1993 BUICK CENTURY ECU

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 t\
o
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 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 lights and any trailer brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as fit, 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.
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 move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making nrns
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 Mler
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, the
trailer lights will also flash, telling other drivers you’re \
about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
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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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when your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key Front Towing Hook-Ups
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.
I
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
35 mph (56 km/h) or farther
than
50 miles (80 km) or your transaxle will be damaged.
If these limits must be exceeded, then the front wheels
have
to be supported on a dolly.
1
I
&!, CAUTION:
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if It Isn’t
properly secured.
This can cause a colllsion,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage.
The vehicle should be tightly secured with Before hooking up to a tow truck, be sure to read all the
chains or steel cables before it is transported. information in “Towing Your Buick” earlier in this part.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps, I
1. Attach T-hook chains behind the front wheels into the
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp bottom of the floor pan on both sides.
edges underneath the towed vehicle. I
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Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
-1
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. Here’s how to remove the type
with a spring release:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from the
2. Press down on the spring with a screwdriver and pull
3. Push the new wiper blade securely onto tL wiper
windshield.
the blade assembly off the wiper
arm.
arm.
Loading Your Vehicle
G INFORMATION
VEHICLE CAP. WT.
FRT. CTR.
RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING
& GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
1 CAPACITY WEIGHT XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
RTG PSI/KPa
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the rear edge of the driver’s door tells you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number of people that
,
can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight
and includes the weight
of all occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
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n
ACAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people
in a sudden stop or turn, or
In a crash.
* Put things In the trunk or rear area of your
vehicle. In
a trunk, put them as far forward
as you can. Try to spread the weight evenly.
* Never stack heavier things, IPke suitcases,
inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops
of the seats.
* When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure
it whenever you can.
* Don’t leave a seat folded down unless you
need to.
Tires
We don’t make tires. Your new vehicle comes with high
quality tires made
by a leading tire manufacturer. These
tires are warranted by the tire manufacturers and their
warranties are delivered with every new Buick. If your spare tire is a different brand than your road tires, you
will have a tire warranty folder from each
of these
manufacturers.
A CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
0 Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a ngsult
of too much friction.
Mu could
have an air-out and a serious
accident.
See “Loading bur Vehicle” in the
Index.
* Underlnflated tires pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check
all tires
frequently to maintain the recornmended
pressure. Tire pressure should
be checked
when your tires are cold.
* Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut,
punctured, or broken
by a sudden Impact,
such as when you
hit a pothole. Keep tires at
the recommended pressure.
tread
Is badly worn, or If your tlps have
been damaged, replace them.
* Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
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Pedal Travel ...................................... 149
RearDrum
..................................... 149
Replacement
................................... 244
Warning Light-
.................................. 109
Wear Indicators-Disc Brakes ....................... 148
Brake System Wakng Light
......................... 109
Braking in Emergencies .............................. 149
“Break-In:’ New Vehicle
Normd Driving. ................................. 72
When Towing a Trailer
........................... 176
Braking
......................................... 146
Buckling Up (see “Safety Belts”)
Bulb Replacement
Headlight
................................. .245. 269
Turn Signal ............................... .246, 269
Taillight
.................................. .247. 269
capacities and Specifications
................. .270. 272
CarbonMonoxide
.............................. 83. 173
Cargo Security Cover
................................ 101
Cassette Tape Holder
............................... 103
Cassette Tape Player
(see “Audio Systems”)
Center Passenger Position
............................ 41
Chains. Tire
................................. .217. 257
Changing a Flat Tire
............................... 205
Checking BrakeFluid
.................................... 243
Engine Coolant
................................. 239
Engine0
il ..................................... 227 Power Steering Fluid
............................. 241
Safety Belt Systems
......... ...................... 60
Transaxle Fluid .................................. 236
Underhood
..................................... 226
Chemical paint Spotting
............................ 263
ChildRestraints
.................................... 47
Children’
......................................... 45
Cigarette Lighter
.................................. 105
Circuit Breakers
& Fuses ........................... 266
Cleaner, Air
............................. .233. 271. 273
Cleaning AluminumWheels
............................... 262
Antenna
....................................... 131
Cassette Player .................................. 129
Fabric
........................................ 258
Glass
.......................................... 261
Inside of Your Buick ............................. 258
Materials ........................................ 264
Outside of Your Buick
............................ 261
Safety Belts
.................................... 261
Special Problems
................................ 260
Top of Instrument Panel
........................... 260
Underbody Maintenance
.......................... 263
Vinyl
......................................... 260
Warnings ...................................... 258
Weatherstrips
.................................... ‘262
White Sidewall Tires
............................. 262
Windshield and Wiper Blades
...................... 261
Climate Control
................................... 115
CityDriving ..................................... 162
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octane Requirements (see “Fuel Requirements”)
Odometer
........................................ 106
Oil. Engine ......................... .227. 270. 272. 292
Quality
........................................ 229
Thickness
..................................... 230
UsedOil
...................................... 232
When
to Change ................................ 232
Oil Warning Light
.................................. 107
OperationofLigh
ts ................................. 95
Outside Rearview Mirrors
............................ 99
Overheated Engine
................................ 195
Overheated Engine Coolant Warning Light
.............. 110
P (Park), Shifting Into .................... i ........ 81
Parking
OnHills
....................................... 168
Over Things That Burn
............................ 83
WithaTrailer
................................... 180
With
the Engine Running ........................... 82
ParkingBrake
...................................... 80
Passenger Belts (see “Safety Belts”)
Passing
.......................................... 152
Polishing and Waxing (see “Appearance Care”)
PowerAntenna
.................................... 131
Power Door
Locks ................................. 66
Power Seat Controls ................................ 15
Power Steering Fluid .................. .241. 271. 273. 292
Power Windows
.............................. .85. 268
Pregnancy, Use
of Safety Belts During .................. 40 Problems on the Road
... .......................... 183
Publications (see “Service Publications”)
Radiator Overheating (see “Overheated Engine”)
Radiator Pressure Cap
......................... .199. 241
Radio
(see “Audio Systems”)
Reading Lights
.................................... 97
Rear Seats. Folding ................................. 18
Rear Storage Security Cover
......................... 101
Rear Window Defogger
............................. 115
Rearview Mirrors .................................. 98
Reclining Seatbacks
................................. 15
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants .................. 292
Remote Lock Control
............................... 66
Replacement Bulbs ................................ 269
Replacement Fuses
................................ 266
Replacement
Parts ............................ .271. 273
Replacing Safety Belts
............................... 61
Replacing Tires
................................... 254
Replacing Wheels
............................. .256. 257
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 302
Restraints. Child
................................... 47
Restraints, Head
................................... 17
Reverse
.......................................... 77
Roadsigns
....................................... 134
Color
......................................... 134
Pavement Markings
.............................. 141
Shape
......................................... B7
Symbols ....................................... 139
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Snowstorm (see “Winter Driving”)
Sound Equipment. Adding
........................... 117
Sound Systems (see ‘Audio Systems”)
Spare Tire. Compact.
...................... .205. 215. 218
Specifications and Capacities
................... .270. 272
Specifications. Engine
......................... .270. 272
Speed Control (see “Cruise Control”)
Speedometer
..................................... 106
Stains. Removing
.................................. 258
Starting .Your Engine
................................ 74
Starting Your Vehicle if the Battery
is Dead
Steering (see “Jump Starting”)
In Emergencies
.................................. 151
Off-Road Recovery
.............................. 152
Tips
.......................................... l50
Steering Wheel. Tilt ................................ 86
Stereo Sound Systems (see “Audio Systems”)
Storage Armrest
....................................... 103
Convenience Net
................................ 101
Rear Locking Compartment
........................ 103
Rear Storage Security Cover
....................... 101
Storing Your Vehicle ............................... 244
Stuck. If You Are
.................................. 219
Sun Visors
........................................ 100
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (Air Bag)
.............. 35
TAlgate Ajar warning Light
........................ 111 Tape Player (see “Audio Systems”)
Technical Facts
& Specifications
Bulbs
......................................... 269
Electrical Equipment. Add-on
.............. .75. 117. 265
Fluid Capacities
& Types ................ .270. 272. 292
Fuseusage
.................................... 267
Service
Parts Identification Label ................... 265
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
................ 265
Temperature Warning Light
.......................... 110
Theft
............................................ 71
Thermostat
...................................... 241
Tilt Steering Wheel
................................. 86
Time. Setting the
.......................... .118. 121. 124
Tire hading
................................ .249. 251
Tires
........................................... 251
Chains
................................... .218. 257
Flat. Changing
.................................. 205
Inflation
....................................... 252
Inspection
& Rotation ............................ 253
Loading
................................... 249. 251
Pressure ....................................... 252
QualityGrading
................................. 255
Spare. Compact
......................... .205. 215. 218
Wear Indicators
................................... 254
Wheel Replacement
......................... .256. 257
When to Replace Wheels
.......................... 256
Winter Driving. and Tires
......................... 171
Torquebk
..................................... 170
BuyingNew
.................................... 254
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
.................. 256
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