1996 Buick Century Owner's Manual
1996 Buick Century Owner's Manual 1996 Buick Century Owner's Manual
0 Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to passwhile 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 vehicleahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back areasonable distance.When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’tget too close. Time your move so you will beincreasing speed as the time comes to move into theother lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will havea “running start” that more than makes up for thedistance you would lose by dropping back. And ifsomething happens to cause you to cancel your pass,you need only slow down and drop back again andwait for another opportunity.If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, waityour turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying topass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.Remember to glance over your shoulder and checkthe blind spot.0 Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, andstart your left lane change signal before moving outof the right lane to pass. When you are far enoughahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in yourinside mirror, activate your right lane change signaland move back into the right lane. (Remember thatyour right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle youjust passed may seem to be farther away from youthan it really is.)Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a timeon two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing thenext vehicle.0 Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it maybe slowing down or starting to turn.If you’re being passed, make it easy for thefollowing driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps youcan ease a little to the right.
Let’s review what driving experts say about whathappens when the three control systems (brakes, steeringand acceleration) don’t havenough friction where thetires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer andconstantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonablecare suited to existing conditions, and by not“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are alwayspossible.The three types of skids correspond to your Buick’sthree control systems. In the braking skid, your wheelsaren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, toomuch speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip andlose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, toomuch throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are besthandled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off theaccelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want thevehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, yourvehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for asecond skid if it occurs.Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’llwant to slow down and adjust your driving to theseconditions. It is important to slow down on slipperysurfaces because stopping distance will be longer andvehicle control more limited.While driving on a surface with reduced traction, tryyour best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration orbraking (including engine braking by shifting to a lowergear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires toslide. You may not realize the surface is slippery untilyour vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warningclues -- such as enough water, ice or packed snowon the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- andslow down when you have any doubt.Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helpsavoid only the braking skid.
- Page 91 and 92: Passing Another Vehicle While Using
- Page 93 and 94: Courtesy LampsWhen any door is open
- Page 95 and 96: MirrorsInside Daymight Rearview M r
- Page 97 and 98: Storage ArmrestRear Locking Storage
- Page 99 and 100: a. . , .- . ..,.,To use the cover,
- Page 101: 1 NOTICE:Don’t put papers and oth
- Page 104 and 105: Instrument Panel ClusterLOWTRACTION
- Page 106 and 107: Speedometer and OdometerYour speedo
- Page 108 and 109: Battery LightI-+IThe battery warnin
- Page 110 and 111: If the light flashes when you’re
- Page 112 and 113: Engine Coolant Temperature GageIkTE
- Page 114 and 115: If the Light Is FlashingThe followi
- Page 116 and 117: The oil light could also come on in
- Page 118 and 119: NOTES2-60
- Page 120 and 121: The upper lever has three air condi
- Page 122 and 123: Ventilation Tips000Keep the hood an
- Page 124 and 125: In addition to the four stationset
- Page 126 and 127: FORWARD: Press the right arrow to r
- Page 128 and 129: iFixed Mast AntennaThe fixed mast a
- Page 130 and 131: NOTES3-12
- Page 132 and 133: ~ DrunkenDriving The obvious way to
- Page 134 and 135: The body takes about an hour to rid
- Page 136 and 137: Avoid needless heavy braking. Some
- Page 138 and 139: Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t chang
- Page 140 and 141: Steering in EmergenciesThere are ti
- Page 144 and 145: Driving at NightHere are some tips
- Page 146 and 147: Driving in Rain and on Wet RoadsRai
- Page 148 and 149: Hydroplaning usually happens at hig
- Page 150 and 151: eeway Driving-Mile for mile, freewa
- Page 152 and 153: Highway HypnosisIs there actually s
- Page 154 and 155: W* kter DrivingHere are some tips f
- Page 156 and 157: If You're Caught in a BlizzaruPut o
- Page 158 and 159: Loading Your VehicleTIRE-LOADING IN
- Page 160 and 161: lg a TrailerA CAUTION:If you don’
- Page 162 and 163: Weight of the Trailer TongueThe ton
- Page 164 and 165: Driving with a TrailerTowing a trai
- Page 166 and 167: Parking on HillsYou really should n
- Page 168 and 169: Your hazard warning flashers work n
- Page 170 and 171: Using a match near a battery can ca
- Page 172 and 173: 9. Don't let the other endtouch any
- Page 174 and 175: To help avoid injury to you or othe
- Page 176 and 177: 2. Position a 4”x 4” wood beam
- Page 178 and 179: .. .. .I"=--I2. Position the lower
- Page 180 and 181: If No Steam Is Coming From Your Eng
- Page 182 and 183: ( A C A u TT” I:An electric fan u
- Page 184 and 185: INOTICE:In cold weather, water can
- Page 186 and 187: How to Add Coolant to the Radiatorr
- Page 188 and 189: 4. Fill the radiator with the prope
- Page 190 and 191: If a Tire Goes FlatIt’s unusual f
Let’s review what driving experts say about whathappens when the three control systems (brakes, steeringand acceleration) don’t havenough friction where thetires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer andconstantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonablecare suited to existing conditions, and by not“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are alwayspossible.The three types of skids correspond to your <strong>Buick</strong>’sthree control systems. In the braking skid, your wheelsaren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, toomuch speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip andlose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, toomuch throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are besthandled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off theaccelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want thevehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, yourvehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for asecond skid if it occurs.Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’llwant to slow down and adjust your driving to theseconditions. It is important to slow down on slipperysurfaces because stopping distance will be longer andvehicle control more limited.While driving on a surface with reduced traction, tryyour best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration orbraking (including engine braking by shifting to a lowergear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires toslide. You may not realize the surface is slippery untilyour vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warningclues -- such as enough water, ice or packed snowon the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- andslow down when you have any doubt.Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helpsavoid only the braking skid.
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