2005 BUICK CENTURY audio

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

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this manual you will nd these notices:
Notice:These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But
the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors
or in different words.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specic component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
If you need help guring out a specic name of a
component, gage, or indicator, reference the
following topics:
Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
Features and Controls in Section 2
Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
Climate Controls in Section 3
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3
Audio System(s) in Section 3
Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-36
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-40
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-40
Security Light...............................................3-41
Cruise Control Light......................................3-41
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.....................3-41
Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light........................3-42
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-42
Fuel Gage...................................................3-42
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-43Audio System(s).............................................3-44
Setting the Time...........................................3-44
Radio with CD..............................................3-45
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-53
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-63
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-63
Radio Reception...........................................3-64
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-65
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-66
Care of Your CD Player................................3-66
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-66
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-66
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

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

Audio System(s)
Notice:Before adding any sound equipment to
your vehicle, like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone, or two-way radio, make sure that it can
be added by checking with your dealer. Also,
check federal rules covering mobile radio and
telephone units. If sound equipment can be added,
it is very important to do it properly. Added sound
equipment may interfere with the operation of
your vehicle’s engine, radio, or other systems, and
even damage them. Your vehicle’s systems may
interfere with the operation of sound equipment that
has been added improperly.
Figure out which audio system is in your vehicle, nd
out what your audio system can do, and how to operate
all of its controls.
Your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory
Power (RAP). With RAP, the audio system can be
played even after the ignition is turned off.
See “Retained Accessory Power (RAP)” under
Ignition Positions on page 2-18.
Setting the Time
Press and hold H until the correct hour appears on the
display. AM will appear for morning hours. Press and
hold M until the correct minute appears on the display.
The time can be set with the ignition on or off.
To synchronize the time with an FM station broadcasting
Radio Data System (RDS) information, press and
hold H and M at the same time until TIME UPDATED
appears on the display. If the time is not available from
the station, NO UPDATE will appear on the display.
RDS time is broadcast once a minute. After tuning to an
RDS broadcast station, it may take a few minutes for
the time to update.
3-44

Radio with CD
Playing the Radio
PWR (Power):Push this knob to turn the system on
and off.
VOL (Volume):Turn this knob to increase or to
decrease the volume.SCV (Speed-Compensated Volume):With SCV,
the audio system adjusts automatically to make up for
road and wind noise as you drive.
To get to SCV, push the TUNE/AUDIO knob repeatedly
until SPEED VOL appears on the display. Turn the
TUNE/AUDIO knob to select MIN, MED, or MAX.
Each higher setting allows for more volume
compensation at faster vehicle speeds. Then, as you
drive, SCV automatically increases the volume, as
necessary, to overcome noise at any speed. The volume
level should always sound the same to you as you
drive. To turn SCV off, press this knob until OFF
appears on the display.
DISP (Display):Press this button to switch the display
between the radio station frequency and the time.
Press this button to display the time with the ignition
turned off.
3-45

Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
AUDIO:Push and release this knob until BASS, MID,
or TREBLE appears on the display. Then turn the
AUDIO knob to increase or to decrease. If a station is
weak or noisy, decrease the treble.
To adjust bass, midrange, or treble to the middle
position, select BASS, MID, or TREBLE. Then push and
hold the AUDIO knob for more than two seconds until
you hear a beep. BASS and a zero, MID and a zero, or
TREBLE and a zero will appear on the display.
To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position, rst end out of audio mode
by waiting ve seconds without making any changes.
Then push and hold the AUDIO knob for more than
two seconds until you hear a beep. ALL CENTERED will
appear on the display.
EQ (Equalizer):Press this button to select customized
equalization settings designed for country/western,
jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO:To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, push and release the AUDIO
knob until BAL appears on the display. Then turn the
AUDIO knob to move the sound toward the right or
the left speakers. A bar graph with indicators will show
how the sound is balanced.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the AUDIO knob until FADE
appears on the display. Then turn the AUDIO knob to
move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
A bar graph with indicators will show how the sound
is balanced.
To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select
BAL or FADE. Then push and hold the AUDIO knob
for more than two seconds until you hear a beep.
The indicator will be centered on the display.
To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position, rst end out of audio mode
by waiting ve seconds without making any changes.
Then push and hold the AUDIO knob for more than
two seconds until you hear a beep. ALL CENTERED will
appear on the display.
3-47

Radio Data System (RDS)
The audio system has a Radio Data System (RDS).
RDS features are available for use only on FM stations
that broadcast RDS information.
With RDS, the radio can do the following:
Seek to stations broadcasting the selected type
of programming
Receive announcements concerning local and
national emergencies
Display messages from radio stations
Seek to stations with traffic announcements
This system relies upon receiving specic information
from these stations and will only work when the
information is available. In rare cases, a radio station
may broadcast incorrect information that will cause
the radio features to work improperly. If this happens,
contact the radio station.
While the radio is tuned to an RDS station, the station
name or call letters will appear on the display
instead of the frequency. RDS stations may also
provide the time of day, a program type (PTY) for
current programming, and the name of the program
being broadcast.
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
To select and nd a desired PTY perform the following:
1. Press P-TYP to activate program type select mode.
The PTY symbol will appear on the display.
2. Turn the AUDIO knob to select a PTY.
3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press either
SEEK arrow to select the PTY and take you to
the PTY’s rst station.
4. To go to another station within that PTY and the
PTY is displayed, press either SEEK arrow once.
If the PTY is not displayed, press either SEEK arrow
twice to display the PTY and then to go to
another station.
5. Press P-TYP to exit program type select mode.
If PTY times out and is no longer on the display,
go back to Step 1.
If both PTY and TRAF are on, the radio will
search for stations with the selected PTY and
traffic announcements.
3-48