1997 BUICK CENTURY Owners Manual

Engine Specifications
3100 (Code M)
Type .................................... V6
Displacement
........................ 191 CID
Firing Order
...................... 1-2-3-4-5-6
Thermostat Temperature
........... 195 OF (9 1 O C)
Horsepower
........................ 160 @ 5200
Vehicle Dimensions
Wheelbase .............. 109.0 inches (276.9 cm)
Tread (Front)
............. 6 1.5 inches ( 156.2 cm)
Tread (Rear)
.............. 61 .O inches ( 154.9 cm)
Overall Length
........... 194.5 inches (494.0 cm)
Overall Width
............. 73.0 inches (185.4 cm)
Overall Height
............ 56.5 inches (143.5 cm)
Normal Maintenance Replacement
Parts
Air Cleaner Filter ..................... A 1208C
Passenger Compartment Air Filter .... 10261703
Battery
3100 (Code M) ....................... 600 CCA
PCVValve ........................ CV892C
Engine Oil Filter ........................ PF47
Radiator Cap ......................... RC27
RKE Batteries .............. Type CR2032 (2)
3 100 (Code M) ...................... .41-940
Spark Plugs
Gap: 0.060 inches (1.52 mm)
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Not all air conditioning refrigerants are the same.
If the air conditioning system in your vehicle needs
refrigerant, be sure the proper refrigerant
is used.
If you’re not sure, ask your Buick dealer.
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fi NOTES
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Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
This section covers the maintenance required for your Buick. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its safety,
dependability and emission control performance.
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7-38 Introduction
Your Vehicle and the Environment
How This Section is Organized
Part
A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
Selecting the Right Schedule
Footnotes
Footnotes
Part
B: Owner Checks and Services
At Each
Fuel Fill
At Least Once a Month
At Least Twice
a Year At
Least Once a Year
Part
C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
Exhaust System Inspection
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Brake System Inspection
Part
D: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants
Part
E: Maintenance Record
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I IMPORTANT:
I
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
El
protection
Plan
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements
your new vehicle warranties. See your
Wlwranty and Owner Assistance booklet, or your Buick
dealer
for details.
Introduction
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even
affect the quality
of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase the level
of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect our
environment, and to keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
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How This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services’’ shows
what
to have done and how often. Some of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary equipment, you should
let your dealer’s service department or another qualified
service center do these jobs.
I A CAUTION: I
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can
be dangerous. In trying to
do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance
work only if
you have the required know-how
and the proper tools and equipment for the job.
If you have any doubt, have a qualified
technician do the work.
If you are skilled enough to do some work on your
vehicle, you will probably want
to get the service
information
GM publishes. See “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
“Part B: Owner Checks and Services” tells
you what should be checked and when. It also explains
what
you can easily do to help keep your vehicle in
good condition.
“Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections”
explains important inspections that your Buick dealer’s
service department or another qualified service center
should perform.
“Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” lists
some products
GM recommends to help keep your
vehicle properly maintained. These products, or their
equivalents, should be used whether you
do the work
yourself or have it done.
“Part E: Maintenance Record” provides a place for
you to record the maintenance performed
on your
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance is performed,
be
sure to write it down in this part. This will help you
determine when your next maintenance should be done.
In addition, it is a good idea to keep your maintenance
receipts. They may be needed
to qualify your vehicle for
warranty repairs.
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Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle in good working condition. But we don’t know
exactly how you’ll drive it. You may drive
very short
distances only a few times a week. Or you may drive
long distances all the time in very hot, dusty weather.
You may
use your vehicle in making deliveries.
Or you may drive it to work, to
do errands or in
many other ways.
Because
of all the different ways people use their
GM vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may even
need more frequent checks and replacements than you’ll
find in the schedules in this section.
So please read this
section and note
how you drive. If you have any
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good
condition,
see your Buick dealer.
This part tells
you the maintenance services you should
have done and when you should schedule them. If you
go
to your dealer for your service needs, you’ll know
that GM-trained and supported service people will
perform the work using genuine
GM parts. The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed
in Part D.
Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses these. All
parts should be replaced and all necessary repairs done
before you or anyone else drives the vehicle.
These schedules are for vehicles that:
0 carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these limits
on your vehicle’s
Tire-Loading Information label. See “Loading Your
Vehicle”
in the Index.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
0 use the recommended fuel. See “Fuel” in the Index.
Selecting the Right Schedule
First you’ll need to decide which of the two schedules is
right for your vehicle. Here’s how to decide which
schedule
to follow:
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Maintenance Schedule
Short TripKity Definition
Follow the Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule if any
one of these conditions is true for your vehicle:
0
a
0
a
a
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
your vehicle.
If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
One of the reasons you should follow this schedule
if you operate your vehicle under any of these conditions
is that these conditions cause engine oil to break
down sooney.
Short Trip/City Intervals
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change
(or 3 months, whichever occurs first).
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 km): Tire Rotation.
Every 12,000 Miles (20 000 Jan): Passenger
Compartment Air Filter Replacement.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Inspection,
if driving in dusty conditions.
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Replacement. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection.
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic Transaxle
Service (severe conditions only).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Spark Plug Wire
Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Every 150,000 Miles (240 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure
to follow the complete maintenance schedule on
the following pages.
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Maintenance Schedule
1 Long Tripmighway Definition
Follow this maintenance schedule only if none of the
conditions from the Short TripKity Maintenance
Schedule is true. Do not use this schedule if the vehicle
is used for trailer towing, driven in a dusty area or used
off paved roads. Use the Short TripKity schedule for
these conditions.
Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine under
highway conditions causes engine oil to break
down slowel:
I Long Tripmighway Intervals
Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or every
12 months, whichever occurs first).
Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Passenger
Compartment Air Filter Replacement.
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Replacement. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection.
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic Transaxle
Service (severe conditions only).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Spark Plug Wire
Every 150,000 Miles (240 000 km): Cooling System
Drive Belt Inspection.
Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement. Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to,follow the complete maintenance schedule on
the.following pages.
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