BUICK SKYLARK 1993 Owners Manual

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge
Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at or above
“FULL COLD,” add a 50/50 mixture of
clean water (preferably distilled) and the proper
antifreeze at the coolant surge tank, but be sure the
cooling system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap, is cool before you do it. (See “Engine
Coolant” in the Index for more information about the
proper coolant mix.)
/I CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system
can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the coolant
surge tank pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can
come out
at high speed. Never turn the cap when
lhe cooling system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the coolin-
system and coolant surge tank pressure cap
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cool if you ever have to turn the pressure cap.
t

1
A CAUTION':
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some lother
liquid li~ke alcohol, can boil before tihe proper
coolant
mix will. Your whicl'e's CoOilant warning
You can1 be burned if you spill coolant on hot ,,
engilne ~parts. Coolaint contains ethylene glycol
and lit wil~il burn if the enlgine parts are ,hot
enough. hn't spill coolant
on a hot engine. I
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wron.g, mix, your engi'ne could8 1
get too h,ot but you wouldn't get thie overheat
warning. Your engine could catclh fire and
you or
others could
be burned. Use ;a 50/50 mix of clean
water and a proper antifreeze.
1
I
1-
1. You can remove the
coolant surge tank
pressure cap when the
cooling system,
including the coolant
surge
tank pressure cap
and upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot. Turn
the pressure cap slowly
i about one-quarter turn
1 to the left and then stop. I
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
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2. Then keep turning the
‘pressure cap, slowly, and remove
it.
F-------
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mix, up to
“FULL COLD’ or just above the small cylinder at
the base
of the opening.
202

4.
5. By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mix to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches the split line formed by the
black and white part of the tank.
With the coolant surge tank pressur\e cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine
6. Then replace the
pressure cap. Be sure
the pressure cap is tight.
fan.
203

.If a Tire Goes Flat Changing a Flat Tire
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain yourtires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
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If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side: Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, then gentlv
I. - to a
stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to
a stop, well off the road if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the next section shows how to use
your jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
A “-CAUTION:
I Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured. Find
a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent
the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake K- Ay.
2. Put the shift lever in “P” (Park
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t mob
you can put chocks at the front and rear of t
tire farthest away from the one being changed,
I That would be the tire on the oP?r side of the
vehicle, the oppos’-
1 end.
CAUTION: (Continued)

I ' The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
The equipment you'll need is in the trunk.
205

-
Wheel Covers Aluminum Wheel Nut Covers
To remove this wheel cover
use the flat end
of the
wheel wrench. Take the
small cover
‘off to access
the wheel nuts.
Remove either of these wheel covers by using the flat Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
end
of the wheel wrench. Pry along the edge of the Don’t remove them yet.
wheel cover until it comes
off. Be careful; the rim edges Lift the handle from the jack and raise it straight up.
may be sharp. Don’t try to remove it with your bare
hands. Turn the
jack handle to raise the jack lift head slightly.
206

is <.&,j ... ,- >? .... : ,;pi>@, '+ !, :: 1 :
Gse the vehicle by
Raise the vehicle
far enough off the ground so there is
enough room for the spare tire to fit.
Remove all the wheel nuts and take
off the flat tire.
.. . -, . . i .
Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces
or spare wheel. Place the spare on the wheel
mounting surface.
208

A CAUTION:
Rust: or 'dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The w~heel could come
off and cause an accident. When you change
a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
whiere the wheel attach'es to
the vehicle. In an
emergency, you can use a doth olr a paper towel
to do this; but. be swe to :use a scraper or wire
Ibr'ush later, if
you need inl. to get all the rust or "
dirt off.
1
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the n"s might come loose. Your wheel cou!l
fall oEf, causing a serious accidenlt.
_I
I
Replace the wheel nuts
with the rounded end
of the
nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by hand
until the wheel is held
against the hub.
209