1997 Buick Skylark Owner's Manual

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The 1997 Buick Skylark Owner’s Manual 1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tellsyou how to use your seats and safety belts properly.It also explains the “SRS” system. 2- 1 Features and Controls This section explains howto start and operate your Buick. 3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems This section tells you howto adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and howto operate your audio system. 4-1 Your Driving and the Road Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road andto howdrive under different conditions. 5-1 Problems on the Road This section tells what to doif you have a problem while driving, suchas a flat tire or overheated engine, etc. 6-1 Service and Appearance Care Here the manual tells you howto keep your Buick running properly and looking good. 7-3 Maintenance Schedule This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. 8-1 Customer Assistance Information This section tellsyou how to contact Buick for assistance and howto get service and owner publications. It also givesyou information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page8-8. 9-1 Index Here’s an alphabetical listingof almost every subjectin this manuaI. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read. i We support voluntary technician certification. I GENERAL MOTORS, GMthe GM Emblem, BUICK, WE SUPPORT the BUCK Emblem andthe name SKYLARK are VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN -registered trademarksof General Motors Corporation. CERTIFICATION THROUGH National Institute for This manual includes the latest information theat time it AUTOMOTIVE 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, substitutethe name "General Motors of Canada Limited"for Buick Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. For Canadian Owners Who Prefera Please keep this manualin your Buick, so it will be there French Language Manual: if you ever needit when you're on the road.If you sell Aux propriktaires canadiens:Vous pouvez vous the vehicle, pleaseleave this manual in it so the new procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en franGais chez votre concessionaireou au: DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1500 Bonhill Rd. Mississauga, Ontario L5T IC7 Litho in U.S.A. @Copyright General Motors Corporation 1996 Part No. 25645981 B First Edition All Rights Reserved I' iii Durant also created a racing team that won500 racing Buick drew plentyof attention becauseit could climb trophies in 1909 and 19 10, including successes at hills and run through mud likeno other car. Buick’s Indianapolis two years before the Indy500 began. endurance and reliability were world famous. The success of Buick engines was visible not only on During WorldWar I, Buick built Liberty aircraft engines the race track, but in endurance tests across the country as well as Red Cross ambulancesso successfully that and around the world. Buick was the only car to one Buick ambulance was awarded theCroix de Guerre complete a 1,000-mile Chicago-to-NewYork race in by the French government. 1906. And a Buick was thefirst car to travel across As a builderof premier automobiles, Buick was hardhit South America, drivenfrom Buenos Aires, Argentina, by the Great Depression. However, new General over the Andes to Santiago, Chilein 1914. Manager Harlow H. Curtice created popular new models including the Special andthe Roadmaster. Buick sales soon flourished. 1911 Model 21 Touring Car on Buick’s TestHill First Buick Factory V In World War 11, Buick built aircraft engines, tanks and A high-compression V-8 engine was introduced in1953 other military hardware. This post-war period brought And Buick’s famous vertical pillar “toothy”grille great styling and engineering changes which resultedin (introduced in 1942) became more massivein the increased sales. The torque converter automatic post-war era. transmission, Dynaflow, was introduced in the1948 Roadmaster. Buick’s famous “portholes” came along in 1949. 1953 Skylark Motor Trend magazine named the1962 Buick Special 1949 Roadmaster “Car of the Year.”productionfirst The V-6 enginewas used in the Special. vi 1962 Buick Special Ed Mertz, General Manager, Buick Motor Division Built inside the wallsof the-oldbuildings in Buick’s Our mission is simple: former Flint complex, which formedthe cornerstone of “Buick will provide Premium American Motorcars General Motors, Buick City is a state-of-the-art backed with services that exceed our customers’ assembly facility with more than200 robots and other expectations, throughout the purchase, ownership, high-tech equipment.It was completed in the fall service and repurchase experience.” of 1985. Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL. Buicks are, and will continue to be, premium American motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich Buicks are DISTINCTIVE. detail and comfortable accommodation. Buicks are POWERFUL. Buicks are PREMIUM. vii I others could be hart. ~ You will also find a circle witb a slash through it in this book. This safety ~ymb01mean”‘Don’t,” “Don’t do this,”’or “Don’t let this happen.’’ Vehicle Damage Warnings In the notice area,we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would Also, in this book you will find these notices: not be covered by your warranty, andit could be I costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help I NOTICE: avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see These mean thereis something that could CAUTION and NOTICE warningsin different damage your vehicle. colors or in different words. You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION orNOTICE. ix I r Vehicle Symbols These are someof the symbols you may find on your vehicle. For example, These symbols These symbols These symbols These symbols Here are some these symbols are important have to do with are on some of are used on other symbols are used on an for you and your lamps: your controls: warning and you may see: original battery: your passengers indicator lights: whenever your vehicle is CAUTION driven: POSSIBLE A FUSE INJURY COOLANT TEMP - DOOR LOCK TURN PROTECT UNLOCK SIGNALS EYES BY e BATTERY LIGHTER m SHIELDING CHARGING Fi Q SYSTEM CAUSTIC WINDSHIELD HORN FASTEN DEFROSTER )cr SEAT BRAKE BELTS (a) HAZARD BURNS WARNING FLASHER A COOLANT SPEAKER AVOID I@ SPARKS OR POWER a FLAMES WINDOW ENGINE OIL PRESSURE e,FUEL SPARKOR ,111, B FLAME VENTILATING COULD FAN ANTI-LOCK EXPLODE FOG LAMPS (@) $0 BRAKES BAllERY L 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.You can also learn about some things you shouldnot do with air bags and safety belts. 1-2 Seats andSeat Controls 1-32 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guidesfor Children 1-9 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone and Small Adults 1-13 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About 1-34 Center Passenger Position Safety Belts-- and the Answers 1-36 Children 1-14 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly 1-38 Child Restraints 1-14 Driver Position 1-46 Larger Children 1-22 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy 1-49 Safety Belt Extender 1-23 Right Front Passenger Position 1-49 Checking Your Restraint Systems 1-23 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 1-49 Replacing Restraint System Parts After 1-29 Rear Seat Passengers a Crash 2-Way Manual Seat Manual Lumbar Support (If Equipped) Passenger’s Side Turn the knob on the right frontof the driver’s seat Move the control lever under thefront of the seat to cushion clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the unlock it. Slide the seat to whereyou want it. Then support for the lower back. release the lever andtry to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seatis locked in place. 1-3 Power Seat Controls (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 forwardor backward by holding thecontrd to thefront or back. Raise or lower the seat by holdingthe control up or down. Rear Control (R): Raise the rearof the seat by holding the switch up. Hold the switch downto lower the rear of the seat. The power seat controls are locatedon the sideof the driver’s seat. Reclining Front Seatb'acks I Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Evenif you buckle up, your safety belts can’t theirdo job when you’re reclined like this. The shoulder belt can’t do job its because it won’t be against your body.Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash you could gointo it, receiving neckor other injuries. The lap belt can’t do itsjob either. In a crash the belt couldgo up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, notat your pelvic bones. This could cause seriousinternal injuries. But don’t have a seatback reclinedif your vehicle is moving. For proper protection when the vehicle in is motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat andwear your safety belt properly. Head Restraints Easy Entry Seat (2-Door Models) Slide the head restraint up or downso that the top of &e restraint is closest to the topof your ears. This position I reduces the chance of a neck injuryin a crash. Seatback Latches (2-Door Models) 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.

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