brake fluid BUICK REGAL 2016 Owner's Manual

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
Instruments and Controls 109
Cluster Menu
Use the right steering wheel control
to open and scroll through the
different items and displays.
Press
Sto access the cluster
applications. Use
yorzto scroll
through the list of available
applications. Not all applications will
be available on all vehicles.
. Info App. This is where you can
view the selected Driver
Information Center (DIC)
displays. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Base Level Cluster)
0125 orDriver
Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel Cluster) 0127.
. Performance
. Audio
. Phone
. Navigation
. Settings
Performance
Press
Vto select the Performance
app. Use
yorzto scroll through
items in the Performance menu.
Friction Bubble : Displays four
quadrants that represent the four
corners of the car. A “bubble”shows
where the most inertia is being
exerted on the vehicle.
Accel and Brake : Displays
the percentage amount of brake or
accelerator pressure applied by the
driver as a bar graph around the
outer perimeter of the DIC area. The
left side is for acceleration and the
right side is for braking. Oil Temperature :
Displays the oil
temperature in degrees Celsius or
degrees Fahrenheit.
Oil Pressure : Displays the oil
pressure in kPa or psi. On some
models, the oil pump will vary
engine oil pressure according to
engine needs. Oil pressure may
change quickly as the engine speed
or load varies. This is normal.
Battery Voltage : Displays the
battery voltage.
Transmission Fluid
Temperature : Displays the
transmission fluid temperature in
degrees Celsius or degrees
Fahrenheit.
Audio
Press
Vto select the Audio app,
then press
Tto enter the Audio
menu. In the Audio menu browse for
music, select from the favorites,
or change the audio source.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
Instruments and Controls 131
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action that may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple
messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by
pressing
V.
The messages that require
immediate action cannot be cleared
until that action is performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously; clearing the message
does not correct the problem.
The following are the possible
messages and some information
about them.
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
This message displays when the
vehicle has detected that the battery
voltage is dropping beyond a
reasonable point. The battery saver
system starts reducing features of
the vehicle that may be noticed. At
the point that features are disabled,
this message displays. Turn off
unnecessary accessories to allow
the battery to recharge.
LOW BATTERY
This message is displayed when the
battery voltage is low. See Battery -
North America 0241.
SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM
This message is displayed when
there is a fault in the battery
charging system. Take the vehicle to
your dealer for service.
Brake System Messages
BRAKE FLUID LOW
This message is displayed when the
brake fluid level is low. See Brake
Fluid 0240.
STEP ON BRAKE TO
RELEASE PARK BRAKE
This message is displayed if you
attempt to release the electric
parking brake without the brake
pedal applied. See Parking Brake
0 189 for more information.
RELEASE PARK BRAKE
SWITCH
This message is displayed if the
electric parking brake is on while the
vehicle is in motion. Release it
before you attempt to drive. See
Parking Brake 0189 for more
information.
SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST
This message may be displayed
when there is a problem with the
brake boost assist system. When
this message is displayed, the brake
boost assist motor might be heard

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
166 Driving and Operating
Steering
Variable Effort Steering
Some vehicles have a steering
system that varies the amount of
effort required to steer the vehicle in
relation to the speed of the vehicle.
The amount of steering effort
required is less at slower speeds to
make the vehicle more
maneuverable and easier to park. At
faster speeds, the steering effort
increases to provide a sport-like feel
to the steering. This provides
maximum control and stability.
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort. See your dealer if
there is a problem.If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
If steering assist is used for an
extended period of time, power
assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See specific vehicle steering
messages under
Vehicle
Messages 0131.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.Curve Tips
. Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve. .
Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
Driving and Operating 169
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires0253.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident). .
Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0192.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 219
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 220
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 220
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 230
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 231
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 237
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Battery - North America . . . . . . 241
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 243
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 243
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 244
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 246
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 247
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Electrical System Overload . . . 248
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 249 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 255
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
224 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0231.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0228.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0228.
4. Transmission Fluid Cap. See Automatic Transmission
Fluid 0231. 5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brake Fluid 0240.
6. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant 0235.
7. Battery (Under Cover). See Battery - North America 0241. 8.
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0249.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer
Fluid 0239.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
226 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0231.
2. Engine Cover.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0228.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0228. 5. Transmission Fluid Cap and
Dipstick. See Automatic
Transmission Fluid 0231.
6. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0240.
7. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant 0235. 8. Battery (Under Cover). See
Battery - North America 0241.
9. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0249.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer
Fluid 0239.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
228 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0231.
2. Engine Cover.
3. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling
System 0233.
4. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0228.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See Engine Oil0228.
6. High Voltage Cable (Orange Color).
7. Transmission Fluid Cap. See Automatic Transmission
Fluid 0231.
8. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0240.
9. Battery (Under Cover). See Battery - North America 0241.
10. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant 0235.
11. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0249.
12. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer
Fluid 0239.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0230.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the oil must be warm and the vehicle must
be on level ground. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0
223 for the location of the engine
oil dipstick.
Obtaining an accurate oil level
reading is essential:
1. If the engine has been running recently, turn off the engine and
allow several minutes for the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Checking the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
2. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
Vehicle Care 239
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an
area where the temperature may fall
below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview 0223 for
reservoir location.
Caution
. Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can
cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
. Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the
windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield
washer system and paint.
. Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the
solution to freeze and
damage the washer fluid
tank and other parts of the
washer system.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer instructions for
adding water.
. Fill the washer fluid tank
only three-quarters full when
it is very cold. This allows
for fluid expansion if
freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is
completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or can
be heard all the time when the
vehicle is moving, except when
applying the brake pedal firmly.

Buick Regal Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159380) - 2016 - CRC - 2/23/16
240 Vehicle Care
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications. See Capacities and
Specifications 0319. Brake pads should be replaced as
complete sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts
with new, approved replacement
parts. If this is not done, the brakes
may not work properly. The braking
performance expected can change
in many other ways if the wrong
replacement brake parts are
installed or if parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid as indicated on the
reservoir cap. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0223 for
the location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a
level surface, the brake fluid level
should be between the minimum
and maximum marks on the brake
fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
. Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the
fluid level goes back up.
. A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system. Have the
brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it.