1993 BUICK SKYLARK weight

1 Police records show that half of all motor
I vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol - a driver, a
passenger or someone.else, such as
a pedestrian, had
been drinking.
In most cases, these deaths are the result
1 of someone who was drinking and driving. Over 25,000
motor vehicle-related deaths occur each year because of
alcohol, and thousands of people are injured.
i Just how much alcohol is too much if a person plans to
drive? Ideally, no one should drink alcohol and then
drive. But if one does, then what’s “too much”? It can be
a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on
each person and situation, here is some general
information on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of someone who is
drinking depends upon four things:
0 How much alcohol is in the drink.
0 The drinker’s body weight.
0 The amount of food that is consumed before and
1 during drinking. I
0 The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol. According
to the American Medical Association, a
180-pound
(82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce
(355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a
BAC of about
0.06 percent. The person would reach the
same BAC by drinking three 4-ounce
( 120 ml) glasses
of wine or three mixed drinks if each had
1 - 1/2 ounces
(45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.
It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if
the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces
or
90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s

BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who
consumes food just before or during drinking will have a
slightly lower BAC level.
(as in picture) 4 OF DRINKS
3+
2i 1
DRINKING THAT WILL
IN THE TIME SHOWN
RESULT,IN A BAG OF .O5%
3 HOURS
2 HOURS
HOUR
100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240
BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS
The law in most U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC
of 0.10 percent.. In Canada the limit is 0.08 percent, and
in some other countries it’s lower than that. The BAC
will
be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one
hour).
Of course, as we’ve seen, it depends on how much alcohol
is in the drinks, and how quickly the
person drinks them.
But it’s very important to keep in mind that the ability to
drive is affected well below a BAC of
0.10 percent.
Research shows that the driving skills of many people
are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and
that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are
impaired at BAC levels above
0.05 percent. Statistics
show that the chance of being in an accident increases
sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or
above.
A driver with a~ BAC level of 0.06 percent (three
beers in one hour for a 180-pound or 82 kg person) has
doubled his or her chance of having an accident. At a
BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of that driver
having an accident is six times greater; at a level
of 0.15
percent, the chances are twenty-five times greater! And,
the body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol
in one drink.
No amount of coffee or number of cold
showers will speed that up.
“I’ll be careful” isn’t the right answer. what if there’s an
emergency, a need to take sudden action, as when a
child darts into the street? A person with a higher BAC
might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the
collision.
There’s something else about drinking and driving that
-many people don’t know. Medical research shows that

If there is no curb when you’re parking uphill, turn the
wheels to the right.
If there is no curb when you’re parking uphill on the left
side of a one-way street, your wheels should be turned
to the left.
Torque Lock (Automatic Transaxle)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into“‘F” (Park) properly, the weight
of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of
T“ (Park). This is called “torque lock.” To
prevent torque lock, always be sure to shift into “P”
(Park) properly before you leave the driver’s seat. To
find out how, see “Shifting Into ‘P’ (Park)” in t\
he Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
“P” (Park) BEFORE you release the parking brake.
If “torque lock” does occur, you may need to have
another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure
from the transaxle, so you can pull the shift
lever out of
“P” (Park).
174

Towing a Trailer
A CAUTION:
If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull
a
trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy. the
brakes may not work well
-- or even at all. Yo
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
Pull
a trailer only if you have followed all the
steps in this section.
i ~ ~, ~~ ~~
~~~ ~~ before you pull a trailer.
Your
car can tow a trailer.
To identify what the vehicle
trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read
the information in “Weight of the Trailer”. that appears
I later in this section. But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes
I in. handling, durability, and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be
I used properly.
That’s the reason for this section. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that of
I your passengers. So please read this section carefully
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies, and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine is
greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.
All of that means changes in:
ulling a trailer improper1 required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
Do not tow a trailer if your vehicle is equipped with the
0 Handling
2.3 Liter, L4 engine. Durability
Fuel economy
179

If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer Three important considerations have to do with weight:
If you do, here are some important points.
Weight of the Trailer
0 There are many diflerent laws having to do with
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not only
where you live but also where you’ll be driving. A It shou\
ld never weigh more than
1,000 pounds (450 kg).
good source for this information can be state or But even that can be too heavy.
provincial police. It depends on how you plan to use your
rig. For I
1 Consider using a sway control. example, speed, altitude, road g\
rades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used
to pull a
trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any
You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or
You
can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls.
0 Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged. advice, or you can write us \
at Buick Motor Division,
Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you Customer Assistance Center, 902 E. Hamilton Avenue,
tow a trailer, don’t drive over
50 mph (80 h/h) and Hint, MI 48550.
don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your
In Canada, write to General Motors of Canada Limited,
heavier loads. Oshawa, Ontario L1H
8P7.
en€!ine and other Paas Of Your wear in at the Customer Assistance Center, 1908 Colonel Sam Drive,
.I

Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total capacity
weight of your vehicle. The capacity weight includes the
curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in
it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. And
if you will tow a trailer, you must subtract the tongue load from your vehicle’s capacity weight because your
vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading
Your Vehicle” in the Index for more information about
your vehicle’s maximum load capacity. The trailer tongue (A) should weigh
10% of
the total
loaded trailer weight (B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the limit for
cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on the Certification
label at the rear edge of the driver’s door (or see “Tire
Loading” in the Index). Then be sure you don’t go over
the GVW limit for your vehicle.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by, and rough roads are
a
few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install a trailer hitch?
If you do,
then be sure to seal the holes later when you remove
the hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get into your
vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index).
Dirt
and water can, too.
181

The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for
hitches.
Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and. your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the
tongue of the trailer
so that the tongue will not drop to
the road if it becomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains may be provided by the
hitch manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for
attaching safety chains. Always leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig. And, never allow safety
chains to drag
on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read
and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes
so
you’ll be able to install, adjust and maintain them
properly. Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try
to tap into your vehicle’s brake system. ff you do, both
brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
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
to 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 far 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.

Loading Your Vehicle
TIRE-LOADI',NG INFORMATION
OCCUPANTS
, VEHICLE CAP. WT.
FRT. CTR.
RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX
... LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY WEIGHT- XXX COLD 'TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE .R.TG PSI/KPa
FRT.
,., : 3. ~
RR.
SPA.
IF TlRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PSI28KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL
FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
11)mp .$$##,::
.. ~ c . ., . 'Lj . - .,.
,::.,,: - -i, y- . e,; 2-.,- .- .
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.
,~,,
- -
:.I.
' I
F >
MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
:.r .~,. a. DATE GVWR' GAWR FRT GAWR RR (1 . -. i < .
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI-
CA5LE US. FED.ERAL MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION
STANDARDS IN EFFECT
ON THE DATE OF
MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE..
The other label is the Certification label, found on the
rear edge of the driver's door.
It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle,
or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear
axle.