1997 BUICK CENTURY weight

Three important considerations have to do with weight:
0 the weight of the trailer,
0 the weight of the trailer tongue
0 and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than 1,000 Ibs. (450 kg). But
even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to
pull a
trailer are all important. And,
it can also depend on any
special equipment that
you have on your vehicle.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or
advice, or you can write
us at:
Buick Motor Division
Customer Relations Center
902 E. Hamilton Avenue
Flint,
MI 48550 In
Canada, write to:
General Motors
of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1
H 8P7
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.
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B A
If you’re using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer
tongue
(A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight
(B). If you have a weight-distributing
hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 12 percent 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 upper
limit for cold tires. You’ll find these numbers
on the
Tire-Loading Information label (found inside the trunk
lid) or see “Loading
Your Vehicle” in the Index. Then be
sure you don’t go over the GVW limit for your vehicle,
including the weight of the trailer tongue.
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:
The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for
hitches.
Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them. Use only a
frame-mounted hitch that does not attach to
the bumper.
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.
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Safety Ch: - 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 as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
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 and do not attach them
to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try to tap into
your vehicle’s brake system. If you do, both brake
systems won’t work well, or at all. Before
you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, 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 lamps and any trailer brakes
are
still working.
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Drunken Driving ................................ 4-3 Fabric Cleaning ............................. 6-46
Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control
......... 3-7 Features and Controls ............................ 2-1
Dual ComforTemp Climate Control .................. 3-4 Filling Your Tank ................................ 6-5
Filter.Air
..................................... 6-15
Electrical Equipment. Adding
..... 2.20. 2-5 1. 3-35: 6-56
Electrical Equipment. Adding
........... 2-20. 3.35. 6-55
Electrical System
............................... 6-56
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview Mirror
.......... 2-47
Engine
........................................ 6-9
Coolant
..................................... 6-20
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-20
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-37
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-60
Coolant Temperature Light
..................... 2-60
Exhaust
..................................... 2-30
Identification
................................ 6-55
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-37
Overheating
................................. 5-15
Running While Parked
......................... 2-3 1
Specifications ................................ 6-63
Starting Your
................................ 2- I9
Engine011
.................................... 6-10
Adding
..................................... 6-11
Additives
................................... 6-13
Checking ................................... 6-11
Used
....................................... 6-14
What Kind to Use
............................. 6- I2
Whentochange
.............................. 6-14
Ethanol ........................................ 6-4
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-30
Exterior Lamps
................................. 2-41 Filter. Engine
Oil
............................... 6-14
Filter. Passenger Compartment Air
................. 6-16
Finish Care
.................................... 6-50
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-25
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flat Tire
. Changjng ............................. 5-25
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-42
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-5
French Language Manual 11
Front Parking and Turn Signal Lamp
Bulb Replacement ............................ 6-31
FrontTowing
.................................. 5-11
Fuel .......................................... 6-3
Canadian
................................ 6-3. 6-5
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-5
Gage
....................................... 2-68
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-5
Fuses and Circuit Bre.akers ....................... 6-57
Finish Damage
................................. 6-52
.. ...........................
Gages
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-60
Fuel
....................................... 2-68
Gear Positions. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2-22
GloveBox
.................................... 2-49
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-29
GAWR
....................................... 4-29
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-29
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Tail/Stop/Turn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement ...... 6-33
TapePlayerCare
............................... 3-35
Temperature Control
............. 3-2, 3-4, 3-5, 3-7, 3-8
Theft ......................................... 2-15
Theft-Deterrent Feature .......................... 3-3 I
Theft-Deterrent System .......................... 2- I6
THEFTLOCK TM ................................ 3-3 I
Thermostat .................................... 6-23
Third Gear, Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-24
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................. 2-33
Time, Setting the
............................... 3-12
Tire-Loading Information Label
................... 4-28
Buylng New
................................. 6-40
Changing
a Flat .............................. 5-25
Cleaning
.................................... 6-52
Compact Spare
............................... 5-37
Inspection and Rotation
........................ 6-39
Storing the Flat
............................... 5-35
Storing the Spare
............................. 5-36
Temperature
................................. 6-42
Traction
.................................... 6-42
Treadwear
................................... 6-42
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-41
Wear Indicators
.............................. 6-40
Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-43
When It’s Time for New
....................... 6-40
Tires
........................................... -37
Alignment and Balance
........................ 6-43
Chains
..................................... 6-44
Inflation
.................................... 6-38
Inflation Check ............................... 7-37
Loading
.................................... 4-28
Pressure
.................................... 6-38
TopStrap ..................................... 1-50
TorqueLock
................................... 2-29
Torque. Wheel
Nut ......................... 5-34. 6.62
Towing
a Trailer ................................ 4-30
Towing Your Vehicle
............................. 5-9
Trailer BackingUp
................................. 4-35
Brakes
..................................... 4-34
Driving on Grades
............................ 4-36
Driving
with ................................. 4-34
Following Distance
........................... 4-35
If You Decide to Pull A ........................ 4-31
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-37
Parking on Hills
.............................. 4-36
Safety Chains
................................ 4-34
Tongue Weight
............................... 4-32
Total Weight on Tires
.......................... 4-33
Hitches
..................................... 4-33
MakingTurns
................................ 4-35
Passing
..................................... 4-35
Towing
..................................... 4-30
Turnsignals
................................. 4-36
Weight
..................................... 4-32
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking
onaHill
.................................. 4-37
Automatic
................................... 6-17
Transmitters, Remote Keyless Entry ............ 2-9, 2-12
Transportation, Courtesy
.......................... 8-6
Trip, Before Leaving on a Long
.................... 4-21
Trip Odometer
................................. 2-55
Trunk
........................................ 2-14
Trunk Lid Appliaue
Bulb Replacement .............. 6-34
Lock ....................................... 2-15
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