1994 BUICK CENTURY steering wheel

If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels. The method known as “rocking”
can help you get out when you’re stuck, but you must
use caution.
I NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transaxle back and
forth, you can destroy your transaxle.
Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift back
and forth between
“R” (Reverse) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little
as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on
the accelerator pedal when
the transaxle is in gear. If
that doesn’t get you out after a few tries, you may need
to be towed
out. If you do need to be towed out, see
“Towing Your Buick”
in the Index.
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Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance
Services
Below are explanations of the services listed in Schedule
I and Schedule
11.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Section D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses
these. All parts should
be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else drives the vehicle.
NOTE: To determine your engine’s displacement and
code, see “Engine Identification” in the Index.
1. Engine Oil and Filter Change* -- Always use SH
or SG Energy Conserving I1 oils of proper viscosity.
The
“SH or SG’ designation may be shown alone or
in combination with others, such as “SH/CD’ or
“SH, SG, CD,” “SG/CD,”etc. To determine the
preferred viscosity for your vehicle’s engine (e.g.,
SAE 5W-30 or SAE 10W-30), see “Engine Oil” in
the Index.
2. Chassis Lubrication -- Lubricate the transaxle shift
linkage, parking brake cable guides, underbody
contact points and linkage. If your vehicle is equipped with grease fittings, lubricate the suspension and steering linkage. 3.
Tire and Wheel Rotation and Inspection -- For
proper wear and maximum tire life, rotate your tires
following the instructions in this manual. See “Tires,
Inspection
& Rotation” in the Index. Check the tires
for uneven wear or damage. If you see irregular or
premature wear, check the wheel alignment. Check
for damaged wheels also.
4. Engine Accessory Drive Belt(s) Inspection --
Inspect the belt(s) for cracks, fraying, wear and
proper tension. Replace as needed.
5. Cooling System Service* -- Drain, flush and refill
the system with new or approved recycled coolant
conforming to GM Specification 1825M. Keep coolant
at the proper mixture as specified.
See “Coolant” in the
Index.
This provides proper freeze protection and boil
protection, corrosion inhibitor level and maintain
proper engine operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace if they are cracked,
swollen or deteriorated. Tighten screw type hose
clamps. Clean the outside of the radiator and air
conditioning condenser. Wash the pressure cap and
neck
To help ensure proper operation, we recommend a
pressure test
of both the cooling system and the
pressure cap.
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CHECK OR SERVICE
Steering, Suspension and
Front-Wheel-
Drive Axle Boot
and Seal
Inspection
Exhaust System
Inspection
Throttle Linkage
Inspection
WHAT TO DO
Inspect the front and rear suspension and
steering system
for damaged, loose or
missing parts, signs of wear, or lack of
lubrication. Inspect the power steering
lines and hoses for proper hookup,
binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc.
Clean and
then inspect the drive axle
boot seals
for damage, tears or leakage.
Replace seals if necessary.
Inspect the complete exhaust system.
Inspect the body near the exhaust
system. Look for broken, damaged,
missing or out-of-position parts as
well
as open seams, holes, loose connections,
or other conditions which could cause a
heat build-up
in the floor pan or could let
exhaust fumes into the vehicle. See
“Engine Exhaust”
in the Index.
Inspect the throttle linkage for
interference
or binding, and for
damaged
or missing parts. Replace
parts as needed.
CHECK OR
SERVICE
Brake System
Inspection
WHAT TO DO
Inspect the complete system. Inspect
brake lines and hoses for proper
hookup, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for
wear and rotors for surface condition.
Also inspect drum bmke linings for
wear and cracks. Inspect other brake
parts, including drums, wheel
cylinders, calipers, parking brake, etc.
Check parking brake adjustment.
You
may need to have your brakes inspected
more often if your driving habits or
conditions result
in frequent braking.
NOTE: A low brake fluid level can
indicate worn disc brake pads which
may need
to be serviced, Also, if the
brake system warning
light stays on or
comes on, something may be wrong
with the brake system. See “Brake
System Warning Light”
in the Index. If
your anti-lock brake system warning
light stays on, comes on
or flashes,
something may be wrong with
the
anti-lock brake system. See “Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning Light”
in the
Index.
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Part 9 Index
I-
.
Brake Fluid .................................. 228
Electrical Equipment
.......................... 254
Engine Coolant
........................ 187.189. 223
Engineoil
................................... 213
Power Steering Fluid
.......................... 226
Sound Equipment
............................. 126
Transaxle Fluid
............................... 220
Windshield Washer Fluid
....................... 227
Air Bag (Supplemental Restraint System)
.............. 37
Air Bag Readiness Light
........................... 38
Aircleaner
..................................... 218
Airconditioner
................................. 122
Air Conditioner Refrigerant
........................ 259
Alcohol. Driving Under the Influence
................ 140
Alcohol
in Gasoline .............................. 209
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
....................... 250
Antenna Care
............................... 136. 137
Antifreeze
...................................... 223
Anti-lock Brake System
........................... 145
Active Light
................................. 115
Warning Light
................................ 114
Appearance Care
............................... -245
Ashtrays and Lighter
............................. 108
Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials .......... 252 Assistance.
Roadside
............................. 285
Audio Systems
.................................. 125
Automatic Door Locks
............................. 68
Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt
30
Automatic Overdrive .............................. 81
Automatic Transaxle
.............................. 79
Fluid
....................................... 220
Shifting
...................................... 79
Battery
....................................... 231
Jump Starting
................................ 174
Warning Light
................................ 118
Blizzard
....................................... 163
Blowout. Tire
................................... 193
Brake ......................................... 228
Adjustment
.................................. 230
Anti-lock
.................................... 145
Fluid
....................................... 228
Block
Heater (Engine Coolant Heater)
............ 78. 218
Master Cylinder
.............................. 228
Parking
...................................... 82
PedalTravel
................................. 230
Replacement
................................. 231
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System. Anti-lock Warning Light ................. 114
System Warning Light
......................... 113
Wear
....................................... 230
Brakes. Trailer
.................................. 168
Braking in Emergencies
........................... 147
Break-In. New Vehicle ............................ 74
Bulb Chart
...................................... 258
Bulb Replacement ....................... .232.233. 234
Bulbs. Halogen
.................................. 232
Braking
........................................ 144
Canadian Roadside Assistance
................... -286
Capacities and Specifications Chart
.............. 259. 260
Carbon Monoxide
................................ 86
Cargo Security Cover
............................. 105
Carrier. Luggage
................................ 106
Cassette Tape Player
............................. 125
Cassette Tape Player Care
......................... 136
Cautions. Safety
.................................. 10
CB Radio. Adding
............................... 126
Cellular Telephone. Adding
........................ 126
Chains. Tire
.................................... 244
Changing a Flat Tire
.............................. 194
Checking Brake Fluid
.................................. 228
Engine Coolant
............................... 223
Engineoil
................................... 213
Power Steering Fluid
.......................... 226
Restraint Systems
.............................. 63
Transaxle Fluid
............................... 220 Underhood
.................................. 212
Windshield Washer Fluid
....................... 227
Chemical Paint Spotting
........................... 251
Child Restraints
.................................. 50
Children and Safety Belts ......................... -48
Circuit Breakers and Fuses ........................ 254
City Driving
.................................... 156
Cleaner. Air .................................... 218
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
............................ 250
Antenna
..................................... 137
Cassette Player
............................... 136
Fabric
...................................... 245
Glass ....................................... 248
Inside Your Buick
............................. 245
Leather
..................................... 248
Outside Your Buick
........................... 249
Power Antenna
............................... 137
Safety Belts
.................................. 248
Instrumentpanel
.............................. 248
Underbody Maintenance
........................ 251
vinyl
....................................... 247
White Sidewall Tires
........................... 250
Windshield and Wiper Blades
.................... 249
Clock Setting
............................ 127.129. 132
Comfort Controls
................................ 121
Compact Disc Care
.............................. 136
Compact Spare Tire
.............................. 205
Compartment. Rear Locking Storage
................. 108
Control of a Vehicle
.............................. 144
Controls. Features and
............................. 65
Cigarette Lighter
................................ 109
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Methanol in Gasoline ............................. 209
Mirrors
........................................ 102
Mountain Driving ................................ 160
Net. Convenience ............................... 105
Neutral Gear Position
.............................. 80
New Vehicle Break-In
............................. 74
NightDriving
................................... 152
Octane Requirements
........................... 209
Odometer
...................................... 110
Off-Road Recovery
.............................. 149
Oil. Engine
..................................... 213
Change
................................. 217. 261
Quality
..................................... 215
Warning Light
................................ 11 7
Overdrive. Automatic
............................. 8 1
Overheated Engine ............................... 184
Paint Spotting
.................................. 251
Park
........................................... 77
Park. Shifting Into
................................ 83
Parking Brake
........................................ 82
Over Things That Burn
.......................... 85
With a Trailer
................................ 165
With the Engine Running
........................ 86
Passing
........................................ 150 Polishing
and Waxing
............................ 249
Power
Antenna
..................................... 137
DoorLocks
................................... 68
Mirrors
..................................... 102
Seats
........................................ 15
Steering
..................................... 147
Steering Fluid
................................ 226
Windows
..................................... 87
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts
...................... 42
Problems on the Road ............................ 171
Publications. Service
............................. 286
Radiator Overheating
............................ 184
Radiator Pressure Cap
............................ 226
Radio 125
Reading Lights
.................................. 100
Rear Seats. Folding ............................... 17
Rear Storage Security Cover
....................... 105
Rear Window Defogger
........................... 123
Rearview Mirror
................................. 102
Reclining Seatbacks
............................... 15
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
................ 277
Remote Keyless Entry System
....................... 68
Remote Trunkbiftgate Release ...................... 71
Replacing
BrakeSystemParts
............................ 231
Safety Belts
................................... 64
Tires
....................................... 241
Wheels
..................................... 243
Light Bulbs
.................................. 232
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Reporting Safety Defects .......................... 283
Restraint System. Supplemental (Air Bag)
............. 37
Restraint Systems
................................. 13
Restraints. Child
.................................. 50
Restraints. Head
.................................. 17
Reverse Gear Position ............................. 80
Roads. Hill and Mountain
......................... 160
Roadside Assistance
.............................. 285
Rocking Your Vehicle
............................ 206
Rotation. Tire
................................... 240
Running Your Engine While Parked
.................. 86
Safety Belts
.................................... 22
Adults
....................................... 29
Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt
.................... 30
Canadian Supplement
........................... 29
Care
........................................ 248
Center Passenger Position
........................ 43
Checking
..................................... 63
Children
..................................... 48
Driver Position
................................ 29
Extender
..................................... 63
Lap ......................................... 44
Lap-Shoulder
................................. 45
Larger Children
................................ 61
Pregnancy. Use During .......................... 42
Properly Worn
................................. 29
Questions About
............................... 27
Rear Seat Passenger Position
..................... 45
Replacement
.................................. 64
Right Front Passenger Position
.................... 42
Smaller Children and Babies
..................... 49 Third Seat Passenger Position
..................... 43
Torn
......................................... 64
Twisted
...................................... 36
Warning Light
................................. 28
Why Safety Belts Work
......................... 23
Safety Cautions
.................................. 10
Safety Defects. Reporting
......................... 283
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................... 261
Seats and Restraint Systems
......................... 13
SecondGearPosition .............................. 81
Securing a Child Restraint
..................... 555 1.54.
Service and Appearance Care
...................... 207
Service Engine Soon (Malfunction Indicator Lamp)
..... 116
Service Information
.............................. 205
Service Parts Identification Label
................... 253
Service Publications
.............................. 286
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Buick
.............. 41
Sheet Metal Damage ............................. 250
Shifting the Transaxle
............................. 79
Skidding
....................................... 151
Sound Equipment. Adding
......................... 126
Soundsystems
.................................. 125
SpareTire
...................................... 205
Specifications Chart
.......................... 259. 260
Speech Impaired Customer Assistance
............... 283
SpeedControl
.................................... 94
Speedometer
.................................... 110
Stains
......................................... 246
Starting Your Car (Jump Starting)
................... 173
Starting Your Engine
.............................. 76
Steering
....................................... 147
Emergencies
................................. 148
Wheel. Tilt
................................... 88
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Stereo Sound Systems ............................ 125
Storage Armrest
..................................... 107
Rear Locking Compartment
..................... 108
Storing Your Car
................................ 231
Stuck. If Your Car is
.............................. 206
Supplemental Restraint System (Air Bag)
.............. 37
Tailgate Ajar Warning Light
...................... 119
Taillight Bulb Replacement
........................ 234
TapePlayerCare
................................ 136
Temperature Warning Light
........................ 1 15
Theft ........................................... 74
Thermostat
..................................... 226
Third Gear Position
............................... 81
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................... 88
Time (Setting the Clock)
................... 127.129. 132
Tire
........................................... 238
Balance
..................................... 243
Chains
...................................... 244
Flat
........................................ 193
Inflation
..................................... 239
Inspection and Rotation
........................ 240
Loading Information
............................ 236
Pressure
..................................... 239
Quality Grading
.............................. 242
Replacement .................................. 24 1
Wear Indicators ............................... 241
White Sidewall
............................... 250
Spare
....................................... 205 TorqueLock
..................................... 85
Towing
Your Car ................................ 178
Towing Hookups
............................ 180. 182
Trailer Towing
.................................. 165
Transaxle. Automatic .............................. 79
Transaxle Fluid
.................................. 220
Trip Odometer
.................................. 111
Trunk Lock Remote Release
........................ 71
Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever
................... 89
Turn Signal Indicator
.............................. 89
Turn Signal Reminder
............................. 90
Underbody Maintenance
......................... 251
Unleaded Gasoline
.............................. -209
Upholstery Care
................................ -246
Used Oil Disposal
............................... 218
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ............... 253
Vehicle Loading
................................. 236
Vehicle Storage
................................. 231
Ventilation
..................................... 123
Vinylcleaning
.................................. 247
Voltage Indicator
................................ 119
Vent
Windows. Wagon
............................. 88
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