suspension BUICK REGAL 1996 Owners Manual

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.
3
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Front To!
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling type equipment or
fascidfog lamp damage will occur. Use wheel-lift
or car carrier equipment. Additional ramping
may be required for car carrier equipment.
Use safety chains and wheel straps.
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage a vehicle. Damage can'occur from vehicle
to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment. To
help avoid damage, raise the vehicle until
adequate clearance
is obtained between the
ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or
J-hooks to
suspension components when using car carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots.
5-9
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NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or the rear
bumper valance will be damaged. Use wheel-lift
or car carrier equipment. Additional ramping
may be required for car carrier equipment. Use
safety chains and wheel straps.
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle
to ground
or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment. To
help avoid damage, install a towing dolly and raise
the vehicle until adequate clearance
is obtained
between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in
T-hooks slots.
Attach T-hook chains into
slots
in the bottom of the
floor pan, just ahead
of the
rear wheels, on both sides.
These slots are to be used when securing to car
carrier equipment.
Attach
a separate safety
chain around the outboard
end
of both lateral arms.
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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.
7-39
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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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