Buick Reatta Dash Problems

Posted on 16-09-2021 by admin

The diagnostic port on the '88 Reatta is located under the driver side of the dash to the right of the steering column. Very cool car by the way. Jan 03, 2011 1988 Buick Reatta. It didn’t need another. A worthy candidate for any Worst list, we present the 1988-91 Buick Reatta. The historical record indicates Buick thought it needed a halo car but not as good as a Corvette nor as bad as the Pontiac Fiero. In other words: a low bar. Based on extensive consumer research what Buick came up with was the Allante.

Buick Reatta Dash Problems 5th
1991 Buick Reatta Problems

The make was not listed so I will enlighten you all about what it was. It was a 1989 Buick Reatta. What I liked about the car most was the Delco developed Electronic Control Center. It was a mini computer screen in the middle of the dash and everything you wanted you just touch the screen and it would happen. Reatta owners fell in love with Buick’s luxury two seater and they weren’t likely to want to abandon them any time soon. But, with the release of the overall production numbers (21,751), there were more questions than answers. Forrette contacted Buick Motor Division for assistance and was provided with a list of the original owners.

Buick Reatta
Overview
Manufacturer	General Motors
Production	1988–1991
Assembly	Lansing Craft Center, Lansing, Michigan
Designer	Dave McIntosh (1983)
Body and chassis
Class	Grand tourer/Sports car
Body style	1988–91: 2-door coupe 1990–91: 2-door convertible
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	E-body
Related	Buick Riviera Oldsmobile Toronado Cadillac Eldorado
Powertrain
Engine	1988–90: 3.8 L LN3 BuickV6 1991: 3.8 L L27 BuickV6
Transmission	1988–89: 4-sp 440T-4automatic 1990: 4-sp 4T60automatic 1991: 4-sp 4T60-Eautomatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	98.5 in (2,502 mm)
Length	183.7 in (4,666 mm)
Width	73.0 in (1,854 mm)
Height	1988–89: 51.2 in (1,300 mm) 1990–91: 51.6 in (1,311 mm)
Curb weight	3,593 lb (1,630 kg) 3,392 lb (1,539 kg)

The Buick Reatta is a low-volume transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive, two-door, two-seater grand tourer/sports car manufactured and marketed by Buick as a coupe (1988–1991) and convertible (1990-1991) — both featuring a 3.8 liter V6 engine and shortened version of the GM E platform, the same one that underpinned the Buick Riviera.

As Buick's first two-seater and its first convertible since the 1985 Riviera, the Reatta was manufactured in a highly specialized assembly program at the Reatta Craft Center (later known as the Lansing Craft Center) in Lansing, Michigan—achieving production of over 21,000 units in four years.^[1]

The presence of the Chevrolet Corvette, Pontiac Fiero, Pontiac Firebird, Cadillac Allanté and Oldsmobile Toronado at the time of the Reatta's introduction meant that all of GM's passenger-car divisions offered at least one sporty coupe during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Overview[edit]

Assembly at the Reatta Craft Center was performed at a series of stations each with a specialized team of workers, rather than on a conventional assembly line. After a team had completed their portion of the assembly, the car would be moved by robots to the next station. Paintwork was performed on site under subcontract to PPG Industries.

The Reatta used GM's transverse 'Buick 3800' V6 with 165–170 hp (123–127 kW) and 210–220 lb·ft (285–298 N·m) of torque with the highest output in the last year of production. The car sported a fully independent suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS, and front wheel drive. Top speed was electronically limited to 125 mph (201 km/h). The Reatta was rated at 18 mpg (13.1 L/100 km) in the city and 27 mpg (8.7 L/100 km) on the highway.

The Reatta was intended as a halo car for Buick with projected production of 20,000 units a year. GM announced the end of production in early 1991.^{[citation needed]}

Features[edit]

Rear view (1988 coupe)

The Reatta featured twin bucket seats with a storage area behind the seats featuring two lockable bins^[2] and a lockable access hatch to the rear trunk. At introduction, options included 16-way power seats in lieu of 6-way power seats, side moldings in either black or body color and pinstripe delete. A sunroof became optional in late 1988, and in 1989 keyless entry was added as a standard feature.^{[original research?]}

The Reatta had the distinction of being Buick's only car with pop-up headlamps with the entire headlamp assembly moving up and down. The other Buick cars with hidden headlamps, the Riviera (1965–1969) and the Skyhawk (1987–1989 for certain trim levels), had fixed headlamps hidden behind moveable covers.

Initially (1988-89), the Reatta featured a touchscreen computer interface, marketed as the Electronic Control Center (ECC), that included radio and climate control functions, date reminder, trip computer and user-configurable overspeed alarm, as well as diagnostic access to the vehicle's electronic systems and sensors. Later models were equipped with conventional push-button stereo and climate controls. The new system eliminated the trip computer functionality and the climate control buttons could access diagnostic information, replacing the diagnostic scanner capability formerly provided by the touchscreen.

In 1990, the interior was redesigned, adding a driver's airbag and an optional CD player. In 1991, the 'L27' 3800 engine and 4T60-E transmission replaced the 'LN3' and hydraulic 4T60 units and the Reatta received a new ABS system, new 16' wheels, automatic headlamps and a cup holder built into the armrest.^{[original research?]}

Each Reatta included a leather book containing the owner's manual and a pen. In 1990 and 1991, a zippered owner's folio was included holding the owner's manual, pen, flashlight and tire gauge, as well as a 'Craftsman's Log' with the signatures of the supervisors for the car's assembly.^{[original research?]}

1991 Buick Reatta coupe, with the model year specific 16-inch wheels

In 1988, approximately fifty-five examples were designated 'Select Sixties' and allocated to Buick's top sixty dealers. The models, internally designated model X22, featured a black exterior, tan interior, and unique 'Select Sixty' hood emblems.^{[original research?]}

In 1990, the Select Sixty program was repeated, with sixty-five white convertibles including special emblems, and a flame red interior with white bucket seats, white 16-inch wheels, and cup holder.

Convertible[edit]

After a delayed introduction due to design difficulties,^[2] Buick introduced the convertible Reatta in 1990 with a manually-operated top designed by ASC, available in vinyl or cloth with a glass rear window and electric defroster. When retracted, the top was protected by a rigid tonneau cover. The 1991 models featured power pull-down motors to assist in tightening the rear bow of the top to the tonneau cover.

A Buick convertible would not be offered again until the four-seat Buick Cascada debuted in 2016.

1990 Buick Reatta convertible

Production[edit]

Buick Reatta emblem

The first pilot car was finished at the Reatta Craft Centre in December 1986.^[3] Series production began in January 1988 and ended on May 10, 1991. The original car was sometimes referred to as a '1988½ model year', owing to its January introduction. However, various accounts of much earlier and later cars exist, and the handbuilt nature of the car and long development cycle makes accurately dating production difficult.^{[original research?]}