Buick LESABRE 1996 User manual

BUICK

The 1996 Buick LeSabre Owner’s Mmual
Seats and Restraint Systems ............................................................. 1-1
This section tells you howto use your seats and safety belts properly.It also explains “SRS” system.
This section explains how to start andoperate your Buick.
This section tells you how to adjustthe ventilation and comfort controls and how tooperate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
This section tells you what todo if you have
a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or
overheated engine, etc.
Here the manual tells you how tokeep your Buick running properly and looking good.
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and whatfluids and lubricants to use.
This section tells you how to contact Buickfor assistance and how to get service publications. It
also
gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8-7.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something
you want to read.
FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 2-1
ComfortControlsand Audio Systems
..................................................... 3-1
YourDrivingandtheRoad
.............................................................. 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 6-1
Maintenanceschedule
.................................................................. 7-1
CustomerAssistanceInformation
........................................................ 8-1
Index ................................................................................ 9-1
i

mu
”
GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem,
BUICK, the BUICKEmblem and the nameLeSabre are
registered trademarks of GeneralMotors Corporation.
This manual includes the latestinformation at thetime it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without furthernotice. For
vehicles first sold
in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors of Canada Limited” forBuick Motor
Division whenever it appears
in this manual.
Pleasekeep this manual
in your Buick; SO it will bethere
if you ever need itwhen you’re on the road.
If you sell
the vehicle,please leave this manual in it
so the new
owner canuse it.
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATIONTHROUGH
National Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
~~~~
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriktaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en franqais chez
votre concessionaire ou aur
DGN Marketing ServicesLtd.
1500Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C7
Litho
in U.S.A.
Part No. 25639452 A First Edition @Copyright GeneralMotors Corporation 1995
All Rights Reserved
ii

111

Walter Marrand 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 successfulFlint-Detroit
round trip in July 1904.
David Buick was building gasoline engines by 1899,
and
Mm, 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 has always been a product
innovator. Buick engineers developed the
“valve-in-head” engine, a light, powerful and reliable
engine which would eventually influence the entire
automotive industry.
William C. Durant was instrumental in promoting
Buicks across the country using
his Durant-Dort
Carriage Co. outlets and salespeople as the 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.
At the 1905New York
Auto Show,Durant took
orders for
1,000 Buicks
before the company had
built
40. On Buick’s
success, Durant created
a
holding company,
September 16, 1908.He
called it General Motors.
William C. (Billy)Durant
iv

Durant also created a racingteam that won 500 racing
trophies in 1909and 19 10, including successesat
Indianapolistwo years before the 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 the world. Buick was the only car to
complete a 1,000-mileChicago-to-New York race in
1906.And a Buick was the first car totravel across
South America, driven fromBuenos Aires, Argentina,
over the Andes to Santiago, Chilein 1914.
I 1
1911 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 othercar. 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
V

In WorldWar 11, Buick built aircraft engines, tanks and A high-compression V-8 engine was introduced in 1953.
other military hardware. This post-war period brought And Buick’sfamous vertical pillar “toothy”grille,
great styling and engineeringchanges which resulted in (introduced in
1942), became more massive in the
increased sales.The torque converterautomatic post-war era.
transmission, Dynaflow, was introduced in the 1948
Roadmaster. Buick’s famous “portholes”came along
in
1949.
1949 Roadmaster
1953 Skylark
Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 Buick Special
“Car
of the Year.” The first production V-6 engine was
used in the Special.
vi

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 tobe, premium American
motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich
detail and comfortable accommodation.
Ed Mertz, General Manager,Buick Motor Division
Our mission is simple:
“Buick will provide Premium American Motorcars
backed with services that exceed our customers’
expectations, throughoutthe purchase, ownership,
service and repurchase experience.”
Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL.
Buicks are DISTINCTIVE.
Buicks are POWERFUL.
Buicks are MATURE.

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 about the features and
controls foryour vehicle. In thismanual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is theIndex
in the back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of
all that’s in the manual, and the page number where
you’ll find it.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find anumber of safety cautions in this book.
We use a
box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if
you were to ignore
the warning.
r--
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 do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions.
If you don’t, you or
others could be 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.”
viii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find thesenotices:
1 NOTICE:
These meanthere is somethingthat could
damage your vehicle.
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to doto help avoid
the damage.
When youread other manuals, you might see CAUTION
and NOTICE warnings
in differentcolors or in
different words.
You’ll also cee warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words CAUTION or
NOTICE.
In the notice area,we tell you about something that can
damage your vehicle. Many times, thisdamage would
iX

‘
‘1 hese are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
hide ~ mbols
For example.
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BURNS
SPARK OR ,111,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for
you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS 9
TURN
RUNNING .‘**o*o
DAYTIME
LAMPS .*’
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN (
‘7
r!,
dA
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT
TEMP -
CHARGING 17
BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE (0)
ENGINEOIL
PRESSURE Wb
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
t
LIGHTER n
HORN b
SPEAKER
b
FUEL e3

Section 1 Seats andRestraintSystems
Here you’ll find information about the seats inyour
Buick and how to useyour safety beltsproperly. You
can also learnabout some things you should
not do with
air bags and safety belts.
Seats and Seat Controls
This sectiontells you about the seats -- how to
adjust them
-- and also about reclining seatbacksand
head restraints.
You can lose controlof the vehicleif you try to
adjust
a manual driver’s seatwhile the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confme you, or makeyou push
a pedal whenyou
don’t wantto. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
Manual Front Seat
Pull up on the control bar under the front of the seat to
unlock
it. Slide the seatto where you want it. Then
release the bar and try to move the seat with your body,
to make sure the seat
is locked into place.

Power Seat (Option)
The power seat controls are on the armrest.
Front Control: Raise the front of the seat by pushing
the left side
of the switch.Push the right side of the
switch to lower the front of the seat.
Center Control: Move the seat forward or backward by
pushing the controlon the front orback. Raise the seat
by pushing the control on the left. Lower the seat by
pushing the control on the right.
Rear Control: Raise the rear of the seat by pushing the
switch
on the left. Lower the rear of the seat by pushing
the switch
on the right.
leclininp Front Se--backs
....
~
To adjust the seatback, liftthe lever on the outer side of
the seat and move the seatback to where you want it.
Release the lever to lock the seatback. Pull
up on the
lever and the seat will go to an upright position.
1-2

But don’t have a seatbackreclined if your vehicle
is moving.
Sitting in
a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion canbe dangerous. Evenif you buckle
up, your safety belts can’t do their job when
you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it
won’t be against yourbody. Instead, itwill be in
front
of you. In a crashyou couldgo into it,
receiving neckor other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do its job either. In
a crash the
belt could
go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, not
at your pelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.
For properprotection when the vehicle isin
motion, have the seatback upright. Thensit well
back in the seatand wear your safetybelt properly.
Head Restraints
Slide thehead restraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint
is closest to the top of your ears. Thisposition
reduces the chance
of a neck injury in a crash.
1-3

Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you howto use safety belts
properly.
It also tells you some things you should not do
with safety belts.
And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS), or airbag system.
Don’t let anyone ride wherehe or shecan’t wear
a
safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you’re not wearing
a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse.
You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected fromit.
You can be seriously
injured
or killed. In the same crash,you might
not beif you
are buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt,and check that
your passengers’ belts
are fastened properlytoo.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as areminder
to buckle
up. (See “Safety
Belt Reminder Light” 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’tknow if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be
so
serious that 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!

Why Saft wl Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
t
. . . .*.
Take the simplest vehicle. Supposeit's just a seat
on wheels.
Put someone
on it.
1-5

Get it upto speed.Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn’t stop. The person keeps going until stopped
by something.
In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield
...
1-6

or the instrument panel . ..
or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down
as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop overmore distance,
and your strongestbones take the forces. That’s why
safety belts make such good sense.
1-7

Here Are QuestionsMany People Ask
About, Safety Belts -- and the Answers
&: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident if
I’m wearing a safety belt?
i
1 A: You could be -- whether you’re wearing a safety
belt or not. Butyou can unbuckle a safety belt,
1 even if you’re upside down. And your chance of
being conscious during and after an accident, so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.
@ If my vehicle hasair bags, why should I have to
A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in
most of them in the future. Butthey are
supplemental systems only;
so they work with
safety belts -- not instead of them. Every air bag
system ever offered for salehas required the use
of
safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that has air
bags, you stillhave to buckle up toget the most
protection. That’s truenot only
in frontal collisions,
wear safety belts?
I but especially inside and other collisions.
&: If I’m a good driver,and I never drivefar from
home, why should
I wear safety belts?
A: You may be an excellentdriver,but if you’re in an
accident
-- even one that isn’tyour fault -- you and
your passengers
can be hurt. Being agood driver
doesn’tprotect you from things beyond your
control, suchas bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 km)
of home. And the greatest numberof serious
injuriesand deaths occur at speeds
of less than
40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.