trailer BUICK CENTURY 1993 Owners Manual

NOTICE:
After you’ve
How long should you keep the block heater plugged in? The
answer depends on the weather, the kind of
oil you have,
and some other things. Instead of trying
to list everything
here, we ask that you contact a Buick dealer, in the area
where you’ll be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give
you the best advice for that particular area.
Automatic .Transaxle
There are several different
positions for your
shift
lever.
P (Park)
This locks your front wheels. It’s the best position to use\

when you
start your engine because your vehicle can’t
move easily.
I- -
I a CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is
not fully in “P” (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set.
Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You
or others could be injured. To I
be sure your vehicle won’t move, when you’re
on fairly level
ground, always set your parking
brake and move the shift lever to “P” (Park).
See “Shifting
Into ‘P’ (Park)” in the Index. If
you are parking
on a hill, or, if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Parking
on Hills” or “Towing
a Trailer”
in the Index.
R (Reverse)
Use this gear to back up.
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If your automatic transaxle has Overdrive, “D” is like
“a,” but you never go into Overdrive. Here are some
times you might choose
“D” instead of “@”:
- When driving on hilly, winding roads
- When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between
gears
- When going down a steep hill
2 (Second Gear)
This position gives you more power but lower fuel
economy. You can use
“2” on hills. It can help control
your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but
then you would also want to use your brakes off and on.
1 (First Gear)
This position gives you even more power (but lower fuel
economy) than 2. You can use it on very steep hills, or
in deep snow or mud. If the selector lever is put in “1 i’
the transaxle won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is
going slowly enough.
bb 99
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Parking Brake
The parking brake uses the brakes on the rear wheels.
I
To set the parking brake:
Hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right
foot. Push down the
parking brake pedal with
your left foot.
If the ignition
is on, the brake system
I warning light will come on.
L
I
To release the parking
brake:
Hold the regular
brake pedal down. Pull the
brake release lever.
NOTICE:
Driving with thiparl ‘g brake or )use
your rear brakesto oveFheat. ybu may have
-
replace them, and you could alse damage
other parts
of your vehicle.
If you are on a hill: See “Parking on Hills” in the Index.
That section shows
how to turn your front wheels.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any
hill: See “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section
shows what to do first to keep the trailer from
moving.
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Shifting Into “P” (Park)
,3
/i CAUTION: ~
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehlcle
if the shift lever is not fully in “P” (Park) with ,
the parking brake firmly set. bur vehicle can -.
roll.
If you have left the engine runnin.g, the vehicle
can move suddenly. ybu
or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t inwe,
when you’re on fairly level ground, Use the ‘
steps that follow. If you are parking on a hill,
or if you’m pulling a trailer, also see. “Parking
on Hills” or “Towing B Trailer” in the Index.
Steering Column Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and set
the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the “P” (Park) position like
this:
Pull the lever toward you.
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Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
1
I a CAUTION: I
Idling the engine with the air system “control
off could allow dangerous exhaust into your
vehicle (see the earlier
CAUTION under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling In a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the hlghest setting. One
place this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust-. -
with C0-n come in easily.’ NEVER park in a
garage wlth the engine running.
Another closed-in place can
be a blizzard.
It can be dpngeroua to get out of your vehicle
If the shift lever is not fully On “P” (Park) wlth
the parking
brake firmly set. bur vehicle can
roll. Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
Os runnhg unless you. have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly.
Nu or others could be injured. To
I
I
I (See “Blizzard” In.the Index.)
CAUTION (Continued)
- - - -
I CAUTION (C __ ____ Jued) ..
be sureyour vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, always set your
parking
brake and move the shift lever to “P”,
(Park).
Follow the proper steps to be &re your
vehicle won’t move.
See “Shifting Into ‘P’
(Park)”.in the Index.
If you are parking on
a hill, or if you’re pulling
a trailer, also see “Parking On Hills” or
“Towing
a Thiler” in the Index.
i
Windows
On a vehicle with manual windows, use the window
crank
to open and close each window.
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Part 4 Your Driving and the Road
~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~
Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions . We’ve
also included many other useful tips on driving
.
Part 4 includes:
Roadsigns ........................................................................\
. 134
DefensiveDriving
.................................................................... 142
Control of a Vehicle
DrunkenDriving
.................................................................. 143
Braking
........................................................................\
.. 146
SteeringTips
...................................................................... ~0
Steering in Emergencies ............................................................. E1
Passing ........................................................................\
.. 152
LossofControl .................................................................... E4
DrivingatNight ..................................................................... E5
DrivingintheRain ................................................................... ~8
Driving in Fog, Mist and Haze .......................................................... 160
CityDriving ........................................................................\
162
FreewayDriving
..................................................................... 163
DrivingaLongDistance
.............................................................. 1~ .
HillandMountainRoads 166
ParkingonHills
..................................................................... 168
WinterDriving
...................................................................... 171
TowingaTrailer
..................................................................... 175
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..............................................................
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Towing a Trailer
A CAUTION:
If you don’t use the correct equipment and
drive properly, you can lose control when you
pull a traller. For example, If the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well--or wen
at all. Mu and your passengets could be
seriously Injured. Pull a trailer only if you have
followed all the steps in this section.
hicle and result
Your Buick can tow a trailer. To identify what the vehicle
trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read
the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that appears
later
in this section. But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering means changes
in handling, durability, and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly. That’s the reason for this section.
In it are many time-
tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many
of
these are important for your safety and that of your
passengers.
So please read this section carefully before
you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies, and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight. The engine is
required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the
trailer adds considerably
to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.
All of that means changes in:
Handling
Durability
Fuel economy
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If You Do Decide to Pull a Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
There are many different laws having to do with
trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you’ll be driving.
A
good source for this information can be state or
provincial police.
You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle
or other parts could be damaged. .
Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow
a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 Wh) and don’t
make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and
other parts of your vehicle wear
in at the heavier loads.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
Weight of the Trailer
Your vehicle can tow normally up to 1,OOO pounds
(450 kg). If your vehicle has a V6 engine with a four-
speed automatic transaxle and is equipped with the
optional heavy-duty engine cooling system,
it can tow
up to 2,000 pounds
(900 kg).
But even that can be too heavy. It depends on how you
plan to use your rig. For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much your vehicle
is used to pull
a trailer are all important. And, it can
also depend on any special equipment that you have on
your vehicle. You can ask your dealer for our trailering
information or advice, or you can write us at Buick
.
Motor Division, Customer Assistance Center, 902 E.
Hamilton Ave., Flint, MI 48550.
In Canada, write to General Motors of Canada
Limited, Customer Assistance Center, 1908 Colonel
Sam Drive, Oshawa, Ontario,
LlH 8W.
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Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total capacity
weight of your vehicle. The capacity weight includes
the curb weight
of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry
in it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle.
And if you will tow a trailer, you must subtract the
tongue load from your vehicle’s capacity weight
because your vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index for more
information about your vehicle’s maximum load capacity. The trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 10% of
the total
loaded trailer weight
(B). After you’ve loaded your
trailer, weigh the trailer and then the tongue, separately,
to see if the weights are proper.
If they aren’t, you may
be able to get them right simply by moving some items
around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the limit for
cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on
the
Tire-Pressure Certification label at the rear edge of the
driver’s door (or see “Tire Loading” in the Index). Then be sure you don’t go over the
GVW limit for your
vehicle.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by,
and rough roads are a
few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules
to follow:
Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install a trailer hitch?
If you do, then
be sure to seal the holes later when you remove the
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hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon monoxide
(CO) from your .exhaust can get into your vehicle
(see
“Carbon Monoxide” in the Index). Dirt and water can,
too.
hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other bumper-
type hitches to them. Use only a frame-mounted hitch
that
does not attach to the bumper.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road
if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions about
safety chains may
be provided by the hikh manufacturer
or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation for attaching safety chains. Always leave
just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig. And,
never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Mer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read
and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes
so you’ll
be able to install, adjust and maintain them properly.
Don’t tap into your vehicle’s brake system if the trailer\
’s
brake system will use more than
0.02 cubic inch
(0.3 cc) of fluid from your vehicle’s master cylinder. If
it does, both braking systems won’t work well. You
could even lose your brakes.
Will the trailer brake parts take 3,000 psi (20 650 kPa)
of pressure? If not, the trailer brake system must not be
used with your vehicle.
If everything checks out this far, then make the brake
fluid tap at the upper rear master cylinder port.
But
don’t use copper tubing for this. If you do, it will bend
and finally break off. Use
steel brake tubing.
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