fuel BUICK REGAL 2003 User Guide

Service Vehicle Soon Light
The SERVICE VEHICLE
SOON light will come on if
you have certain
non-emission related
vehicle problems.
These problems may not be obvious and may affect
vehicle performance or durability. Consult a qualified
dealership for necessary repairs to maintain top vehicle
performance. The light will come on briefly when your
ignition is turned on to show that it is working properly.
Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have
left when the ignition is on. When the indicator nears
empty, you still have a little fuel left, but you should get
more soon.
Here are four things that some owners ask about. All
these things are normal and do not indicate that
anything is wrong with the fuel gage:
•At the gas station, the pump shuts off before the
gage reads full.
•It takes more (or less) fuel tofill up than the gage
reads. For example, the gage reads half full, but it
took more (or less) than half of the tank’s
capacity tofill it.
•The gage pointer may move while cornering,
braking or speeding up.
•The gage may not indicate empty when the ignition
is turned off.
United StatesCanada
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Low Fuel Warning Light
If your fuel is low, a circular light on your instrument
panel cluster will come on and stay on and a chime will
sound periodically until you add fuel.
It will also come on for a few seconds when youfirst
turn on the ignition as a check to show you it’s working.
If it doesn’t come on then, have itfixed.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), it is located below the tachometer on the
instrument panel cluster. The DIC gives you important
safety and maintenance facts. When you turn the
ignition on, the entire center lights up for just a
few seconds.
United States
Canada
3800 V6 Engine
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Modes
AVG ECON (Average Economy):This mode shows
your average fuel economy since you last reset this
mode. Average fuel economy is viewed as a long term
approximation of your overall driving and driving
conditions. To learn the average fuel economy from a
new starting point, press the RESET button while
the average fuel economy is displayed in the DIC.
INSTANTANEOUS FUEL ECONOMY:This mode
shows your current fuel economy. Instantaneous fuel
economy varies with your driving conditions, such
as acceleration, braking and the grade of the road being
traveled. The instantaneous fuel economy display
cannot be reset.
OIL LIFE MONITOR:This mode shows an estimate of
the oil’s remaining useful life. When the oil life index
is less than 10%, the CHANGE OIL SOON light
will come on. When you have the oil changed according
to the maintenance schedule. SeePart A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services on page 6-4. You will have
to reset the CHANGE OIL SOON light.
To reset the CHANGE OIL SOON light, see“How to
Reset the CHANGE OIL SOON light underEngine Oil
on page 5-13.Also, see“When to Change Engine Oil (GM Oil Life
System)”underEngine Oil on page 5-13andPart
A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on page 6-4.
RANGE:This mode shows the approximate distance
you can drive without refueling. This is based on
the amount of fuel in the tank and on the fuel economy
of the most recent 25 miles (40 km). This display
cannot be reset.
BOOST GAGE:If you have the supercharged engine,
this gage will show the amount of boost your engine
is receiving. This display cannot be reset.
Audio System(s)
Notice:Before you add any sound equipment to
your vehicle–like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio–be sure you can
add what you want. If you can, it’s very important to
do it properly. Added sound equipment may
interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine,
Delphi Electronics radio or other systems, and
even damage them. Your vehicle’s systems may
interfere with the operation of sound equipment that
has been added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
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The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh—such as after a day’s
work—don’t plan to make too many miles thatrst
part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’llnd experienced and able service experts in GM
dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
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Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make
body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags,
oor mats—anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You can’t see it or
smell it, so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the
base of your vehicle, especially any that is
blocking your exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn’t collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that’s away from the wind. This will
help keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and
it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
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Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine
again and repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as
possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help
keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do
some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until
help comes.
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you don’t want to spin your
wheels too fast. The method known as“rocking”can
help you get out when you’re stuck, but you must
use caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they
can explode, and you or others could be
injured. And, the transaxle or other parts of the
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an
engine compartment fire or other damage.
When you’re stuck, spin the wheels as little as
possible. Don’t spin the wheels above 35 mph
(55 km/h) as shown on the speedometer.
Notice:Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of
your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle back
and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. See
“Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out.”
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
seeTire Chains on page 5-65.
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Loading Your Vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label is
inside the trunk lid. The label tells you the proper
size, speed rating and recommended ination pressures
for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you important
information about the number of people that can be
in your vehicle and the total weight you can carry. This
weight is called the vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all occupants, cargo and all
nonfactory-installed options.The other label is the Certication label, found on the
rear edge of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). 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.
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Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you don’t use the correct equipment and
drive properly, you can lose control when you
pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well—or
even at all. You and your passengers could be
seriously injured. You may also damage your
vehicle; the resulting repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Pull a trailer only if
you have followed all the steps in this section.
Ask your dealer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with your vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the
proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what
the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in“Weight of the Trailer”that
appears later in this section. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself.Trailering means changes in handling, durability and
fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In it are many time-tested,
important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of
these are important for your safety and that of your
passengers. So please read this section carefully before
you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and
under greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more,
the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.
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Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Specifications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-5
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-8
Checking Things Under the Hood.....................5-8
Hood Release................................................5-9
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-10
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Supercharger Oil..........................................5-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-20
Engine Coolant.............................................5-22
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-25
Engine Overheating.......................................5-25
Cooling System............................................5-28Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-36
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-38
Brakes........................................................5-39
Battery........................................................5-42
Jump Starting...............................................5-43
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-48
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-50
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-50
Headlamps..................................................5-51
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-52
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)....................................5-52
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-53
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-54
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-55
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-55
Tires..............................................................5-56
Inflation — Tire Pressure...............................5-57
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-58
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-59
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-60
Buying New Tires.........................................5-61
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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CAUTION: (Continued)
•
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind
noise and affect windshield washer performance. Check
with your dealer before adding equipment to the
outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
The 8th digit of your vehicle identification number (VIN)
shows the code letter or number that identifies your
engine. You will find the VIN at the top left of the
instrument panel. SeeVehicle Identification Number
(VIN) on page 5-85.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 3800 V6 engine (VIN Code K),
use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
of 87 or higher. If the octane is less than 87, you may
get a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higer as
soon as possible. Otherwise, you might damage
your engine. A little pinging noise when you accelerate
or drive uphill is considered normal. This does not
indicate a problem exists or that a higher-octane fuel is
necessary. If you are using 87 octane or higher-octane
fuel and you hear heavy knocking, your engine
needs service.
If your vehicle has the 3800 Supercharged V6 engine
(VIN Code 1), use only premium unleaded gasoline with
a posted octane of 91 or higher. In an emergency,
you may be able to use a lower octane — as low as
87 — if heavy knocking does not occur. Refill your tank
with premium fuel as soon as possible. Otherwise,
you might damage your engine. If you are using
91 octane or higher-octane fuel and you hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
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