engine BUICK SKYLARK 1993 Owner's Manual

Tachometer (Option)
The tachometer tells you how fast the engine is running.
It displays engine speed in^ hundreds of revolutions per
minute
(RPM).
Do not operate tne engine with the tachometer in
the red area,
or engine damage may occur

BIL (Bi-level) Windshield Defrost
This
setting allows the outside air to flow through your
Buick in two ways. Cooler air is directed to the upper
portion of your body through the vent outlets. Slightly
warmer air
is directed through the heater ducts and
defroster outlets.
Vent
Using vent will allow outside air to flow through the
instrument panel outlets. Set the temperature knob as
desired.
Heater
On days when it’s cold outside, this setting sends heated
air through the heater ducts and
the windshield defroster
outlets. If you have the engine block heater, you can use
it in cold weather (+2OoF/-8 OC or lower) to heat your
vehicle’s passenger area quicker. The engine block
heater warms the engine coolant which
will ultimately
warm the passenger area more efficiently.
( See “Engine
Block Heater” in the Index.)
Blend
This setting divides the air flow equally between the
heater and the defroster outlets. This setting operates the defroster. Most
of the air comes
out near the windshield. Use defrost when you get fog or
ice on the windshield.
Rear Window Defogger (Option)
The lines you see on the
rear window warm
the
glass. Press the button to
start warming your
.window. Pressing the
button again will shut it off.
If you
turn the rear defogger on while driving at or
above
45 mph (72 km/h), it will stay on as long as that
speed is maintained.
You must press the button to shut
it
off.
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I’ not cover thisdamage. And don’t put decals
Air Conditioner (Option)
The air conditioner cools the air coming into your
vehicle. The air conditioner won’t .work, well unless all
the windows are closed. On a very hot day, you might
want to open the windows to let the hottest air out.
Max
This setting provides maximum cooling with the least
amount of work. MAX recirculates the air inside your
vehicle, and cools the air quickly. Adjust the
temperature control to a cold setting.
Norm.
After using the MAX setting to cool the air quickly,
adjust the air conditioner to NORM and the temperature
to the desired comfort setting. This permits fresh air to
be cooled and to circulate through your vehicle.
Audio Systems
Your Delcoa audio system has been degigned to operate
easily and give years
of listening pleasure. But you will
get the most enjoyment out
of your system if you
acquaint yourself with it first. Find out what your
Delcom system can do and how to operate all its
controls,
to be sure you’re getting the most out of the
advanced engineering that went into it.
FM Stereo
FM stereo will give you the best sound. But FM signals
will reach only about
10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). And,
tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go.
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,
especially at night. The longer range, however, can
cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick
up noise from things like storms and power lines.
Try
reducing the treble to reduce this noise.
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AM Stereo
This means the Delco@ system can receive C-QUAM@
stereo broadcasts. Many AM stations around the country
Before you add any sound equipment to your
use C-QUAM@ to produce stereo, though some do not. vehicle -- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
(C-QUAM@ is a registered trademark of Motorola, Inc.) telephone or two-way radio -- be sure you can
If your Delco@ system can get C-QUAM@, your add what you want. If you can, it’s very important
“STEREO” light will come on when you’re receiving it. to do it properly. Added sound equipment may
Hearing damage from loua noise is almost
undetectable until
it is too late. Your hearing
adapt to higher volumes of sound. Sound that
seems normal can be
loud and harmful to your
hearing. Take precautions by adjusting the
volume control on your radio to a safe sound
level before your hearing adapts to it.
To help avoid hearing loss or damage:
Adjust the volume control to the lowest
Increase volume slowly until you hear can
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setting.
comfortably and clearly. interfere
with the operation
of your vehicle’s
engine, Delco@ radio or other systems, and even
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I A CAUTION.:
“Riding” your brakes can cause them to overhe;
to the point that they won’t work well. You mighl
not be able to stop your vehicle
in time to avoid
an accident. If you “ride” your brakes, they will
get
so hot they will require a lot of pedal fol- -
slow you. down. Avoid “riding” the brakes.
If you keep pace with the traffic and IW realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a lot
of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking and
longer brake life.
If your I- -dine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes.
If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down.
If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist
is used up, it may take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your Buick has an advanced electronic braking system
that will help prevent skidding.
This light on the instrument panel will go on when you
start your vehicle.
TI-
LOCK
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Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to.
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system fails to function, you can steer but it
will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you
turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction.
If you’ve ever
tried to steer
a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While
you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can
control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then
you suddenly accelerate.
Those two control systems
-- steering and acceleration --
can overwhelm those places where.the tires meet the
road and make you lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Let up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to
go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
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Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next
vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lights are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a.little to the right.
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
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always
possible. The three types
of skids correspond
to your Buick’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 (as when you- turn a corner
on a wet, snow- or ice-covered road), ease your foot
off
the accelerator pedal as soon as you feel the vehicle start
to slide. Quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to
go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle
will straighten out. As it does, straighten the front
wheels.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you’l\
l
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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
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start bralung. If you must brake on the through lane, and
if there
is traffic close behind you, you can allow a little
extra time and flash your brake lights (in addition to your turn signal) as extra warning that you are about to
slow down and 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. For example,
40 mph (65 km/h) might
seem like only
20 mph (30 km/h). Obviously, this could
lead to serious trouble on a ramp designed for
20 mph
(30 krn/h)!
Driving a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are made on freeways,
there are still many made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular
highways is the same in some ways. The trip has to be
planned and the vehicle prepared, you drive at
higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns
behind the wheel. You’ll enjoy your trip more if you and
your vehicle are
in good shape. Here are some tips for a
successful long trip.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Buick dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
0 Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
WiDer Blades: Are they in good shape/
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
0 Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
0 Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for long-distance driving?
Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
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Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
On the Road
Unless you are the only driver, it is good to share the
driving task with others. Limit turns behind the wheel to
about
100 miles (160 km) or two hours at a sitting.
Then, either change drivers or stop for some refreshment
like coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up.
But do stop and move around. Eat lightly along the way.
Heavier meals tend to make some people sleepy.
On two-lane highways or undivided multilane highways
that do not have controlled access;you’ll want to watch
for some situations not usually found on freeways.
Examples are: stop signs and signals, shopping centers with direct access to the highway, no passing zones and
school zones, vehicles turning left and right
off the road,
pedestrians, cyclists, parked vehicles, and even animals.
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
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There is something about an easy stretch of road with the
same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road,
the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind against
the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it happen
to you!
If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in
than a second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
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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 frequently and your instruments from time to time.
This can help you
avoid a fixed stare.
Wear good sunglasses in bright light. Glare can cause
drowsiness. But don’t wear sunglasses at night. They will drastically reduce your overall vision at the very
time you need all the seeing power you have.
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.
As in any driving situation, keep pace with traffic and
allow adequate following distances.
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Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain. If you
drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain
roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Don’t make your brakes do it all.
Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or
long hill. That way, you will slow down without
excessive use of your brakes.
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