1996 BUICK CENTURY service

The 1996 Buick Century Owner’s Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems .............................................................
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains “SRS” system.
This section explains how to start and operate your Buick.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
audio system.
YourDrivingandtheRoad ..............................................................
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
ProblemsontheRoad ..................................................................
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or
overheated engine, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good.
This section tells you
when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
This section tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service publications. It also
gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page
8-7.
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 ..................................................................
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems .....................................................
Service and Appearance Care ............................................................
Maintenanceschedule....... ...........................................................
Customer Assistance Information ........................................................
Index ........................................................................\
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GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem,
BUICK, the BUICK Emblem and the name
CENTURY 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.
Litho
in USA.
Part
No. 2563 1999 B First Edition
p+ CERTIFIED
WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
National Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French
Language Manual:
Aux propriktaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer
un exemplaire de ce guide en franGais chez
votre concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1500 Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario
L5T 1 C7
0 Copyright General Motors Corporation 1995
All Rights Reserved
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I962 Buick Special
Built inside the walls of the old buildings in Buick’s
former Flint complex, which forrned 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, General Managel; Buick 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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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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What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates. This occurs
so quickly that some people may not even realize the air
bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module
in
the steering wheel hub will be hot for a short time. The
part of the bag that comes into contact with you may be
warm, but it will never be too hot to touch. There will be
some smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflated
air bag. Air bag inflation will not prevent the driver
from seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor
will it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
r
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with
a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as
it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can’t get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening
a window or door.
0
a
0
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 for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
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
driver’s safety belt usage at deployment.
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 module.
Do not open or break
the air bag cover.
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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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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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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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