jump start BUICK REGAL 2004 Owner's Manual

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light on
the instrument panel will come on briey when you
start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself.
You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that
your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel. United States
Canada
4-7

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 Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Supercharger Oil..........................................5-21
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-22
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-24
Engine Coolant.............................................5-26
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-29
Engine Overheating.......................................5-29Cooling System............................................5-32
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-40
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-42
Brakes........................................................5-43
Battery........................................................5-46
Jump Starting...............................................5-47
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-53
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-55
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-55
Headlamps..................................................5-55
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-56
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-57
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-58
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-59
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-60
Tires..............................................................5-61
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-68
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-69
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-70
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-72
Buying New Tires.........................................5-72
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your
vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality GM
brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system — for example, when your brake linings
wear down and you need new ones put in — be sure
you get new approved GM replacement parts. If you do
not, your brakes may no longer work properly. For
example, if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong
for your vehicle, the balance between your front and
rear brakes can change — for the worse. The braking
performance you have come to expect can change
in many other ways if someone puts in the wrong
replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your new vehicle comes with a maintenance free
ACDelco®battery. When it is time for a new battery, get
one that has the replacement number shown on the
original battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
battery. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for battery location.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.If your battery has a very low charge or is dead, you
may not be able to remove the ignition key from
the ignition switch or shift out of PARK (P). Refer to
Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 2-27.
Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
more, remove the black, negative (−) cable from the
battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
are not careful. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-47for tips on working around a battery
without getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your
vehicle for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, seeTheft-Deterrent
Feature on page 3-61.
5-46

Jump Starting
If the battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start the
vehicle. Be sure to follow the steps below to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or
ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly, some
or all of these things can hurt you.
Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would not be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding
could damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake rmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transaxle in PARK (P) or a manual transaxle in
NEUTRAL (N) before setting the parking brake.
Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or in the auxiliary power outlet. Turn off
the radio and all lamps that are not needed. This
will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And
it could save the radio!
5-47

4. Open the hood of each vehicle and locate the
batteries. Find the positive (+) and negative (−)
terminal location on each vehicle. You will not need
to access your battery for jump starting. Your
vehicle has a remote positive (+) jump starting
terminal for that purpose. The terminal is located on
the same side of the engine compartment as
your battery. SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 5-12for more information on location.To uncover the remote positive (+) terminal,
squeeze the sides of the red plastic cap and pull it
upward. Always use the remote positive (+)
terminal instead of the positive (+) terminal on your
battery.
{CAUTION:
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.
5-48

8. Now connect the
negative (−) cable to
the negative (−)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
negative (−) terminal
if the vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch anything until the
next step. The other end of the negative (−) cable
does notgo to the dead battery. It goes to a
heavy, unpainted metal part, or to the remote
negative (−) terminal on the vehicle with the dead
battery.
9. Connect the other end of the negative (−) cable at
least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but not near engine parts that move. The electrical
connection is just as good there, and the chance
of sparks getting back to the battery is much less.10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If
it will not start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.
Notice:If the jumper cables are removed in the
wrong order, electrical shorting may occur and
damage the vehicle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Remove the jumper
cables in the correct order, making sure that the
cables do not touch each other or other metal.
5-51

Roadside Assistance Program
Buick Motor Division is proud to offer Buick Premium
Roadside Assistance to customers for vehicles covered
under the 3 year/36,000 mile (60 000 km) new car
warranty (whichever occurs rst).
Our commitment to Buick owners has always included
superior service through our network of Buick dealers.
Buick Premium Roadside Assistance provides an
extra measure of convenience and security.
Buick’s Roadside Assistance toll-free number is staffed
by a team of technically trained advisors, who are
available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
We take anxiety out of uncertain situations by providing
minor repair information over the phone or making
arrangements to tow your vehicle to the nearest Buick
dealer.
We will provide the following services for
3 years/36,000 miles (60 000 km), at no expense to you:
Fuel delivery
Lock-out service (identication required)
Tow to nearest dealership for warranty service
Change a at tire
Jump startsWe have quick, easy access to telephone numbers of
the following additional services depending on your
needs:
Hotels
Glass replacement
Tire repair facilities
Rental vehicle or taxis
Airports or train stations
Police, re department or hospitals
In many instances, mechanical failures are covered
under Buick’s comprehensive warranty. However, when
other services are utilized, our advisors will explain
any payment obligations you might incur.
For prompt and efficient assistance when calling, please
provide the following information to give the advisor:
Location of vehicle
Telephone number of your location
Vehicle model, year and color
Mileage of vehicle
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)
Vehicle license plate number
7-6

How to Add Fluid............................................5-26
How to Check........................................5-24, 5-69
How to Check and Add Oil...............................5-22
How to Check Power Steering Fluid..................5-41
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-11
Hydroplaning..................................................4-20
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-31
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-30
If the Light Is Flashing.....................................3-36
If the Light Is On Steady.................................3-37
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard.........................4-28
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-30
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer.....................4-40
Ignition Positions.............................................2-18
Illumination on Remote Activation........................ 2-7
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-29
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-68
Instrument Panel
Cluster.......................................................3-27
Overview..................................................... 3-2
Instrument Panel Brightness.............................3-14
Instrument Panel Fuse Block............................5-98
Interior Lamps................................................3-14
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-47
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-3
Keys............................................................... 2-2
L
Lamps
Exterior......................................................3-11
Interior.......................................................3-14
Lap Belt........................................................1-20
Lap-Shoulder Belt...................................1-12, 1-22
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-38
Securing a Child Restraint Designed
for the LATCH System..............................1-40
Leaving Your Vehicle.......................................2-11
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running.....................................................2-26
Light
Air Bag Readiness.......................................3-30
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-32
7