1996 BUICK CENTURY lock

’ New Vehicle “Break-In”
NOTICE:
Your modern Buick doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
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Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (804 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow
a trailer during break-in. See
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index
for more
information.
Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can
turn the switch
to five positions.
C
ACCESSORY (A): Position in which you can operate
your radio or windshield wipers. Press in the ignition
switch as you turn the top
of it toward you.
LOCK (B): The only position in which you can
remove the key.
This locks your steering wheel,
ignition and transaxle.
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OFF (C): Unlocks the steering wheel, ignition, and
transaxle, but does not send electrical power
to any
accessories. Use this position if your vehicle must be
pushed
or towed, but never try to push-start your
vehicle.
A warning chime will sound if you open the
driver’s door when the ignition is off and the key is in
the ignition.
RUN (D): Position to which the switch returns after you
start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays in the RUN position when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can
use
RUN to operate your electrical power accessories, and
to display some instrument panel warning lights.
START (E): Starts the engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch will return
to RUN
for normal driving.
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.
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Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your shift lever is located on the steering column.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
P RNpl321
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PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
A CAUTION:
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It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re
on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling
a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer”
in the Index.
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2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position
like this:
Pull the lever toward you.
Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in
PARK (P).
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine
Running
A CAUTION
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if
you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pulling it toward
you. If you can, it means
that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK
(P).
Note: If for some reason you leave your vehicle running
and
it is not in PARK (P) and the parking brake is
applied, your doors will automatically lock when you
close the door.
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever
out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into PARK (P) properly before
you leave the driver’s
seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index.
When you are ready
to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours
a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the transaxle,
so you can pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P).
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Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your Buick has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You
have to
fully apply your regular brake to shift from
PARK (P) when
the ignition is in the RUN position.
See “Automatic Transaxle Operation” in
the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever -- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear
you want. If you ever
hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out
of
PARK (P), try this:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Turn the key to OFF.
Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
Have the vehicle fixed as soon
as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
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CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
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Wagon Rear Vent Windows (Option)
TO open, pull the latch forward, then push on the
center
of the latch to swing the window out into the
open position.
To close the window, pull the center of the latch and
then press the latch into the closed position.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the horn symbol on
your steering wheel.
Tilt Wheel
r
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before
you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel
to a comfortable level,
then release the lever to lock the wheel
in place.
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For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away
from you to the
LO position. For high-speed wiping,
turn the band further, to
HI. To stop the wipers, move
the band
to OFF.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent you
from seeing well enough to
drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them.
If they’re frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them.
If your blades
do become damaged, get new blades
or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor.
A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow Or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
At the top of the turn signal/multifunction lever, there’s
a paddle with the word
PUSH on it. To spray washer
fluid on the windshield,
push the paddle.
If you push the paddle for less than one second, washer
fluid will spray three to four times while the wiper
blades cycle. If you push the paddle longer than one
second, washer fluid will spray as long as the paddle is
held. When you release the paddle, the wiper blades will
cycle three to four more times to clear the window and
then either stop or return to your preset speed.
Driving without washer fluid can be dangerous.
A bad
mud splash can block your vision. You could hit another
vehicle or go
off the road. Check your washer fluid level
often. See “Windshield Washer Fluid”
in the Index.
AUTION:
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
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