Dales90

Ok guys, The driver's heated seat button displays correct lighting, HI / LO, but no heat. Is there a relay located where, I could check/replace? You are my user friendly shop manual on this board. thanks Dale

Having owned an 84 convertible, red, I can vouch for the benefit of 84/85 having headliner material..very quite with the top up, coupe-like. So those years also had the better looking, IMHO, waterfall grilles, not the earlier egg crates. Dale

Ed, Never have seen one on a Riv, but in 1961, when dad bought a new LeSabre, he was always one to listen to the car, the engine, the tranny, etc. when driving, so radio was not allowed. He ordered it Radio-Delete,and bought me a transister radio with ear phone.... I still have the radio delete plate, as when I got the car as my first, immediately junkyarded a Wonderbar radio. Thanks for the memory. Dale

The Courtesy Lights are working now. A different issue for each switch. The Driver's side was the first to be solved. I removed the switch, and as I mentioned before, the rubber on both was very supple, so did not fear a lot of corrosion. When I removed it, the rear lights, which had not lit via this switch, briefly sparked, so I looked at the hole in the jamb and found the repaint from previous owner, had covered the edge, so scraped it clean, and wah-lah, perfect operation. So, on to the passenger's side and found its trouble was easier. One of the three leads had come loose from the switch, reconnected it, and scraped the hole edge for good measure, and it now works perfectly. With the new lenses from JollyJohn, all lights now smile at me. Thanks for everyone's suggestions, all that knowledge paid off. Dale

Hi, My first 64 came with factory saddle mats, with trishield logo, never any with riv logo in first gen Dale

Yet...is now, the trunk light came on, and the rear sail panel lights only with the light switch, never with the open door. On to the door switch, what will I find? corroded contacts, 2 of three good? Will need warmer weather for that trial. Think Spring. Dale

Jim Thanks for the tip, will be an easy first step, and may be the solution. Better than trying to play with the door switch, which has wonderfully pliable rubber, so I don't suspect it,...yet.... Thanks Dale

Thanks to all, Particularly because despite the grey, that is way, all lighting, I remembered from my prev Riv. I will coax the door switch when I next am with the car, and see what happens. Dale

Hi, My grey hair is showing again. I owned a 64 for over 35 years and have another now, and am puzzled because I can't remember if the following is correct. I open my door, and the two console courtesy lamps light, but not the two sail panel lights. I turn my light switch counter clockwise past the detent, and my sail panel courtesy lamps light, but not the console. I this correct, or do I have a wiring issue? Thanks to all who have less grey hair and reply. Dale

Guys, And the most exceptional movie for a Riviera is ..... "Buick Riviera", wherein the car is the most shown star. It was filmed in 2008, and the DVD is in PAL and available in Europe. Hands down the most footage of a Riviera in film ever. Dale

Seeing the thread about this subject, I wanted to share my experience. Years ago I had a shop swap from another 1989 Riv to my 89 Riv, the factory cell option. When done, my crt "options" screen now showed the phone. The unit included the console wired hand set, as well as the hands free path thru the CRT. A microphone was in the head liner near the front, and radio would dump its sound to the rear speakers for the phone to be carried thru the front speakers. When an incoming call arrived, the radio would automatically do the speaker thing, the crt would dispaly incoming with a touch to answer. The handset could be introduced at any time, and the touch screen would dial out using the 10 key display to make a call. I believe any such Riv installed system, would be able to be installed in any 88-89 Reatta with the crt. The shop had the benefit of pulling the unit from the other 89, which was my secretary's car, she was so proud of finding a Riv like mine, and did not use the phone, only her toddler played with the dead hand set. I had the shop put my console insert into her car, we were both happy campers because I had them repair her cassette deck at the time, so we both smiled driving away. It was at the time analog was dying and a rep at US Cellular found a way to gain me a new analog line....I remember her side of the phone conversation placing the order...."because he wants it.,,....because we can.....because I said so.." She was great. Just to let you know it should be possible, oh, also, needed was the phone tranducer power antenna, it had a 'bump' in the middle to do the transmission thing. Dale

one desert dog says "Dales90, that is one sweet ride. I may have to change my mind about painting my 65 Rivi White" Thanks, I don't remember the 64 white, but when repainting a 62 skylark convert some years ago, I remember the factory white was not as bright as I wanted, so had it done in the then available Riviera convertible white, bright, bright, bright. This 64 has saddle interior, and my first 64 was bronze mist with that interior, so may bo back to that when the time comes. Dale

with a llittle luck, attached is a pic of my 64 desert beige. Dale

Hi all, Well, I puled my 99 white diamond pearl into a convenience store lot today, and noticed a lady in an suv staring at me, or so I thought As I approached the store, she held my gaze and said, "What kind of car IS that?!!" I told her it was a Buick Riviera, and she said "I really like the lines" I mentioned it was over 10 years old and the style has stood up well, and she agreed. When I exited the store, she ws still there and I thnked her for the compliment. I'm used to getting such comments on the 64, but not the 99... And this car is shown in the background of one of the Bugle pix of the Branson meet. I was not able to park in the show filed either day Friday/Saturday, don't know why, was registered, was not allowed in. So the compliment makes up for that.... Dale:)

Hi, Just wondering. The 140 mph speedo. Didn't that only come on 425 equipt cars? Like the 401 had 120 mph? Maybe a 64 speedo in the car? Dale

My car was from West Texas, and I have a lot of dealer info that came with my car when I bought it. Steve, How far west in TX? My original one came from Nance Buick-Opel in El Paso. Clueless about my current one Dale

Plymouth was still UGLY Steve, Thanks for the grin!!! Dale

Ha, Back then, I dubbed these babies "layer cake" Rivs, due to the look from the rear. My least favorite models.. Any years which look more like GMs others do nothing for the Riviera. Rivs should be immediately identifiable, and share nothing with other models. just my humble opinion. Dale

Hi, You may want to remember why the original gears would fail, they were made of pot metal for a reason, so they, rather than the steel worm gear on the armature shaft of the motor would not. GM would rather have replaced the cheap gear than a motorl. I would be concerned about the gear being of same or harder temper than the worm shaft gear. years ago I purchased remaining GM inventory of the original gears. There were just 5 passenger and 4 driver side gears in the whole gm parts inventory. They cost me $15 each, those were the days Dale

From the pix. Any input on what the Service Engine Soon light is about? Dale

Do I remember the 65 GS's having a quicker steering ratio? Can you quicken a standard 64 by introducing the gear box? Dale

Hi, 64 dual quad motor, KX, yes. Dale

Newbie, Quick 64 uniqueness items. Stand up hood ornament, not trishield button for 63 Shift D and L are ok for 64 Riviera script badges on all exterior (BUICK on trunk is 63) Rear quarter ss "scoops" separate 64 from none on 65 Drive it and feel the 400 tranny change gears, 63 is dynaflow, no shift feeling. Just few of the ways.. Dale

Hi, Back in the day, that is to say when higher octane was available, I had a 61 Electra 225 convert with a 401 Carter. I assume that car was heavier than a first gen Riv. After a tune up, new points, condenser, rotor, and timing reset, fresh air filter, and anything else I could attempt to give it a chance to give best mpg, I drove approx 165 miles at 55 mph cross country, and got that magic 20 mpg at the destiniation. Best I've ever gotten, never to be duplicated. Dale

LoneStar, Just my humble opinion, but being able to resourse such a wood grain package after market for my 99 non-SA, which has screen printed nomenclature for the switch panel, I am sceptacle. The lettering on the vinyl armrest is hidden by this package....not what you would expect factory issue to do...... Dale