1993 BUICK CENTURY Owners Manual

I
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
Part 5 includes:
HazardWarningFlashers ..............................................................184
Other Warning Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Jumpstarting
........................................................................\
..
Towing Your Buick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
Engine Overheating
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195
IfaTireGoesFlat
...................................................................205
ChangingaFlatTire ........................................,........................205
CompactSpareTire ..................................................................218
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219
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Hazard Warning Flashers
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.
Press the button in to make
your front and
rear turn signal
lights flash on and
off.
Your hazard warning 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 warning flashers are on, your
turn
signals won't work.
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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.
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
dangernus because:
@ They contain add that can burn you.
* They contain gas that can explode or Ignite.
9 They contaln enough mlectrielty to burn
If you don’t follow these step exactly, same or
all of these things can hurt you.
you.
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:
Mu 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). I
3. ”urn off the igni;,,n on both vehicles. lwLLL all .,hts
that aren’t needed, and radios. This will avoid sparla
and help save both batteries. And it could save your radio!
If you leave your radio OI,, it could be badl,
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
I 1
A CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the
engine
is not running and can Injure you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools
away from any
underhood electric fan.
I
Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
-
/1 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 enough water. Mu
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. It you don’t,
explosive gas could be present.
Battery
fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you. Ifyou 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.
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Before you connect the cables, here are some basic things
you should know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+) and
negative
(-) 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.
/r CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can lnjum
you badly; Keep your hands away fmm mwlng
parts once the englnes are running.
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.
187
-
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3'.
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.
9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away from
the dead battery, but not near engine parts that move.
The electrical connection is just
as good there, but
the chance
of sparks getting back to the battery is
much less.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
U. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. the engine for a while.
If it won't start after a
few tries,
it probably needs
service.
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12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don't touch
each other or any other metal. Towing Your Buick
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service
tow your Buick. The usual towing equipment is
a sling-
tvPe (A) or wheel-lift (B) or a car carrier (C) tow truck.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it was
fhctory-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.
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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.
-
/i CAUTION:
. To help avoid injury to you or othem:
Never let passengers rlde In a vehlcle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not fully
Never get under your vehicle after it has
0 Always use separate safety chalns on each
@ Never use “J” hooks. Use T-hooks Instead.
being towed.
Secured:
been lifted by the tow truck.
side when towing
a vehlcle.
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