2005 BUICK CENTURY warning light

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-13.
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-29.
D. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
E. Audio Steering Wheel Controls. SeeAudio Steering
Wheel Controls on page 3-63.
F. Gear Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transaxle
Operation on page 2-21.
G. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-26.H. Side Window Defogger Outlet.
I. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-11.
J. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-6.
K. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
L. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-44.
M. Ashtray. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette Lighter on
page 3-18.
N. Climate Control. SeeDual Climate Control System
on page 3-18.
O. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-33.
P. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-91.
3-5

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

Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on the vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
the warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of the vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briey when you start the
engine just to let you know they are working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section
that tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly – and even dangerous. So please get to know
the warning lights and gages. They are a big help.
3-28

Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come on briey when
the ignition is turned on,
as a check to show that it
is working. Then it should
go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while the vehicle is being
driven, there may be a problem with the charging
system. It could indicate that the vehicle has a loose
accessory belt or another electrical problem. Have
it checked right away. Driving while this light is on could
drain the battery.
If the vehicle must be driven a short distance with the
light on, be certain to turn off all the accessories,
such as the radio and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
The vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop the vehicle. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have the brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when the ignition
key is turned to RUN. If it does not come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if there
is a problem.
United StatesCanada
3-32

When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when the parking brake is set.
The light will stay on if the parking brake does not
release fully. If it stays on after the parking brake is
fully released, it means there is a brake problem.
If the light comes on while the vehicle is being driven,
pull off the road and stop carefully. The pedal may
be harder to push, or it may go closer to the oor. It may
take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 4-36.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you have pulled off the road and
stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
If the vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light will
come on for a few seconds when the ignition key is
turned to RUN. If the anti-lock brake system warning light
stays on longer than normal after the engine has been
started, turn the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and
stays on while the vehicle is being driven, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while driving, the anti-lock brake system
needs service. If the light is on and the regular brake
system warning light is not on, the vehicle still has brakes,
but it does not have anti-lock brakes.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on
briey when the ignition key is turned to RUN. This is
normal. If the light does not come on then, have it xed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.United States
Canada
3-33

Enhanced Traction System
Warning Light
If the vehicle has the
Enhanced Traction
System, (ETS) the warning
light may come on for
the following reasons:
When the vehicle is shifted to SECOND (2) or
FIRST (1). To turn the system back on, shift
to THIRD (3) or AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
X).
SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-9.
If the vehicle needs service. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
When the parking brake is set with the engine
running, and the parking brake does not release fully.
After the parking brake is fully released and the
transaxle shift lever is in any position other than
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2). This means there is a
problem with the system.
If an engine-related problem affects the ETS and
turns the system off.
When the ETS warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
Low Traction Light
If the vehicle has the
Enhanced Traction System
(ETS), this light will
come on when the system
is limiting wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is
normal. Slippery road conditions may exist if the
low traction light comes on, so adjust your driving
accordingly. The light will stay on for a few seconds after
the ETS stops limiting wheel spin. SeeEnhanced
Traction System (ETS) on page 4-9.
The low traction light also comes on briey when the
ignition key is turned to RUN. If the light does not come
on then, have it xed so it will function properly to
indicate when the Enhanced Traction System is active.
3-34

Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light indicates that
the engine coolant has
overheated or the radiator
cooling fan is not working.
The light will come on briey when the ignition is turned
on to show that it is working.
If the vehicle has been operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the vehicle and turn off
the engine as soon as possible. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 5-25.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
The vehicle has a gage
that shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into
the red area, the engine
is too hot.
This reading indicates the same thing as the warning
light. It means that the engine coolant has overheated.
If the vehicle has been operating under normal
driving conditions, pull off the road, stop the vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 5-25.
3-35

For additional information, see “When to Change
Engine Oil (GM Oil Life System)” and “How to Reset
the CHANGE OIL SOON Light ” underEngine Oil
on page 5-13.
Security Light
The SECURITY light will
come on when the key is
turned to START, and
will stay on until the
vehicle starts.
It will also ash if the ignition key is too dirty or wet for
the PASS-Key
®II system to read the resistor pellet.
SeePASS-Key®II on page 2-16.
If the resistor pellet is damaged or missing, the light
will come on.
Cruise Control Light
The CRUISE light comes
on whenever the cruise
control is set. See “Cruise
Control” underTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever
on page 3-7.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
If the LOW WASH light
comes on when the
windshield washer paddle
is used, this indicates
that the uid is low
in the windshield
washer reservoir.
The light will also come on briey when the ignition is
turned on to show that it is working properly.
3-41