2005 BUICK CENTURY stop start

Oil Pressure Light
If the vehicle has an oil
problem, this light may
stay on after the engine
is started, or come
on while you are driving.
This light indicates that oil is not going through the
engine quickly enough to keep it lubricated.
The engine could be low on oil or could have some
other oil problem. Have it xed right away.
The oil light could also come on in the
following situations:
The light will come on briey when the ignition is
turned on to show that it is working properly. If it
does not come on with the ignition on, there may
be a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have it
xed right away.
Sometimes when the engine is idling at a stop,
the light may blink on and off. This is normal.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that
it catches re. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
engine oil.
Change Engine Oil Light
The CHANGE OIL SOON
light should come on
briey as a bulb check
when the engine is started.
If the light does not
come on, have it serviced.
If the CHANGE OIL SOON light comes on and stays on
after the engine is started, have the oil changed.
3-40

TRAF (Traffic):If TRAF appears on the display,
the tuned station broadcasts traffic announcements.
Press this button to receive the traffic announcement
from the station and brackets will be displayed around
TRAF. When a traffic announcement comes on the
tuned radio station you will hear it.
If the station does not broadcast traffic announcements,
press the TRAF button and the radio will seek to a
station that does. When a station that broadcasts traffic
announcements is found, the radio will stop seeking
and brackets will be displayed around TRAF. If no
station is found that broadcasts traffic announcements,
NO TRAFFIC will appear on the display.
If the brackets are on the display and TRAF is not,
press the TRAF button to remove the brackets or use
the TUNE knob or the SEEK arrows to go to a
station that broadcasts traffic announcements. If no
station is found that broadcasts traffic announcements,
NO TRAFFIC will appear on the display.
The radio will play the traffic announcements if the
volume is low. The radio will interrupt the play of a CD if
the last tuned station broadcasts traffic announcements
and the brackets are displayed.Radio Messages
CAL (CALIBRATE):The audio system has been
calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL
appears on the display it means that the radio has not
been congured properly for your vehicle and must
be returned to the dealer for service.
LOCKED:This message is displayed when the
THEFTLOCK
®system has locked up. Take the vehicle
to the dealer for service.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
corrected, contact your dealer.
Playing a CD
Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up.
The player will pull it in and the CD should begin playing.
If you want to insert a CD while the ignition or the
radio is off, rst press the eject or DISP button.
When a CD is inserted, the CD symbol will appear on
the display. As each new track starts to play, the
track number will appear on the display.
If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the
player, it will stay in the player. When the ignition
or radio is turned on, the CD will start playing where it
stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.
3-50

The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single
CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the
smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.
If playing a CD-R the sound quality may be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality
of the music that has been recorded, and the way the
CD-R has been handled. There may be an increase
in skipping, difficulty in nding tracks, and/or difficulty in
loading and ejecting. If these problems occur try a
known good CD.
Do not add paper labels to CDs, they could get caught
in the CD player.
If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages”
later in this section.
1
s(Reverse):Press and hold this pushbutton to
reverse quickly within a track. You will hear sound at a
reduced volume. Release this pushbutton to play
the passage. The elapsed time of the track will appear
on the display.
2
\(Forward):Press and hold this pushbutton to
advance quickly within a track. You will hear sound at a
reduced volume. Release this pushbutton to play the
passage. The elapsed time of the track will appear
on the display.4 RDM (Random):Press this pushbutton to hear the
tracks in random, rather than sequential, order.
Press RDM again to turn off random play.
EQ (Equalizer):Press EQ to select an equalization
setting while playing a CD. The equalization will be set
whenever a CD is played. See “EQ” listed previously
for more information.
©SEEK¨:Press the left arrow to go to the start of
the current track if more than eight seconds have
played. Press the right arrow to go to the next track.
If either arrow is held or pressed more than once,
the player will continue moving backward or forward
through the CD.
To scan tracks, press and hold either SEEK arrow for
two seconds until SCAN appears on the display and you
will hear a beep. The CD will go to the next track,
play for a few seconds, then go on to the next track.
The sound will mute and SCAN and the track number
will appear on the display while scanning. The CD
will only scan forward. Press either SEEK arrow again
to stop scanning.
3-51

TRAF (Traffic):If TRAF appears on the display, the
tuned station broadcasts traffic announcements.
To receive the traffic announcement from the tuned
station, press this button. Brackets will be displayed
around TRAF and when a traffic announcement comes
on the tuned radio station you will hear it.
If the current tuned station does not broadcast traffic
announcements, press the TRAF button and the
radio will seek to a station that does. When the radio
nds a station that broadcasts traffic announcements,
the radio will stop and brackets will be displayed around
TRAF. When a traffic announcement comes on the
tuned radio station you will hear it. If no station is found,
NO TRAFFIC will appear on the display.
If the brackets are on the display and TRAF is not,
you can then press the TRAF button to remove
the brackets or use the TUNE knob or the SEEK arrows
to go to a station that supports traffic announcements.
If no station is found, NO TRAFFIC will appear on
the display.
Your radio will play the traffic announcements even if
the volume is low. Your radio will interrupt the play of a
cassette tape or CD if the last tuned station broadcasts
traffic announcements.Radio Messages
CAL (CALIBRATE):Your audio system has been
calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL
appears on the display it means that your radio has not
been congured properly for your vehicle and must
be returned to the dealer for service.
Playing a Cassette Tape
You tape player is built to work best with tapes that are
up to 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes
longer than that are so thin they may not work well in
this player. The longer side with the tape visible should
face to the right. If the ignition and the radio are on,
the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. If you
hear nothing or hear a garbled sound, the tape may not
be in squarely. Press the eject button to remove the
tape and start over.
While the tape is playing, use the VOLUME and AUDIO
controls just as you do for the radio. The display will
show an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing.
If you want to insert a tape while the ignition or radio
is off, rst press the eject or DISP button. Cassette tape
adapter kits for portable CD players will work in your
cassette tape player.
3-58

Cassette Tape Messages
If an error message appears on the display, it could be
for one of the following reasons:
TIGHT TAPE:The tape is tight and the player
cannot turn the tape hubs. Remove the tape.
Hold the tape with the open end down and try to
turn the right hub counterclockwise with a pencil.
Turn the tape over and repeat. If the hubs do
not turn easily, your tape may be damaged and
should not be used in the player. Try a new tape to
make sure your player is working properly.
BROKEN TAPE:The tape is broken. Try a
new tape.
CLEAN PLAYER:If this message appears on the
display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned.
It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as
possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player.
SeeCare of Your Cassette Tape Player on page 3-65.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot
be corrected, contact your dealer. If your radio displays
an error number, write it down and provide it to your
dealer when reporting the problem.
CD Adapter Kits
It is possible to use a portable CD player with your
cassette tape player after activating the bypass feature
on your tape player.
To activate the bypass feature, use the following steps:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Turn the radio off.
3. Insert the adapter into the cassette slot.
4. Press and hold the CD TAPE button until READY
appears on the display.
The override feature will remain active until the eject
button is pressed.
Playing a CD
Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up.
The player will pull it in. The CD should begin playing.
If you want to insert a CD while the ignition or the radio
is off, rst press the eject button or DISP.
If you turn off the ignition or radio with a CD in the
player, it will stay in the player. When you turn on the
ignition or system, the CD will start playing where
it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.
3-60

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light on
the instrument panel will come on briey when you
start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself.
You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that
your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel. United States
Canada
4-7

Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you are awaiting an opportunity. For one
thing, following too closely reduces your area of
vision, especially if you are following a larger
vehicle. Also, you will not have adequate space if
the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops.
Keep back a reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and do
not get too close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into the
other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
running start that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you to cancel your
pass, you need only slow down and drop back again
and wait for another opportunity.
If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle,
wait your turn. But take care that someone is not
trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow
vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and
check the blind spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not ashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
If you are being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
4-14

Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what the driver
has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not overdriving
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety,
you will want to slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery
until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues — such as enough water, ice, or packed snow
on the road to make a mirrored surface — and
slow down when you have any doubt.
If you have the anti-lock braking system, remember:
It helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do not have
anti-lock, then in a braking skid, where the wheels
are no longer rolling, release enough pressure on the
brakes to get the wheels rolling again. This restores
steering control. Push the brake pedal down steadily
when you have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels
are rolling, you will have steering control.
4-15