1999 BUICK CENTURY climate control

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Engine Exhaust
CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you can't see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:

Your exhaust system sounds strange
or different.

Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.

Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.

Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over
road debris.

Repairs weren't done correctly.

Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:

Drive it only with all the windows down to
blow out any CO; and

Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
Running Your Engine While
You're Parked
It's better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
ªEngine Exhaustº).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See
ªBlizzardº in the Index.)

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The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System
A. Lamp Controls
B. Instrument Cluster
C. VentsD. Glove Box
E. Audio System
F. Climate Controls

3-
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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you'll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be
sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3
-2 Comfort Controls
3
-2 Manual Single Zone Climate Control
3
-4 Dual ComforTemp Climate Control
(If Equipped)
3
-7 Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control
(If Equipped)
3
-9 Rear Window Defogger
3
-10 Ventilation System
3
-11 Audio Systems
3
-11 Setting the Clock
3
-12 AM-FM Stereo
3
-14 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player
(If Equipped)
3
-17 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and
Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)3
-21 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Automatic Tone
Control (If Equipped)
3
-26 Theft-Deterrent Feature (If Equipped)
3
-29 Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
3
-30 Understanding Radio Reception
3
-30 Tips About Your Audio System
3
-31 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
3
-32 Care of Your Compact Discs
3
-32 Care of Your Compact Disc Player
3
-32 Fixed Mast Antenna
3
-32 Backglass Antenna (If Equipped)
3
-33 Diversity Antenna System (If Equipped)

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Comfort Controls
Manual Single Zone Climate Control
With this system, you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation in your vehicle. The system works best if
you keep your windows closed while using it.
Fan Knob
The left knob controls the amount of air you want. To
turn the fan off, turn the knob to OFF.
If the airflow seems very low when the fan knob is turned
to the highest setting, regardless of the mode setting, your
passenger compartment air filter may need to be replaced.
See ªMaintenance Scheduleº or ªPassenger Compartment
Air Filterº in the Index.Temperature Knob
The center knob changes the temperature of the air
coming through the system. Turn this knob toward red
(clockwise) for warmer air. Turn it toward blue
(counterclockwise) for cooler air.
Mode Knob
The right knob has several settings to control the
direction of airflow:
MAX: This setting recirculates much of the air inside
your vehicle and sends it through the instrument panel
outlets. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below 40
F (4
C). (Even when the
compressor is running, you can control the temperature.)
NORM: This setting brings in outside air and sends it
through the instrument panel outlets. The air
conditioning compressor will run automatically in this
setting unless the outside temperature is below 40
F
(4
C). (Even when the compressor is running, you can
control the temperature.)

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Heating
On cold days, use HTR with the temperature knob all
the way in the red area. The system will bring in outside
air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it's
cold outside
-- 0
F (-18
C) or lower. An engine coolant
heater warms the coolant your engine and heating
system use to provide heat. See ªEngine Coolant
Heaterº in the Index.
Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use VENT to direct outside air
through your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the
flow
-through ventilation system described later in
this section.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows. To defrost the windows quickly, use
FRONT with the temperature knob all the way in the red
area. To warm passengers while keeping the windows
clear, use BLEND.
Dual ComforTemp Climate Control
(If Equipped)
With this system, the driver and passenger can maintain
separate temperatures. The system works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
Fan Control
The left knob labeled FAN controls the fan
speed selection.
If the airflow seems very low when the fan is adjusted to
the highest setting regardless of the mode setting, your
passenger compartment air filter may need to be
replaced. See ªMaintenance Scheduleº or ªPassenger
Compartment Air Filterº in the Index.

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3-7 Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate
Control (If Equipped)
With this system, you set a temperature. You can then
either let the system automatically control airflow
direction and force to maintain the temperature, or you
can manually adjust it. The system works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
Automatic Control
For the most efficient operation, you should set the
system temperature and press AUTO. The system will
select the best fan speed and airflow settings to keep you
comfortable. The air conditioning compressor will run if
the outside temperature is above 40
F (4
C). You may
notice a delay of two to three minutes before the fan
comes on at start up in cool weather.Temperature Control
The TEMP switch sets the temperature for the entire system
when the light on the DUAL button isn't lit. If the DUAL
button light is lit, this master temperature control sets the
temperature for the driver only. Press the up arrow to raise the
temperature and press the down arrow to lower the
temperature. The display will show your selection for a few
seconds, then the outside temperature will be displayed. If
you push the AUTO button, the system will control the fan
speed and airflow.
Passenger's Temperature Control
The PASSENGER CONTROL buttons with the arrows
adjust the temperature on the passenger's side so it is
warmer or cooler than the temperature set by the driver.
Push the DUAL button so that the indicator light is lit.
Press the right arrow button to raise the temperature.
Press the left arrow button to lower the temperature. The
display will not show the passenger's temperature, only
that of the driver. Indicators in the passenger control
section will show passenger temperature relative to the
driver's set temperature.

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RECIRC: This setting recirculates much of the air
inside your vehicle. This setting is not permitted in
FRONT defrost mode and is only permitted in
WINDSHIELD/FLOOR mode if the compressor is
turned on. The indicator light will be lit when
recirculation is engaged, but will light for one second
and then turn off if selected when not permitted.
Heating (Engine Coolant Heater)
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it's
cold outside
-- 0
F (-18
C) or lower. An engine
coolant heater warms the coolant your engine and
heating system use to provide heat. See ªEngine Coolant
Heaterº in the Index.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows. To defrost the windows quickly, press the
FRONT button; set the temperature to 90
F (32
C),
select high fan speed and turn the DUAL button off. To
warm passengers while keeping the windows clear, push
the AIR FLOW button until WINDSHIELD/FLOOR
appears in the display. Select fan speed for comfort and
windshield clearing performance.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window. Press the button to
turn the rear defogger on. It will turn itself off after
about 10 minutes. If you turn it on again, the rear
defogger will only run for about five minutes before
turning off. You can also turn it off by pressing the
button again. The picture above on the left refers to the
defogger button that is found on a Manual Single Zone
Climate Control system or Dual ComforTemp Climate
Control system; the button on the right is found on the
Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control system.

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6-47 Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.) The
grades are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does
not apply to deep tread, winter
-type snow tires,
space
-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited
-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, andmay depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction
-- AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight
-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature
-- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.