1993 BUICK CENTURY check engine light

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.
1 A CAUTIONS
Don't keep driving if the oil pmssure is low. If
you do, your engine can become QO hot that It
catches flm. "ybu or others could be burned.
Check wur oil as soon as possible end have
your t rlcle senrlced.
I
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 wcrking. Then it
should go out. If it stays on,
or comes on while you are
driving, you may have a
problem with the electrical
charging system. It could
indicate that you have a
or another electrical
. ., . loose generator drive belt
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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X"' 1 r-l
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
A computer monitors
I 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
I
indicating that you have a problem. You should take your
vehicle in
for service soon.
Liftgate Ajar Warning Light (Wagon)
.-
- The "TAILGATE AJAR"
~ light on your instrument
panel
will come on if your
I
TAI! GAY E
ALAR
liftgate is not completely
1 closed.
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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.
Here are some things you can check before
a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
hel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all
Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
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?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along
your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to
avoid a major storm system?
levels?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
On the Road
Unless you
are the only driver, it is good to share the
driving task with others. Limit
turns behind the wheel to
about
100 miles (160 km) or two hours at a sitting. Then,
either change drivers or stop for some refreshment like
coffee, tea or
sol3 drinks and some limbering up. But do
stop and move around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier
meals tend
to make some people sleepy.
On two-lane highways or undivided multilane highways
that do not have controlled access, you’ll want to watch for some situations not usually found on freeways.
Examples are: stop signs and signals, shopping centers
with direct access to the highway, no passing zones and school zones, vehicles turning left and right
off the road,
pedestrians, cyclists, parked vehicles, and even animals.
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.
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‘
A CAUTION:
Mu could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set
the parking brake firmly
on each vehicle. Put
an automatic transaxle
in “P” (Park) or a
manual transaxle
in “N” (Neutral). I
3. ”urn off the igni;,,n on both vehicles. lwLLL all .,hts
that aren’t needed, and radios. This will avoid sparla
and help save both batteries. And it could save your radio!
If you leave your radio OI,, it could be badl,
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
I 1
A CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the
engine
is not running and can Injure you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools
away from any
underhood electric fan.
I
Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
-
/1 CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause
battery gas to explode. People have been hurt
doing this, and some have been blinded.
Use a
flashlight If you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. Mu
don’t need to add water to the Delco
Freedom@ battery installed
in every new GM
vehicle. But if a battery has filler caps, be sure
the
right amount of fluid is there. If it is low,
add water to take care of that first. It you don’t,
explosive gas could be present.
Battery
fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you. Ifyou accidentally get it in
your
eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
-
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
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The coolant should be at or slightly above the “FULL
HOT” mark. If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the
radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
A CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very
hot. Don’t touch them. If
you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t
run the engine if there __ a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine fire, and you could be
burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, check to see if the electric
engine
fan is running. If the engine is overheating, the fhn
should
be running. If it isn’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tl[)ank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t above
“ADD:’ add a 50/50 mixture of clean water
(preferably distilled) and the proper antifreeze at the
coolant recovery
tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the Index
for more information about the proper coolant mix.)
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Brake Fluid ................................ .243. 292
Electrical Equipment
..................... .75. 117. 265
Engine Coolant
................ .195. 239. 270. 272. 292
Engine Oil
........................ .227. 270. 272. 292
Sound Equipment
................................ 117
Power Steering Fluid
................ .241. 271. 273. . 292
Transaxle Fluid
.................... .236. 271. 273. 292
Windshield Washer Fluid
.................... .242. 293
AirBag(S1R)
..................................... 35
Air Cleaner
............................. .233. 271. 273
Air Conditioner
.......................... .114. 270. 272
Alcohol in Gasoline
................................ 223
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
........................ 262
Antenna Care
..................................... 131
Antifreeze
.......................... .239. 270. 272. 292
Ashtrays and Lighter
............................... 104
Audiosystems
.................................... 116
AM/FM Stereo Radio
............................. 118
Alcohol. Driving Under the Influence
of
............... 143
Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials
....... .258. 264
AM/FM Stereo Radio with Cassette Player
............ EO
AM/FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player ............ 123
Care
of Audio Systems ............................ 129 Radio Reception. Understanding
.............. 117
Setting the Clock
.................. .118. 121. 124
Automatic Door Locks
........................ 66
Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt (see “Safety Belts”)
Automatic Transaxle Adding Fluid
................ .236. 271. 273. 292
Checking Fluid
........................... 236
Shifting
.................................. 77
Starting Your Engine
........................ 74
Batteries. Remote Lock Control
............... 66
Battery
.................................... 244
Jump Starting
............................. 185
Warnings
....................... .185, 186, 244
Battery Warning Light
........................ 108
Blizzard
................................... 173
Block Heater, Engine
.................... .76, 232
Blowout, Tire
............................... 205
Brake Adjustment
............................... 149
Fluid ............................... 243, 292
Master Cylinder
.......................... 243
Parking
.................................. 80
307
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Pedal Travel ...................................... 149
RearDrum
..................................... 149
Replacement
................................... 244
Warning Light-
.................................. 109
Wear Indicators-Disc Brakes ....................... 148
Brake System Wakng Light
......................... 109
Braking in Emergencies .............................. 149
“Break-In:’ New Vehicle
Normd Driving. ................................. 72
When Towing a Trailer
........................... 176
Braking
......................................... 146
Buckling Up (see “Safety Belts”)
Bulb Replacement
Headlight
................................. .245. 269
Turn Signal ............................... .246, 269
Taillight
.................................. .247. 269
capacities and Specifications
................. .270. 272
CarbonMonoxide
.............................. 83. 173
Cargo Security Cover
................................ 101
Cassette Tape Holder
............................... 103
Cassette Tape Player
(see “Audio Systems”)
Center Passenger Position
............................ 41
Chains. Tire
................................. .217. 257
Changing a Flat Tire
............................... 205
Checking BrakeFluid
.................................... 243
Engine Coolant
................................. 239
Engine0
il ..................................... 227 Power Steering Fluid
............................. 241
Safety Belt Systems
......... ...................... 60
Transaxle Fluid .................................. 236
Underhood
..................................... 226
Chemical paint Spotting
............................ 263
ChildRestraints
.................................... 47
Children’
......................................... 45
Cigarette Lighter
.................................. 105
Circuit Breakers
& Fuses ........................... 266
Cleaner, Air
............................. .233. 271. 273
Cleaning AluminumWheels
............................... 262
Antenna
....................................... 131
Cassette Player .................................. 129
Fabric
........................................ 258
Glass
.......................................... 261
Inside of Your Buick ............................. 258
Materials ........................................ 264
Outside of Your Buick
............................ 261
Safety Belts
.................................... 261
Special Problems
................................ 260
Top of Instrument Panel
........................... 260
Underbody Maintenance
.......................... 263
Vinyl
......................................... 260
Warnings ...................................... 258
Weatherstrips
.................................... ‘262
White Sidewall Tires
............................. 262
Windshield and Wiper Blades
...................... 261
Climate Control
................................... 115
CityDriving ..................................... 162
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Engine Coolant .......................... .238. 270. 272
Checking
& Adding ......................... .l95. 239
Proper Mixture
to Use ............................ 239
Safety Warnings About
.................... 110. 195. 201
Temperature Gage
................................ 110
Temperature Warning Light
........................ 110
(see “Engine Coolant”)
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
Engine Exhaust
................................ .83. 173
Engine Identification
.............................. -265
Engineoil
....................................... 227
Additives
...................................... 231
Checking
& Adding ................. .227. 270. 272. 292
Crankcase Capacity
.......................... .270. 272
Energy Conserving
.............................. 231
Warning Light
.................................. 107
When to Change
................................ 232
Engine Specifications
......................... .270. 272
Engine. Starting
.................................... 74
Ethanol in Gasoline.
............................... 223
Exhaust Dangerous Gas
in ............................ .83. 173’
Expectant Mothers. Use
of Safety Belts ................. 40
Expressway Driving
............................... 163
Extender. Safety Belt
................................ 60
Disposing of Used Oil ............................ 232
Filter
................................. 232.271. 273
Engine Overheating
............................ 110. 195
Running Engine While Parked
....................... 84
Exterior Appearance (see “Appearance Care”) Fabric
cleaning
(see ‘%Appearance care”)
Fan Warnings
.................... .186. 187. 197. 199. 226
Filling the Fuel Tank
...................... .225. 270. 272
Filter. Oil
................................ 232.271. 273
Finish Damage
................................... 263
Flashers. Hazard Warning
........................... 184
Flat Tire
........................................ 205
Flip-Open Rear Vent Windows
........................ 85
Flooded Engine
.................................... 75
Capacities
..................................... 292
Power Steering
..................... .241. 271. 273. 292
Transaxle
......................... .236. 271. 273. 292
Windshield Washer
...................... .89. 242. 293
Fluids and Lubricants
.............................. 292
Fog. Driving
in ................................... 160
FoldingRearSeats .................................. 18
Freeway Driving
.................................. 163
French Language Manual
............................. 2
Fluid
Brake
..................................... 243. 292
Foreign Counties
.................................... 224
Fuel
............................................ 223
AlcoholinFuel
................................. 223
Capacity
................................... 270. 272
Exhaust Warnings
........................... .83. 173
Filling Your Tank
....................... .225. 270. 272
In Foreign Countries
............................. 224
Mileage Chart
.................................. 320
Gage
.......................................... 107
Requirements . ................................... 223
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