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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. Your
Buick dealer and the Century Service Manual have
information about servicing your vehicle and the air bag
system. To purchase a service manual,
see “Service and
Owner Publications” in the Index.
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more
likely to be
seriously injured
if they don’t wear safety belts.
For up to two minutes after the ignition key is
turned
off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service.
You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape,
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do
so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and
the
lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below
the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
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Here you can learn about the many standard and
optional features on your Buick, and information
on
starting, shifting and braking. Also explained are the
instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if
everything
is working properly -- and what to do if you
have a problem.
*
Keys
I
A CAUTION:
Leaving young children in a vehicle with the
ignition key is dangerous for many reasons.
A child
or others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate power windows
or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don’t leave the keys in
a vehicle with young children.
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The ignition keys are
-1 The door keys are for the When a new Century
is delivered, the dealer removes the
plugs from the keys, and gives them to the first owner.
Each plug has a code
on it that tells your dealer or a
qualified locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep the
plugs in a safe place.
If you lose your keys, you'll be
able to have new ones made easily using these plugs.
1 I'NOTICE:
Your Buick has a number of new features that
can help prevent theft. But you can have
a lot
of trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever
lock your keys inside. You may even have to
damage your vehicle to get in.
So be sure you
have extra keys.
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Power Door Locks
Press the power door lock
switch on either front door
to lock
or unlock all the
doms atmce.
Automatic Door Locks
Just close your doors and turn on the ignition. All of the
doors will automatically lock when you move your shift
lever out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). If someone
needs to get out while the vehicle is running, have that
person use the manual or power lock. When
the door is
closed again, it will lock automatically if the transaxle is
in gear. All doors will automatically unlock when
you
turn the ignition off.
If you don’t want the doors to automatically unlock
when the key is turned
OFF, you can remove the
UNLOCK fuse located in the glove box. See “Fuses and
Circuit Breakers” in the Index for more information.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.
Remote Keyless Entry System
(Option)
If your Buick has this option, you can lock and unlock
your doors
or unlock your trunk from up to 30 feet (9 m)
away using the key chain transmitter supplied with
your vehicle.
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Should interference to this system occur, try this:
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions on battery replacement.
vehicle. This product has a maximum range.
blocking the signal.
for service.
0 Check the distance. You may be too far from your
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
0 See your Buick dealer or a qualified technician
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
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.
lperat
fhe drwer’s door will unlock and the interior lamps will
go on when UNLOCK is pressed. If pressed again
within five seconds, all doors will unlock. The interior
lamps 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
PARK (P). If
you have the wagon, the ignition must also be OFF.
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TrunkLiftgate Trunk Lock
- ~- c-
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the liftgate,
liftglass or trunk lid open because carbon
monoxide (CO) gas can come into your vehicle.
You can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the liftgate, liftglass or
trunk lid open or
if electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass through the seal between
the body and the liftgate, liftglass or trunk lid:
Make sure all windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on
NORM or VENT. That will force outside
air into your vehicle. See “Comfort
Controls” in the Index.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the
way.
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
To unlock the trunk from
the outside, insert the door
key and turn it clockwise.
Remote Trunk or Liftgate Release
You’ll find the release
button in the glove box.
The trunk will unlock
anytime the ignition is on
or
off. If you have the
wagon, the liftgate wi1.l
unlock when the ignition is
on, and the transaxle is in
PARK (P).
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Turn the key to the left to release the liftgate glass.
Then, pull the glass up by the handle.
To close, lower
the glass until the latch catches.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your Buick has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put
on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don’t do it.
When you park your Buick and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear a chime reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you. Always do
this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition and transaxle. And remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember
to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with
you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best
to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your ignition key? What if
you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
@ Put your valuables in a storage area, like your trunk
or glove box.
0 Lock the glove box.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
0 Then take the door key with you.
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’ 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:
0
0
0
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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