2001 BUICK CENTURY ESP

1-11
Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts
-- and the Answers
Q:
Won't I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident if I'm wearing a safety belt?
A:You could be -- whether you're wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you're upside down. And your chance of
being conscious during and after an accident, so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater
if you are belted.
Q:If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have
to wear safety belts?
A:Air bags are in many vehicles today and will
be in most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only; so they work with
safety belts
-- not instead of them. Every air bag
system ever offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even if you're in a vehicle that has air
bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That's true not only in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
Q:If I'm a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
A:You may be an excellent driver, but if you're in an
accident
-- even one that isn't your fault -- you
and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good
driver doesn't protect you from things beyond
your control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km)
of home. And the greatest number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than
40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.

2-2
Windows
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the windows
closed is dangerous. A child can be overcome
by the extreme heat and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never
leave a child alone in a vehicle, especially with
the windows closed in warm or hot weather.

2-6
Door Locks
CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.

Passengers -- especially children -- can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked,
the handle won't open it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle
in a crash if the doors aren't locked.
So, wear safety belts properly and lock
the doors whenever you drive.

Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.

Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or stop
your vehicle. Locking your doors can help
prevent this from happening.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your door key or remote keyless
entry transmitter.
From the inside, to lock or unlock the door manually,
push the lever forward to lock the door. To unlock,
push the lever rearward.

2-12
Programmable Modes
Your vehicle can be programmed to one of the
following modes.
Mode 1: No Verification
Mode 2: Horn Chirp only
Mode 3: Headlamp Flash only
Mode 4: Horn Chirp and Headlamp Flash
When your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed to Mode 3. The mode to which your
vehicle was programmed may have been changed since
it left the factory. To determine the security feedback
lock mode to which your vehicle is programmed
or to program your vehicle to a different mode,
do the following:
1. Close all doors and turn the ignition key to RUN.
2. Press and hold the power door lock switch in the
lock position.3. While holding the door lock switch in the lock
position, press and release the remote keyless
entry transmitter LOCK button. This will start the
customization mode. While in the customization
mode, the feature will sound the number of chimes
corresponding to the current lock mode. (If you
do not wish to change the current mode, you can
either exit the programming mode by following the
instructions listed here or program the next feature
available on your vehicle.)
4. Each additional press of the remote keyless entry
transmitter LOCK button will cause your vehicle to
advance the lock mode by one, starting from the
current lock mode.
5. If cycled beyond lock Mode 4, the vehicle will enter
lock Mode 1. When the door lock switch is released,
the vehicle will remain in the most recent lock mode.

2-13
When your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed to Mode 3. The mode to which your vehicle
was programmed may have been changed since it left the
factory. To determine the security feedback unlock mode
to which your vehicle is programmed or to program your
vehicle to a different mode, do the following:
1. Close all doors and turn the ignition key to RUN.
2. Press and hold the power door lock switch in the
unlock position. While holding the door lock switch
in the unlock position, press and release the remote
keyless entry transmitter UNLOCK button. This
will start the customization mode. While in the
customization mode, the feature will sound the
number of chimes corresponding to the current
unlock mode. (If you do not wish to change the
current mode, you can either exit the programming
mode by following the instructions listed here or
program the next feature available on your vehicle.)
3. Each additional press of the remote keyless entry
transmitter UNLOCK button will cause your vehicle
to advance the unlock mode by one, starting from
the current unlock mode.
4. If cycled beyond unlock Mode 4, the vehicle will
enter unlock Mode 1. When the door lock switch is
released, the vehicle will remain in the most recent
unlock mode.The mode you selected is now set. You can either
exit the programming mode by following the previous
instructions or program the next feature available on
your vehicle.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed mode of the lock and
unlock security feedback features.
Delayed Locking
Delayed locking allows the doors to be locked while
passengers are exiting the vehicle. This feature also
provides a brief time period after all the doors are
closed, but before the doors are locked, in which
the doors may be reopened. Delayed locking is user
programmable for enabling or disabling the feature.
Delayed locking is activated when a door lock switch is
pressed while the key is not in the vehicle's ignition, and
a door is open. The door lock switch may be either the
lock switch on the door or on the remote keyless entry
transmitter (see ªRemote Keyless Entryº earlier in this
section for more details). The doors do not lock when
the lock switch is pressed, but instead, three chimes are
heard. These chimes indicate that the delayed locking
feature has been activated.

2-20
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle 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 vehicle 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
Even if you park in a lot where someone will be
watching your vehicle, it's still best to lock it up and
take your keys. But what if you have to leave your
ignition key?

If possible, park in a busy, well
-lit area.

Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
trunk or glove box. Be sure to close and lock the
storage area.

Close all windows.

Move the trunk release lockout switch to
LK (LOCK).

Lock the glove box.

Lock all the doors except the driver's.

Then take the door key and remote keyless entry
transmitter with you.

2-42
Exterior Lamps
The lamp controls
are located on the
instrument panel.
They control these systems:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking Lamps

License Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

Courtesy LampsIf you pull the knob out halfway, it will turn on your
parking lamps and your other operating lamps. If you
pull the knob all the way out, your headlamps will then
come on.
Push the knob in all the way to turn off the lamps.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver's
door when you turn the ignition switch to OFF, LOCK
or ACC with the lamps on.
Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp Control
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime
running lights are required on all vehicles first sold
in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off and

the parking brake is released.

2-56 OnStar System Limitations
Complete limitations can be found on the Subscriber
Services Agreement.
OnStar Service is:

available in the 48 contiguous United States, Alaska,
Hawaii and Canada;

available when the vehicle is within the operating
range of a cellular provider;

subject to limitations caused by atmospheric
conditions, such as severe weather or topographical
conditions, such as mountainous terrain;

subject to cellular carrier equipment limitations.Global positioning capabilities used to deliver
OnStar Service will not be available if satellite signals
are obstructed.
OnStar will not function if the vehicle's battery is
discharged or disconnected. It may also be inoperative
if the vehicle is in an accident and the OnStar or vehicle
electrical system components are damaged.
Safety and security services are provided by existing
governmental emergency service providers. OnStar
will use reasonable efforts to contact the appropriate
emergency service provider and request assistance but
cannot promise that they will respond to the call in a
timely manner or at all.