BUICK REGAL 1996 Owners Manual

Service and Owner PubIications
Service manuals, service bulletins, owner’s manuals and
other service literature are available for purchase for all
current and many past model General Motors vehicles.
Toll-free telephone numbers for ordering information:
United States
............... 1-800-551-4123
Canada
.................... 1-800-668-5539
Service Manuals
Service manuals contain diagnostic and repair
information for all chassis and body systems. They may
be useful for owners who wish to get a greater
understanding
of their vehicle. They are also useful for
owners with the appropriate skill level or training who
wish
to perform “do-it-yourself” service. These are
authentic General Motors service manuals meant for
professional, qualified technicians.
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Service Bulletins
Service bulletins covering various subjects are regularly
sent to all General Motors dealerships. GM monitors
product performance in the field. When service methods
are found which promote better service on
GM vehicles,
bulletins are created to help the technician perform
better service. Service bulletins may involve any
number of vehicles. Some will describe inexpensive
service; others will describe expensive service. Some
will advise of new or unexpected conditions, and others
may help avoid future costly repairs. Service bulletins
are meant for qualified technicians. In some cases
bulletins refer to service manuals, specialized tools,
equipment and safety procedures necessary
to service
the vehicle. Since these bulletins are issued throughout
the model year and beyond, an index is required and
published quarterly to help identify specific bulletins. Subscriptions are available.
You can order an index at
the toll-free numbers listed previously, or ask
a GM
dealer to see an index or individual bulletin.
Owner Publications
Owner’s manuals, warranty folders and various owner
assistance booklets provide owners with general
operation and maintenance information.
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NOTES
8-11
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NOTES
8-12
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(@ Section 9 Index
I- .I
Accessory Outlet .............................. 2-4 I
AirBag ....................................... 1-18
How Does it Restrain .......................... 1-22
How
it Works ................................ 1-20
Location
.................................... 1-20
Readiness Light
......................... 1 . 19. 2.47
Servicing
................................... 1-23
What Makes
it Inflate .......................... 1-2 1
What Will You See After it Inflates ............... 1-22
When Should
it Inflate ......................... 1-21
AirCleane
r .................................... 6-16
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Alarm, Theft-Deterrent ........................... 2-8
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-40
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning
...................... 6-48
Antenna, Fixed
................................. 3-26
Antenna, Power
................................ 3-26
Antifreeze ................................... 6-20
Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light
................. 2-50.4-8
Brake System Warning Light
................ 2-49.4-6
Brakes
...................................... 4-6
Anti-Theft, Radio
.............................. 3-2 I
Appearance Care ............................... 6-42
Air Conditioning Refrigerants ..................... 6-63 Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-50
Arbitration Program
.............................. 8-6
Armrest. Storage
............................... 2-38
Ashtrays
...................................... 2-40
Astroroof
..................................... 2-42
Audio Controls
. Steering Wheel Touch Control ....... 3-23
Audio Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-24
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-6
Auto-Down Window
............................ 2-25
Automatic DoorLocks
................................... 2-4
Overdrive
. Automatic Transaxle ................. 2-16
Shifting ..................................... 2-14
Transaxle Check
.............................. 7-36
Transaxle Fluid
............................... 6-17
Transaxle Park Mechanism Check ................ 7-38
Battery
...................................... 6-30
J~np Starting ................................. 5-2
Saver
...................................... 2-36
Warnings
................................ 5.2. 5.4
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-6
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-6
Replacement. Remote Keyless Entry ............... 2-5
9-1
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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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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.
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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
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Ignition Positions .............................. 2. 1 o
Illuminated Entry ............................... 2-34
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-35
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-36
Inspections
.................................... 7-39
Brakesystem
................................ 7-39
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-39
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Boot
.................. 7-39
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Seal
................... 7-39
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-39
Steering
.................................... 7-39
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-39
Instrumentpanel
............................... 2-43
Cleaning
.................................... 6-45
Cluster
..................................... 2-44
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
................ 2-33
Instrument Panel. Fuse Block
..................... 6-53
InteriorLamps
................................. 2-33
Suspension
.................................. 7-39
.................................... J ack,
Tire 5-23
Jump Starting
................ i .................. 5-2
Key Lock Cylinders Service ..................... 7-36
Key Reminder Warning
.......................... 2- 10
Keys .......................................... 2-1
Labels
....................................... 4-27
Certification
................................. 4-27
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-5 1
.Tir e-Loading Information ....................... 4-27
Vehicle Identification Number
.................... 6-5 1
Lamps ........................................ 2-32
Courtesy
.................................... 2-33
Interior
..................................... 2-33
Latches, Seatback
................................ 1-5
Leaving Your Vehicle
............................. 2-4
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-21
Lighter
........................................ 2-40
Lights Air Bag Readiness
....................... 1-19, 2-47
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-49, 4-6
Brake System Warning
......................... 2-48
Charging System
............................. 2-47
Cruise
...................................... 2-56
Engine Coolant Temperature Light
............... 2-50
Interior
..................................... 2-33
Low Coolant Warning
.................... 2-51, 6-23
LowFuel
.................................... 2-57
Anti-Lock Brake System Active
............. 2-50,
4-8
OilLevel
................................... 2-55
Oilwarning
................................. 2-54
Safety Belt Reminder
....................... 1-6, 2-46
Security
..................................... 2-56
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-52
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-27
Locks
......................................... 2-3
Automatic Door
............................... 2-4
Cylinders
................................... 7-36
Door
........................................ 2-3
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-36
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-3
Steering Column Lock Check
................... 7-38
Trunk
........................................ 2-7
Window
.................................... 2-25
9-5
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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
.
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