1996 BUICK CENTURY Owners Manual

Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and
if you turn the radiator
pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come out
at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap,
is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool
if you ever have to
turn the pressure cap.
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How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
I NOTICE:
r
Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to
follow this procedure could cause your
engine to overheat and be severely damaged.
1. You
can remove the
radiator pressure cap
when the cooling
system, including the
radiator pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no longer hot.
2. Then keep turning
the pressure cap,
but
now push down as you
turn it. Remove the
pressure cap.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until
it first stops. (Don’t press down while turning
the
pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there
is still some pressure left.
,A 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.
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i,I *La "
2.2L L4 Engine
The 2.2L Engine (VIN Code 4) has one bleed valve
located at the thermostat housing.
L L
3.1L V6 Engine
3. After the engine cools, open the coolant air
bleed valve.
3.1 L V6 (VTN Code M): There are two bleed valves.
One
is located on the thermostat housing. The other
is located on the thermostat bypass tube.
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4. Fill the radiator with the proper mix, up to the base
of
the filler neck.
If you see a stream of coolant coming from an air
bleed valve, close
the valve. Otherwise, close the
valves after the radiator is filled.
5. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the
engine compartment.
6. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the FULL
HOT mark.
7. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap
off.
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8. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fan.
9. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add
more
of the proper mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches the base of the filler neck. 10.
Then replace the
pressure cap. At any
time during this
procedure
if coolant
begins to
flow out of
the filler neck, reinstall
the pressure cap. Be
sure the arrows on
the
pressure cap line up
like this.
11. Check the coolant
in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at the HOT
mark when the engine is hot or at the COLD mark
when
the engine is cold.
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If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But
if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that,side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel fely.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve; acts much like a
skid and may require
the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to
go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a
stop -- well off ‘the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard’
warning flashers.
I
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip
off the jack and roll over you or other
‘people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. ”urn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t ‘move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle,
at the opposite end.
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The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
Some steps apply to all models, others to just the
sedan or wagon models. Follow the steps listed for
your vehicle.
The tools
you’ll be using include the jack (A) and wheel
wrench
(B).
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Sedan
The equipment you’ll need is stored in the trunk.
1. Pull the carpeting from the floor of the trunk.
2. Turn the center retainer bolt on the compact spare
tire housing counterclockwise to remove it, then lift
the tire cover.
3. Lift off the jack and remove the spare tire.
4. Remove the wheel wrench from the bag.
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