1994 BUICK CENTURY service

U
GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem,
Buick, and the Buick Emblem are registered trademarks
of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information
at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors
of Canada Limited” for Buick Motor
Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your Buick,
so it will be
there if you ever need
it when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new
owner can use it.
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN WE SUPPORT
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
AUTOMOTIVE
EXCELLENCE SERVICE
Narlonal Instatute for
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux proprietaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer
un exemplaire de ce guide en francais chez votre
concessionaire ou au
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.,
1500 Bonhill Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5T lC7.
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I962 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, Gener-ul Manager, Buic-k 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.
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@ Table of Contents
How to Use this Manual ................................................................ 10
This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safet\
y and vehicle damage warnings and symbols.
Seats and Restraint Systems ............................................................. 13
This part tells you how to use your seats and safety belts p\
roperly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
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.
YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 139
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road\
and how to drive under different conditions.
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 171
This part tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine
overheating, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running prop\
erly and looking good.
This part tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and wh\
at fluids and lubricants to use.
This part tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and h\
ow
to get service publications. It also
gives
you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 283.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something
you want to read.
FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 65
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... 121
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 207
Maintenanceschedule .................................................................. 261
Customer Assistance Information
........................................................ 281
Index
........................................................................\
........ 291
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I I I I 1 I I 1 1 I I I 1
The lap belt should be worn as low on the hips as
possible. In a crash, this applies force
to the strong
pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely
to slide under the
lap belt. If
you slid under it, the belt would apply force
at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal
injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder
and across the chest. These parts of the body are best
able
to take belt restraining forces. The
safety belt locks
if there’s a sudden stop or a crash.
It’s possible that
an automatic belt could keep you from
fully opening a door. That can happen if the door was
slammed shut very hard. Just close the door all the way,
then slowly open it. If that doesn’t fix it, then your
Buick needs service.
We hope you’ll always keep your automatic belt
buckled. However,
you may need to unbuckle it in an
emergency. And you would need
to unbuckle it to let
someone get into the center front seat position,
if your
vehicle has one.
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AIR BAG
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition to “Run”
or “Start.” Then the light
should go out, which means
the system is ready.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows
“AIRBAG.” The system checks for
electrical malfunctions, and the light tells
you if there is
a problem. Remember,
if the air bag readiness light doesn’t come
on when you start your vehicle, or stays
on, or comes on
when
you are driving, your air bag system may not work
properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away.
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What makes an air bag inflate?
In a frontal impact of sufficient severity, the air bag
sensing system detects that the vehicle is suddenly
stopping as a result of a crash. The sensing system
triggers a chemical reaction
of the sodium azide sealed
in the inflator. The reaction produces nitrogen gas,
which inflates the cloth bag. The inflator, cloth bag, and
related hardware are all part
of the air bag inflator
module packed inside the steering wheel.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel.
The air bag supplements
the protection provided by
safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of the impact
more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping
the occupant more gradually. But air bags would not
provide protection in many types
of collisions, including
rollovers and rear and side impacts, primarily because
an occupant’s motion is not toward the air bag. Air bags
should never be regarded as anything more than a
supplement to safety belt protection in moderate
to
severe frontal and near-frontal collisions.
What will you see after an air bag inflation?
After the air bag has inflated, it will then quickly
deflate. This occurs
so quickly that some people may
not even realize that the air bag inflated. Some
components of the air bag module in the steering wheel
hub may be hot for a short time, but the portion of the
bag that comes into contact with
you will not be hot to
the touch. There will be small amounts of smoke and
dust coming from vents in the deflated air bag. The air
bag will
not impede the driver’s vision or ability to steer
the vehi,cle, nor will it hinder the occupants from exiting
the vehicle.
The air bag is designed to inflate only once. After it
inflates, you’ll need some new parts for your air bag
system. If you don’t get them, the air bag system
won’t be there to help protect you in another crash.
A new system will include the air bag module and
possibly other parts. The service manual has
information about the need to replace other parts.
0 Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module,
which records information about the air bag system.
The module records information about the readiness
of the system, when the sensors are activated and
whether the driver’s safety belt was
in use.
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0 Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won’t work properly. See your dealer for
service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the driver’s air bag, it
may not work properly. You may have to replace
the air bag on the steering wheel.
Do not open or
break the air bag cover.
Is the smoke from an air bag inflation harmful?
The particles emitted during air bag inflation are not
harmful to most people. Some people with respiratory
ailments may experience difficulty breathing if they stay
in the vehicle with the windows closed after air bag
inflation.
So, if your air bag inflates, you and any
passengers should exit the vehicle if and when it is safe
to
do so. If you or your passengers can’t get out of the
vehicle, try
to get fresh air by opening a window,
turning on the fan, or opening a door.
Servicing Your Air Bag Equipped Buick
The air bag affects how your Buick should be serviced.
There are parts
of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. The
air bag system does not need regular maintenance. Your
Buick dealer and the
1994 Century Service Manual have
information about servicing your vehicle and the air bag
system. The air bag system does not need regular
maintenance.
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up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the key chain transmitter
supplied with your vehicle.
Your Remote Keyless Entry System operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules.
This device complies with Part
15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Should interference to this system occur, try this:
e
e
e
0
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions on battery
replacement.
Check the distance. You may be
too far from your
vehicle. This product has a maximum range.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking
the signal.
See your Buick dealer or a qualified technician for
service.
Changes or modifications
to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization
to
use this equipment.
Operation
The driver’s door will unlock and the interior lights will
go
on when “UNLOCK” is pressed. If pressed again
within five seconds, all doors will unlock.
The interior
lights will go out after
40 seconds or when you turn on
the ignition.
All doors will lock when “DOOR”
is pressed.
Press the opened trunk symbol to unlock the trunk or
wagon liftgate. The transaxle must be in “P” (Park.) If
you have the wagon, the ignition must also be “Off.”
Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each key chain transmitter is coded to prevent another
transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If
a transmitter
is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through
your dealer. Remember
to bring any remaining
transmitters with you when
you go to your dealer. When
the dealer matches the replacement transmitter to your
vehicle, the remaining transmitters must also be
matched. Once the new transmitter
is coded, the lost
transmitter will not unlock your vehicle.
You can match a transmitter
to as many different
vehicles as you own, provided they are equipped with
exactly the same model system. (General Motors offers
several different models
of these systems on their
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