Buick 1993 LeSabre User manual

t., _-
LeSabre

Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 25605118 B First Edition
The 1993 Buick LeSabre
Owner’s Manual
@CopyrightGeneral Motors Corporation 1992
All Rights Reserved

.
GENERAL MOTORS, GM andthe GM Emblem,
BUICK,andthe
BUICK Emblem are registered
trademarks
of General Motors Corporation.
-
I We supportvoluntary
technician certification.
VOCUNTARV TECHNICIAN
WE
SUPPORT
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
Nalnonal Instolute lor
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
productafterthattimewithoutfurthernotice.Forvehicles
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors
of CanadaLimited” for Buick Motor Division whenever
it French Language h’hnual:
appears in this manual. Aux propriktaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer
un exemplaire dece guide enfrancais chez votre
Pleasekeepthismanual in your Buick,
SO it will be there if concessionaire ou DGN Marketing Services Ltd., 1500
YOU ever need it whenyou’re On the road.If YOU Sell the Bonhill Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L~T 1~7.
vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the newownercan
use it.
2

3

WalterMarr and ThomasBuick
Buick’s chief engineer, Walter L. Marr (left), and
Thomas
D. Buick, son of founder David Dunbar Buick,
drove the first Flint Buick in asuccessful Flint-Detroit
round trip in July 1904.
David Buick was buildinggasoline engines by 1899,
and Marr, his engineer,apparently built
the first auto to
be called a Buick in 1900. However, Buick traditionally
dates its beginnings to 1903.That was the year the
company was reorganized,refinanced and moved
from
Detroit to Flint. Buick hasalways been a product
innovator. Buick engineersdeveloped the
“valve-in-head” engine, a light, powerful andreliable
engine which wouldeventually influence the entire
automotive industry.
William
C. Durant was instrumental in promoting
Buicks across the country using his Durant-Dort
Carriage Co. outletsand salespeople asthe nucleus
of a
giant distribution system. Heknew the Buick as a
“self-seller”. If automobiles could be this good, he
thought, maybe it was time to switch from the horse and
buggy businessto automobiles.
At the 1905,New York
Auto Show, Duranttook
orders for
1,000 Buicks
before
the company had
built 40. On Buick’s
’ . success, Durantcreated a
holding company,
September 16, 1908.He
called it General Motors.
..
William C. (Billy)Durant
4

Durant also created a racingteam that won 500 racing
trophiesin 1909 and 19
10, including successes at
Indianapolis twoyears before theIndy
500 began.
The successof Buick engines was visible not only
on
the racetrack, but in endurancetests across thecountry
and around theworld. Buick was the only carto
complete a 1,000-mileChicago-to-New York race in
1906.And a Buick was the first car totravel across
SouthAmerica, driven
from Buenos Aires, Argentina,
over the Andes to Santiago, Chilein 1914.
I911 Model 21 Touring Car
Buick drew plenty of attention because it could climb
hills and run through mud like no other car. Buick’s
enduranceand reliability were worldfamous.
During World War
I, Buick built Liberty aircraft engines
as well as Red Cross ambulances
so successfulthat one
Buick ambulance was awarded theCroix de Guerreby
the French government.
As a builderof premier automobiles,Buick was hard hit
by the Great Depression. However, new General
Manager Harlow
H. Curticecreated popularnew models
including the Special and theRoadmaster. Buick sales
soon flourished.
First Buick Factory
5

In World War 11, Buick built aircraft engines,tanks and
other military hardware. This post-war period brought
great styling and engineering changes which resulted in
increased sales. The torque converter automatic
transmission, Dynaflow, wasintroduced in the 1948
Roadmaster. Buick’sfamous “portholes”came alongin
1949.
1
1949 Roadmaster
A high-compression V-8 engine was introduced in 1953.
And Buick’sfamous verticalpillar “toothy”grille
(introduced in 1942),became more massive in the
post-war era.
’*
R
1953 Skylark
c

Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 BuickSpecial
“Car
of the Year”. The first production V-6 engine was
used
in the Special.
Y
I
1962 Buick Special
Built inside the walls of the old buildings in Buick’s
former
Flint complex, which formed thecornerstone 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.
Ed Mertz, GeneralManager, Buick Motor Division
Our mission is simple:
“Buick
will provide Premium American Motorcars
backed
with services that exceedour customers’
expectations, throughout the purchase, ownership,
service and repurchase experience.”
Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL.
Buicks are DISTINCTIVE.
Buicks are POWERFUL.
Buicks are
MATURE.
7

I
1923 Sport Roadster
8

How to Use this Manual ................................................................
This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safety and vehicle damage warnings & symbols.
SeatsandSafetyBelts ..................................................................
This part tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly.
Featuresandcontrols ..................................................................
This part explains how to start and operate your Buick.
Comfort Controls and AudioSystems .....................................................
This part tells you how to adjust the ventilation & comfort controls and how to operate your sound system.
YourDrivingandtheRoad ..............................................................
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and howto drive under different conditions.
ProblemsontheRoad ..................................................................
This part tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as aflat tire or engine overheating.
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good.
Maintenanceschedule ..................................................................
This part tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
CustomerAssistanceInformation ........................................................
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.”
Index ................................................................................
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
(@ Table of Contents
9
10
13
57
117
145
195
229
277
297
305

How to Use This Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they firstreceive their new vehicle.This
will help you learnabout the features and controls for
your vehicle.
In this manual, you’ll find that pictures
and words work togetherto explain things quickly.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will finda number of safety cautions in this book.
We use yellow andthe word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were toignore
the warning.
A CAUTION:
In the yellow caution area, we tell you what the hazard
is. Thenwe tell
you what to doto help avoid or reduce
the hazard. Please read thesecautions. If you don’t, you
or others could be hurt.
You will also find
a red circle with a slash throughit in
this book.
This safety symbol means
“Don’t,” “Don’tdothis,”
or “Don’t
let this happen.”
10

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you willfind these bluenotices:
In the blue notice area,we tell you about somethmg that
can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage
would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be
costly. But the notice will tell you whatto do tohelp
avoid the damage.
When youread other manuals,you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or
in different words. In this manual, we’ve used the
familiar words and colors that Buick has used
for years.
You’ll also see warning labels
on your vehicle. They use
the samecolors, and the words CAUTION or NOTICE.
11

Vehicle Symbols
These
are some of the symbols you will find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYESBY
SHIELDING
Q
CAUSTIC
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
4
BELTS
WINDOW
POWER
These symbols
have to do with
your lights:
LIGHTING
- 8 -
MASTER
\ 8
SWITCH
0 , \
SIGNALS e 9
TURN
LIGHTS
Pf
HIGH BEAM OR = =o
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD ' ' '
4- e-
WASHER
wlNDsHIELDw DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
HEADLAMP
- r~.c.r
WASHER :Q
WIPER -
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT F*
TEMP -.--
ENGINE
CHARGING
I-1
BATTERY
SYSTEM
RADIATOR
a
COOLANT
FUEL
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
TEMP OIL
&
ANTILOCK (@)
BRAKE
Here aresome
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
RADIO >
VOLUME
CONDITIONING
AIR 33
HATCHBACK /y
TRUNK
RELEASE
t
LIGHTER

@ Part 1 Seats and Safety Belts
Here you’ll find information about theseats in your Buick. yourSupplementalInflatable Restraint/Supplemental
Restraint System (“air bag”) systemand how to use your safety belts properly
. You can also learn about somethings
you should
not do with safety belts .
Part 1 includes:
SeatsandSeatControls
............................................................. 14
HeadRestraints
................................................................... 17
Why Safety BeltsWork
............................................................. 19
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................................................... 24
Adults
........................................................................... 24
DriverPosition
.................................................................... 25
Lap-ShoulderBelt
................................................................. 25
SupplementalInflatable Restraint System
............................................... 33
Safety BeltUse During Pregnancy
..................................................... 37
PassengerPositions
................................................................ 38
Children
.........................................................................41
SmallerChildren and Babies ......................................................... 42
ChildRestraints
................................................................... 43
LargerChildren
................................................................... 52
SafetyBeltExtender
................................................................ 55
CheckingYour Restraint System ...................................................... 55
Safety Belts
. They’refor Everyone ................................................... 17
QuestionsMany People Ask About Safety Belts .......................................... 23
Replacing Safety Belts After a Crash
................................................... 55
13

Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells youabout the seats -- how to adjust
them, andalso aboutreclining front seatbacks,and head
restraints.
Manual Seat
fl CAUTION:
You can losecontrolof the vehicleifyoutry to
adjusta manual driver’s seat while the vehicleis
moving. The sudden movementcouldstartleand
confuseyou, or makeyou
push a pedal when
you don’t want
to. Adjust the driver’s seatonly
when the vehicle
is not moving.
I
I
Move the lever under the frontseat to unlockit. Slide
the seat
to where you want it. Then release the lever and
try to movethe seat with your body,to make sure the
seat is locked into place.

Power Seat (Option)
Front Control (F): Raise the front of the seat by pushing
on the left side of the switch. Push on
the right side of
the switch
to lower the front of the seat.
Center Control (C): Move the seat forwardor back
by
holding the control to the front or back. Raise the seat
by holding
the control to the left. Hold the control to the
right
to lower the seat.
Rear Control
(R): Raise the rear ofthe seat by holding
the switch tothe left. Holding the switch to the right
iowers the rear
of the seat.
Reclining Front Seatback(s)
To adjust the seatback, lift the lever on the outer side of
the seat and move the seatback to where you want it.
Release the leverto lock
the seatback. Pull up on the
lever and
the seat will go to an upright position.
But don't have a seatback reclined
if your vehicle, is
moving.
15

I A CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclinedposition when yourvehicle is
inmotioncan be dangerous. Even if you buckle
up, your safety beltscan't do their job when
you're reclinedlikethis.
Y
-
--
CAb I IO~: (
The shoulder belt can't do its job because it
won't be againstyour body. Instead, it will be in
front of you. In a crashyou could go into it,
receiving neck or other Injuries.
The lap
belt can't do its job either. In a crashthe
belt could go upoveryour abdomen. The belt
forces
would be there, notatyour pelvic bones.
This could cause serlousinternalinjuries.
For properprotection when thevehicle is in
motion,
have the seatback upright. Then sit well
back in the seat and wear your safetybelt
properly.
16

Head Restraints
1-
Slidethe headrestraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint is closest to the top
of your ears. This position
reduces the chance
of a neck injury ina crash.
Safety Belts: They’re For Everyone
This part of the manual tells you- how to use safety belts
properly. It
also tells you some things you should not do
with safety belts.
And it explains the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint, or
“air
bag” system.
CAUTION:
Don’t let anyone ride where they can’t wear a
safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
bou’re not wearing I safety belt, your injuries can
be-much’ worse. You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You canbe
seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you
might not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten
your safety belt, and check that your passengers’
belts are fastened properly too.

This figure lights up when you turn the keyto “Run” or
“Start” when yoursafety belt isn’tbuckled, and you’ll
hear a tone, too. It’sthe reminder to buckle up.
In many statesand Canadian provinces, the law saysto
wear safety belts. Here’s why:They work.
You never knowif you’ll be in acrash. If you dohave a
crash, you don’t knowif it will be a badone.
A few crashes are very mild.In them, you won’t get hurt
even if you’re not buckled up. And some crashes can be
so serious, like being hit by a train, that even buckled up
a person wouldn’t survive. But most crashesare
in
between. In many of them,people who buckle up can
survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they
could be badly hurt
or killed.
After
25 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are
clear.
In most crashes buckling updoes matter ... a lot!
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