1998 BUICK REGAL weight

Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the
proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the
vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer”
that appears later in this section. But trailering is
different than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in handling, durability and
fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers.
So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
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
required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
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There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch
dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during
the first 1,000 miles
(1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 kdh) and
don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear
in at the
heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.
Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed
for trailers (or no more than
55 mph (90 kmh)) to
save wear on your vehicle’s parts.
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Three important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight of the trailer,
the weight of the trailer tongue
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 lbs.
(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 L1H
8P7
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Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total or gross
weight of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight
(GVW) 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 tow a trailer, you must
add the tongue load
to the GVW 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.
A B
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.
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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.
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.
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.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer
to the left, just move that hand
to
the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide
you.
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Filter. Passenger Compartment Air ................. 6- 18
Finishcare
.................................... 6-56
Finish Damage
................................. 6-58
First Gear. Automatic Transaxle ................... 2-26
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 5-2
Flat Tire. Changing
............................. 5-26
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-19
Foreign Countries. Fuel
........................... 6-5
FrenchLanguageManual
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Front Parking and Turn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement 6-37
Fuel
.......................................... 6-3
Canadian
................................ 6-4, 6-5
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-6
Gage ....................................... 2-75
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-5
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-62
.. ...........................
FrontTowing .................................. 5-11
Gages
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... '2-67
Fuel
....................................... 2-75
Gear Positions. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2-23
GloveBox
.................................... 2-49
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-32
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-32
Guide en Frangais
11
GVWR ....................................... 4-32
GAWR
....................................... 4-32
.. .................................
Halogen
Bulbs ................................ 6-34
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-2
Head Restraints
................................. 1-5
Headlamps Aiming
..................................... 6-35
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-34
Flash-to-Pass
................................ 2-36
HighLow Beam Changer
...................... 2-35
OnReminder
................................ 2-41
Wiring
..................................... 6-61
Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance .............. 8-4
Heated Foldaway Outside Mirrors .................. 2-48
Heatedseat
.................................... 1-4
Heating ............................... 3.4.3.6. 3.10
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-35
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-25
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-25
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-37
Hood
Checking Things Under
......................... 6-8
Release
...................................... 6-9
Horn ......................................... 2-33
Hydroplaning .................................. 4-21
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2-17
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
.................... 7-17
Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-44
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-40
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-47
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Trailer BackingUp
................................. 4-38
Brakes
..................................... 4- 37
Drivingwith
................................. 4-38
Driving on
Grades
............................ 4-39
Engine Cooling When Towing
................... 4-40
Following Distance
........................... 4-38
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-40
Hitches
..................................... 4-37
If
You Decide to Pull A ........................ 4-34
MakingTurns
................................ 4-39
ParkingonHills
.............................. 4-40
Passing
..................................... 4- 38
Safety Chains
................................ 4-37
Tongueweight
............................... 4-36
Total Weight
on Tires .......................... 4-36
Towing
..................................... 4-33
Turnsignals
................................. 4-39
Weight
..................................... 4- 35
When
You Are Ready to Leave After Parking on a Hill 4-40
Transaxle Fluid
................................. 6-20
Transmitters, Remote-Keyless Entry
............ 2-9, 2- 12
Trip, Before Leaving on a Long .................... 4-24
Trunk
........................................ 2-14
Lock
....................................... 2-15
Rear Seat Pass-Through ........................ 2-50
Transportation,
Courtesy
.......................... 8-6
Trip Odometer
................................. 2-58 Trunk
Convenience Net
.......................... 2-50
Trunk Lid Applique Bulb Replacement
.............. 6-40
TTYUsers
..................................... 8-4
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
............. 2-35
Turn Signal On Chime
........................... 2-35
Turn SignalMultifunction Lever
................... 2-34
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
................ 4-39
Two-way Manual Seat
........................... 1-2
Twilight
Sentinel
............................... 2-43
Underbody Flushing Service
..................... 7-17
Underbody Maintenance
......................... 6-58
Underhood Electrical Center (Passenger’s Side)
....... 6-64
Vehicle Control
...................................... 4-6
Damage Warnings
.............................. iv
Dimensions ................................. 6-68
Identification Number
......................... 6-60
Loading
.................................... 4-31
Storage
..................................... 6-33
Symbols
....................................... v
Ventilation System .............................. 3-10
Visor Vanity Mirrors
............................ 2-51
Visors,
Sun .................................... 2-51
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