1996 BUICK CENTURY towing

’ New Vehicle “Break-In”
NOTICE:
Your modern Buick doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
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Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (804 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow
a trailer during break-in. See
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index
for more
information.
Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can
turn the switch
to five positions.
C
ACCESSORY (A): Position in which you can operate
your radio or windshield wipers. Press in the ignition
switch as you turn the top
of it toward you.
LOCK (B): The only position in which you can
remove the key.
This locks your steering wheel,
ignition and transaxle.
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NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics
in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
Starting Your 3.1 Liter Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If your engine won’t start (or starts but then stops), it
could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way
to the
floor and holding
it there as you hold the key in
START for up
to 15 seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
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NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of
this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle’’ in the Index.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0” F (-‘18 O C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
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better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
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Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your shift lever is located on the steering column.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
P RNpl321
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PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
A CAUTION:
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It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re
on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling
a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer”
in the Index.
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THIRD (3) or DRIVE (D): If your automatic transaxle
does not have AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(@),
DRIVE (D) is for normal driving, at all speeds, in most
street and highway situations.
If your automatic transaxle has overdrive, THIRD
(3) is
also used for normal driving, however, it offers more
power and lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE
(a).
Here are some times you might choose THRD (3) or
DRIVE
(D) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (a):
- When driving on hilly, winding roads.
- When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.
- When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy.
You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then
you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
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NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat.
You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of vour vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifti 3 In’ PAnK (P)
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It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if‘
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake
firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly.
You or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that
follow. If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing
a Trailer” in the Index.
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1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake with
your left foot.
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A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on
fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
(P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on
a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
Windows
Power Windows
With power windows, switches on the driver’s armrest
control each of the windows when the ignition is on. In
addition, each passenger door has a control switch for its
own window.
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Battery Light
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The battery warning light is
designed to come on briefly
when you turn on the
ignition, but the engine is
not running, as
a check to
show you it is working.
Then it should go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while
you
are driving, you may have a problem with the
electrical charging system. It could indicate that you
have a loose generator drive belt or another electrical
problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light is on could drain your battery.
If
you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn
off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
Your Buick’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need
both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right
away.
BRAKE
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to
RUN. If
it doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you if there’s
a problem.
If the light comes on while you
are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that
the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may
go closer to the floor. It
may take longer to stop.
If the light is still on, or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have the
vehicle towed for service.
(See “Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light” and ‘Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
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