1997 Buick Park Avenue Owner's Manual - Page 226

Driving On Grades Reduce speed and shiftto a lower gearbefore you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you don't shift down, you might haveto use your brakes so much that they would get hot and longer work well. no On a long uphill grade, shift down to THIRD (3) and reduce your speed to around45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine and transaxle overheating. When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking on a Hill 1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down while you: Startyourengine; Shift into a gear; and 0 Release the parking brake. Parking onHills You really should notpark your vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig could start to move. People can be injured, and both your vehicle andthe trailer can be damaged. But if youever have to park your rig on a hill, here's how to do it: 1. Apply your regular brakes, but don't shift into PARK (P) yet. 2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels. 3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes until thechocks absorb the load. 4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake, and then shiftto PARK (P). 5. Release the regular brakes. 2. Let up on the brake pedal. 3. Drive slowly until the traileris clear of the chocks. 4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks. Maintenance When Trailer Towing Your vehicle will need service more often when you're pulling a trailer.See the Maintenance Schedule for more on this. Things that are especially important in trailer operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don't overfill), engine oil, belts, cooling system and brake adjustment. Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index will help you find them quickly. If you're trailering, it's a good idea to review these sections before you start your trip. Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.