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Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your Buick in good shape for winter. Be sure
your engine coolant mix is correct.
0 Snow tires can help in loose snow, but they may give
you less traction on ice than regular tires. If you do
not expect to be driving in deep snow, but may have
to travel over ice, you may not want to switch to
snow tires at all.
You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your trunk.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom,
a supply
of windshield washer fluid,
a rag, some winter outer
clothing,
a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth, and a
couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will
be driving under severe conditions, include
a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple
of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items
in your vehicle.
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Part 5 Problems On The Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .
Part 5 includes:
Hazard Warning Flashers
........................................................
QtherWarningDevices .........................................................
“Jump”Starting ...............................................................
TowingYourBuick ............................................................
Engineoverheating ............................................................
IfaTireGoesFlat .............................................................
ChangingaFlatTire ............................................................
CompactSpareTire ............................................................
If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ..........................................
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179
180
185
192
201
201
210
211
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k
Hazard Warning Flashers
3
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.
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Slide the switch up 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.
1
To turn off the flashers, slide the switch down. When the
hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals won’t
work.
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.
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Page 187 of 308
Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing
service tow your Ruick. The usual towing equipment
is
a sling-type (A) or a wheel-lift (B) or car carrier (C) tow
truck.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-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.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
0 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.
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
Buick's instrument panel.
You may also find a low coolant warning light
on your
Buick instrument panel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine:
A CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even
if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn
it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait
until
there is no sign of steam or coolant before
opening the hood.
'* -7ou keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids
in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine
if it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
If your engine catch
driving with
no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs
w?uld not b
covered by your warranty. ,, , 1 ,.
I If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine:
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam,
the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
0 Climb a long hill on a hot day.
0 Stop after high speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
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If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for
a minute or so:
1.
2.
3.
Turn off your air conditioner.
Turn on
your heater to full hot
speed and open the window as
Try to keep your engine under
where the engine runs slower). at
the highest fan
necessary.
load (in a drive gear
If you no longer have the overheat warning,
you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower
for about ten minutes.
If the warning doesn‘t corne back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park
your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still
no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two
or three minutes while you’re parked, to see if
the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning,
TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND GET
EVERYONE
OUT OF THE VEHICLE until it cools
down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right
away.
m .... ... ..
h 1
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll
see:
0 Coolant recovery tank
0 Radiator pressure cap
0 Electric engine fan
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How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant leveI
isn’t at or above “COLD” add a 50/50 mixture of clean
- water (preferably distilled) and a proper antifreeze at
the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant’’
in the
Index for more information about
the proper coolant
mix.)
can bedangerous. Plain water, or some othe
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the prope
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warn
system
is set for the proper coolant mix. Wit
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheal
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mix of clean
water and a proper antifreeze
m-u mw-.
In cold weath wate :an frc anc
engine, radiator, heater core and other- parts. Use
the recommended coolanl
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