parking brake BUICK REGAL 1996 User Guide

Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If
you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead
to stop, even though you have
anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the system
working, or you may notice some noise, but this is normal.
LOW
TRAC
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
this light will come on. See
“Anti-Lock Brake System
Active Light” in the Index.
Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to.
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can
help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Variable Assist Steering (Option)
This steering system provides lighter steering effort for
parking and when driving at low speeds. Steering effort
will increase at higher speeds for improved road feel.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
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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.
But if you ever have to park your rig
on a hill, here’s
how
to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P)
yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until
the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift
to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
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; and
0 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
fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index will
help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good
idea to review these sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
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2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able to
start your Buick, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the
parking brake firmly on each vehicle.
Put an
automatic transaxle in PARK
(P) or a manual
transaxle in NEUTRAL
(N).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory power outlet. Turn off all lamps
that aren’t needed as well as radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries. In addition,
it
could save your radio!
I I
I NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery. Your Buick has a remote positive
(+)
jump starting terminal. The terminal is on the same
side
of the engine compartment as your battery. You
should always use
the remote positive (+) terminal
instead
of the positive (+) terminal on your battery.
To uncover the remote positive (+) terminal, lift the
red plastic cap.
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A V
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
turned to the
OFF position. The steering wheel should
be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping
device designed for towing service.
Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column lock for this. The transaxle
should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking
brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the drive wheels,
unless you must.
If the vehicle must be towed on the
drive wheels, be sure to follow the speed and distance
restrictions later in this section or your transaxle will be
damaged.
If these limitations must be exceeded, then the
drive wheels have
to be supported on a dolly.
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If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially if
you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out
of the traffic lane. .
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In
any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to
go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
I
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip
off the jack and roll over you or other,
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
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Checking the Fluid Level
1. Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
engine running.
in
PARK (P).
3. 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
PARK (P).
4. Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes,
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
The transaxle dipstick
handle is the red loop
near the back of
the engine.
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
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 in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
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Starter Switch Check Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock
(BTSI) Check
A CAUTION:
IF
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If it does, you or others could be
move suddenly. If it does, you or others could be
injured. Follow the steps below. injured. Follow the steps below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake (see “Parking
Brake”
in the Index if necessary) and the
regular brake.
NOTE:
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be
ready to
turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The starter
should work only
in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
If the starter works in any other position, your
vehicle needs service.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around
the vehicle. It should be parked on a
level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake (see “Parking Brake’’
in the Index if necessary).
NOTE: Be ready to apply the regular brake
immediately
if the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the key to the RUN
position, but don’t start the engine. Without applying
the regular brake, try to move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out
of PARK (P), your vehicle’s. BTSI
needs service.
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Steering Column Lock Check While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the key to
LOCK in each shift lever position.
0 The key should turn to LOCK only when the shift
lever is
in PARK (P).
0 The key should come out only in LOCK.
Parking Brake
and Automatic Transaxle PARK (P)
Mechanism Check
When you are doing this check, your vehicle
could begin to move.
You or others could be
injured and property could be damaged. Make
sure there is room in front
of your vehicle in case
it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle begin to move. Park
on a
fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake,
set the parking brake.
0 To check the parking brake: With the engine running
and transaxle
in NEUTRAL (N), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake pedal.
Do this until
the vehicle
is held by the parking brake only.
0 To check the PARK (P) mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to PARK (P). Then
release all brakes.
Underbody
Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to flush any
corrosive materials from
the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
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Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections
Listed below are inspections and services which should
be performed at least twice
a year (for instance, each
spring and fall). You should let your GM dealer’s
service department or other qualified service center
do these jobs. Make sure any necessary repairs are
completed at once.
Proper procedures to perform these services may be
found in a Buick service manual. See “Service and
Owner Publications’’ in the Index.
Steering, Suspension and Front- Wheel-Drive
Axle Boot and Seal Inspection
Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering
system for damaged, loose or missing parts, signs of
wear, or lack of lubrication. Inspect the power steering
lines and hoses for proper hookup, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc. Clean and then inspect
the drive
axle boot seals for damage, tears or leakage. Replace
seals if necessary.
Exhaust System Inspection
mspect the complete exhaust system. Inspect the body
near the exhaust system. Look for broken, damaged, missing
or out-of-position parts as well
as open seams,
holes,
loose connections, or other conditions which
could cause
a heat build-up in the floor pan or could let
exhaust fumes into the vehicle. See “Engine Exhaust”
in the Index.
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they are
cracked? swollen or deteriorated. Inspect
all pipes,
fittings and clamps; replace
as needed.
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding,
and for damage
or missing parts. Replace parts as
needed. Replace any cables that have high effort or
excessive wear.
Do not lubricate accelerator and cruise
control cables.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses for proper hookup, binding, leaks, cracks, chafing,
etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors for
surface condition. Inspect other brake parts, including
calipers, parking brake, etc. Check parking brake
adjustment. You may need to have your brakes inspected
more often if your driving habits or conditions result in
frequent braking.
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Brake Adjustment
.................................. 6-29
Fluid
....................................... 6-27
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-27
Parking
..................................... 2-1 8
PedalTravel
................................. 6-29
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-30
System Warning Light
......................... 2-48
Trailer
...................................... 4-32
Transaxle Shift Interlock
....................... 2-22
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check
.................. 7-37
Wear
....................................... 6-29
Brakes, Anti-Lock
............................... 4-6
Braking
........................................ 4-5
Break-In, New Vehicle
........................... 2-9
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-3 1
Braking in Emergencies ........................... 4-8
BTSI
......................................... 2-22
BTSICheck
................................... 7-37
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-4
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-6 I
Carbon Monoxide .................... 2-23,4-26, 4-32
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-36
Cassette Tape Player
................... 3-7,3-10, 3-16
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3-25
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature
................. 3-2 1
Center Passenger Position ........................ 1-24
Certification Label
.............................. 4-27
Chains, Safety
................................. 4-32
Chains, Tire
................................... 6-42
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-22
Charging System Light
.......................... 2-47 Checking
Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-50
Chemical Paint Spotting .......................... 6-49
Child Restraints
................................ 1-37
Securing
in a Rear Outside Seat Position ...... 1-39. 1-41
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position .......... 1-43
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-45
TopStrap
................................... 1-38
Where to Put
................................ 1-37
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-40
Circuit Breakers
and Fuses ....................... 6-53
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-16
Cleaning ...................................... 6-42
Aluminum Wheels
............................ 6-48
Fabric
...................................... 6-43
Glass
....................................... 6-46
Inside of Your Buick
.......................... 6-42
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-45
Leather
..................................... 6-45
Outside
of Your Buick ......................... 6-47
Special Problems
............................. 6-44
Stains
...................................... 6-43
Tires
....................................... 6-48
Vinyl ....................................... 6-45
Wheels
..................................... 6-48
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-46
Clock. Setting the
................................ 3-6
Comfort Controls
................................ 3-1
Compact Disc Care
............................. 3-25
Compact: Disc Player ....................... 3- 13. 3-16
Compact Disc Player Errors
.................. 3- 15. 3-20
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-32
Console Storage
................................ 2-38
Control
of a Vehicle .............................. 4-5
Convenience Net
............................... 2-39
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