trailer BUICK CENTURY 1994 Owners Manual

@ Automatic Overdrive
If your automatic transaxle has automatic overdrive,
this position is for normal driving.
If you need more
power for passing, and you’re:
- Going less than 35 mph (56 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
accelerator all
the way down.
- Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
D (Third Gear)
If your automatic transaxle does not have Overdrive,
this position is for normal driving, at all speeds,
in
most street and highway situations.
If your automatic transaxle has Overdrive,
“D” is
like
@, but you never go into Overdrive.
Here are some times
you might choose “D” instead
of
03:
- When driving on hilly, winding roads
- When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
- When going down a steep hill
between gears
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.
I NOTICE:
Don’t drive in “2” (Second Gear) for more than 5
miles (8 km), or at speeds over 55 mph (88 km/h),
or you can damage your transaxle. Use “D”
(‘@’’
or “D” if your vehicle has Overdrive) as much as
possible.
Don’t shift into
“2” unless you are going slower
than
65 mph (1 05 km/h), or you can damage your
engine.
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I NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause your
rear brakes
to overheat. You may have to replace
them, and you could also damage other parts
of
your vehicle.
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.
Shifting Into ‘‘P” (Park)
A CAUTION:
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 “P” (Park) position like
this:
0 Pull the lever toward you.
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Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
‘P’ (Park)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer,
also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
Windows
On a vehicle with manual windows, use the window
crank to open and close
each window.
Power Windows (Option)
With power windows, switches on the driver’s armrest
control each
of the windows when the ignition is on. In
addition, each passenger door has
a control switch for its
own 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:
DefensiveDriving .................................................................
DrunkenDriving ..................................................................
Control of a Vehicle ................................................................
Braking .....................................................................
Steering .....................................................................
Passing .....................................................................
LossofControl ....................................................................
DrivingatNight ...................................................................
DrivingintheRain .................................................................
CityDriving ......................................................................
HillandMountainRoads ............................................................
WinterDriving ....................................................................
TowingaTrailer ...................................................................
FreewayDriving ...................................................................
140
140
144
144
147 150
151
152
154
156 157
160
161
165
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Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as
you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out
of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
Towing a Trailer
1 NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by your warranty.
To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this section, and see your Buick
dealer
for important information about towing a
trailer with your vehicle.
Your car can tow a trailer if it is equipped with either the
2.2L L4 engine or the 3 100 SF1 V6 engine and proper
trailer towing equipment.
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.
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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.
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 on!y
where you live but also where you’ll be driving. A
good source for
this information can be state or
provincial police.
Consider using a sway control,
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.
0 Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow
a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and
don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts
of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.
Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or no more than
55 mph (90 Km/h) to
save wear on your vehicle’s parts.
Three important considerations have to do
with weight:
Weight of the Trailer
Your vehicle can tow normally up to 1,000 pounds
(450kg). If your vehicle has a
3100 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).
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 L1H
8P7.
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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.
B I
If you’re using a “dead-weight” hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 10% of the total loaded trailer weight
(B). If you have a “weight-distributing” hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh
12% 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 Certification
label at
the rear edge of the driver’s door or see
“Loading Your Vehicle” 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:
0 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 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.
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The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for
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.
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
hitch 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.
Trailer 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. Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try
to tap into your vehicle’s brake system. If you do, both
brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel
of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly
so
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before
you start, check the trailer hitch and platform,
safety chains, electrical connector, lights, tires and
mirror adjustment. If the trailer has electric brakes, start
your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the
trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This lets
you check your electrical connection
at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lights and any trailer brakes
are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help
you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
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Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to
your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left.
To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and,
if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other objects.
Avoid jerky
or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a
different turn signal flasher and extra wiring. The green arrows
on your instrument panel
will flash whenever
you signal
a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lights
will also flash, telling other drivers
you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your
instrument panel
will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may
think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure
the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift
down, you might have
to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long
uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around 45
mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than 1,000
pounds (450
kg) and you have an automatic transaxle
with Overdrive, you may prefer to drive in “D” instead
of Overdrive.
An overdrive transmission is required if
towing a trailer more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg).
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Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on
a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could
start to move. People can be injured, and both
your,vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if
you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
“P”
(Park) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then, apply your
parking brake, and then shift to
“P” (Park).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system, and brake adjustment.
Each of these
is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help
you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are
tight.
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