
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 392
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 393
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
323

Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may
be available in your area. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other fuels
containing more than 10% ethanol must not be
used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not use
fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also damage
the plastic and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT.General Motors recommends against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn on. If this
occurs, return to your dealer for service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside
the United States or Canada, the proper fuel may
be hard to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or
any other fuel not recommended in the previous
text on fuel. Costly repairs caused by use of
improper fuel would not be covered by your
warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business
in the country where you will be driving.
329