check engine BUICK SKYLARK 1993 Owners Manual

1 To start your L4 2.3 Lites (Code 3) engine:
I
Don’t push the accelerator pedal before starting your
engine. In some other vehicles you might need to do
this, but because of your vehicle’s computer systems,
you don’t.
Turn your ignition key to “Start.” When the engine
starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down
as your engine gets warm.
If it doesn’t start right away, and the weather is very
cold (below
-20’ .F, or -29’ C), push the accelerator
pedal about one-quarter of the way down while you
turn the key to
“Start.” Do this until the engine starts.
As soon as it does, let go of’the key.
4. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), it could
be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
“Start” for about three seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
If the car starts briefly but
then stops again, do the same thing, but this time
keep the pedal about one-quarter of the way down
for five or six seconds.
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
electrical equipment, check
you don’t, your engine rnigh
the part
of this Manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towin
Your Car” in the Index.
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Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This section describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights go on when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As you will see in
the details
on the next few pages, some warning lights
come on briefly when you turn the ignition key just to
let you know they’re working. If you are familiar with
this section, you should not be alarmed when this
happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle. When
one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you what to do about it. Please follow the manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and,even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage shows how much fuel is in your tank. It
works only when the engine is on. When the indicator
nears
“E,” you still have a little fuel left. You need to get
more right away.

Low Coolant Warning Light
If this light comes on, your
system is low on coolant
and the engine may
overheat.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)
See “Engine Coolant’’ in the Index and have your
vehicle serviced as
soon as you can. A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition
and emission control systems. This light should come on when the ignition is on,
but the engine is not running, as
a check
to show you it is working. If it does not come on
at all, have it fixed right away. If
it stays on, or it comes
on while you are driving, the computkr is indicating that
you have a problem. You should take your vehicle in for
service soon.

This gage tells you if there could be a problem with your
engine oil pressure.
If the gage reads in the red band, and stays there, it
means oil isn’t going through your engine properly. You
could be low on oil or you might have some other oil
problem.
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and hp-
I your vehicle serviced.
“Check Oil” Light
e
The “Check Oil” light is lit
for three seconds as a bulb
check each time the
ignition key
is turned to the
RUN position. If the light
doesn’t come on, have your vehicle serviced.
If ‘the engine oil is more than one quart low, the light
will come on briefly, then
go off for 15 - 25 seconds,
and then come back on for
20 - 40 seconds.
However, under the following conditions, the system
will not register a low engine oil condition.
0 If the vehicle is tilted more than 20°. I problems can be costly and is not covered by
If it has not been more than 8 minutes since the
engine was last shut off.
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If the “Check Oil” light comes back on, the engine oil
should be brought up to the proper level, see “Engine
j Oil” in the Index.
“Battery” Light
When you turn the key to RUN, this light will come on
briefly, to show that your alternator and battery charging
systems are working.
If the light stays on, you need service, and should take your Buick to the dealer
at
once. To save your battery until
you get there, turn off
all accessories, and set your air system to OFF.
Volts Gage (Option)
This gage shows the voltage in the electrical system.
The normal range is
11 to 15 volts. If the reading stays
outside the normal range, have your Buick dealer check
the electrical system.

start bralung. If you must brake on the through lane, and
if there
is traffic close behind you, you can allow a little
extra time and flash your brake lights (in addition to your turn signal) as extra warning that you are about to
slow down and exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense of
motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds,
you may tend to think you are going slower than you
actually are. For example,
40 mph (65 km/h) might
seem like only
20 mph (30 km/h). Obviously, this could
lead to serious trouble on a ramp designed for
20 mph
(30 krn/h)!
Driving a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are made on freeways,
there are still many made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular
highways is the same in some ways. The trip has to be
planned and the vehicle prepared, you drive at
higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns
behind the wheel. You’ll enjoy your trip more if you and
your vehicle are
in good shape. Here are some tips for a
successful long trip.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Buick dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
0 Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
WiDer Blades: Are they in good shape/
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
0 Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
0 Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for long-distance driving?
Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
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Weather Forecasts: What’s 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?
On the Road
Unless you are the only driver, it is good to share the
driving task with others. Limit turns behind the wheel to
about
100 miles (160 km) or two hours at a sitting.
Then, either change drivers or stop for some refreshment
like coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up.
But do stop and move around. Eat lightly along the way.
Heavier meals tend to make some people sleepy.
On two-lane highways or undivided multilane highways
that do not have controlled access;you’ll want to watch
for some situations not usually found on freeways.
Examples are: stop signs and signals, shopping centers with direct access to the highway, no passing zones and
school zones, vehicles turning left and right
off the road,
pedestrians, cyclists, parked vehicles, and even animals.
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.
I
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. Don’t let it happen
to you!
If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in
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:
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0
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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 frequently and your instruments from time to time.
This can help you
avoid a fixed stare.
Wear good sunglasses in bright light. Glare can cause
drowsiness. But don’t wear sunglasses at night. They will drastically reduce your overall vision at the very
time you need all the seeing power you have.
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.
As in any driving situation, keep pace with traffic and
allow adequate following distances.
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Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain. If you
drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain
roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Don’t make your brakes do it all.
Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or
long hill. That way, you will slow down without
excessive use of your brakes.
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remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If
you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on it. Try not to brake while you’re actually on
the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers.
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a
serious situation. You should probably stay with your
vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near help
and you can hike through the snow. Here are some
things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your
passengers .safe: Turn on your hazard flashers. Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that you’ve been
stopped by the snow. Put on extra clothing
or wrap a
blanket around you.
If you have no blankets or extra
clothing, make body insulators from newspapers, burlap
bags, rags, flsor mats
-- anything you can wrap around
yourself
or tuck under your clothing to keep warm. I
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
I
A CAUTION:
dnow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle
This can cause deadly
CO (carbon monoxide)
gas to get inside. CO could overcome you and
kill you. You can’t see
it or smell it, so you might
not know
it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow
from around the base of your vehicle, especia”--
any that
is blocking your exhaust pipe. And
check around again from time to time to be’su
snow doesn’t collect there.
177

Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal \
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
d
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always. back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
nrn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a
different turn signal flasher and extra wiring. The green
arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lights will also flash, telling other drivers
you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long
or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your’brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, use the highest gear. possible. If
you cannot maintain posted speeds, driving at a lower
speed may help avoid overheating your engine and
transaxle.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could
start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
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