mirror BUICK CENTURY 2001 User Guide

4-15
Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not ªoverdrivingº
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip
and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid,
too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for
a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.

4-16
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to be
impaired
-- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.Here are some tips on night driving.

Drive defensively.

Don't drink and drive.

Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.

Since you can't see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.

Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.

In remote areas, watch for animals.

If you're tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase. A 50
-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light to see the
same thing at night as a 20
-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes
will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you're
driving, don't wear sunglasses at night. They may cut
down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot
of things invisible.

4-22
The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same
speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too
-fast or
too
-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the
left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to
check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close
to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal,
check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as
often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the
traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it's slower. Stay
in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn't another vehicle in your
ªblindº spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not, under
any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the
next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.

4-24
What can you do about highway hypnosis?
First, be aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:

Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.

Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.

If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.

4-36 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 and do not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
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
as responsive as your vehicle is by itself.Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, 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 lamps 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.
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.

6-60
Circuit Breaker Description
TIRE RESET Tire Inflation Monitor
Reset Button
PWR WINDOWS,
PWR SUNROOFPower Windows,
Power Sunroof
REAR DEFOG Rear Window Defogger
POWER SEATS Power Seats
Blank Not UsedFuse Description
PARK LOCK Ignition Key Solenoid
Blank Not Used
Blank Not Used
PCM, BCM, U/H
RELAYIgnition Signal: Hot in Run
and Start, Powertrain Control
Module, Body Control
Module, Underhood Relay
RADIO PREM.
SOUNDRemote Radio
Premium Sound
POWER MIRRORS Power Mirrors
Blank Not Used
PANEL DIMMING Panel Dimming
Blank Not Used
IGN 0, CLUSTER,
PCM, BCMIgnition Signal: Hot in Run,
Unlock and Start, Cluster,
Powertrain Control Module,
Body Control Module
Blank Not Used
Blank Not Used
Blank Not Used
INADV POWER
BUSInterior Lamps, Retained
Accessory Power

6-61
Fuse Description
DOOR LOCKS Door Locks
TRAP ALERT Not Used
TAIL LAMPS,
LIC LAMPSTaillamps, License Lamps
RADIO Radio
HEATED MIRROR Heated Mirrors
CRUISE Cruise Control
Blank Not Used
CLUSTER Instrument Panel Cluster
CIGAR LTR Cigarette Lighter, Auxiliary
Power Connection
(Power Drop)
STOP LAMPS Stoplamps
ONSTAR OnStar


FRT PARK LPS Parking Lamps
POWER DROP Auxiliary Power Connection
(Power Drop): Hot in ACC
and Run
CRANK SIGNAL,
BCM, CLUSTERCrank Signal, Body Control
Module, Cluster, Powertrain
Control Module
HVAC Ignition Signal, HVAC
Control HeadFuse Description
BTSI PARK LOCK Shifter Lock Solenoid
AIR BAG Air Bag
BCM PWR Body Control Module
HAZARD Hazard Flashers
LH HEATED SEAT Driver's Heated Seat
Blank Not Used
BCM ACC Ignition Signal:
Hot in ACC and Run,
Body Control Module
Blank Not Used
LOW BLOWER Low Blower
ABS Anti
-Lock Brakes
TURN SIGNALS,
CORN LPSTurn Signals,
Cornering Lamps
RADIO, HVAC,
RFA, CLUSTERRadio, HVAC Head, Remote
Keyless Entry, Cluster
HIGH BLOWER High Blower
RH HEATED SEAT Passenger's Heated Seat
STRG WHL CONT Audio Steering
Wheel Controls
WIPER Wipers

6-62
Underhood Electrical Center -- Passenger's Side
Some fuses and relays are located in the underhood
electrical center on the passenger's side of the engine
compartment. See ªEngine Compartment Overviewº
in the Index for more information on location.Maxi fuse Description
1 ABS
2 Starter Solenoid
3 Power Seats, Rear Defog,
Heated Seats
4 High Blower, Hazard Flasher,
Stoplamps, Power Mirror,
Door Locks
5 Ignition Switch, BTSI, Stoplamps,
ABS, Turn Signals, Cluster,
Air Bag, DRL Module
6 Cooling Fan
7 Interior Lamps, Retained
Accessory Power, Keyless Entry,
Data Link, HVAC Head, Cluster,
Radio, AUX Power (Power Drop),
Cigarette Lighter
8 Ignition Switch, Wipers, Radio,
Steering Wheel Controls, Body
Control Module, AUX Power
(Power Drop), Power Windows,
Sunroof, HVAC Controls, DRL,
Rear Defog Relay