1994 Buick Century Owners Manual

startled and even lose control. So unless you want to go faster, don’t hold the switch at “R/A.”

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Here’s the second way to go to a higher speed: 1. Move the Cruise switch

from “ON” to “R/A.” Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want, and then release the switch.

2. To increase your speed in very small amounts, move

the switch to “R/A” for less than half a second and then release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle will go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster. If you tap “R/A” five times, you will go 5 mph faster.

The accelerate feature will only work after you have set the Cruise Control speed by pushing the SET button. To Reduce Speed While Using Cruise Control There are two ways to reduce your speed while using cruise control:

Push in the SET button at the end of the lever until you reach the lower speed you want, then release it.

2. To slow down in very small amounts, push the

button for less than half a second. Each time you do this, you’ll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower. If you tap SET five times, you will go 5 mph slower. Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow down to the Cruise Control speed you set earlier. Using Cruise Control on Hills How well your Cruise Control will work on hills depends upon your speed, load, and the steepness of the hills. -When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake takes you out of Cruise Control. Many drivers find this to be too much trouble and don’t use Cruise Control on steep hills.

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To Get Out of Cruise Control

There are two ways to turn off the Cruise Control: 1. Step lightly on the brake

pedal, OR

Lights

These switches control the following light systems:

Headlights Parking Lights Side Marker Lights Taillights License Plate Lights Instrument Panel Lights

2. Move the Cruise switch

to “OFF.”

To turn on the headlights, press the switch with the light symbol. Press the switch marked “P’ to turn on the parking lights. Press “OFF” to turn off all lights.

To Erase Speed Memory When you turn off the Cruise Control or the ignition, your Cruise Control set speed memory is erased. 98

Interior/Instrument Panel Lights

You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by rotating the control up or down. To turn on the interior courtesy lights, rotate the control all the way up to “HI.”

Headlight ccOn99 Warning If you open the door while leaving the lights on, you will hear a warning chime.

Daytime Running Lights (Canada Only) The Canadian Federal Government has decided that “Daytime Running Lights” (DRL) are a useful feature, in that DRL can make your vehicle more visible to pedestrians and other drivers during daylight hours. DRL are required on new vehicles sold in Canada. Your DRL work with a light sensor on top of the instrument panel. Don’t cover it up. The low beam headlights will come on at reduced brightness in daylight when: 0 the ignition is on, 0 the headlight switch is off, and 0 the parking brake is released. At dusk, the exterior lights will come on automatically and the low beams will change to full brightness. At dawn, the exterior lights will go out and the low beams will change to the reduced brightness of DRL (if the headlight switch is off).

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Of course, you may still turn on the headlights any time you need to. To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking brake while the ignition is in the “Off’ or “Lock” position. Then start the vehicle. The DRL will stay off until you release the parking brake.

Front Seat Reading Lights (Option)

, ..

Press the switch to turn the map light on and off.

Press the switch to turn the front seat reading lights on or off.

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Rear Reading Lights (Wagon)

Press the switches on the front of the mirror to turn on the reading lights.

This light will go on when you open the liftgate. To turn on the light when the liftgate is closed, press the switch.

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Mirrors Inside Mirror When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position, adjust the mirror so you can see clearly behind you car. The day-night adjustment allows you to reduce glare from lights behind you, pull the lever toward you to the night position.

Interior Lights Delay When you pull on the driver’s outside door handle, the dome and courtesy lights will go on and stay on for about 40 seconds, or until you turn the ignition on. If you pull on the driver’s inside door handle within 30 seconds of switching off the ignition, the interior lights will go on and stay on for about 5 seconds, to allow you to unlock your door(s). Courtesy Lights When any door is opened, several lights go on. These lights are under the instrument panel. Optional lights are on the rear doors. They make it easy for you to enter and leave the vehicle. You also can turn these lights on by rotating the interior lights switch to “HI.”

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Outside Mirrors Manual Both the driver and passenger side outside mirrors should be adjusted so that you just see the side of your vehicle and the area behind your vehicle when you are sitting in a comfortable driving position.

Use the remote control knob on the driver’s door to adjust the driver’s outside mirror. Adjust the passenger’s outside mirror by hand.

Power (Option) Both the driver’s and optional passenger side outside mirrors can be adjusted with the control lever on the driver’s door.

Turn the knob left or right to select the driver’s or passenger’s mirror. Rotate !!!!!!! the knob to adjust the

mirror. Adjust each mirror so that you can just see the side of your vehicle and the area behind your vehicle when you are sitting in a comfortable driving position.

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Convex Outside Mirror Your right side mirror is convex. A convex mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more from the driver’s seat.

Lighted Visor Vanity Mirror (Option)

If your vehicle has the optional lighted vanity mirror, the lights come on when you open the cover. Close the cover to turn out the lights.

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Convenience Net (Option)

Wagon Cargo Security Cover (Option) This cover is designed to help conceal articles in the rear storage area. It pulls out and retracts like a window shade. If you have the optional rear-facing third seat, make sure it is folded down.

Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You’ll see it just inside the back wall of the trunk. Put small loads, like grocery bags, behind the net. It can help keep them from falling over during sharp turns or quick starts and stops. The net isn’t for larger, heavier loads. Store them in the trunk as far forward as you can. You can unhook the net so that it will lie flat when you’re not using it.

To Use the Cover: Grasp the handle and pull the cover over the rear storage area. Insert the ends of the support rod into the slots in the trim panel near the liftgate. When the cover isn’t in use, roll it back onto the roller. Hold the handle and lift the support rod out of the slots. Tug the cover lightly, then let it roll back automatically. Don’t release the handle until the cover has rolled back completely.

To Remove the Cover: You can remove the cover and roller assembly for extra cargo room. Slide back the end sleeve and lift the assembly out of the notch in the trim panel. To replace the assembly, reverse the procedure. Luggage Carrier (Option) If you have the optional luggage carrier, you can load things on top of a wagon, or on the deck lid of your vehicle. The luggage carrier has slats attached to the deck lid, a rear rail, and tiedowns. The wagon has slats attached to the roof, side rails, and adjustable crossrails.

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The crossrails can be adjusted by loosening the screws. After moving the crossrails, be sure to tighten the screws securely.

Storage Armrest (Option)

I I NOTICE:

Loading cargo that weighs more than 50 pounds (23 kg) for the deck lid or 200 pounds (90 kg) for the roof on the luggage carrier may damage your vehicle. When you carry large things, never let them hang over the rear or the sides of your vehicle. Load your cargo so that it rests on the slats and does not scratch or damage the vehicle. Put the cargo against the rear rail of the deck lid carrier and fasten it securely. On the wagon, put the cargo against the side rails of the roof carrier and fasten it securely.

Don’t exceed the maximum vehicle capacity when loading your Buick. For more information on vehicle capacity and loading, see “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index. To prevent damage or loss of cargo as you’re driving, check now and then to make sure the luggage carrier and cargo are still securely fastened.

The front armrest opens into a storage area. To open it, lift the lever at the front edge. Inside is a coin holder, slots to hold cassettes or CDs and a dual cup holder. To use the cup holder, flip it forward and close the armrest cover. The cup holder can be removed for cleaning. Flip the cup holder into the armrest storage area. Squeeze the arms inward to release the retainer pins. Remove the cup holder.

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The armrest can be raised so that a passenger can sit in the center position. Rear Locking Storage Compartment (Wagon)

Ashtrays

Reach under the front edge of the ashtray compartment to open it. To remove the ashtray for cleaning, reach under the ashtray and push up from behind it.

Use your door key to unlock the storage bin on the driver’s side near the liftgate.

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Cigarette Lighter To use the lighter, push it in all the way and let go. When it’s ready, it will pop back by itself.

NOTICE: Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand while it is heating. If you do, it won’t be able to back away from the heating element when it’s ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the lighter and the heating element.

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To clean the rear ashtrays, fully open the ashtray. Press down on the snuffer as you pull the ashtray down and out.

I NOTICE:

Don’t put papers and other things that burn into ashtrays. If you do, cigarettes or other smoking materials could set them on fire, causing damage.

Speedometer and Odometer Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven, in either miles (used in the U.S.) or kilometers (used in Canada). Your Buick has a “tamper-resistant odometer.” If you can see very noticeable bright silver lines between the numbers, probably someone has tried to turn it back. The numbers may not be true. You may wonder what happens if a vehicle has to have a new odometer installed. If possible, the new one has to be set to the same reading as the old one. If it can’t be, then it’s set at zero, and a label on the driver’s door must show the old reading and when the new one was installed.

The Instrument Panel: Your Information System

Your instrument panel is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.

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Trip Odometer

The trip odometer can tell you how many miles you have driven since you last set it to zero. To reset it, push the button.

Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators This section describes the warning lights and gages that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them. Warning lights and gages can signal that something is wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an

expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also save you or others from injury. Warning lights go on when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will see in the details on the next few pages, some warning lights come on briefly when you turn the ignition key just to let you know they’re working. If you are familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed when this happens. Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and warning lights work together to let you know when there’s a problem with your vehicle. When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows there may be a problem, check the section that tells you what to do about it. Please follow the manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly -- and even

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dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights and gages. They’re a big help. Fuel Gage

I Your fuel gage tells

you about how much fuel you have left, when the ignition is on. When the indicator nears “E” (Empty), you still have a little fuel left, but you should get more soon.

Here are four things that some owners ask about. None of these show a problem with your fuel gage and are normal operating characteristics:

At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before the gage reads “F” (Full). It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the gage indicated. For example, the gage may have indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to fill the tank. The gage moves a little when you turn a corner, speed up or brake. The gage doesn’t go back to “E” when you turn off the ignition.

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Brake System Warning Light

If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is Your Buick’s hydraulic harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor. brake system is divided into It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, or if the 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.

anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” and “Towing Your Buick” in the Index.)

BRAKE

If the warning light comes on, there cou Ild be a brake problem. Have your brake system inspected right away. This light should come on as you start the vehicle. If it doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.

The brake system warning light will also come on when you set your parking brake, and it will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully released, it means you have a brake problem.

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I

Anti-Lock Brake SJ

‘S tern Warning’Light

ANTI- LOCK

With anti-lock, this light will come on when you start your engine and it will stay on for three seconds. That’s normal. If the light doesn’t come on, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.

If the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. 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. Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Buick” in the Index.)

If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again while you’re driving, your Buick needs service. If the light is on but not flashing and the regular brake system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock brakes.

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Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light

LOW

TRACTION

When your anti-lock system is adjusting brake pressure to help avoid a braking skid, the “LOW TRACTION’ light will come on.

Slippery road conditions will exist if this light comes on, so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will stay on for a few seconds after the system stops adjusting brake pressure. The “LOW TRACTION” light also comes on briefly, as a bulb check, when the engine is started.

Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light

F-

4ccN

TEMP

This light tells you that your engine coolant has overheated or your radiator cooling fan is not working. If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn the engine off as soon as possible.

The chapter “Problems on the Road,” in this manual explains what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.

Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)

SERVICE ENGINE SOON

A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition and emission control systems. This light should come on when the ignition is on, but the engine is not running, as a check to show you it is working.

If it does not come on at all, have it fixed right away. If it stays on, or it comes on while you are driving, the computer is indicating that you have a problem. You should take your vehicle in for service soon.

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too hot!

260 i

100

-E- \ \ T lm, TEMPERATURE

That reading means the same thing as the warning light. It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible. The chapter “Problems on the Road,” in this manual explains what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.

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I NOTICE:

If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on, after a while the emission controls won’t work as well, your fuel economy won’t be as good and your engine may not run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs not covered by your warranty.

Engine Oil Pressure Light

OIL

If you have a problem with your oil, this light may stay on after you start your engine, or come on when you are driving. Stop your car and shut off the engine if this light stays on. This indicates that oil is not going through your engine quickly enough to keep it lubricated.

The engine could be low on oil, or could have some other oil problem. Have.your vehicle serviced immediately. The oil light could also come on in three other situations:

When the ignition is on but the engine is not running, the light will come on as a test to show you it is working, but the light will go out when you turn the ignition to “Start.” If it doesn’t come on with the ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have it fixed right away. Sometimes when the engine is idling at a stop, the light may blink on and off. This is normal. If you make a hard stop, the light may come on for a moment. This is normal.

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NOTICE: Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems can be costly and is not covered by your warranty.

Battery Light

The battery warning light will 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 corn-es 6n %bile 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.

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Voltage Indicator

Liftgate Ajar Warning Light (Wagon)

When your engine is not running, but the ignition is on (in the “Run” position), the gage shows your battery’s state of charge in DC volts. When the engine is running, the gage shows the condition of the charging system. Readings between the red warning zones indicate the normal operating range.

The “TAILGATE AJAR” light on your instrument panel will come on if your liftgate is not completely closed.

TAILGATE

AJAR

Readings in either red warning zone indicate a possible problem in the electrical system. Have your vehicle serviced immediately.

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Part 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

In this part you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control systems and audio systems offered with your Buick . Be sure to read about the particular system supplied with your vehicle . Part 3 includes:

Comfort Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Airconditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heater and Defroster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RearWindowDefogger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audiosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

i22 122 123 123 123 125 Radio Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126. 128. 130 TapePlayerControls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 CDPlayerControls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Care of Cassette Tape Player and Tapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 CareofCompactDiscs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Power Antenna Mast Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Your Buick Comfort Control System

The air conditioner and heater work best if you keep your windows closed while using them. Your vehicle also has the flow-through ventilation system described later in this section. Lever Controls: The upper lever changes the functions of your system. The lower lever changes the temperature of the air coming through the system. The lever next to the fan symbol selects the force of air you want. To turn the fan off, move the upper lever to the OFF position.

_ _

Air Conditioning The upper lever has three air conditioner settings. On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot inside air escape. This reduces the amount of work your air conditioner's compressor will have to do, which should help fuel economy. MAX: Provides maximum cooling with the least amount of work. This setting recirculates much of the air inside your vehicle so it maximizes your air conditioner's performance and fuel economy. NORM (Normal): Use for normal cooling on hot days. This setting cools outside air and directs it through the instrument panel outlets. BI-LEV (Bi-Level): Use this on cool, but sunny days. This setting brings in the outside air, and directs it in two ways. The cool air is directed to the upper portion of your body through the instrument panel outlets, and warmed air is directed through the heater ducts and defroster vents. At times this temperature difference may be more apparent than others. The air conditioner compressor operates in all Air Conditioning positions, and in Defrost when the outside temperature is above about 40°F (4.5"C).

Ventilation For mild outside temperatures, when little heating or cooling is needed, slide the upper lever to VENT. Air flow is through the instrument panel outlets. Rotate the control next to the outlets to turn on, adjust or turn off the air flow. Adjust the lower lever on the control panel to the temperature desired. Heating When outside temperatures are cold, sliding the upper lever to HEATER and the lower lever to HOT will send heated air through the heater ducts, and some through the defroster vents. VENT and HEATER are labeled ECONOMY positions because the air conditioner compressor doesn't run in these two settings. This reduces engine load, resulting in improved fuel economy. If either setting fails to keep you comfortable, or causes your windows to fog up, slide the upper lever to one of the Air Conditioning positions, or to DEF (Defrost). Defrosting The DEF setting directs most of the air through the defroster vents, and some through the heater ducts.

Defog To quickly defog the windshield, set the upper lever to DEF and move the fan switch to HI . Slide the lower lever to HOT. In damp, cool weather (temperatures about 45 "-65"F, 7"- 1 8"C), you can use BI-LEV to defog the side windows. Set the upper lever to BI-LEV and the fan switch to HI. Aim the side vents toward the side windows. For increased air flow to the side vents, close the center vents. Rear Window Defogger (Option)

The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog from the rear window. In winter, it can also keep ice from forming on the rear window.

1 3 2

Press the ON portion of the switch. The indicator light will glow. The rear window defogger will turn off automatically after about 10 minutes of use. You can also turn it off by turning off the ignition or pressing the OFF portion of the switch.

I NOTICE:

Don’t use a razor blade or somerning else sharp on the inside of the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage the warming grid, and the repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.

Flow-Through Ventilation System Your Buick’s flow-through ventilation system supplies outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside air will also enter the vehicle when the heater or the air conditioning fan is running.

Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow, or any other obstruction (such as leaves). The heater and defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of fogging the inside of your windows. When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, turn the blower fan to HI for a few moments before driving off. This helps clear the intake ducts of snow and moisture, and reduces the chance of fogging the inside of your windows. Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects. This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.

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Audio Systems Your Delco@ audio system has been designed to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure. But you will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it first. Find out what your Delco@ system can do and how to operate all its controls, to be sure you're getting the most out of the advanced engineering that went into it. FM Stereo FM stereo will give you the best sound. But FM signals will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go. AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range, however, can cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can also pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try reducing the treble to lower this noise.

AM Stereo Your Delco@ system may be able to receive C-Quam@ stereo broadcasts. Many AM stations around the country use C-Quam@ to produce stereo, though some do not. (C-Quam@ is a registered trademark of Motorola, Inc.) If your Delco' system can get C-Quam@ signals, your stereo indicator light will come on when you are receiving it. Be aware that hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe sound level before your hearing adapts to it.

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To help avoid hearing loss or damage:

Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting. Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably and clearly.

NOTICE: vehicle -- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile Before you add any sound equipment to your telephone or two-way radio -- be sure you can

add what you want. If you can, it's very important to do it properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with the operation of your vehicle's engine, Delco@ radio or other systems, and even damage them. And, your vehicle's systems may interfere with the operation of sound equipment that has been added improperly. So, before adding sound equipment, check with your dealer and be sure to check Federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units.

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To Play This Radio Power Press PWR to turn the radio on and off when the ignition is on.

Upper Knob Rotate the knob to control the volume. When the ignition is off, press the knob to display the time. Balance The BAL control behind the upper knob adjusts the left/right speaker balance.

Lower Knob Rotate the lower knob to tune in radio stations. Press it to change between the AM and FM bands.

Fade The FADE control behind the lower knob adjusts the front/rear speaker balance.

Treble Slide this lever up to increase treble, or down to decrease it. If a station is weak or noisy, reduce the treble.

Bass Slide this lever up to increase bass, or down to decrease it.

Scan Press the SCAN button to hear each station for a few seconds. Push it again to stop scanning.

Seek rress the SEEK button to go to the next higher station and stay there. Push it again and it will find the next higher station.

Pushbuttons The four pushbuttons let you return to favorite stations. To set the pushbuttons for up to fourteen stations (7 AM and 7 FM: 1. Use the lower knob (TUNE) to tune in the station

you want.

2. Press SET. The SET indicator will appear in the

display.

3. Within 5 seconds, press one of the four pushbuttons.

Whenever you push that button again, the preset station will return.

Up to three more stations may be preset on each band by pressing two pushbuttons that are next to each other, at the same time. 1. Tune in the desired station. 2. Press SET, and within five seconds press any two pushbuttons that are next to each other at the same time. The station will return when the same two pushbuttons are pressed again.

Clock To set the clock, 1. Press the SET button.

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2. Within 5 seconds, press and hold SCAN until the

correct hour appears on the display.

3. Press and hold SEEK until the correct minute

appears on the display.

...... _.__” .......

........ .”... .. 7

To Play This Radio Power Press PWR to turn the unit on and off when the ignition is on.

Upper Knob The upper knob does these things: 0 Rotate VOL to control the volume. 128

When the ignition is off, press the knob to display the time. When a tape is playing, press the knob t.o hear the other side of the tape.

Balance The BAL control behind the upper knob adjusts the left/right speaker balance.

Lower Knob This knob does two things:

Rotate it to tune in radio stations. Press it to change between the AM and FM bands.

Fade The FADE control behind the lower knob adjusts the front/rear speaker balance.

Treble Slide this lever up to increase treble, or down to decrease it. If a station is weak or noisy, reduce the treble.

Bass Slide this lever up to increase bass, or down to decrease it. Scan Press the SCAN button to hear each station for a few seconds. Push it again to stop scanning.

Seek Press the SEEK button to go to the next higher station and stay there. Push it again and it will find the next higher station.

Pushbuttons The four pushbuttons let you return to favorite stations. To set the pushbuttons for up to fourteen stations (7 AM and 7 FM: 1. Use the lower knob (TUNE) to tune in the station

you want.

2. Press SET. The SET indicator will appear in the

display.

3. Within 5 seconds, press one of the four pushbuttons.

Whenever you push that button again, the preset station will return.

Up to three more stations may be preset on each band by pressing two pushbuttons that are next to each other, at the same time. 1. Tune in the desired station 2. Press SET, and within five seconds press any two pushbuttons that are next to each other at the same time. The station will return when the same two pushbuttons are pressed again.

Clock To set the clock, 1. Press the SET button. 2. Within 5 seconds, press and hold SCAN until the

correct hour appears on the display.

3. Press and hold SEEK until the correct minute

appears on the display.

Dynamic Noise Reduction Press the DNR@ button to select the Dynamic Noise Reduction system that reduces background hiss on AM and FM radio broadcasts, as well as on cassette tapes. You may want to leave it pushed in all the time.

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To Play a Cassette Tape With the power switch on, insert a tape into the cassette door. Using tapes that are longer than 90 minutes (45 minutes on each side) is not recommended. When the right indicator arrow is lit, selections listed on the bottom side of the cassette are playing. When the left arrow is lit, selections listed on the top side of the cassette are playing. To change sides of the tape, press the upper control knob (VOL ) while the cassette is playing. The tape player automatically begins playing the other side when it reaches the end of the tape.

Fast Forward To rapidly advance the tape, press the button with the arrow pointing in the same direction the tape is playing. To stop fast forward, lightly press the STOP-EJECT button.

Reverse To rapidly reverse the tape, press the button with the arrow pointing in the opposite direction the tape is playing. To stop reverse, lightly press the STOP-EJECT button.

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Stop-Eject To stop playing a tape, fully press this button. The cassette will eject, and the radio will begin playing.

To Play This Radio Power Press PWR to turn the unit on and off when the ignition is on.

Upper Knob This knob does two things: 0 Rotate VOL slightly to the left or right to control the

volume.

0 Press it to mute the radio or tape player. Press again

to listen.

Balance The BAL control behind the upper knob adjusts the left/right speaker balance.

Lower Knob This knob does two things: 0 Rotate TUNE slightly to the left or right to tune in

radio stations. If you hold it to the left or right, it will tune rapidly.

0 Press to change between the AM and FM bands. The

band you select will appear on the digital display.

Fade The FADE control behind the lower knob adjusts the front/rear speaker balance.

Scan Press the SCAN button to hear each station for a few seconds. Push it again to stop scanning.

Seek Press the SEEK button to go to the next higher station and stay there. Push it again and it will find the next higher station.

Recall Press RCL to alternate the display between the time and station frequency. When the ignition is off, press to display the time.

Bass Press BASS up or down to increase or decrease the bass level. Press the center of the button for the factory preset level.

Treble Press TREB up or down to increase or decrease the treble level. Press the center of the button for the factory preset level. If a station is weak or noisy, reduce the treble.

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Pushbuttons The five pushbuttons let you return to favorite stations. 1. Use the lower knob (TUNE) to tune in the station

you want.

2. Press SET. The SET indicator will appear in the

display.

3. Within 5 seconds, press one of the five pushbuttons.

Whenever you push that button again, the preset station will return.

Clock To set the clock, 1. Press the SET button. 2. Within 5 seconds, press and hold SCAN until the

correct hour appears on the display.

3. Press and hold SEEK until the correct minute

appears on the display.

To Play a Compact Disc: Before you begin, please note: Don’t use mini-discs that are called singles. They won’t eject. Use only full-size compact discs. 1. Press PWR to turn the radio on. 132

2. Insert a disc part-way into the slot, with the label

side up. The player will pull it in. In a few seconds, the disc should play.

If the disc comes back out and/or Err appears on the display: 0 The disc may be upside down. 0 The disc may be dirty, scratched or wet.

There may be too much moisture in the air (wait about one hour and try again). The player may be too hot, or the road may be too rough for the disc to play. As soon as things get back to normal, the disc should play.

While a disc is playing, the CD indicator is displayed.

Recall Press RCL once to see which track is playing. Press again within five seconds to see how long your selection has been playing. The track number also will be displayed when the volume is changed or a new track starts to play.

Compression Depressing COMP makes soft and loud passages more equal in volume. Press again to resume normal play.

Random Press RDM to play tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. Press the button again to play tracks sequentially.

Scan Press SCAN to play each track for approximately ten seconds. Scan will continue until SCAN is pressed again or another button is pressed.

Reverse Press REV and hold to rapidly back up to a favorite passage. Release to resume playing.

Fast Forward Press FWD and hold to rapidly advance the disc. Release to resume playing.

Previous Press PREV to play a track again. If you hold or keep pressing the PREV button, the disc will keep backing up to previous tracks.

Next Press NEXT when you want to hear the next track. If you hold or keep pressing the NEXT button, the disc will keep advancing to other tracks.

Stop/Play Press STPL to stop the disc player; the radio will play. Press again to play the disc (the player will start playing the disc where it was stopped earlier).

Eject Press EJCT to eject the disc; the radio will play. You can also eject the disc with the radio or ignition off. If you press PWR or turn off the ignition, the disc will stay in the player and start again when you turn on the ignition or power switch. The disc will begin playing at the point where it had been stopped.

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CD Player Anti-Theft Feature Delco LOC I1 is a security feature for the compact disc player. It can be used or ignored. If ignored, the system plays normally. If it is used, your player won’t be usable if it is ever stolen, because it will go to LOC mode any time battery power is removed. Until an unlock code is entered, it will not turn on. The instructions below tell you how to enter a secret code into the system. If your vehicle loses battery power for any reason, you must unlock the system with the secret code before the radio will turn on. Be sure to read through the entire procedure and become familiar with the appropriate buttons and knobs before starting. 1. Write down any six-digit number and keep it in a

safe place.

2. Turn the ignition to the ACC or RUN position. 3. Press the PWR button to turn the radio off. 4. Press the 1 and 4 pushbuttons together. Hold them

down until “---” shows on the display. You are ready to enter your secret code. If you pause more than 15 seconds between steps, you may have to start the procedure over.

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5. Press SET and “000” will appear on the display. 6. Press the SEEK button to make the first number

appear.

7. Rotate the TUNE knob right or left to make the last

two numbers agree with your code.

8. Press the lower (BAND) knob and “000” will appear

again. Now you are ready to enter the last three digits of your code by repeating steps 6 and 7 for the last three digits of your code.

9. Press the lower (BAND) knob and “rEP” will appear

for five seconds and then “000” will appear indicating that some steps are to be repeated.

10. Repeat steps 6,7 and 8. 11. Press the lower (BAND) knob. If the display shows

“SEC” it indicates that the process was successful and the radio is secure. If the display shows “---,” the steps were not successful and the process must be repeated to secure.

To Unlock the System After a Power Loss When battery power is reapplied to a secured radio, the radio won’t turn on and “LOC” will appear on the display. Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps. 1. Turn the ignition on. (Radio off.) 2. Press the SET button. The display will show “000.” 3. Enter the six digits of your code following steps 6-9 on the preceding. The display will show the numbers as entered.

4. Press the lower (BAND) knob and SEC appears,

then the time, indicating that the disabling sequence was successful.

Disabling the Anti-Theft System: 1.

2. 3.

4.

5.

6.

Press the I and 4 buttons together for five seconds with ignition on and radio power off. The display will show “SEC,” indicating the unit is in the secure mode. Press the SET button. The display will show “OOO.” Enter the first three digits of your code following step 6 and 7of the preceding paragraphs. The display will show the numbers as entered. Press the lower (BAND) knob. The radio will display “000.” Enter the second three digits of the code. The display will show the numbers as entered. Press the lower (BAND) knob. If the display shows “--- , ” the disabling sequence was successful (the numbers matched the user-selected code or the factory back-up code) and the unit is in the UNSECURED mode. If the display shows “SEC,” the disabling sequence was unsuccessful and the numbers did not match either of the codes and the unit will remain in the SECURED mode.

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Care of Your Cassette Tape Player

A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes, or a damaged mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight, and extreme heat. If they aren't, they may not operate properly or cause failure of the tape player. Your tape player should be cleaned regularly each month or after every 15 hours of use. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player.

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Clean your tape player with a wiping-action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette, and follow the directions provided with it. Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always make sure that the cassette tape is in good condition before you have your tape player serviced. Care of Your Compact Discs Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and clean it, wiping only from the center to the edge. Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge. Fixed Mast Antenna The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes without being damaged. If the mast should ever become slightly bent, you can straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent, as it might be by vandals, you should replace it. Check every once in a while to be sure the mast is still tightened to the fender.

Power Antenna Mast Care

Your power antenna will look its best and work well if it’s cleaned from time to time.

To Clean the Antenna Mast: 1. Turn on the ignition and radio to raise the antenna to

full mast extension.

2. Dampen a clean cloth with mineral spirits or

equivalent solvent.

3. Wipe cloth over the mast sections, removing any dirt.

4. Wipe dry with clean cloth before retracting. 5. Make the antenna go up and down by turning the

radio or ignition on and off.

6. Then repeat if necessary.

NOTICE: Don’t lubricate the power antenna. Lubrication could damage it.

NOTICE: Before entering an automatic car wash, turn off your radio to make the power antenna go down. This will prevent the mast from possibly getting damaged. If the antenna does not go down when you turn the radio off, it may be damaged or need to be cleaned. In either case, lower the antenna by hand by carefully pressing the antenna down.

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138

1940 Buick Model 51 G

Part 4 Your Driving and the Road

Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions . We’ve also included many other useful tips on driving . Part 4 includes:

DefensiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DrunkenDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LossofControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DrivingatNight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DrivingintheRain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CityDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FreewayDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HillandMountainRoads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WinterDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TowingaTrailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

140 140 144 144 147 150 151 152 154 156 157 160 161 165

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Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Be ready for their mistakes. -. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following distance. It’s the best defensive driving maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.

Drunken Driving Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims every year. Alcohol takes away three things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle:

Judgment

0 Muscular Coordination

Vision

Police records show that almost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol - a driver, a passenger or someone else, such as a pedestrian, had

Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your Buick: Buckle up. (See “Safety Belts” in the Index.) Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads, or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.” 140

been drinking. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. About 20,000 motor vehicle-related deaths occur each year because of alcohol, and thousands of people are injured. 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:

How much alcohol is in the drink.

0 The drinker’s body weight. 0 The amount of food that is consumed before and

during drinking. The length of time i t 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.

1 A 1

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.

RESULT IN A BAC nr 95%

DRINKING THAT WILL IN THE TIM Sl., ...l

NUMBER OF DRINKS (as in plcture)

’ HOURS

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.

A CAUTION:

“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 alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse. That’s especially true for brain, spinal cord and heart injuries. That means that if anyone who has been drinking -- driver or passenger -- is in a crash, the chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if that person had not been drinking. And we’ve already seen that the chance of a crash itself is higher for drinking drivers.

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Control of a Vehicle You have three systems that make your vehicle go where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road.

Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control of your vehicle. Braking Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction time. Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important.

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And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread; and the condition of your brakes. Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking -- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means better braking and longer brake life. If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake normally but don’t pump your brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.

Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) Your Buick has an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent skidding.

This light on the instrument panel will go on when you start your vehicle.

ANTI- LOCK

When you start your vehicle, or when you begin to drive away, you may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise. And you may even notice that your brake pedal moves a little while this is going on. This is the ABS system testing itself. If there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, the anti-lock brake system warning light will stqy on or flash. See “Anti-lock Brake System Warning Light” in the Index.

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The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire and road conditions.

Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet. You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS. A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at the rear wheels.

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You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard. As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.

Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes.

To Use Anti-Lock Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the system working, or you may notice some noise, but this is normal. When your anti-lock system is adjusting brake pressure to help avoid a braking skid, the “LOW TRACTION” light will come on. See “Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light” in the Index. Braking in Emergencies Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to. With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking.

Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort. Steering Tips Driving on Curves It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here’s why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.

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Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems -- steering and acceleration -- have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead. Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.

Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems by braking -- if you can stop in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room. That’s the time for evasive action -- steering around the problem. Your Buick can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available. An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object.

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The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly.

Off-Road Recovery You may find sometime that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you're driving.

OFF ROAD RECOVERY

/ /

If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to 1/4 turn until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.

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solid line, even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic. Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely reduces your area of vision, especially if you’re following a larger vehicle. Also, you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable distance. When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up, start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t get too close. Time your move so you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” that more than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back. And if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need only slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity.

The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits for just the right moment, accelerates, ,moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver? Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents -- the head-on collision. So here are some tips for passing:

“Drive ahead.’’ Look down the road, to the sides, and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better time. Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken center line usually indicates it’s all right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or a double

150

e If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot.

e Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. (Remember that your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is.) Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle.

e Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the brake lights are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn. If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to the right.

Loss of Control Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger. Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving” those Conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to your Buick’s three control systems. In the braking skid your wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.

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If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited. While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues -- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface’’ -- and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lock braking system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid.

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Driving at Night

Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired -- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue. Here are some tips on night driving. 0 Drive defensively. 0 Don’t drink and drive.

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Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlights behind you. Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlights can light up only so much road ahead. In remote areas, watch for animals. If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.

Night Vision No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. What you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from headlights, but they also make a lot of things invisible.

You can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlights), slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching lights. Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean -- inside and out. Glare at night is made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would, making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. Remember that your headlights light up far less of a roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly lighted objects. Just as your headlights should be checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night blindness -- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t even aware of it.

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Driving in the Rain

And, if your tires don’t have much tread left, you’ll get even less traction. It’s always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement. The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road, and even people walking. It’s wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts.

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Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road you can’t stop, accelerate or turn as well because your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on dry roads.

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The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles. But if you can’t, try to slow down before you hit them.

Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires haven’t much tread or if the pressure in one or

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Driving too fast through large water puddles or even going through some car washes can cause problems, too.

more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone poles, or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning. Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it is raining. Some Other Rainy Weather Tips 0 Turn on your low-beam headlights -- not just your parking lights -- to help make you more visible to others. Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by road spray.

0 Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See

“Tires” in the Index.)

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City Driving

One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to traffic signals.

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Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving: 0 Know the best way to get to where you are going. Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown part of the city just as you would for a cross-country trip. Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the next section, “Freeway Driving.”) Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because the corner is busy enough to need it. When a light turns green, and just before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not cleared the intersection or may be running the red light.

Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, expressways, turnpikes, or superhighways) are the safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.

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The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane. At the entrance there is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow. Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass. Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use your turn signal. Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in your “blind” spot. Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night.

When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the next exit. The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower than you actually are. Before Leaving on a Long Trip Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re not fresh -- such as after a day’s work -- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily drive in. Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in Buick dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready and willing to help if you need it.

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Here are some things you can check before a trip:

Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean inside and outside? 0 Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?

Fuel. Engine Oil. Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels? Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?

0 Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,

trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the recommended pressure?

0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along

your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system?

0 Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps? Highway Hypnosis Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.

There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than a second, and you could crash and be injured. What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can happen. Then here are some tips:

Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool interior.

0 Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to

the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your instruments frequently.

0 If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as an emergency.

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If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. 0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid

levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill.

Hill and Mountain Roads

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Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or rolling terrain.

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Winter Driving

Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better. Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident. You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.

Here are some tips for winter driving: 0 Have your Buick in good shape for winter. Be sure

your engine coolant mix is correct.

0 You may want to put winter emergency supplies in

your vehicle.

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Driving on Snow or Ice Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the road probably have good traction. However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll have a lot less traction or “grip” and will need to be very careful.

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Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth, and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure these items in your vehicle.

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What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet

ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the least traction of all. You can get “wet ice’’ when it’s about freezing (32°F; OOC) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there. Whatever the condition -- smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow -- drive with caution. Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface under the tires even more. Your anti-lock brakes improve your ability to make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even though you have the anti-lock braking system, you’ll want to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement. See “Anti-lock” in the Index.

Allow greater following distance on any slippery road.

0 Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot that’s covered with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass may remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you are on it. Try not to brake while you’re actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers.

If You’re Caught in a Blizzard

If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a serious situation. You should probably stay with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near help and you can hike through the snow. Here are some things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe: Turn on your hazard flashers. Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that you’ve been stopped by the snow. Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you. If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body insulators from newspapers, burlap

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bags, rags, floor mats -- anything you can wrap around yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm. You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.

Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your headlights. Let the heater run for awhile.

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Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until help comes. Towing a Trailer

1 NOTICE:

Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow the advice in this section, and see your Buick dealer for important information about towing a trailer with your vehicle.

Your car can tow a trailer if it is equipped with either the 2.2L L4 engine or the 3 100 SF1 V6 engine and proper