1996 BUICK CENTURY heating

A C U-ION:
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
is 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.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fan is running. If the engine is
overheating, the fan should
be running. If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant
level isn’t at ADD, add a
50/50 mixture of clean water
(preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze at
the coolant recovery tank. (See
“Engine Coolant” in the Index for more information.)
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain
water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system
is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain
water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use
a 50/50 mix of clean
water and DEX-COOL
TM antifreeze.
5-17
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rhacking Coc’mt * clding Coolant
!
The coolant recovery tank is located on the passenger’s
side
of the engine compartment.
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
ADD or a little higher. When your engine is warm, the
level should be up to
FULL HOT or a little higher.
.
If you need more coolant, add the proper mix at the
coolant recovery tank.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant to the radiator. (See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.)
I-
Thrning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
With the coolant recovery tank, you
will almost
never have to add coolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure
cap -- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
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Add coolant mix at the recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill it.
'B CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and
it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
Radiator Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@
cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an
AC' thermostat
is recommended.
6-25
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Tires
We don’t make tires. Your new Buick comes with
high-quality tires made
by a leading tire manufacturer. If
you ever have questions about your tire warranty and
where to obtain service,
see your Buick Warranty
booklet for details.
I A CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
0 Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result
of too much friction.
You could have an air-out and a serious
accident. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in
the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
0 Underinflated tires pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
0 Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
0 Overinflated tires are more likely to be
6-38
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Cruise Control .................................. 2-30
Cupholders
.................................... 2-39
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8- 1
Damage. Finish ............................... 6-52
Damage. Sheet Metal
............................ 6-52
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-34
Dead Battery
................................... 5-2
Defects. Reporting Safety
......................... 8-7
Defensive Driving
............................... 4- 1
Defogger. Rear Window
.......................... 3-3
Defogging
..................................... 3-2
Defrosting
..................................... 3-2
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-63
Door
Drive Position. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2- 18
Driver Position
................................. 1 - 13
Driving
City
....................................... 4-19
Defensive
.................................... 4-1
Drunken
..................................... 4-2
Freeway
.................................... 4-20
In a Blizzard ................................. 4-26
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-4
IntheRain
.................................. 4-16
Night
...................................... 4-14
OnCurves
................................... 4-9
On Grades While Towing a Trailer ............... 4-35
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-22
Customer Assistance for
Text Telephone Users
......... 8-3
Locks
....................................... 2-3 OnSnowandIce
............................. 4-25
Wet Roads
.................................. 4-16
Winter ...................................... 4-24
With a Trailer
................................ 4-34
DrunkenDriving
................................ 4-2
Electrical Equipment. Adding
................ 3-9. 6-56
Electrical System
............................... 6-56
Engine 6-8. 6-9
Engine
Coolant
..................................... 6-22
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-14
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-37
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-54
Exhaust
..................................... 2-24
Identification
................................ 6-55
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-37
Overheating
................................. 5-13
Running While Parked ......................... 2-24
Specifications
................................ 6-63
Starting Your
........................... 2- 12. 2-13
Engineoil
.................................... 6-10
Adding
..................................... 6-12
Additives
................................... 6-13
Checking
................................... 6-10
Used
....................................... 6-14
Whentochange
.............................. 6-14
Engine
Oil Pressure Light ........................ 2-57
Ethanol
........................................ 6-3
Through Deep Standing
Water
................... 4-18
Coolant Temperature Warning Light
.............. 2-53
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-24
9-3
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Fabric Cleaning ............................... 6-47
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-4
Filter, Air
..................................... 6-14
Filter, Engine Oil
............................... 6- 14
Finish Care
.................................... 6-5 1
Finish Damage ................................. 6-52
First Gear, Automatic Transaxle
................... 2- 19
Flashers, Hazard Warning
......................... 5-1
Flat Tire, Changing ............................. 5-24
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-42
Foreign Countries, Fuel
........................... 6-4
French Language Manual
11
Front Sidemarker Bulb Replacement ................ 6-34
FrontTowing
................................... 5-9
Front Turn and Parking Lamp Bulb Replacement
...... 6-34
Fuel
.......................................... 6-2
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-4
Gage
....................................... 2-59
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-4
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-57
.. ...........................
Gages
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-54
Fuel
....................................... 2-59
GAWR
....................................... 4-28
Gear Positions. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2- 16
GloveBox .................................... 2-38
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-28
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-28
Guide en Franpis
11 .. .................................
GVWR ....................................... 4-28 Halogen
Bulbs
................................ 6-33
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-1
Head Restraints ................................. 1-4
Headlamps .................................... 2-33
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-33
High/Low Beam Changer
...................... 2-28
Onwarning
................................. 2-34
Wiring
..................................... 6-56
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance
.............. 8-3
Heating
........................................ 3-2
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-28
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-22
Hitches, Trailer
................................. 4-33
Hood
Checking Things Under
......................... 6-6
Prop
........................................ 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-6
Horn
......................................... 2-26
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-17
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2. 1 0
Inflation. Tire .................................. 6-39
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-37
Inspections
.................................... 7-41
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-41
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Boot
.................. 7-41
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Seal
................... 7-41
Radiator and Heater
Hose ...................... 7-41
Steering
.................................... 7-41
Suspension
.................................. 7-41
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-41
Brakesystem
................................ 7-41
9-4
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Short TripKity Definition ................... 7.5, 7.7
Short Trip/City Intervals
.................... 7.5. 7.7
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-53
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-36
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-54
Manual Front Seat
............................... 1 - 1
Manual Remote Control Mirror .................... 2-37
MapLamp
.................................... 2-36
Methanol
...................................... 6-3
Mirrors
....................................... 2-37
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-38
Inside Daymight Rearview
..................... 2-37
Manual Remote Control
........................ 2-37
Power Remote Control
......................... 2-38
Visor Vanity
................................. 2-43
MountainRoads
................................ 4-22
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-27
Net. Convenience
.............................. 2-40
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2- 17
New Vehicle "Break-In"
......................... 2- 10
Nightvision ................................... 4-15
Odometer .................................... 2-48
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-48
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- 1 1
Oil. Engine .................................... 6-10
Overdrive. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2- 17
Overheating Engine ............................. 5 - 13
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-37
Owner Publications. Ordering
...................... 8-9
Paint Spotting. Chemical ........................ 6-53
Park Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2-16
Shifting Into ................................. 2-20
Shifting Out of
............................... 2-23
AtNight
..................................... 2-9
Brake
...................................... 2-19
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-40
Lots
........................................ 2-9
Over Things That Burn
........................ 2-23
With
a Trailer ................................ 4-36
Passing
....................................... 4-11
Periodic Maintenance Inspections .................. 7-41
DoorLocks
................................... 2-4
Option Fuses
................................ 6-56
Remote Control Mirror ........................ 2-38
Seat
......................................... 1-2
Seatback Recliner
.............................. 1-2
Steering
..................................... 4-8
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-26
Windows
................................... 2-25
Pregnancy. Use
of Safety Belts .................... 1-25
Problems on
the Road ............................ 5-1
Publications, Service and Owner .................... 8-9
Parking
Radiator
..................................... 5-20
Radiator Pressure Cap
........................... 6-25
Radio Reception
................................. 3-8
Radios ........................................ 3-5
Rain. Driving In ................................ 4-16
Reading Lamps
........................... 2-35. 2.36
9-6
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