BUICK PARK AVENUE 1993 Owners Manual

@ Part 5 Problems on the Road
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Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .
Part 5 includes:
Hazard Warning Flashers
............................................................ 210
OtherWarningDevices
............................................................. 211
“Jump”Starting
.................................................................... 212
TowingYourBuick
................................................................ 217
Engineoverheating
................................................................ 221
IfaTireGoesFlat
................................................................. 228
ChangingaFlatTire
................................................................ 229
CompactSpareTire
................................................................ 237
If You’re Stuck
in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow .............................................. 239
209
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Hazard Warning Flashers
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Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lights will flash on and
off.
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Press the button in to make your front and rear turn
signal lights flash on and off.
Your hazard flashers work no matter what position your
key is
in, and even if the key isn't in.
To turn off the flashers, pull out on the collar. When the
hazard flashers are on, your turn signals won't work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side
of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
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Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
Buick. But please follow the steps below to do it safely.
A CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain ass that can explode or
They contain enough electricity to burn
If you don’t follow these steps exactlp,
all
of these things can hurt you.
ignite.
you. damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t
be covered
by your warranty.
Trying
to start your Buick by pushing or pulling it
won’t work, and it could damage your vehicle.
To Jump Start Your Buick:
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are,
it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able
to
start your Buick, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
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A CAUTION:
You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the
parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an
automatic transaxle
in “P” (Park) or a manual
transaxle
in “N” (Neutral).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all
lights that aren’t needed, and radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries. And it could
save your radio!
A CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing anA
tools away from any underhood
electric fan
1 NOTICE:
3
If you leave your ram0 or ’t could be baaly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered b)
your warranty.
Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on eact
battery.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
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A CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing
this, and some have been blinded. Use a
flashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enoug,h water. You don’t
need to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in’ every new GM vehicle. But if a battery
has filler caps,
be sure the right amount of fluid
is there. If it is low, add water to’ take care of that
first
If you don’tt, explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get
it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and
get medical help immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic
th.ings
you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive
(+) a~d mgative (-) will go to negative (-) or a
metal engine part. Don’t connect
(+) to (-) or you’ll
get a short that would damage the battery and maybe
other parts,
too.
‘
A CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engines are running.
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6. Connect the red
positive
(+) cable to
the positive (+)
terminal of the
vehicle with the
dead battery. Use a
remote positive
(+)
terminal if the
vehicle has one.
7. Don’t let the other
end touch metal.
Connect
it to the
positive (+)
terminal of the
good battery. Use a
remote positive
(+)
terminal if the
vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the
black negative
(-)
cable to the good
battery’s negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let the other end touch anything until the next
step. The other end
of the negative cable doesn’t go
to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy unpainted
metal part on the engine
of the vehicle with the dead
battery.
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9. Attach the cable at
least
18 inches (45
cm) away from the
dead battery, but
not near engine
parts that move.
The elecbical connection is just as
good there, but the
chance of sparks
getting back to the
battery is much
less.
12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don't touch
each other or any other metal.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
.
11. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
If it won't
start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.
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Towing Your Car
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing
service tow your Buick
. The usual towing equipment is
a sling-type
(A) or a wheel lift (B) or car carrier (C) tow
truck.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything,
turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can still move the shift lever.
If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to
see them.
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r /r CAUTION:
To help avoid injury to you or others:
0 Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that
0 Never tow faster than safe or posted
0 Never get under your vehicle after it has
0 Always use separate safety chains on each
is being towed.
speeds.
been lifted by
a tow truck.
side when ?owing
a vehicle.
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When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
off. The steering wheel should be clamped in a
straight-ahead position, with a clamping device designed
for towing service.
Do not use the vehicle’s steering
column lock for this. The transaxle should be in Neutral
and the parking brake released.
Don’t have
your vehicle towed on the front wheels,
unless you must.
If the vehicle must be towed on the
front wheels, don’t go more than
55 mph (88 kdh) or
farther than
500 miles (SO0 km) or your transaxle will
be damaged. If these limits must be exceeded, then the
front wheels have to be supported on a dolly.
A CAUTION:
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
properly secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle.
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