1997 BUICK CENTURY suspension

r I A CAUTION:
A vehicle can fall from a car-carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before
it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots. Never use
J-hooks.
They will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
in the
OFF position. The steering wheel should be
clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping
device designed for towing service. Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column lock for
this. The transaxle
should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking
brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the drive wheels,
unless you must.
If the vehicle must be towed on the
drive wheels, be sure to follow the speed and distance
restrictions later in this section or your transaxle will be
damaged. If these limitations must be exceeded, then the
drive wheels have
to be supported on a dolly.
5-10
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Front Towing
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling type equipment or
fascidfog lamp damage will occur. Use wheel-lift
or car-carrier equipment. Additional ramping
may be required for car-carrier equipment. Use
safety chains and wheel straps. Use the T-slots for
car-carrier securing.
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could damage
a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle to
ground or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment. To help
avoid damage, install
a towing dolly and raise the
vehicle until adequate clearance is obtained
between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car-carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots.
5-11
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Rear Towing
Tow Limits - 55 mph (90 k&), 500 miles (800 km) NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or the rear
bumper valance will be damaged. Use wheel-lift
or car-carrier equipment. Additional ramping
may be required for car-carrier equipment. Use
safety chains and wheel straps. Use the T-slots for
car-carrier securing.
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces couia
damage
a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle
to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment. To
help avoid damage, install a towing dolly and
raise the vehicle until adequate clearance is
obtained between the ground and/or
wheel-lift equipment.
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car-carrier
equipment. Always use
T-hooks inserted in
T-hooks slots.
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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.
7-2
7-2
7-3 7-4
7-4
7-4
7-7
7-27
7-37
7-37
7-37
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
7-38
7-4 I
7-4 1
7-4 1
7-4 1
7-4 1
7-4 1
7-42
7 -44
7-1
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Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections
Listed below are inspections and services which should be
performed at least twice a year (for instance, each spring
and fall). You should let your
GM dealer’s service
department or other qualified service center do these jobs.
Make sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Proper procedures
to perform these services may be
found in a
GM service manual. See “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering
system for damaged, loose or missing parts, signs
of
wear or lack of lubrication. Inspect the power steering
lines and hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc. Clean and then inspect the drive
axle boot seals for damage, tears or leakage. Replace
seals if necessary.
Exhaust System Inspection
Inspect the complete exhaust system. Inspect the body
near the exhaust system.
Look for broken, damaged,
missing or out-of-position parts
as well as open seams, holes,
loose connections or other conditions which could
cause
a heat build-up in the floor pan or could let
exhaust fumes into the vehicle. See “Engine Exhaust’’
in the Index.
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they are
cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,
fittings and clamps; replace
as needed.
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding,
and for damaged or missing parts. Replace parts
as
needed. Replace any cables that have high effort or
excessive wear. Do
not lubricate accelerator and cruise
control cables.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition. Also inspect drum brake linings
for wear and cracks. Inspect other brake parts, including
drums, wheel cylinders, calipers, parking brake, etc.
Check parking brake adjustment. You may need to have
your brakes inspected more often
if your driving habits
or conditions result in frequent braking.
7-41
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1997 BUCK SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDERING INFORMATION
The following publications covering the operation and servicing \
of your vehicle can be purchased by filling out
the Service Publication Order Form in this book and mailing it in with your check, money order,
or credit card information
to Helm, Incorporated (address below.)
CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOR 1997 BUICK
SERVICE MANUALS
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information
on engines, transmission, axle, suspension, brakes,
electrical, steering, body, etc. RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$90.00
TRANSMISSION, TRANSAXLE, TRANSFER CASE UNIT REPAIR MANUAL
This manual provides information on unit repair service procedures, adjustments and specifications for the
1997 GM transmissions, transaxles and transfer cases.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$40.00
SERVICE BULLETINS
Service Bulletins give technical service information needed
to knowledgeably service General Motors cars and trucks.
Each bulletin contains instructions to assist in the
diagnosis and service of your vehicle.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE ORDER FORM SHOWN ON
THE FOLLOWING PAGE AND MAIL TO:
Helm, Incorporated
PO. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207
OWNER’S INFORMATION
Owner publications are written directly for Owners and intended
to provide basic operational information about the
vehicle. The owner’s manual will include the Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $1 5.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$1 0.00
CURRENT & PAST MODEL ORDER FORMS
Service Publications are available for current and past
model
GM vehicles. To request an order form, please
specify year and model name of the vehicle.
OR ORDER TOLL FREE:
1-800-782-4356
Monday-Friday 8:OO AM - 6:OO PM Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only (VISA-MasterCard-Discover)
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tiuide en Franpis 11
GVWR ....................................... 4-29
Halogen Bulbs
................................ 6-30
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-2
Head Restraints
................................. 1-5
Headlamps .................................... 2-41
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-3 1
Flash-to-Pass ................................ 2-35
High/LowBeam
.............................. 2-35
On Reminder
................................ 2-41
Wiring
..................................... 6-56
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance .............. 8-4
Heated Foldaway Outside Mirrors
.................. 2-48
Heating
............................... 3-4.3-6. 3- 10
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-35
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-22
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-33
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-8
Horn
......................................... 2-33
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-18
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2- 17
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
.................... 7-40
Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-44
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-38
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror
................. 2-46
Inspections Brakesystem
................................ 7-41
.. ................................. Exhaust Systems ............................. 7-41
Front Drive Axle Boot
......................... 7-41
Front Drive Axle Seal
......................... 7-41
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-41
Steering
.................................... 7-41
Suspension
.................................. 7-41
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-41
Instrument Panel
............................... 2-53
Cleaning
.................................... 6-48
Cluster
..................................... 2-54
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-57
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
................ 2-44
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-44
Jack. Tire
...... 5.25.5.27.5.28.5.29.5.30.5.31. 5.33
Jump Starting ................................... 5-3
Key Lock Cylinders Service
..................... 7-38
Key Reminder Warning
.......................... 2-15
Keys
.......................................... 2-2
Labels Certification
................................. 4-29
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-55
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-28
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-55
Lamps
........................................ 2-41
Courtesy
.................................... 2-44
Dome
...................................... 2-45
Exterior
.................................... 2-41
Interior
..................................... 2-44
Reading. Rearview Mirror
...................... 2-45
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