Buick 1997 Regal User manual

99
7R E
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GA

Supplement to the 1997 Buick Regal and Century Owner’s Manuals
This is acorrection to informationfound on page 6-40 (Regal only) and page 6-38 (Century only).
Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label,which is on the inside of the trunk lid shows the correct inflation
pressures forpurtires when they’re cold. “Cold”means your vehicle has been sitting for at leastthree
hours or driven nomore than
1 mile (1.6 km).
This is acorrection to informationfound
on page 6-63 (Regal only).
Engine Crankcase
Oil and Filter Change . .. . .. .. . ... 4.5 quarts (4.2 L)
97REGWENOOl
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The 1997 Buick Regal Owner’s Manual
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Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use yourseats and safety belts properly. Italso explains the “air bag” system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your Buick.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how tooperateyour audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful informationand tips about the road and how todrive under different conditions.
Problems onthe Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheatedengine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buickrunning properly and lookinggood.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and whatfluids and lubricantsto use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects’’ onpage
8-8.
Index
Here’s an alphabeticallisting of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
somethingyou want
to read.
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GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,BUICK,
the BUZCK Emblem and the name REGAL are
registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes
in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
J We support voluntary
technician certification.
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION
THROUGH
National Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
“General Motors of Canada Limited” for Buick Motor
Division whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your Buick,
so it will be there
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
if youeverneed it when you’re on the road. If you sell
the vehicle, please leave thismanual in it
so the new
owner can use
it.
, / ‘.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part
No. 10292FFgtEdition
Aux propriktaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ceguide en frangais chez
A votre concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1500 Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C7
@Copyright GeneralMotors Corporation 1996
All Rights Reserved

iii

WalterMarr and Thomas Buick
Buick’s chief engineer, Walter
L. Marr (left), and
Thomas D.Buick, son of founder David Dunbar Buick,
drove the first
Flint Buick in a successful Flint-Detroit
round trip in July 1904.
David Buick was building gasoline engines by 1899,
and Marr, his engineer, apparently built the first auto to
be called aBuick
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 has always been a product
innovator. Buick engineers developed
the
“valve-in-head” engine, a light, powerfuland reliable
engine which would eventually influence the entire
automotive industry.
William
C. Durant was instrumentalin promoting
Buicks across the country using his Durant-Dort
Carriage
Co. outlets and salespeople asthe nucleus of a
giant distribution system. He knew 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 business to automobiles.
William
C. (Billy)Durant
At the 1905New York
Auto Show, Durant
took
orders for1,000Buicks
before the company had
built
40. On Buick’s
success, Durant created
a
holding company,
September
16, 1908.He
called it General Motors.
iv

Durant also created aracing team that won 500 racing
trophies in 1909and 19
10, including successesat
Indianapolis two years beforethe Indy
500 began.
The success
of Buick engines was visible not only on
the race track, but in endurance tests across the country
and around theworld. Buick was the only car to
complete a 1,000-mile Chicago-to-NewYork race in
1906.And a Buickwas the first car
to travel across
South America, driven from Buenos Aires,Argentina,
over the Andes to Santiago, Chilein 1914.
I911 Model 21 Touring Car on Buick S Test Hill
Buick drew
plenty of attention because it could climb
hills and run through mud like no other car. Buick's
endurance and reliability were world famous.
During World War
I, Buick built Liberty aircraft engines
as well as Red Cross ambulances
so successfully that
one Buick ambulance was awarded the Croix de Guerre
by the French government.
As a builder of premier automobiles, Buick was hard hit
by the Great Depression.However, new General
Manager Harlow
H. Curtice created popular new models
including
the Special and the Roadmaster. Buick sales
soon flourished.
First Buick Factory
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In World War 11, Buick built aircraft engines, tanks and
other military hardware. This post-war period brought
great styling and engineering changeswhich resulted in
increased sales. Thetorque converter automatic
transmission, Dynaflow, was introduced in the 1948
Roadmaster. Buick’s famous “portholes” came along
in 1949.
1949 Roadmaster
A high-compression V-8 engine was introduced in 1953.
And Buick’s famous vertical pillar
“toothy” grille
(introduced
in 1942)became more massive in the
post-war era.
I953 Skylark
Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 Buick Special
“Car
of the Year.” The firstproduction V-6 engine was
used in the Special.
vi

I962 Buick Special
Built inside the walls of the old buildingsin Buick’s
former Flint complex, which formed the cornerstone of
General Motors, BuickCity is astate-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, andwill continue to be, premium American
motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich
detail and comfortable accommodation.
Ed Mertz, General Manage4 Buick Motor Division
Our mission
is simple:
“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 PREMIUM.

How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If
you dothis,
it will help you learn aboutthe features
and controls for yourvehicle. In this manual, you’ll
find that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to look forwhat you need is the Index in
the back
of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s
in themanual, and the pagenumber where you’ll find it.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION totell
you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then
we tell you what to doto help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions.If you don’t, you or
others couldbe hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,”
“Don’t do this,’’or “Don’t
let this happen.”
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Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this bookyou will find these notices:
NOTICE:
I
These mean thereis something that could
damage your vehicle.
In the notice area,we tell you about somethingthat can
damage your vehicle.Many times, this damage would
not be coveredby your warranty, and it could be
costly. But the notice willtell
you what to do to help
avoid the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different
colors orin different words.
You’ll also see warning labels on yourvehicle. They use
the samewords,
CAUTION or NOTICE.
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Vehicle Symbols
These are someof the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYESBY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD
BAllERY
CAUSE
BURNS
SPARK OR ,111,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BAllERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have todo with
your lamps:
SIGNALS @ e
TURN
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicatorlights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE (0)
COOLANT
a
ENGINEOIL w,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
I
LIGHTER n
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL p3

Section 1 SeatsandRestraintSystems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your Buick and how to use your safety belts properly.You can also
learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.
1-2
1-5
1-10
1-11
1-11
1-18
1-19
1-19
1-25
1-28
Seats and Seat Controls
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
Here
Are Questions Many People Ask About
Safety Belts
-- and the Answers
How
to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Driver Position
Safety Belt
Use During Pregnancy
Right Front Passenger Position
Air Bag System
Rear Seat Passengers
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults
1-30
1-32
1-34
1-49
1 1-57.
~ 1-60
1-60
1-61
Center Passenger Position
Children
Built-in Child Restraint
Child Restraints
Larger Children
Safety Belt Extender
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash

Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you how to adjust the seats and
explains
the reclining seatbacks and head restraints.
Manual Front Seat
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seatwhile the vehicle is
moving. The suddenmovement could startle and
confuse you,
or make you push a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seatonly when
the vehicle isnot moving.
2-Way Manual Seat
Lift the bar under the front of the seat using a twisting
motion. This will unlock the seat. Slidethe seat to where
you want
it and release the bar. Try to move the seat
with your body to be sure the seat is locked into place.
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6-Way Power Seat (If Equipped) Heated Seat (If Equipped)
You may have a driver’s six-way power seat anda
six-way power passenger’s seat (if equipped).
This switch is designed to imitate the movements
of your
seat cushion. It is located on the left sideof the driver’s
seat cushion.
To move the seat forwardor rearward, push
the switch folward or rearward.
To raise or lower the
entire seat, push the switchup or down. To raise
or lower
the front portionof your seat, push
the front of the switch
up or down.
To raise or lower the rear portion of your seat,
push the rear of the switch upor down.
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If your vehicle is equipped with heated seats, the
driver’s side and passenger’s side three-position
switches arelocated
on the center console,just behind
your automatictransaxle shift lever. Press
LO to warm
the seat at a lower temperature.Press HI towarm the
seat at a higher temperature.
To turn this featureoff,
return the switch to its center position. The button
directly in the middle of the heated seat switches is
used for traction control (see“Traction Control System”
or “Enhanced Traction System” inthe Index).
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Reclining Front Seatbacks
Lift the lever to release the seatback,then move the
seatback towhere you want it. Release the lever
to
lock the seatback in place. Pull up on the lever
without pushing on the seatback and the seatback
will move forward.
But don't have a seatbackreclined if your vehicle
is moving.
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Sitting in areclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even
if you buckle
up, your safety belts can’t do their jobwhen
you’re reclined likethis.
The shoulder beltcan’t do
its job because it
won’t beagainst yourbody. Instead, it will be
in frontof you. In a crashyou could gointo it,
receiving neckor otherinjuries.
The lap belt can’t do
its job either. In a crash
the beltcould go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would bethere, notatyour pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internalinjuries.
For properprotection when the vehicle isin
motion, have the seatback upright.Then sit
well back in the seat and wear yoursafety
belt properly.
Head Restraints
Slide the head restraint up or down so that the topof the
restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This position
reduces the chanceof
a neck injury in a crash.
SafetyBelts: 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 air bag system.
Don’t letanyone ride where heorshecan’t wear
a safety belt properly.
If you arein a crash and
you’re not wearing
a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse. You can hit thingsinside the
vehicle orbe ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured orkilled.
In the same crash,you might
not be if youare buckled up. Alwaysfasten your
safetybelt, and check that your passengers’ belts
arefastened properlytoo.
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It is extremelydangerous to ride ina cargo area,
inside oroutside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas aremore likely to be
seriously injured
or killed. Do not allowpeopleto
ride inany area of your vehiclethat is not
equipped with seatsand safety belts.Be sure
everyonein your vehicle isin
a seat andusing a
safety belt properly.
Your vehicle hasa light
that comes on as
a reminder
to buckle up. (See “Safety
Belt ReminderLight” in
the Index.)
In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here’s why:
They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have
a crash,
you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes
are mild, and some crashes can be so
seriousthat even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between.
In many of them,
people who buckle up can surviveand sometimes
walk away. Without belts they could have been badly
hurt or killed.
After more than
25 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter
... a lot!
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