towing BUICK REGAL 1996 Owner's Manual

L
Operating the engine with the air cleaner off
can cause you or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air, it stops flame if
the engine backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the
engine backfires, you could be burned. Don’t
drive with it
off, and be careful working on the
engine with the air cleaner
off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine
oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous ten-ain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
6-17
ProCarManuals.com

Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32°C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and.filter do
not require changing.
I DATE I ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BYI
51,000 Miles (85 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
DATE SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
7-15
ProCarManuals.com

I Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule
100,000 Miles (144 000 km)
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system
(or every
60 months since last service
whichever occurs first). See “Engine
Coolant” in the Index for what to use. ‘7
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap and neck. Pressure test cooling
system and pressure cap.
AI? E1nission Control
Service.
j-
0 Inspect spark plug wires. An Em.ission
0 Replace spark plugs. An Emission
Control Service.
Control Service.
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32°C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the.fluid andfilter do
not require changing.
I DATE I ACTUAL MILEAGE ISERVICED RE I
7-25
ProCarManuals.com

I Long Trip/Hig'-way Maintenance Schedule I
4 Miles (15 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
12 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Lubricate steering ball joints (or every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
I I I 1
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32 O C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous rerram.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
lfyou do not use pour vehicle mder any of these
conditions,
the fluid and.filter do not require changing.
7-29
ProCarManuals.com

I Long Tripmighway Maintenance Schedule
100,000 Miles (1 66 000 km)
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system
(or every
60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first).’ See “Engine
Coolant’’ in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap and neck. Pressure test the
cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission
Control Service.
3-
0 Inspect P spark plug wires. An Emission
Replace spark plugs. An Emission
Control Service.
Control Service.
17 Change automatic transaxle
fluid and filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32 O C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid andfilter do not require changing.
7-34
ProCarManuals.com

Roadside Assistance
A
nnl
Buick Motor Division is proud to offer Buick Premium
Roadside Assistance to customers for vehicles covered
under the
36 month/36,000 mile (60 000 km) new car
warranty (whichever occurs first). Our
commitment to Buick owners has always included
superior service through our network
of 3,000 Buick
dealers. Buick Premium Roadside Assistance provides
an extra measure of convenience and security.
Buick Premium Roadside Assistance:
- Provides owners with access to minor repairs or
towing for disabled vehicles.
- Takes the anxiety out of uncertain situations by
providing easy access to service professionals trained
to work with Buick owners, 24 hours a day,
365 days
a year, including weekends and holidays.
For details on Buick Premium Roadside Assistance,
please consult your Buick Premium Roadside Assistance
owner booklet included with your owner's manual. For
needed assistance, call the Buick Premium Roadside
Assistance toll-free hotline: 1-800-252- 11 12.
Canadian Roadside Assistance
Vehicles purchased in Canada have an extensive
Roadside Assistance program accessible from anywhere
in Canada or the United States. Please refer to
the
separate brochure provided by the dealer or call
1-800-268-6800 for emergency services.
8-4
ProCarManuals.com

Convex Outside Mirror .......................... 2-37
Coolant
....................................... 6-20
Bleedvalves
................................. 5-19
RecoveryTank
............................... 5-16
Coolant Heater. Engine
.......................... 2- I3
Cooling System
................................ 5- I4
Courtesy Lamps
................................ 2-33
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-5
Cruise Control
................................. 2-29
CruiseLight
................................... 2-56
Cupholders
.................................... 2-38
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users
......... 8-3
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8- 1
Damage. Finish ............................... 6-49
Damage. Sheet Metal
............................ 6-48
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-32
Dead Battery
................................... 5-2
Defects. Reporting Safety ......................... 8-7
Defensive Driving ............................... 4- 1
Defogger. Rear Window .......................... 3-6
Defogging
..................................... 3-5
Defrosting
..................................... 3-5
Dimensions, Vehicle
............................ 6-62
Dolby@
B Noise Reduction ................... 3-9, 3- 12
DoorLocks
..................................... 2-3
Driver Position
................................. 1 - 1 1
Driving
City
........................................ 4-17
Defensive
.................................... 4-1
Drunken
..................................... 4-2
Freeway
.................................... 4-18 InaBlizzard
................................. 4-25
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-4
IntheRain
.................................. 4-15
Night
...................................... 4-13
OnCurves
................................... 4-8
On Grades While Towing
a Trailer ............... 4-34
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-21
OnSnowandIce
............................. 4-24
Through Deep Standing Water
................... 4-17
WetRoads
.................................. 4-15
Winter
...................................... 4-23
With a Trailer
................................ 4-33
Drunken Driving
................................ 4-2
Electrical Equipment, Adding
..... 2- I I, 2- 12, 3-24, 6-52
Electrical System
............................... 6-52
Electronic Climate Control
........................ 3-1
Engine
.................................... 6-8, 6-9
Coolant
..................................... 6-20
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-13
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-35
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-51
Coolant Temperature Light
..................... 2-50
Exhaust
..................................... 2-23
Fuse Block (Driver’s Side)
...................... 6-58
Fuse Block (Passenger’s Side)
................... 6-56
Identification
................................ 6-51
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-35
Overheating
................................. 5-12
Running While Parked
......................... 2-23
Specifications
................................ 6-62
Starting
Your ........................... 2- 11, 2- 12
0.
ProCarManuals.com

Engineoil .................................... 6-10
Adding
..................................... 6-11
Additives
................................... 6-14
Checking
................................... 6- I I
Used ....................................... 6-15
When to Change
.............................. 6- I5
Ethanol ........................................ 6-4
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-23
Fabric Cleaning
............................... 6-43
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-5
Filter. Air
..................................... 6-16
Filter. Engine Oil ............................... 6- 15
Finish Care .................................... 6-47
Finish Damage
................................. 6-49
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2- 17
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5- 1
Flat Tire. Changing ............................. 5-22
Fluids and Lubrlcants
............................ 7-40
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-4
Four-Way Manual Seat
........................... 1-2
French Language Manual
11
FrontTowing ................................... 5-9
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Canadian
.................................... 6-3
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-5
Gage
....................................... 2-57
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-4
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-53
.. ...........................
Gapes
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-51
Fuel ....................................... 2-57
GAWR
....................................... 4-27
Gear Positions. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2-14
GloveBox
.................................... 2-38
Gross
Axle Weight Rating ........................ 4-27
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-27
Guide en Franpis
II
GVWR ....................................... 4-27
.. .................................
Halogen Bulbs ................................ 6-31
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-1
Head Restraints ................................. 1-5
Headlamps .................................... 2-32
Bulb Replacement ............................ 6-31
High/Low Beam .............................. 2-27
On Reminder
................................ 2-32
Wiring
..................................... 6-52
Hearing Impaired
. Customer Assistance .............. 8-3
Heating
........................................ 3-4
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-27
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-20
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-21
Hitches
. Trailer .................................. 4-32
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-6
Release ...................................... 6-7
Horn
......................................... 2-25
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-16
9-4
ProCarManuals.com

Low Coolant Warning Light ................. 2-5 1. 6.23
LowFuelLight
................................ 2- 57
LowOilLevelLight
............................ 2-55
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-40
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7-36
Luggagecarrier
................................ 2-39
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts ........... 6-63
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-42
Maintenance Schedule
............................ 7- 1
Long Trip/Highway Definition ................... 7-5
Long Trip/Highway Intervals
................ 7-5. 7-26
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-35
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-39
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-40
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-3
Short Trip/City Definition
....................... 7-4
Short Trip/City Intervals
.................... 7-4. 7-6
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-49
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-35
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-52
Manual FrontSeat
.................................... 1-1
Mirror ...................................... 2-37
Remote Control Mirror
........................ 2-37
Methanol
...................................... 6-4
Mirrors
....................................... 2-36
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-37
Inside Daymight Rearview
..................... 2-36 Manual
..................................... 2-37
Manual Remote Control
........................ 2-37
Power Remote Control
......................... 2-37
Visor Vanity
................................. 2-41
MMT
......................................... 6-3
Mountain Roads
................................ 4-21
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-26
Net. Convenience
.............................. 2-39
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-15
New Vehicle “Break-In”
.......................... 2-9
Nightvision
................................... 4-14
Odometer
.................................... 2-45
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-45
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4-10
Oil. Engine
.................................... 6-10
Oil Warning Light .............................. 2-54
Overdrive. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-16
Overheating Engine
............................. 5-12
Owner Checks and Services ....................... 7-35
Owner Publications. Ordering
..................... 8- IO
Paint Spotting. Chemical ......................... 6-49
Park Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2-14
Shifting
Into ................................. 2-19
Shifting Out of
............................... 2-22
9-6
.
ProCarManuals.com

Parking AtNight
..................................... 2-7
Brake
...................................... 2-18
BrakeMechanism Check
....................... 7-38
Lots ........................................ 2-8
Over Things That Burn
........................ 2-22
With
a Trailer ................................ 4-35
Passing
....................................... 4-11
PASS-Key
II .................................. 2-8
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-39
Power
Antenna
Mast Care ............................ 3-26
Antenna Service
.............................. 7-36
DoorLocks
................................... 2-3
Option Fuses
................................ 6-52
Remote Control Mirror
........................ 2-37
Seat
......................................... 1-2
Steering
..................................... 4-8
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-24
Windows
................................... 2-24
Pregnancy, Use
of Safety Belts .................... 1-24
Problems on the Road
............................ 5- 1
Publications, Service and Owner .................... 8-9
Passenger Temperature Control
..................... 3-2
Radiator
..................................... 5- 18
Radiator Pressure Cap
........................... 6-24
Radio Reception
................................ 3-24
Radios
........................................ 3-6
Rain. Driving In
................................ 4- I5
Reading Lamps ........................... 2-34. 2-35 Rear
Outside Seat Position
..................... 1.26. 1-29
Safety Belt Comfort Guides
..................... 1-33
Towing
..................................... 5-10
Rearview Mirror. Inside Daymight ................. 2-36
Reclining Front Seatbacks
..................... 1.2. 1-4
Recovery Tank. Coolant
.......................... 5-16
Refrigerants. Air Conditioning
.................... 6-63
Remote Keyless Entry
................................. 2-4
Trunk Release
................................. 2-7
Replacement. Bulbs
............................. 6-60
Replacement. Parts
.............................. 6-63
Replacement. Wheel
............................ 6-40
Reporting Safety Defects
.......................... 8-7
Restraints Checking
................................... 1-50
Child ....................................... 1-37
Head
........................................ 1-5
Replacing Parts After a Crash ................... 1 -SO
System Check ................................ 7-36
Reverse. Automatic Transaxle
.................... 2- IS
Right Front Passenger Position .................... 1-24
Roadside Assistance
.............................. 8-4
Roadside Assistance. Canadian
..................... 8-4
Rocking Your Vehicle ........................... 5-33
Rotation. Tires ................................. 6-36
Seatpassengers
.............................. 1-26
Window Defogger
............................. 3-6
9-7
ProCarManuals.com