
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition
and emission control systems. This light should come
on
when the ignition is on, but the engine is not running, as
a check
to show you it is working. If it does not come on
at all, have it fixed right away.
If it stays on, or it comes
on while you are driving, the computer is indicating that
you have a problem. You should take your vehicle in for
service soon.
NOTICE:
If you keep drivln
after a while the em-ission controls won’t work as
well, your fuel economy won’t be
as good and
your engine may not run as smoothly. This could
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lead to costly repairs not covered by yo
warranty. I
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Tachometer The tachometer tells you how fast the engine is running.
It shows speed in revolutions per minute
(RPM). Do not
operate your engine in the red line range.
If you do you
can cause severe engine damage.
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Rear Window Defogger (Option)
b
I -c
1 The lines you see on
I the rear window warm
the glass. Press the
button to start warming
your window. After
10
minutes, it will go off
by itself or pressing the
button again during the
heating cycle will shut
it
off. If you need
additional warming
time, push the button
again.
NOTICE:
Scraping the inside of your rear window could
cut and damage the heater. Your warranty would
not cover this damage.
And don’t plat decals
there; you might have to scrape them
off.
Audio Systems
Your Delcom audio system has been designed to operate
easily and give years of listening pleasure.
But you will
get the most enjoyment out
of it if you acquaint yourself
with it first. Find out what your Delcoa 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 DelcoB system can receive C-QUAM@
stereo broadcasts. Many AM stations around the country
use C-QUAM@
to produce stereo, though some do not.
(C-QUAM@ is a registered trademark
of Motorola, Inc.)
If your Delcoa system can get C-QUAM@, your
“STEREO” light will come on when you’re receiving it.
A CAUTION:
Hearing damage from loud noise is ZIIH IOSl
undetectable until it is too late. Your hearing can
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 volum
Increase volume
setting.
comfortably and
clear11
;i
Before you add any sound eqi me your
vehicle
-- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio
-- be sure you c I
add what you want. If you can, it’s very importan
to
do it properly. Added sound equipment may
interfere with the operation
of your vehicle’s
engine, Delco@ radio or other systems, and even
damage them.
And, your vehicle’s systems may
interfere with the operation of
so
that has been added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check Federal
r
covering mobile radio and telephone units
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“Riding” your brakes can cause th%m to overhed
to the point that they won’t work well. You might
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 force to,
SI0 lown. Avoid “rid a’’ the brak . ...4.L,::z .I_ : ,+ . ., ., ii: = ‘ :. 3 .
.. c. -.
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“Riding” the brakes rs them out K%ch faster.
You would need costly brake replacement much
I
sooner th
economy.
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If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking and
longer brake life.
0 If your engine 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 (Option)
If your Buick has this system, your Buick has an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent skidding.
If you have an anti-lock brake system (ABS), the brake
pedal will say
so. And this light on the instrument panel
will go
on when you start your vehicle.
When you start your vehicle
and begin to drive away,
you may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise. And
you may even notice that your brake pedal moves a little
while this is going on. This is the
ABS system testing
itself. If you have your foot
on the brake pedal, this
check won’t happen until the vehicle goes about
4 mph
(6 km/h) or until you take your foot off the brake pedal.
After an
ABS stop, you may hear a clicking noise the
next time the vehicle goes about 4 mph (6 km/h).
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That could be off the road, into the very thing you were
trying to avoid,
or into traffic.
If you don’t have anti-lock, use
a “squeeze” braking
technique. This will give
you maximum braking while
maintaining steering control. You do this by pushing on
the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure.
In an emergency
you will probably want to “squeeze”
the brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear
or feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal. This
will help you retain steering control.
(If
you & have anti-lock, it’s different: see Index under
“Anti-lock Brake System.”) 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 r8 easonable 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 apply the brakes. Both control systems --
steering and braking -- have to do their work where the
tires meet the road. Unless you have four-wheel
anti-lock brakes, adding the hard braking can demand
too much
of those places. You can lose control.
The same thing can happen if you’re steering through a
sharp curve and 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.
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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’ll
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
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues
--
such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to
make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down when you
have any doubt.
If you have the anti-lock braking system, remember: It
helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do not have
anti-lock, then in a braking skid (where the wheels are
no longer rolling), release enough pressure on the brakes
to get the wheels rolling again. This restores steering
control. Push the brake pedal down steadily when you have
to stop suddenly.
As long as the wheels are rolling,
you will have steering control. Steer the way you want
to go.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely
to be impaired --
by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
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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.
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 less than a second, and you could crash and be
inj ured.
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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