1994 BUICK CENTURY service

NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in “Lock” and you can’t
. turn it, be sure it is all the way in. If it is, then turn
the steering wheel left and right while you turn
the key hard. But turn the key only with your
hand. Using a tool to force it could break the key
or the ignition switch. If none of this works, then
your vehicle needs service.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to “P” (Park) or “N” (Neutral).
Your engine won’t start in any other position
-- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use
“N’ (Neutral) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to “P” (Park) if your Buick is
moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to
“P” (Park) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
To start your engine:
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to “Start.” When the engine starts,
let go
of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in “Start” for longer than 15
seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor.
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dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Fuel Gage
I
Your fuel gage tells
you about how much
fuel you have left,
when
the ignition is on.
When the indicator
nears
“E” (Empty), you
still have a little fuel
left, but you should get
more soon. Here
are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage and are
normal operating characteristics:
0
0
0
0
At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads
“F” (Full).
It takes a
little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example,
the gage may have
indicated the tank was half
full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to
fill
the tank.
The gage moves a little when you
turn a corner,
speed up or brake.
The gage doesn’t go back to
“E” when you turn off
the ignition.
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Brake System Warning Light
BRAKE
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal
is
Your Buick’s hydraulic harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
brake system is divided into It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, or if the
two parts. If one part isn’t
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have
working, the other part can the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake
still work and stop you. For
good braking, though, you
need both parts working
well.
If the warning light comes on, there cou Ild
be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away. System
Warning Light” and “Towing Your Buick” in the
Index.)
This light should come on as you start the vehicle. If it
doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to
warn you if there’s a problem.
The brake system warning light will also come on when
you set your parking brake, and it will stay on if your
parking brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on after
your parking brake is fully released,
it means you have a
brake problem.
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Anti-Lock Brake SJ
ANTI-
LOCK
‘S tern Warning’Light
With anti-lock, this
light will come on
when you start your
engine and it will stay
on for three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the
light doesn’t come on,
have it fixed
so it will
be ready to warn you if
there is a problem.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, your Buick needs service.
If the
light is on but not flashing and the regular brake system
warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes.
If
the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with your regular
brakes. Pull off the road and stop carefully. You may
notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may
go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop. Have
the vehicle towed
for service. (See “Towing Your
Buick” in the Index.)
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the
red area, your engine is too
100 -E- 260 i
T lm,
hot!

TEMPERATURE
That reading means the same thing as the warning light.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
The chapter “Problems on the Road,”
in this manual
explains what
to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the
Index.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
A computer monitors
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 indicating that
you have a problem. You
should take your vehicle
in for service soon.
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I NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on,
after a while the emission controls won’t work as
well, your fuel economy won’t be as good and your engine may not run as smoothly. This could
lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
Engine Oil Pressure Light
OIL
If you have a problem with
your oil, this light may stay
on after you start your
engine, or come
on when
you are driving. Stop your
car and shut off
the engine
if this light stays on. This
indicates that oil is not
going through your engine
quickly enough to keep
it
lubricated. The engine
could be low
on oil, or could have some
other oil problem. Have.your vehicle serviced
immediately.
The oil light could also come on in three other
situations:
0
0
0
When the ignition is on but the engine is not running,
the light will come on as a
test to show you it is
working, but
the light will go out when you turn the
ignition to “Start.” If
it doesn’t come on with the
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.
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Voltage Indicator
When your engine is not
running, but the ignition is
on (in the “Run” position),
the gage shows your
battery’s
state of charge in
DC volts. When the engine
is running, the gage shows
the condition
of the
charging system. Readings
between
the red warning
zones indicate the normal
operating range.
Readings
in either red warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have your vehicle
serviced immediately.
Liftgate Ajar Warning Light (Wagon)
The “TAILGATE AJAR”
light on your instrument
panel
will come on if your
liftgate
is not completely
TAILGATE
AJAR
closed.
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Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
I P
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes, or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight, and
extreme heat. If
they aren't, they may not operate
properly or cause failure
of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned regularly each month
or after every
15 hours of use. If you notice a reduction in
sound quality, try a known good cassette to see
if the tape
or
the tape player is at fault. If this other cassette has no
improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. Clean your tape player with
a wiping-action,
non-abrasive
cleaning cassette, and follow the directions provided with it.
Cassettes are subject
to wear and the sound quality may
degrade over time. Always make sure that the cassette
tape is
in good condition before you have your tape
player serviced.
Care of Your Compact Discs
Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases
or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight
and dust.
If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a
clean, soft cloth in
a mild, neutral detergent solution and
clean it, wiping only from the center to the edge.
Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling
discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the
edge of
the hole and the outer edge.
Fixed Mast Antenna
The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes
without being damaged.
If the mast should ever become
slightly bent, you can straighten
it out by hand. If the
mast is badly bent, as it might be by vandals,
you should
replace
it.
Check every once in a while to be sure the mast is still
tightened to the fender.
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