ESP BUICK CENTURY 1993 Owner's Manual

Automatic ‘mansaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid level
is when the engine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine when to change your
fluid. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the
Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have
this done at a Buick dealership Service
Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick. Wait at least
30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level
if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
180°F to 200” F (82” C to
93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it’s colder than 50” F (lO°C), you may have to
drive longer.
To check the fluid level:
Park your vehicle on a level place.
0 Place the shift lever in “P” (Park) with the parking
brake applied.
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the. shift lever
through each gear range, pausing for about three
seconds in each range. Then, position the shift lever in
“P” (Park).
Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.
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A
A
A
. .. 1
A
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be
in the cross-hatched
area.
4. If the fluid level is where it should be, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
How To Add Fluid:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid
to use. See “Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants” 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. It doesn’t
take much fluid, generally less than a
pint. Don’t overfill.
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXROP-IIE, because fluids with that label are made
especially for your automatic transaxle. Damage caused
by fluid other than DEXRON@-IIE is not covered by your
new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid
level as described
under “How to Check.”
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
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Inflation-Tire Pressure When to Check: Check your tires once a month’or
The Tire-Loading Inforlnation label which is on the rear
’ more. Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be
edge of the driver’s door shows
the correct inflation at 60 psi (420 kPa).
pressures for your tires, when they’re cold. “Cold”
means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three
hours or driven no more than a ‘mile.
How to Check: Use a good quality pocket-type gage to
check tire pressure. Simply looking at the tires will not tell
you the pressure, especially if you have radial tires-which
may look properly inflated even if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back on. \
They help prevent
leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
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Temperature-A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the generation of heat
and
its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material'of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade
C corresponds to a level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and
not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Those grades are molded on the sidewalls of'passenger
car tires.
While the tires available as standard or optional
equipment on General Motors vehicIes may vary with
respect to these grades, all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have been approved
for use
on General Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the, factory to give you the longest tire life and
best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have your wheels
aligned again. However, if you-notice unusual tire wear
or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need
to be reset. If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a
smooth road, your
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel'nuts should be replaced. If the wheel leaks air
out, replace it (except some aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your Buick dealer
if any of
these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind
of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset, and be mounted the same way as the one
it replaces.
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Section E: Maintenance Record
After the scheduled services are performed, record the
date, odometer reading and who performed the service in
the columns indicated. When completing the Maintenance Performed column, insert the numbers from the Schedule I or Schedule 11 maintenance charts which
correspond to the maintenance performed. Also, you should retain all maintenance receipts. Your owner
information portfolio is
a convenient place to store them.
DATE ODOMETER
READING SERVICED BY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED
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lustomer Satisfaction Procedure
Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to your
dealer and Buick. Normally, any problems with the sales
transaction or the operation of your vehicle will be
resolved by your dealer’s Sales or Service Departments.
Sometimes, however, despite the best intentions of all
concerned, misunderstandings can occur. If your concern
has not been resolved to your satisfaction,
the following
steps should be taken:
STEP ONE: Discuss your problem with a member of
dealership management. Complaints can often be quickly
resolved at that level. If the matter has already been
reviewed with the Sales, Service, or
Parts Manager, contact
the owner of the dealership or the General Manager.
STEP TWO: If after contacting a member of Dealership
Management; it appears your problem cannot be resolved
by the dealership without further help, contact the
Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-521-7300. In
Canada, contact GM of Canada Customer Assistance
I
Center in Oshawa by calling 1-800-263-3777 (English) or
1-800-263-7854 (French).
In Mexico, call 254-17-86. In herto
Rico or U.S. Virgin
Islands, call 1-809-763-1315. In all. other overseas
locations, contact
GM International Export Sales in
Canada by calling 1-416-644-4112.
For prompt assistance, please have the following information
available to give the Customer Assistance Representative:
Your name, address, telephone number.
Vehicle Identification Number (This is available from
the vehicle registration or title, or the plate attached to
the left top of the instrument panel and visible through
the windshield.)
Dealership name and location
Vehicle delivery date and present mileage
Nature of problem
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