2004 BUICK CENTURY wheel alignment

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-19
Engine Coolant.............................................5-22
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-25
Engine Overheating.......................................5-25
Cooling System............................................5-28
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-35
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-36
Brakes........................................................5-38Battery........................................................5-41
Jump Starting...............................................5-42
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-49
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-51
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-51
Headlamps..................................................5-51
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-52
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-53
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-54
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-55
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-56
Tires..............................................................5-57
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-64
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-65
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-67
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-68
Buying New Tires.........................................5-69
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-70
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-71
Wheel Replacement......................................5-72
Tire Chains..................................................5-73
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-74
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-75
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-87
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires as
soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also
check for damaged tires or wheels. SeeWhen It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-68andWheel Replacement
on page 5-72for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The rst rotation
is the most important. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4for scheduled rotation intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear ination pressures as shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label.
Reset the Tire Ination Monitor System. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor System on page 5-65.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” underCapacities and
Specications on page 5-103.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, you can use a cloth or a
paper towel to do this; but be sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later, if you need to, to
get all the rust or dirt off. See “Changing a Flat
Tire” in the Index.
5-67

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 specied 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. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underination, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are
not needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
5-71

Service Manuals.............................................7-11
Setting Preset Stations............................3-47, 3-54
Setting the Time.............................................3-45
Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)..................3-47, 3-54
Sheet Metal Damage.......................................5-93
Shifting Into Park (P).......................................2-26
Shifting Out of Park (P)...................................2-28
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster...........................1-14
Skidding........................................................4-15
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips.......................4-19
Special Fabric Cleaning Problems.....................5-89
Specications, Capacities...............................5-103
Speedometer..................................................3-29
Split Folding Rear Seat..................................... 1-5
Starting Your Engine.......................................2-20
Steering........................................................4-10
Steering in Emergencies..................................4-11
Steering Tips..................................................4-10
Steering Wheel Controls, Audio.........................3-62
Storage Areas
Center Console Storage Area........................2-35
Convenience Net.........................................2-35
Front Storage Area......................................2-34
Glove Box..................................................2-34
Storing the Flat Tire and Tools..........................5-85
Storing the Spare Tire and Tools.......................5-86
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow......................4-30
Sun Visors.....................................................2-17
Sunroof.........................................................2-36T
Taillamps
Turn Signal, and Stoplamps..........................5-54
Theft-Deterrent, Radio.....................................3-62
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-17
PASS-Key
®II ..............................................2-17
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-5
Tire
Pressure Light.............................................3-36
Tire Ination Check........................................... 6-9
Tire Sidewall Labeling......................................5-58
Tire Size.......................................................5-61
Tire Terminology and Denitions........................5-62
Tires.............................................................5-57
Buying New Tires........................................5-69
Chains.......................................................5-73
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-75
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-87
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-74
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-64
Inspection and Rotation................................5-67
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-65
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-70
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-71
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-72
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-68
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-21
Top Strap......................................................1-38
12

W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-27
Warnings
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-4
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-4
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Washer Fluid, Low Warning Light......................3-42
Washing Your Vehicle......................................5-91
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-40
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-41
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-14
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-17
What to Use..........................................5-22, 5-36
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-71
Replacement...............................................5-72
When to Add Engine Oil..................................5-14
When to Change Engine Oil
(GM Oil Life System)...................................5-16When to Check..............................................5-65
When to Check and Change............................5-19
When to Check Power Steering Fluid................5-36
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking
on a Hill.....................................................4-45
Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-37
Why Safety Belts Work..................................... 1-7
Window Lock-Out............................................2-16
Windows.......................................................2-15
Power........................................................2-16
Windshield Washer........................................... 3-8
Fluid..........................................................5-36
Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement......................................5-56
Fuses........................................................5-97
Windshield Wipers............................................ 3-7
Winter Driving................................................4-26
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
14