Buick ROADMASTER 1996 User manual

r

The 1996 Buick Roadmaster Owner’s Manual
SeatsandRestraintSystems ............................................................. 1-1
FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 2-1
ComfortControlsandAudioSystems ..................................................... 3-1
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains “SRS” system.
This section explains how
to start and operate your Buick.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the roadand how todrive under different conditions.
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as aflat tire or
overheated engine, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good.
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
This section tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service publications.It also
gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page
8-7.
Index ................................................................................ 9-1
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subjectin this manual. You can useit to quickly find something
you want to read.
YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
Se~ceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 6-1
Maintenanceschedule .................................................................. 7-1
CustomerAssistanceInformation ........................................................ 8-1
i

1
GM I
GENERAL MOTORS, GM andthe GM Emblem,
BUICK, the BUICK Emblem and the name
ROADMASTER are registered trademarksof
GeneralMotors Corporation.
This manual includes thelatestinformation at the time it
was printed.We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time withoutfurthernotice. For
vehicles firstsold
in Canada, substitutethename
“GeneralMotors of CanadaLimited” for Buick Motor
Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
Pleasekeep this manual in your Buick,
so it will be there
if you ever needit when you’re ontheroad. If you sell
the vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so thenew
owner can useit.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 25632196 B FirstEdition
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
National Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefera
French Language .Manual:
AUX propriktaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplairede ce guide enfranpischez
votre concessionaireou au:
DGNMarketing ServicesLtd.
1500Bonhill
Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T IC7
@CopyrightGeneral Motors Corporation 1995
All Rights Reserved

iii

WalterMarr and ThomasBuick
Buick’s chief engineer, Walter L. Marr (left), and
Thomas
D. Buick, son of founder David Dunbar Buick,
drove thefirst Flint Buickin a successful Flint-Detroit
round tripin July 1904.
David Buickwas building gasoline engines by 1899,
and Man,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, refinancedandmoved frgm
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 asthe nucleus of a
giant distribution system.He knew the Buick as a
“self-seller.”
If automobiles could be this good,he
thought, maybeitwas timeto switch from the horse and
buggy business to automobiles.
William C. (Billy) Durant
At the 1905 NewYork
Auto Show, Durant took
orders
for 1,000 Buicks
before
the company had
‘built
40. OnBuick’s
success, Durant created a
holding company,
September 16, 1908.
He
called it General Motors.
iv

Durant also created a racing team that won 500 racing
trophes
in 1909and 1910,including successesat
Indianapolistwo years before the Indy
500 began.
The success
of Buick engineswas visible not only on
the race track,but in endurancetests acrossthe country
and around the world. Buick wasthe only carto
complete a 1,000-mileChicago-to-New York race
in
1906.And a Buick was the firstcar to travel across
SouthAmerica, drivenfromBuenos Aires, Argentina,
over the Andes toSantiago,Chile
in 1914.
I
1911 Model 21 Touring Cur on him s Test Hill
Buick drew plentyof attentionbecause it could climb
hills and run throughmud like no other car. Buick’s
enduranceand reliabilitywere worldfamous.
DuringWorld War
I, Buick built Liberty aircraftengines
as well as Red Cross ambulances
so successfully that
one Buick ambulance was awardedthe Croix de Guerre
by the French government.
As a builder of premier automobiles,Buickwas hardhit
by the GreatDepression.However, newGeneral
Manager Harlow H.Curticecreatedpopular new models
includingthe Specialand the Roadmaster. Buick sales
soon flourished.
First Buick Factory
V
Y.

I

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book youwill find these notices:
I NOTICE:
These mean there is 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 covered by your warranty, andit couldbe costly.
But the notice will tell you whatto do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals,
you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings
in different colors
or in different words.
You’ll also seewarning labels on yourvehicle.They use
the same words CAUTION or NOTICE.
ix

I
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on
an
originalbattery:
POSSIBLE
A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD
BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR ,111,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols
have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e
TURN
RUNNING .'**D*o
DAYTIME
LAMPS "'
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT
TEMP -
CHARGING I-1
BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE (0)
COOLANT
ENGINEOIL e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
I
LIGHTER n
HORN k3
SPEAKER
c>
FUEL rn
x

NOTES
xi

NOTES

.. ,
,' .
Section 1 SeatsandRestraintSystems

Power Seat (Option)
Power Lumbar (Option)
The power seatcontrols are located onthe armrest.
Raise thefront of the seatby pressing the
left side of the
frontswitch.Press theright side of this switch to lower
the front of the seat.
Press the
LUMBAR switch forward toincreaselumbar
support.Press it rearward todecreaselumbar support.
Move the seatforward orbackby pressing and holding
FWD or BACK. Raise the seatby pressing and holding
UP. Press and hold
DN to lower the seat.
Press and holdthe left sideof the rearswitch toraise the
rear of the seat.Press and holdthe right side
of this
switch to lowerthe rear of the seat.
1-2

Memory Seat (Option)
To program the memory seat:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Make surethe vehicleis in PARK (P).
Adjust the driver’sseatthe way you wantit.
Press the SETbutton.
Press
the left or right sideof the MEMORY control
and yourseatingposition is programmed.
When your Roadmaster isin PARK
(P), press the same
sideof the MEMORY controlto recall the seat setting.
Program the memory seat for an additionaldriver
followingthe preceding steps,but pressthe other sideof
the memory control.
The EXIT button allows you toget out
of your vehicle
more easily.
If you selectthe wrong sideof the MEMORY control or
the EXIT button, youcan cancelit by pressing anyof
the power seatswitches.
Heated Seats (Option)
If your vehiclehas this feature, the switch is near the
LUMBAR control.
It has two warming positions:HI and
LO. Move the switch to OFF to turn thisfeature off.
Power Recliner (Option)
This switch is on the side of the seat.Press this switch
rearward to movethe seatbackdown toa reclined
position.Press it forward to movethe seatback to an
uprightposition.
1-3

Reclining Front Seatbacks
To adjustthe seatback, lift
the leveron the outerside
of the seat and move the
seatback to where you want
it. Release theleverto lock
the seatback.Pull up
on the
lever and the seatwill go to
an uprightposition.
But don’thave a seatback reclined
if your vehicle
is moving.
1-4 *

3
Sittingin a reclined position whenyour vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even
if you buckle
up, your safety belts can’tdo theirjobwhen
you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’tdoitsjob because it
won’t beagainstyour body. Instead,
it will be in
frontof
you. In a crash you could gointo it,
receiving neckorotherinjuries.
The lapbelt can’tdo itsjob either.
In a crash the
belt could
go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would bethere, not
at your pelvic bones.
Thiscould causeseriousinternalinjuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sitwell
back inthe seat and wear your safety belt properly.
Head Restraints
Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint is closest to the topof your ears. This position
reduces the chanceof a neck
injury in a crash.
On some models, the head restraints tilt forward and
rearward also.
Wagon Foldine Seatback:
The second and thiru seats 01 your station wagon have
seatbacks that
can be folded down to provide more
cargo space.

Second Seatback
To fold the seatback down:
1. Press the knob next to the seatback on the
passenger side.
2. Pull the seatback forward and pushit down.
To raise the seatback:
1. Pull the seatback up and pushit back to lockit
2. Push and pull the topof the seatback to be sureit is
into place.
locked in position.
Third Seatback
The third seatis folded flatin the tailgate area of your
station wagon.
To raise the seatback:
1. Openthetailgate.
2.Liftthestorage
compartment lid and
fold it back
so that it
lies flat.
1-6