BUICK REGAL 1993 Owners Manual

and the total weight that you can carry. This weight is
called the Vehicle Capacity Weight and includes the
weight
of all occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
/
MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
DATE GVWR GAWR FRT GAWR
RR
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI-
CABLE
U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION
STANDARDS
IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF
MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it
out. Don’t carry more than
167 pounds (76 kilograms)
in your trunk .
The other label is the Certification label, found on the
rear edge
of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the
GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the
weight
of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear
axle.
A CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR or the maximum front and rear GAWRs.
If
you do, parts on your vehicle can break, or it me-
change the way your vehicle handles. These
could cause you to lose control. Also,
--yloadPq can short- th- life
of yonfr ~e~;~’~
Your warranty
does not cover parts or
components that fail because of overloading.
If you put things inside your vehicle -- like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything
else -- they will go as fast
as the vehicle goes. If
you have to stop or turn quickly,
or
if there is a crash, they’ll keep going.
1
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I A CAUTION:
l Tires
We don’t make tires. Your new vehicle comes with high
quality tires made by a leading tire manufacturer. These
tires are warranted by the tire manufacturers and their
warranties are delivered with every
new Buick. If your
spare tire is
a different brand than your road tires, you
will have a tire warranty folder from each of these
manufacturers.
above the tops of the seats
vehicle, secure
it whenever you can.
When you carry something inside 1
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A CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are
dangerous.
0
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result
of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. See “Loading Your
Vehicle”
in the Index.
Underinflated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut,
punctured, or broken by
a sudden impact,
such as when you
hit a pothole. Keep tires
at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents.
If your
tread
is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
Inflation - Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label which is on deck lid
shows the correct inflation 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.
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When to Check: Check your tires once a month or
more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60
psi (420 kPa).
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.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have them inspected and
rotated at the mileages recommended
in the
Maintenance Schedule. See “Scheduled Maintenance
Services”
in the Index.
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Use this rotation pattern.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressure
as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque”
in the
Index.
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A CAW’ON
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become
loose after a time. The wheel could come off
a-”
cause an accident. When you change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency,
you can use a cloth
or a paper towel to do this;
but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if
you need to, to get all the rust or dirt off. (See
“nhanging a Flat
in the Index.)
I
When It’s Time for New Tires
b One wav to tell when it’s r’
time for new tires is to
check
the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires
have only
2/32 inch (1.6
mm) or less of tread
remaining.
I TREAD WEAR INDICATORS I
You need a new tire if
0 You can see the indicators at three places around the
tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire‘s
rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
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0 The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because
of the size or location
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way,
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service on
your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number
will be followed by a “MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are
the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
A CA
I Mixing ur
ITION:
coui4 au 1 you IO lose c
while driving. If you m~x tires of different sizes or
types (radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle
may not handle properly, and you could have a
;k :.
crash. Be sure to use the .LLL same .n size and type ;:L*:..% , T.,-?<’
though. It was developed for limited use on YOUI‘..~
vehicle.
I
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half (1
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1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences
in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B,
and C. They represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based
on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
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.
These grades are molded
on the sidewalls of passenger
car tires.
While the tires available
as standard or optional
equipment
on General Motors vehicles 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.
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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.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts,
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your Buick
model.
A CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous.
It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose air
and make you lose control. You could have a
collision in which you or others could be injured.
Always use the correct wheel, wheel bolts, and
wheel nuts for replacement.
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Used Replacement Wheels
A CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used or
how many miles it’s been driven.
It could fail
suddenly
and cause an accident. If you have to
equipment wheel.
~ replace a wheel use anew GM original
I
Tire Chains
If your Buick has P215160RI 6
tires, don’t us
your vehicle.
If you have other tires, use tire chains only when
you must. Use only
SAE Class “S” type chains
that are the proper size for your tires. Install
them on the front tires and tighten them as
tightly as possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructions.
If you can hear the
chains contacting your vehicle, stop and
retighten them.
If the contact continues, slow
down until it stops. Driving too fast with chains
on
will damage your vehicle.
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I Appearance Care
Cte ing products can be hazardc ;. Some are
toxrc. Others can burst into flame
IT you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle.
Some are dangerous if you breathe their fumes
in a closed space. When you use anything in a
container to clean your Buick, be sure to follow
the instructions. And always open your doors
windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
Benzene
0 Naphtha
Carbon Tetrachloride
0 Acetone
0 Paint Thinner
0 Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
1. r Dthers -- and they can all damage your
hey
can all be hazardous
-- some more than
vehicle.
too-
I
NOTICE
Don’t use any of these unless this manual says
you can.
In manv uses, thev wilt damage your
vehicle:
Laundry Soap
0 Bleach
Reduci
I Cleaning the Inside of Your Buick
I Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Buick dealer has two
GM cleaners -- a
solvent-type spot lifter and a foam-type powdered
cleaner. They will clean normal spots and stains very
well.
Here are some cleaning
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Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
Clean up stains as soon as you can -- before they set.
I
Use a clean cloth or sponge, and charige to a clean
area often. A soft brush may be used
if stains are
stubborn.
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