1996 BUICK PARK AVENUE Owners Manual

7. Connect the red
positive
(+) cable to the
positive
(+) terminal of
the vehicle with the dead
battery. Use a remote
positive
(+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
8. Don’t let the other
end touch metal. Connect it to the
positive
(+)
terminal of the
good battery. Use a
remote positive (+)
terminal if the
vehicle has one.
9. Now connect the
black negative
(-) cable
to the good battery’s
negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t
let the other end touch anything until the next
step. The other end of the negative
(-) cable doesn’t go
to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy unpainted metal
part
on the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery.
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10.
11. 12.
Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that
move. The electrical connection is just as good
there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the
battery is much less.
Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
Try to-start the vehicle with the dead battery.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or
any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B
. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
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Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing
service tow your Buick.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding after-market 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:
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0
0
0
0
That your vehicle can only be towed with certain
equipment, as described later in this section.
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.
A CAUTION:
To help avoid injury to you or others:
0 Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
0 Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
0 Never tow with damaged parts not fully
secured.
0 Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by the tow truck.
Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.
0 Never use J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
being towed.
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L
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause
a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut
by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks. They
will damage drivetrain and
suspension components. When your vehicle
is being towed, have
the ignition
key in the
OFF position. 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 (N) and the parking
brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the front wheels,
unless you must. If the vehicle must
be towed on the
front wheels, be sure to follow the speed and distance
restrictions later in this section or your transaxle will be
damaged.
If these limits must be exceeded, then the
front wheels have to be supported
on a dolly.
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Front Towing
Attach T-hook chains
behind the front wheels into
the bottom slots
of the
cradle rails on both sides.
Position a
4” x 4” wood beam across the sling chains
contacting the bottom of the radiator support. Position
the lower sling crossbar just behind the rear edge of the
front bumper.
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Rear Towing
Tow Limits -- $5 mpht(88 kmlh), 500 miles (800 km)
Attach T-hook chains on
both sides in the slotted
holes
in the floor pan
support rails just ahead of
the rear wheels.
Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard end
of each. lower control arrn.
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Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard end
of each lower control
arm.
Position the lower sling crossbar directly under the
rear bumper.
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Engine Overheating
You will find a warning light about a hot engine on your
Buick instrument panel and
if you have the optional
gage cluster, a coolant temperature gage. You
will also
find a LOW COOLANT warning light.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
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.
If you 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.
,
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered
by your warranty.
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