steering wheel BUICK ROADMASTER 1993 Owners Manual

How The Air Bag System Works
Where is the air bag?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering
wheel.
When is an air bag expected to inflate?
The air bag is designed to inflate ,in moderate to severe
frontal or near-fontal crashes. The air bag
will only
inflate if the velocity of the impact is above the designed
threshold level. When impacting straight into a wall that
does not’move or deform, the threshold level for most
GM vehicles is between 9 and 14 mph. However, this
velocity threshold depends
on the vehicle design and
may be several miles-per-hour faster or slower. In
addition, this threshold velocity will be considerably
higher
if the vehicle strikes an object such as a parked
car which will move and defonn
on impact. The air bag
is also not designed to inflate in rollovers, side impacts,
or rear impacts where the inflation would provide no
occupant protection benefit.
In any particular crash, the determination of-whether the
air bag should have inflated cannot be based solely on
the level
of damage on the vehicle(s). Inflation i,s
determined by the angle of the impact and the vehicle’s
deceleration,
of which vehicle damage is only one
indication. Repair cost
is not a good indicator of
whether an air bag should have deployed.
37

Part 2 Feat.ures and Controls
n .
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Buick, and infom.ation on starting. shifting
and braking
. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is working
properly
. and what to do if you have a problem .
Part 2 includes:
Keys
........................................................................\
..... 62
DoorLock ....................................................................... \
63
New Vehicle Break-In ............................................................... 74
Starting the Engine
................................................................. 75
Shifting the Transmission
.......................................................... 78, 82
Windows ........................................................................\
. 87
TiltSteeringWheel
................................................................ 88
Multi-IFunctionLever ............................................................... 88
TurnandLaneChangeSignals ................................................... 89
Headlight High-Low Beam Changer .............................................. 90
Windshield WiperWasher
....................................................... 91
Cruise Control
.................................................................. 94
Instrument Panel
................................................................... 1 13
Speedometer and Odometer
..................................................... 114
Warning Lights and Gages
...................................................... 114
61
.

Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your Buick has
a number of the€t deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it
impossible to steal. However, there are ways y6U can
help.
Kev in t~he ignition: If you walk away from your
vehicle with the keys inside, it's an easy'target for joy%..
riders or professional thieves - so don't do it. wyqw. .:: %3: F: ;-;.::. *.'%(:.
When you park your Buick and open'the diiver 's'door,
you'll hear a tone reminding you'to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you.' Always
do this..
Your steering wheel will be locked, and
so will your
ignition and transmission. And remember to lock the
doors.
.. .L: . . *:*.a ;*;,,,
Parking at Night: Park in a lighted spot, close all
windows and lock your vehicle. Remember to keep your
valuables out
of sight. Put them in a storage area, -or take
them with you.

An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision.
If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended
9 and 3 o'clock positions, you can
turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and
just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have
avoided the object.
You must then be prepared to steer
back to y.our original lane and then brake
to a controlled
stop.
Depending on your speed, this can be rather violent
for
an unprepared driver. This is one of the reasons driving
experts recommend that you use your safety belts and
keep both hands on the steering wheel.
The fact that such emergency situations are .always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at
all times.
171

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 biakes, start
your yehicle 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 turris.
.
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 mo.ve 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,
199

Acc (Ignition Key Position) ........................ 74
Adding Brake Fluid
.................................. 262
Coolant
.............................. 2 19.222. 257
Electrical Equipment
.......................... 287
Engineoil
................................... 249
Power Steering Fluid
.......................... 260
Transmission Fluid ............................ 254
Windshield Washer Fluid
....................... 261
Additives, Engine Oil
............................. 251
Adjustment, Brake
............................... 169
Adult Safety Belt Usage
............................ 27
AirBag
.......................................... 35
Aircleaner
...................................... 253
Air Conditioner
............................. 127, 132
Air Outlets
..................................... 126
Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of
.............. 160
Alcohol in Gasoline ..................... ........ 243
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning
....................... 284
AM Radio Reception
............................. 134
AM Stereo Radio Reception
....................... 135
Antenna Care
................................... 149
Antifreeze
...................................... 257
Antilock Brakes
.................................. 166
Antilock Brake System Warning Light
........... 121, 166
...
Part 9 Index
Anti-Theft Tips ................................... 72
Anti-Theft Feature. Delco
LOC I1 ..................... 147
Appearance Care
................................ 249
Appearance Care and Materials
..................... 286
Armrest. Storage
................................ 112
Ashtrays ........................................ 110
Assist Handles
.............................. 102. 113
Audio Systems
.................................. 134
Automatic Air Conditioning System
................. 129
Automatic Door Locks
............................. 64
Automatic Overdrive
.............................. 79
Automatic Pull-Down Feature
....................... 65
Automatic Transmission
........................... 78
Automatic Transmission Fluid
...................... 254
Automatic Transmission Torque Lock
................ 190
Axle. Rear
..................................... 256
Baby. Holding a
................................. 46
Battery
........................................ 264
Battery Cables. Starting With
....................... 206
Battery Warning Light ............................ 118
Blizzard. If You’re Caught In A
..................... 193
BloodAlcoholLevel
............................. 162
“Blowout”. Tire
................................. 224

Starting Your Car if the Battery is"Dead" ....... : ..... 206
Steam From Hot (Overheated) Engine
................ 216
Steering
....................................... 169
Steering Tips
................................... 169
Steering Wheel. Tilt
............................... 88
Steering Without Power Assist
..................... 169
Steireo Sound Systems
............................ 134
Storage Armrest
................................. 11 1
Storage Compartment. Wagon
....................... 68
StorageTray
.................................... 112
Storing Your Car
................................ 264
Stuck. If Your Car is
.............................. 239
Steering in Emergencies
... : ....................... 170
Stuck. If Your Ignition Key is
....................... 75
Subscribing to hick Service Publications
............ 323
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System
(SIR) ......... 35
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System Light
......... 36
Symbols on Road Signs
........................... ' 156
Symbols on Your Car
.............................. 12
Table of Contents
.................................. 9
Tachometer
..................................... 119
Tamper-Resistant Odometer
........................ 114
Tailgate Operation
.............................. : . 66
Tailgate Release
.................................. 66
Taillamp
.Bulb Replacement ........................ 267
TapePlayerCare
................................ 148
Temperature, Engine Coolant Warning Light
.......... 122
Theft
........................................... 7 2
Thermostat
..................................... 259
Third Gear, When
to Use ............................. 80
Third Seatback Operation .......................... 19
Tilt Steering Wheel
................................ 88
Time. Setting the ..................... 137.139.142. 145
Tire Balance
.................................... 277
Tire Chains
..................................... 278
Tire. Flat
....................................... 224
Tire Inflation
.................................... 272
Tire Inspection and Rotation
.................. i .... 273
Tire Quality Grading
............................. 275
Tires
.......................................... 271 .
Tires and Winter Driving .......................... 191 I
Tires. When to Replace ............................ 274
Tires. White Sidewall. Cleaning
.................... '284
Topstrap
........................................ 48
Torn Safety Belts ........................ 1 ........ 59
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
.............. 190
Towing a Trailer
................................. 1.95
Towing Your'Car
................................ 212
Trademarks. GM .................................. 2
Traffic Lights
................................... 157
Traffic Officer
.................................. 159 ~
Trailer Brakes ................................... 198
Trailer Tbwing
.................................... 195
Tailgate Remote Release
........................... 65
Transmission. Automatic
........................... 78
Transmission Fhid
...... , ......................... 254
Trip Odometer
.................................. 114
Turn Signal and Headlight Beam Lever ........ i ....... 88
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator ............... 89
Turn Signal Reminder ............................. 90
Trunk Pull-Down Feature
...................... 1 .... 65
Trunk Release
................................... 65
Twilight Sentinel
................................. 99
'lhisted Safety Belts
............................... 34
Two Children Wearing the Same Safety Belt
............ 56
I
I
..
335