Engine BUICK REGAL 1997 Owners Manual

Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem 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.
J
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If
you have a problem with
engine overheating or if
you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34 OF (-37 O C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 OF ( 129 O C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the
use
of coolant other than DEX-COOL’ is not
covered
by your new vehicle warranty.
ProCarManuals.com

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean wnter (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum parts.
If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water
or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mix of clean
water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered
by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have
your dealer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
ProCarManuals.com

Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be
at the COLD mark or a little higher. When your engine
is warm, the level should be up to the HOT mark or a
little higher.
If this light comes on, it
means you’re low on
engine
coolant.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture at
the coolant recovery tank, but be
careful not to spill it.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add.
coolant to the radiator. (See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.)
6-24
ProCarManuals.com

.- I, 7.5,
I’urning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator
are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. With the coolant recovery tank, you will
almost never have to add coolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
- .. .
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
_c
Radiator Pressure Cap
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed
to prevent coolant loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be sure the arrows
on the cap line up with the overflow tube on the
radiator filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@
cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When
you replace your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat
is recommended.
ProCarManuals.com

Power Steering Fluid
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless you suspect there is a leak
in the system or
you hear an unusual noise.
A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, wipe the cap and
the top of the reservoir clean, then unscrew the cap and
wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace
the cap and
completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again and
look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
3800 or 3800 Supercharged Engine
When the engine compartment is hot, the level should
be at the
HOT mark. If the fluid is at the ADD mark,
you should add fluid.
6-26
ProCarManuals.com

There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir might go down. The
first is that the brake fluid
goes down
to an acceptable level during normal brake
lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid level
goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out
of the brake system.
If it is, you should have your brake
system fixed, since
a leak means that sooner or later your
brakes won’t work well, or won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill
on the engine. The fluid will burn
if the engine
is hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See “Brake System Warning
Light” in the Index.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3
brake fluid -- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 12377967). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
1 CAUTIC
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE:
e
0
Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a few
drops
of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind
of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not
to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in
the Index.
Brake Wear
Your Buick has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the brake
pads are worn and new pads are needed. The
sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the brake
pedal firmly).
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
~~
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
6-30
ProCarManuals.com

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
r r
ENGINEA997 f ASSEMBLY
CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT
This is the legal identifier for your Buick. It appears on
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side. You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine, specifications
and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on the deck lid. It’s very helpful
if
you ever need to order parts. On this label is:
your VIN,
the model designation,
paint information and
e a list of all production options and special equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com

Underhood Electrical Center -- Passenger’s Side
Some fuses and relays are in the underhood electrical
center on the passenger’s side of the engine
compartment.
Fuse
1
2
3
11
Description
Cooling Fan
Starter Solenoid
Power Seats, Rear
Defog, Heated Seats
Starter Solenoid
Fuse
4
5
6
7
8
Relay
9
10
11
12
13
14
Description
High Blower, Hazard Flasher,
Stoplamps, Power Mirror, Door Locks
Ignition Switch, BTSI, Stoplamps,
ABS, Turn Signals, Cluster, Air Bag,
DRL Module
Cooling Fan
Interior Lamps, Retained Accessory
Power, ABS, Keyless Entry, CEL TEL,
Data Link,
HVAC Head, Cluster,
Radio, AUX Power, Cigarette Lighter
Ignition Switch, Wipers, Radio,
Steering Wheel Controls, Body Control
Module, AUX Power, Power Windows,
Sunroof, HVAC Controls, DRL, Rear
Defog Relay
Description
Cooling Fan 2
Cooling Fan
3
Starter Solenoid
Cooling Fan 1
Ignition Main
Not Used
6-61
ProCarManuals.com

Fuse
15
Relay
16 17
Fuse
18
19
20
21
22 23
24
25
26
27
28
Description
A/C Clutch
Description
Horn
Fog Lamps
Description
Fuel Pump, Speed Control - Regal
Only
Fuel Pump
Air Pump
Generator
ECM
A/C Compressor Clutch
Not Used
Electronic Ignition
Transaxle
Horn
Fuel Injector
Fuse
29
30
31
32 33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40 41
42
43
SYMBOL
Description
Oxygen Sensor
Engine Emissions
Not Used
Headlamp (Right)
Rear Compartment Release
Parklamp
Fuel Pump
Headlamp (Left)
Spare
Spare Spare
Spare
Spare
Spare
Fuse Puller
A/C Compressor Clutch Diode
ProCarManuals.com