service BUICK SKYLARK 1993 Owners Manual

. , ,. .,,_ Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 Buick Special
“Car
of the Year”. The first production V-6 engine was
used
in the Special.
I
Ed Mertz, General Manager, Buick Motor Division
Our mission is simple:
i
1
1962 Buick Special
Built inside the walls of the old buildings in Buick’s
former Flint complex, which formed the cornerstone of
General Motors, Buick City is a state-of-the-art
assembly facility with more than
200 robots and other
high-tech equipment. It was completed in the fall
of
1985.
Buicks are, and will continue to be, premium American
motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich detail and comfortable accommodation. “Buick will provide Premium American Motorcars
backed with services that exceed
our customers’
expectations, throughout the purchase, ownership,
service and repurchase experience.”
Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL.
Buicks are DISTINCTIVE.
Buicks are POWERFUL.
Buicks are MATURE.
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Table of Contents
How to Use this Manual ................................................................. 10
Seats and Safety Belts
............................ .:. ................................... 13
FeaturesandControls
.................................................................. 61
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
..................................................... 119
YourDrivingandtheRoad
.............................................................. 137
ProblemsontheRoad
.................................................................. 185
This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safety and vehicle damage warnings & symbols.
This part tells you how
to use your seats and safety belts properly.
This part explains how to start and operate your Buick.
This part tells you how to adjust the ventilation
& comfort controls and how to operate your sound system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
This part tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine overheating.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good.
This part tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants
to use.
This part tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service publications. It also gives
you information on “Reporting Safety Defects.’’
Here’s an alphabetical listing
of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 215
Maintenanceschedule
.................................................................. 265
Customer Assistance Information
........................................................ 285
Index
........................................................................\
........ 293
9

It’s possible that an automatic belt could keep you from
fully opening a door. That can happen if the door was slammed shut very hard. Just close the door all the way,
then slowly open it. If that doesn’t fix it, then your
Buick needs service.
We hope you’ll always keep your automatic belt
buckled. However, you may need to unbuckle
it in an
emergency.
To unbuckle the automatic belt, just push the
button on the buckle.
To reattach the automatic belt:
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
31

Remote Keyless Entry System (Option)
-' . ! .. .,
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
If your Buick has this option, you can lock and unlock
your doors or unlock your
trunk from up to 30 feet (9 m)
away using the key chain transmitter supplied with
your
vehicle
Your Remote Keyless Entry System operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission
(FCC) Rules. Should interference
to this system occur, try this:
Check
to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions on battery
replacement.
vehicle. This product has a maximum range.
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
See your Buick dealer or a qualified technician for
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment. blocking the signal.
service.
67

This light will also come on when you set your parking
brake, and will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t
release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the
light comes on while driving, pull
off the road and stop
carefully, You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor. It may
take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your
Car” in
the Index.)
-
1
I A CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake warning light is on. Driving with the
brake warning light on can lead to an accident. If
the light is still on after you’ve pulled off the road
and stopped carefl
r, have the vehicle towed for
service.
I
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ANTI.-
LOCK
With anti-lock, this light will go on unless you start your
engine and it will stay on for three .seconds. If the light
doesn’t come on, have it fixed
so it will be ready to
warn
you if there is a problem.
If the light stays on or comes on when you’re driving,
stop as soon
as possible and turn the key off. Then start
the engine to reset the system. If the light still stays on,
or comes on again while you’re driving, your Buick
needs service. Unless the regular brake system warning
light is also on, you will still have brakes, but not
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning
111

Low Coolant Warning Light
If this light comes on, your
system is low on coolant
and the engine may
overheat.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)
See “Engine Coolant’’ in the Index and have your
vehicle serviced as
soon as you can. A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition
and emission control systems. This light should come on when the ignition is on,
but the engine is not running, as
a check
to show you it is working. If it does not come on
at all, have it fixed right away. If
it stays on, or it comes
on while you are driving, the computkr is indicating that
you have a problem. You should take your vehicle in for
service soon.

This gage tells you if there could be a problem with your
engine oil pressure.
If the gage reads in the red band, and stays there, it
means oil isn’t going through your engine properly. You
could be low on oil or you might have some other oil
problem.
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and hp-
I your vehicle serviced.
“Check Oil” Light
e
The “Check Oil” light is lit
for three seconds as a bulb
check each time the
ignition key
is turned to the
RUN position. If the light
doesn’t come on, have your vehicle serviced.
If ‘the engine oil is more than one quart low, the light
will come on briefly, then
go off for 15 - 25 seconds,
and then come back on for
20 - 40 seconds.
However, under the following conditions, the system
will not register a low engine oil condition.
0 If the vehicle is tilted more than 20°. I problems can be costly and is not covered by
If it has not been more than 8 minutes since the
engine was last shut off.
115

If the “Check Oil” light comes back on, the engine oil
should be brought up to the proper level, see “Engine
j Oil” in the Index.
“Battery” Light
When you turn the key to RUN, this light will come on
briefly, to show that your alternator and battery charging
systems are working.
If the light stays on, you need service, and should take your Buick to the dealer
at
once. To save your battery until
you get there, turn off
all accessories, and set your air system to OFF.
Volts Gage (Option)
This gage shows the voltage in the electrical system.
The normal range is
11 to 15 volts. If the reading stays
outside the normal range, have your Buick dealer check
the electrical system.

I EX"
144;
b
GREEN is used to guide the driver. Green signs may
indicate upcoming freeway exits or
show the direction
you should turn to reach a particular place.
1
HOSPITAL INFORMATION
BLUE signs with white letters show motorists'
services.
/
I CANOEING SWIMMING
BROWN signs point out recreation areas or points of
historic or cultural interest.

Avoid staring directly into the approaching lights. If
there is a line of opposing traffic, make occasional
glances over the line of headlights to make certain that
one of the vehicles isn’t starting to move into your lane.
Once you are past the bright lights, give your eyes time
to readjust before resuming speed.
High Beams
If the vehicle approaching you has its high beams on,
signal by flicking yours to high and then back to low
beam. This is the usual signal to lower the headlight
beams. If the other driver still doesn’t lower the beams,
resist the temptation to put your high beams on. This
only makes two half-blinded drivers.
On
a freeway, use your high beams only in remote areas
where you won’t impair approaching drivers. In some
places, like cities, using high beams is illegal.
I
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old
driver may require
at least twice as much light to see the
same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example,
if you spend the day @ bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. ,Your eyes will
have less trouble adjusting to night.
But
if you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night.
They may cut down on glare from headlights, but they
also make a lot of things invisible that should remain
visible
- such as parked cars, obstacles, pedestrians, or
even trains blocking railway crossings. You may want to
put on your sunglasses after
you have pulled into a
brightly-lighted service or refreshment area. Eyes
shielded from that glare may adjust more quickly to
darkness back on the road: But be sure to remove your
sunglasses before you leave the service area.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights.
It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for
your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced
with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t lower
the high beams, or
a vehicle with misaimed headlights),
slow down a little.
..
When you follow another vehicle on a freeway or
highway, use low beams. True, most vehicles now have
day-night mirrors that enable the driver to reduce glare. But outside mirrors are not
of this type and. rh beams
from behind can bother the driver ahead.
160