1996 Buick Century Owner's Manual

Making TurnsI NOTICE:Making very sharp turns while trailering couldcause the trailer to come in contact with thevehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoidmaking very sharp turns while trailering.When you’re turning with a trailer, make widerturns than normal. Do this so your trailer won’tstrike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or otherobjects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signalwell in advance.Turn Signals When Towing a TrailerWhen you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need adifferent turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Checkwith your Buick dealer. The arrows on your instrumentpanel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lanechange. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will alsoflash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn, changelanes or stop.When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrumentpanel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailerare burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behindyou are seeing your signal when they are not. It’simportant to check occasionally to be sure the trailerbulbs are still working.Driving On GradesReduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you startdown a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shiftdown, you might have to use your brakes so much thatthey would get hot and no longer work well.On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce yourspeed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce thepossibility of engine and transaxle overheating.If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than1,000 lbs. (450 kg) and you have an automatic transaxlewith overdrive, you may prefer to drive in THIRD (3)instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@I). Anoverdrive transmission is required if towing a trailer morethan 1,000 lbs. (450 kg).4-35