1993 BUICK CENTURY engine

Walter Marr and Thomas Buick
Buick’s chief engineer, Walter L. Marr (left), and
Thomas D. Buick, son. of founder David Dunbar Buick,
drove the first Flint Buick in a successful Flint-Detroit
round trip in July 1904.
David Buick was building gasoline engines by 1899, and
Man,
his engineer, apparently built the first auto to be
called a Buick in 1900. However, Buick traditionally
dates its beginnings to
1903. That was the year the
company was reorganized, refinanced and moved from
Detroit to Flint. Buick has always been a product
4
innovator. Buick engineers developed the “valve-in-head”
engine, a light, powerful and reliable engine which- would
eventually influence the entire automotive industry.
William
C. Durant was instrumental in promoting Buicks
across the country using his Durant-Dort Carriage
Co.
outlets and salespeople as the nucleus of a giant
distribution system. He knew
the Buick as a “self-seller? ,
If automobiles could be this good, he thought, maybe it
was time to switch from the horse and buggy business
to
automobiles.
William C. (Billy) Durant
At the 1905, New York
Auto Show, Durant took orders for 1,OOO Buicks
before the company had
built
40. On Buick’s
success, Durant created a
holding company, September 16, 1908. He
called it General Motors.
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Durant also created a racing team that won 500 racing
trophies in
1909 and 1910, including successes at
Indianapolis
two years before the Indy 500 began.
The success
of Buick engines was visible not only on the
race track, but
in endurance tests across the country and
around the world. Buick was the only car to complete a
1,000-mile Chicago-to-New York race
in 1906. And a
Buick was the first car to travel across South America,
driven
from Buenos Aires, Argentina, over the Andes to
Santiago, Chile in
1914.
I911 Model 21 Du?ing Car
Buick .drew plenty of attention because it could climb
hills and run through mud like no other car. Buick's
endurance and reliability were world hmous.
During World War
I, Buick built Liberty aircraft engines
as well as
Red Cross ambulances so successful that one
Buick ambulance was awarded the Croix de Guerre by
the French government.
As a builder of premier automobiles, Buick was hard hit
by the Great Depression. However, new General
Manager Harlow H. Curtice created popular new models
including the Special and the Roadmaster. Buick sales soon flourished.
First Buick Factory
5
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In World War II, Buick built aircraft engines, tanks and
other
military hardware. This post-war period brought
great styling and engineering changes which resulted in
increased sales. The torque converter automatic
transmission, Dynaflow, was introduced in the
1948
Roadmaster. Buick’s famous “portholes” came along in
1949.
A high-compression V-8 engine was introduced in 1953.
And Buick’s famous vertical pillar “toothy” grille
(introduced in
1942), became more massive in the post-
war era.
I953 Skylark
1949 Roadmaster
6
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Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 Buick Special
“Car of the Year:’ The first production V-6 engine was
used in the Special.
c
1962 Buick Special
Built inside the walls of the old buildings in Buick’s
former Flint complex, which formed the cornerstone of
General Motors, Buick City is a state-of-the-art assembly
facility with more than
200 robots and other high-tech
equipment. It was completed in the fall of
1985.
Buicks are, and will continue to be, premium American
motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich
detail and comfortable accommodation.
I
Ed Mertz, General Manager, Buick Motor Division
Our mission is simple:
“Buick will provide Premium American Motorcars
backed with services that exceed our customers’
expectations, throughout
the purchase, ownership,
service and repurchase experience?
Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL.
Buicks are DISTINCTIVE.
Buicks are POWERFUL.
Buicks are MATURE.
7
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Table of Contents
Introduction How to Use this Manual ....................................................... .10
This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safety and vehicle damage warnings\
and symbols.
Part 1 Seats and Safety Belts .......................................................... I3
This part tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly.
Part 2 Features & Controls .......................................................... .63
Part 3 Comfort Controls & Audio Systems. ............................................. W!
Part 4 Your Driving and the Road. .......................... : ........................ .I33
Part 5 Problems on the Road. ....................................................... .l83
Part 6 Service & Appearance Care .................................................... .221
Part7MaintenanceSchedule ...........................................................
Part 8 Customer .Assistance Information .............................................. .299
This part explains how to start and operate your Buick.
This part tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how
to operate your sound system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and \
how to drive under different conditions.
This part tells you what to
do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine overheating.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good.
This part tells you when
to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
This part tells
you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service publications. It also gives you information
on “Reporting Safety Defects on page 302.”
hrt9Index ......................................................~...............30\
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Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want
to read.
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I
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you will find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD CAUSE
BATTERY
BURNS AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,111,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for. you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
4
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols
have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e3
TURN
WARNING
A
HAZARD
FLASHER
HIGH BEAM
OR =, =o
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD ' ' ' 0- 0-
WIPER &
WASHER
t0 @e4 i
WINDSHIELD=
WASHER I
wlNDsHIELDw DEFROSTER
WINDOW
@
REAR
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
HEADLAMP
-
WIPER -
WASHER zQ
Thes, ,ymbols
are used on
warning and indicator lights:
COOLANT F-
ENGINE
TEMP
--
CHARGING I-1
BATTERY SYSTEM
FUEL
ENGINE OIL wb
PRESSURE
TEMP
OIL &
ANTILOCK BRAKE (i)
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
RADIO
k
VOLUME a
CONDITIONING AIR a
HATCHBACK e
TRUNK
RELEASE
SPEAKER
b
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n
part 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Buick. and informat\
ion on starting.
shifting and braking . Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything
is working properly-and what to do if you have a problem .
Part 2 includes:
Keys ........................................................................\
........
Locks ........................................................................\
...... 65
Remote Keyless Entry System ........................................................... 66
New Vehicle Break-In ................................................................. 72
Ignition ........................................................................\
..... 73
Starting Your Engine .................................................................. 74
Shifting the Transaxle ........................................... : ..................... 77
parking Brake ........................................................................\
80
ShiftingIntoPark ..................................................................... 81
Windows ........................................................................\
... 84
Horn ........................................................................\
....... 86
TiltSteeringWheel ................................................................... 86
Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever ....................................................... 86
Windshield Wipers, Washer ........................................................... 88
CruiseControl ..................................................................... 91
InteriorLights ....................................................................... \
95
Headlights ........................................................................\
.. 95
Mirrors ........................................................................\
..... 98
Instrument Panel ..................................................................... 105
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators .................................................. 106
63
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Ignition Key Positions Off: Unlocks the steering wheel, ignition, and transaxle,
but does not send electrical power to any accessories.
.Use
this position if your vehicle must be pushed or
towed, but never try to push-start your vehicle.
A
warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s door
when the ignition
is off and the key is in the ignition.
I
Run: An “on” position to which the. switch returns after
you
start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays in the “Run” position when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can use
“Run” to operate your electrical power accessories, and
to display some instrument panel warning lights.
Start: Starts the engine. When the engine starts, release
the key. The ignition switch will return to “Run” for
normal driving.
with the ignition key
h the ignition switch, YOU can turn Note that even if the engine is not running, the positions
the switch to five positions: “Accessory” and “Run” \
are “on” positions that allow
.Accessory: An “on” position in which you can operate you to operate your electrical accessories, such as the
your electrical power accessories. Press
in the ignition ‘ radio.
switch as you
turn the top of it toward you.
Lock: The only position in which you can remove the
key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition
and
transaxle.
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