2005 BUICK CENTURY headlamp

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-6
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-6
Child Restraints
.......................................1-27
Airbag System
.........................................1-49
Restraint System Check
............................1-58
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
......................................2-10
Windows
.................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-17
Mirrors
....................................................2-29
OnStar
®System
......................................2-31
Storage Areas
.........................................2-33
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-18
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-28
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-44Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
........ 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-36
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-45
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-47
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-52
Tires
......................................................5-53
Appearance Care
.....................................5-82
Vehicle Identication
.................................5-90
Electrical System
......................................5-90
Capacities and Specications
.....................5-96
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-10
Index.................................................................1
2005 Buick Century Owner ManualM

Remote Keyless Entry
System Operation
The remote keyless entry transmitter enables the
vehicle’s doors to be locked and unlocked, or the trunk
lid to be released, from about 3 feet (1 m) and up to
30 feet (9 m) away.
LOCK:Press the LOCK
button to lock all the doors.
UNLOCK:Press the UNLOCK button to unlock the
driver door and turn on the interior lamps. See
“Illumination on Remote Activation” later in this section
for more details. Press UNLOCK again to unlock
the passenger doors.
F(Trunk Release):To release the trunk lid, press
this button. The trunk will only unlock if the transaxle
is in PARK (P).
L(Remote Alarm):Press this button to activate an
alarm. The ignition must be in OFF or ACCESSORY for
the remote alarm to work. When the remote alarm
button is pressed, the headlamps will ash, the horn will
sound repeatedly, and the interior lamps will turn on.
The alarms will turn off when one of the following occurs:
The remote alarm button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter is pressed a second time.
The ignition is moved to RUN.
The alarms have been on for about two minutes.
Security Feedback
The remote keyless entry transmitter can be
programmed so that when the LOCK or UNLOCK
button is pressed, the vehicle gives visual or audible
feedback conrmation. Each lock or unlock command
verication must be programmed individually. The
ignition must be OFF for this feature to work.
Disconnecting the vehicle’s battery for up to a year will
not affect the programmed mode.
2-5

Programming the LOCK Command
One of four modes can be selected to conrm a
LOCK command.
Mode 1 (One Chime):No Verication
Mode 2 (Two Chimes):Horn Chirp
Mode 3 (Three Chimes):Headlamps Flash
Mode 4 (Four Chimes):Horn Chirp and
Headlamps Flash
The vehicle was originally programmed to Mode 3.
The mode may have been changed since then.
To determine the current lock mode, or to change the
lock 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 power door lock switch in the
LOCK position, press and release the remote
keyless entry transmitter LOCK button.
A series of one to four chimes will sound,
corresponding to the current lock mode.4. Press the remote keyless entry transmitter LOCK
button to advance to the next lock mode.
If cycled beyond Mode 4, the vehicle will enter
Mode 1.
5. To set a mode, release the power door LOCK
switch after the chime sequence of the desired
mode is heard.
Programming the UNLOCK Command
One of four modes can be selected to conrm an
UNLOCK command.
Mode 1 (One Chime):No Verication
Mode 2 (Two Chimes):Horn Chirp
Mode 3 (Three Chimes):Headlamps Flash
Mode 4 (Four Chimes):Horn Chirp and
Headlamps Flash
2-6

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when
sitting in a comfortable driving position.
To reduce glare from other vehicles’ headlamps, pull the
lever at the bottom of the mirror, to the night position.
To return the mirror to the day position, push the lever.
Manual Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®
The vehicle may have a mirror with Onstar®. It has a
lever located at the bottom between the two lamps.
Pull the lever to the night position to reduce glare from
other vehicles’ headlamps. Push the lever for the
day position.
There are two lamps located on the bottom of the
mirror. Press the button located next to each lamp to
turn it on or off.There are also three OnStar
®buttons located at the
bottom of the mirror. See your dealer for more
information on the system and how to subscribe to
OnStar
®. SeeOnStar®System on page 2-31for more
information about the services OnStar®provides.
2-29

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-7
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-8
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-8
Windshield Washer.........................................3-9
Cruise Control..............................................3-10
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-13
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-13
Delayed Headlamps......................................3-13
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic
Headlamp System.....................................3-14
Cornering Lamps..........................................3-15
Interior Lamps..............................................3-15
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-15
Courtesy Lamps...........................................3-15
Dome Lamp.................................................3-16
Entry Lighting...............................................3-16
Delayed Entry Lighting...................................3-16Delayed Exit Lighting.....................................3-17
Reading Lamps............................................3-17
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-17
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-18
Climate Controls............................................3-18
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-18
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-21
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-26
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-26
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-28
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-29
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-30
Trip Odometer..............................................3-30
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-30
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-31
Charging System Light..................................3-32
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-32
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-33
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light.........3-34
Low Traction Light........................................3-34
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-35
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-35
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-36
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The multifunction lever located on the left side of the
steering column includes the following:
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
Flash-to-Pass
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
Cruise Control
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
To signal a turn, move the turn signal/multifunction lever
up or down. The lever returns to its original position
when the turn is completed.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the turn signal/
multifunction lever until the arrow starts to ash. Hold it
there until the lane change is completed. The lever will
return to its original position when released.
Arrows that ash rapidly when signaling for a turn or
lane change, or that fail to work, may indicate a
burned-out signal bulb or fuse. Other drivers will not see
the signal. SeeFront Turn Signal and Parking Lamps
on page 5-48andTaillamps, Turn Signal, and
Stoplamps on page 5-50for turn signal bulb replacement
procedures. Also seeFuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 5-91for location of fuses.
A chime will sound if the turn signal is left on for more
than 3/4 mile (1.2 km).
3-7

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beams to high
beams, or high to low, pull the multifunction lever until
a click is heard, then release it.
This indicator light on the
instrument panel cluster
will come on while the
high-beam lamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if the headlamps are off. Pull the turn
signal lever toward you a little, but not so much that you
hear a click.
If the headlamps are off or on low-beam, the high-beam
headlamps will turn on. They will stay on as long as
you hold the lever toward you. The high-beam indicator
on the instrument panel cluster will come on. Release
the lever to return it to the normal operation.
Windshield Wipers
To operate the windshield wipers turn the band located
on the multifunction lever upward or downward.
WIPER:Turn this band to control the windshield wipers.
OFF:Turn the band to OFF to turn off the
windshield wipers.
LO (Low Speed):Turn the band away from you
to LO and past the delay settings for steady wiping at
low speed.
HI (High Speed):Turn the band away from you, to HI,
and past the delay settings for steady wiping at a
high speed.
(Delayed Wiping):Turn the band away from you,
just past OFF, to one of the ve delayed settings,
to choose the length of intervals between each wiping
cycle. The further the band is turned upward, toward LO,
the shorter the delay will be. Select one of these
settings for light rain or snow.
3-8

Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps control has three positions:
Off:Push the control all the way to turn off all lamps.
Parking Lamps:Pull the control out, halfway to the rst
position, to turn on the parking lamps together with
the following:
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Headlamps:Pull the control out all the way, to the
second position, to turn on the headlamps together with
the previously listed lamps and lights.
A warning chime will sound if the driver’s door is
opened when the ignition switch is turned to OFF,
LOCK or ACCESSORY and the headlamps are on.
Headlamps on Reminder
A warning chime will sound if the driver’s door is
opened when the ignition is turned to OFF, LOCK or
ACCESSORY and the headlamps are on.
Delayed Headlamps
Delayed headlamp illumination provides a period of
exterior lighting when leaving the vehicle. The feature is
activated when the vehicle’s ignition is turned off and
the headlamps are on due to the automatic headlamp
control feature described previously. The headlamps will
remain on until the exterior lamps control is moved
from OFF to the parking lamp position or until a
90 second lighting period has ended.
If the ignition is turned off while the exterior lamps
control is in the parking lamp or headlamp position,
the delayed headlamp illumination cycle will not occur.
This feature can be turned on or off by doing
the following:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN.
2. Close all the doors.
3. Press and hold LOCK on the power door lock
switch. While holding LOCK on the door lock
switch, cycle the exterior lamps control on and off
two times.
3-13