. .. The 1997 Buick Skylark Owner's Manual 1-1 2- 1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. also explains the "SRS" system. It Features and Controls This section explains how start and operate your Buick. to 3-1 4-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems This section tells you how adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and howoperate your audio system. to to Your Driving and the Road Here you'll find helpful information and tips about the road and how under different conditions. to drive 5-1 6-1 Problems on the Road This section tells what to doyou have a problem while driving, such a flat tire or overheated engine, etc. if as Service and Appearance Care Here the manual tells you howkeep your Buick running properly and looking good. to 73 8-1 Maintenance Schedule This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. Customer Assistance Information This section tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and howget service and owner publications. to It also givesyou information on "Reporting Safety Defects" on page 8-8. 9-1 Index Here's an alphabetical listing almost every subject this manuaI. You can useit to quickly find of in something you wantto read. i I We support voluntary technician certification. GENERAL MOTORS, GMthe GM Emblem, BUICK, the BUCK Emblem andthe name SKYLARK are -registered trademarks General Motors Corporation. of WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION THROUGH National Institute for AUTOMOTIVE This manual includes the latest information the time it at SERVICE was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the EXCELLENCE product after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute name the "General Motors of Canada Limited"for Buick Motor For Canadian Division wheneverit appears in this manual. Please keep this manual your Buick, so it will be there in if you ever need when you're on the road. you sell it If the vehicle, please leave this manualin it so the new Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual: Aux propriktaires canadiens:Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en franGais chez votre concessionaireou au: DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1500 Bonhill Rd. Mississauga, Ontario L5T IC7 Litho inU.S.A. Part No. 25645981 B First Edition @Copyright General Motors Corporation 1996 All Rights Reserved iii Durant also created a racing team that won racing 500 trophies i 1909 and1910, including successes at n Indianapolis two years before the Indy began. 500 The success of Buick engines was visible not only on the race track, butin endurance tests across the country and around the world. Buick was the only car to complete a 1,000-mile Chicago-to-New York race in 1906. And a Buick was the car to travel across first South America, driven from Buenos Aires, Argentina, over the Andes to Santiago, Chilen 1914. i Buick drew plentyof attention becauseit could climb hills and run through mud likeno other car. Buick's endurance and reliability were world famous. During WorldWar I, Buick built Liberty aircraft engines as well as Red Cross ambulances successfully that so one Buick ambulance was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government. As a builder premier automobiles, Buick was hard of hit by the Great Depression. However, new General Manager Harlow H. Curtice created popular new models including the Special andthe Roadmaster. Buicksales soon flourished. 1911 Model 21 Touring Car on Buick's TestHill First Buick Factory V In World War11, 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, was introduced in the 1948 Roadmaster. Buick's famous "portholes" came along A high-compression V-8 engine was introduced in 1953 And Buick's famous vertical pillar "toothy" grille (introduced in 1942)became more massive the in post-war era. i 1949. n 1953 Skylark 1949 Roadmaster Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 Buick Special "Car of the Year." The production first V-6 engine was used in the Special. vi 1962 Buick Special Built inside the walls the-oldbuildings in Buick's of former Flint complex, which formed cornerstone of the General Motors, Buick City is a state-of-the-art assembly facility with more than200 robots and other high-tech equipment.It was completed in the fall of 1985. 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, throughout the purchase, ownership, service and repurchase experience." Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL. Buicks are, and will continue to be, premium American Buicks are DISTINCTIVE. motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich detail and comfortable accommodation. Buicks arePOWERFUL. Buicks are PREMIUM. vii I others couldbe hart. ~ You will also find a circle witb a slash through it i n this book. This safety ~ymb01 mean"`Don't," "Don't do this,"'or "Don't let this happen.'' Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find these notices: I I NOTICE: These mean there something that could is damage your vehicle. In the notice area, tell you about something that can we damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, andcould be it costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings different in colors or in different words. You'll alsosee warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. ix I r Vehicle Symbols These are some the symbols you may find on your vehicle. of For example, these symbols are used on an original battery: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING CAUSTIC FASTEN SEAT BELTS BURNS AVOID SPARKS OR FLAMES SPARK OR FLAME COULD EXPLODE BAllERY L A These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven: These symbols have to do with your lamps: These symbols are on some of your controls: These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights: Here are some other symbols you may see: Q 111, , DOOR LOCK UNLOCK TURN SIGNALS e COOLANT TEMP BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER Fi FUSE LIGHTER m HAZARD WARNING FLASHER A $0 BRAKE (a) HORN )cr COOLANT POWER WINDOW a (@) SPEAKER ENGINE OIL PRESSURE VENTILATING FAN ANTI-LOCK BRAKES e , FUEL I@ B FOG LAMPS X Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you'll find information aboutthe seats in your Buick and how to use your safety belts properly. also You can learn about some things you should do with a r bags and safety belts. not i 1-2 1-9 1-13 1-14 1-14 1-22 1-23 1-23 1-29 Seats andSeat 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 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Rear Seat Passengers 1-32 1-34 1-36 1-38 1-46 1-49 1-49 1-49 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides Children for and Small Adults Center Passenger Position Children Child Restraints Larger Children Safety Belt Extender Checking Your Restraint Systems Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash 2-Way Manual Seat Manual Lumbar Support (If Equipped) Passenger's Side Move the control lever under the of the seat to front unlock it. Slide the seat to where want it. Then you release the lever and to move the seat with your try body, to make sure the seat locked in place. is Turn the knob onthe right frontof the driver's seat cushion clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the support for the lower back. 1-3 Power SeatControls (If Equipped) Front Control (F): Raise the front of the seatby holding the switchup. Hold the switch down to lower the front of the seat. Center Control (C): Move the seat forward or backward by holding the contrd to thefront or back. Raise or lower the seat by holding control up the or down. Rear Control (R): Raise the rearof the seat by holding the switch up. Hold the switch downlower the rear of to the seat. The power seat controls are located the sideof the on driver's seat. Reclining Front Seatb'acks I Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can't their job when do you're reclined like this. The shoulder belt can't do job because it its won't be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neckor other injuries. The lap belt can't do its either. In a crash the job belt couldgo up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, notyour pelvic bones. at This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle in is motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. But don't have a seatback reclined vehicle is moving. if your Head Restraints Slide the head restraint up or down that the top of &e so restraint is closest to the top your ears. This position of reduces the chance of a neck injuryin a crash. Easy Entry Seat(2-Door Models) I If an easy entry right front seat isn't locked, it can move.In a sudden stop or crash, the person sitting there could be injured. After you've used it, be sureto push rearward on an easy entry seat to be sure itis locked. The right front seat of your vehicle makesit easy to get in and out of the rear seat. Tilt the rightfront seatback completely forward and the whole seat will slide forward. Move the right front seatback to its original position after someone gets the rear seat area. Then move in the seat rearward until locks. it Seatback Latches (2-Door Models) The front seatback folds forward to people get into let the back seat. To fold afront seat forward, lift the seatback latch. When you return the seatback to.its original position,the seatback will lock. Tilt the seatback completely forward to get out. 1-7 Rear Seats Folding the Rear Seat Equipped) (If With the rear folding seatbacks, you can carry long cargo by folding down part or allof the rear seat. P l this strap to fold down ul the seatback. When you fold the seatback up, push the of the seat, top making sure the seat completely closed to ensure the is seat locksin a sudden stop or 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 Restraint System (SRS), or air bag system. A CAUTION: Don't let anyone ride where he or she can't wear a safety belt properly.f you are m a crash and I you're not wearing safety belt, your injuries a can be much worse. can hit things inside the You vehicle or be ejected from it. can be seriously You injured or killed. In the same crash, might you not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,and check that your passengers' belts are fastened properly too. It is extremely dangerous to ride incargo area, a inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in anyarea of your vehiclethat is not equipped with seats safety belts. Besure and everyone in your vehicle isa in and using a seat safety belt properly. 1-9 ...