Buick 1998 Century Instrukcja Właściciela

Seats and Seat Controls This section tells you how to adjust the seats and explains the reclining seatbacks and head restraints. Manual Front Sea

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0): This position is for normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and you’re: 9 Going less than 35 rnph (55 km/h), pus

SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go dow

Parking Brake To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot. Push down the parking brake pedal with your left fo

Shifting Into PARK (P) A CAUTION: It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake

Move the lever up as far as it will go. 3. Move the ignition key to LOCK. 4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave your vehicle with

Torque Lock If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much forc

Parking Over Things That Burn Engine Exhaust Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park ov

Running Your Engine While You’re Parked It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you ever have to, here are some things to know. Idlin

Windows Power Windows Switches on the driver’s door armrest control each of the windows when the ignition is on. In addition, each passenger’s door h

TILT-WHEEL TM Adjustable Steering Column can also raise it to the highest level to give your legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle. T

6-Way Power Seat (If Equipped) You may have a six-way power driver’s seat and a six-way power passenger’s seat (if equipped). This switch is designed

Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you

Flash-to-Pass Feature This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass. It works ev

For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band to LO. For high-speed wiping, turn the band further, to HI. To stop the wipers, turn the band to OFF. Y

Cruise Control (Option) I With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about 25 mph (40 kdh) or more without keeping your foot on the accelerator

Setting Cruise Control If you leave your cruise control switch on when you’re not using cruise, you might hit a button and go into cruise

0 Move the cruise switch from ON to WA. Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want, and then release the switch. (To increase your sp

Exterior Lamps The lamp controls are located on the instrument panel. They control these systems: Headlamps Taillamps Parking Lamps License Lamps

Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic Headlamp Control Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for others to see the front of your vehicle du

Twilight Sentinel Twilight Sentinel provides a period of exterior illumination as you leave the vicinity of your vehicle. The feature is activated wh

Interior Lamps Instrument Panel Brightness Control You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by moving the LIGHTS dial. If you turn

Reclining Front Seatbacks Lift the lever to release the seatback, then move the seatback to where you want it. Release the lever to lock the seatbac

Delayed Exit Lighting This feature illuminates your vehicle’s interior for a period of time after the ignition key is removed from the ignition. T

Dome Lamp The dome lamp will come on when you open the doors. Battery Rundown Protection Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you fro

Electrochromic Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror (If Equipped) Your vehicle may have an electrochromic dayhight rearview mirror. Push the button in

Heated Foldaway Outside Mirrors (If Equipped) The left and right outside mirrors are heated when you activate the rear window defogger. (See “Rear

Trunk Convenience Net (If Equipped) Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You’ll see it on the back wall of the trunk. Put small loads, like grocer

Sun Visors To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You can also move them from side to side. The visors also have extenders that you can

To open the astroroof, push the rear of the switch once and the astroroof will open to the vent position only. You will need to open the sunshade by h

Instrument Panel -- Your Information System A. Lamp Controls B. Instrument Cluster C. Vents D. Glove Box E. Audio System E Climate Controls 2-51

Instrument Panel Cluster Standard Cluster: United States Version Shown, Canadian Similar Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know

Speedometer and Odometer Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (kdh). Your odometer shows ho

I A ’ C, A UTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety bel

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 k

Charging System Light The charging system light will come on briefly when you turn on the ignition, as a check to show you it’s working. Then it

Your brake system may not be working properly if the brake system warning light is on. Driving with the brake system warning light on

Your regular brake system may not be working properly if the anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing. Driving with the anti-l

Low Traction Light LOW TRAC When your anti-lock system is adjusting brake pressure to help avoid a braking skid, this light will come on. (Also see

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage TEMPERATURE You have a gage that shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves into the red

This system is called OBD I1 (On-Board Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels fo

If the Light Is Flashing The following may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle: 0 Reducing vehicle speed. 0 Avoiding hard accelerations. 0

Have you recently changed brands of fuel? If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see “Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will ca

Low Oil Level Light Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your engine can become so hot that it catches fire. You or others coul

CAU-ION: I It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas

Change Oil Soon Light I Your CHANGE OIL SOON light should come on as a CHANGE OIL bulb check when you start SOON the engine. Security Light This light

Cruise Light CRUISE The CRUISE light comes on whenever you set your cruise control. See “Cruise Control” in the Index. Service Vehicle Soon Lig

Fuel Gage Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have left when the ignition is on. When the indicator nears EMPTY (E), you still have a

Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems In this section, you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered wit

Comfort Controls Manual Single Zone Climate Control W W W 0 - (-) COMFORT CONTROL ~- With this system, you can control the heating, cooling and ve

BI-LEV: This setting brings in outside air and directs it two ways. Half of the air is directed through the instrument panel outlets. Most of the

.. ang un cold days, use HTR with the temperature knob all the way in the red area. The system will bring in outside air, heat it and send it to th

Driver’s Temperature Knob The center knob sets the temperature for the driver’s outlets. Turn the knob toward red (to the right) for warmer air. Tu

FRONT This setting directs most of the air through the defroster and side window vents. Some of the air goes to the floor ducts and the side windo

Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control (If Equipped) 1 0 - PASSENGERCONTROL ”& I 11 Dj 1) \ . With this system, you set a temperature. You

Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. Put someone on it. Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a

The red lights indicate a warmer temperature than that of the driver. The blue lights indicate a cooler temperature than that of the driver. Manual Co

RECIRC: This setting recirculates much of the air inside your vehicle. This setting is not permitted in FRONT defrost mode and is only permitted

Ventilation System Adjust the direction of airflow by moving the vents. Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies outside air into th

Rear Window Defogger 0 C lfffJ REAR The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog from the rear window. Press the button to turn th

Audio Systems Your Delco Electronics audio system has been designed to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure. You will get the most enj

RECALL: Press the upper knob briefly to recall the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display

Setting the Tone BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease bass. TREB: Press this knob lightly so it extends

RECALL: Press the upper knob briefly to recall the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (stat

Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Turn the control behind the upper knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position balances the

I 44 (3): Press this button to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape reverses.

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider doesn't stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could

RECALL: Press this button briefly to recall the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station

AUTO SET Press this button and the system will seek and set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset buttons (depending

If you want to insert a tape when the ignition or radio is off, first press EJECT or RECALL. Note that the cassette tape adapter kits for portable c

00 (6): Press this button to reduce background noise. The double-D symbol will appear on the display. Dolby Noise Reduction is manufactured under a li

RECALL: Press this button briefly to recall the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station

AUTO SET Press this button and the system will seek and set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset buttons (depending on

If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, please contact your dealer. If your radio displays an error number, write it down

AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and Compact Disc Player with Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped) Playing the Radio VOLUME: Press this knob

PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FMl and six FM2). Just

Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle po

or the instrument panel . . . or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over

NEXT (2): Press this button to search for the next selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection

Playing a Compact Disc Insert a disc halfway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in. The disc should begin playing. If

SOURCE: Press this button to change to the disc function when the radio is on. When a disc is inserted, the disc will play until you press AM-FM. The

3. Turn the radio off. 4. Press the 1 and 4 buttons together. Hold them down until --- shows on the display. Next you will use the secret code number

Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Turn th

SCAN: Press the SCAN button and SCAN will appear on the display. SCAN works as the PSCAN button on your radio. It will scan through eac

To help avoid hearing loss or damage: Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting. Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably and clearly.

When using a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette, it is normal for the cassette to eject because your unit is equipped with a cut

Backglass Antenna (If Equipped) Your AM-FM antenna is integrated with your rear window defogger, located in the rear window. Be sure that the insid

& NOTES 3-37

Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I’m wea

3-38

fi NOTES 3-39

b NOTES 3-40

Section 4 Your Driving and the Road Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve

Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your Buic

Drunken Driving Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death t

. . . . It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within

The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up. “I’ll be

Control of a Vehicle You have three systems that make your vehicle go where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and the accelerator

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking -- rather than keeping pace with traffic

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Adults This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about saf

Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet. You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes.

Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping distance. If you get to

the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this. The traction you can get in

An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock posit

Passing The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ah

0 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

Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your d

Here are some tips on night driving. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Drive defensively. Don’t drink and drive. Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare

Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads . ... , Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road, you can’t stop, accelerate or turn as wel

Driving too fast through large water puddles or even going through some car washes can cause problems, too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to a

f

4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Saf

Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the r

City Driving One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers

Freeway Driving Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the safest of all roads. But

The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance at

Highway Hypnosis Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway

0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard on mo

Winter Driving Here are some tips for winter driving: Have your vehicle in good shape for winter. You may want to put winter emergency supplies in y

Driving on Snow or Ice Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the road probably have good traction. However, if there is snow or ice

Your anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even though you have the anti-lock braking syste

0 Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that you’ve been stopped by the snow. 0 Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you. If

Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you. I To move it down

Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster than just idle. That is, push the acce

MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP GVWR GAWR - FRT &‘,, I L p a The other label is the Certification label, found on the rear edge of the driver’s do

-- - ' A CAUTION: I ' ings you put inside your vehicle can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a crash. Put

Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for

Three important considerations have to do with weight: the weight of the trailer, 0 the weight of the trailer tongue and the total weight on your veh

Weight of the Trailer Tongue The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it affects the total or gross weight of

Hitches Safety Chains It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment, Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are a few reasons why you

Driving with a Trailer Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get to kno

Making Turns I NOTICE: Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle

Parking on Hills You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig could start to move

@ What’s wrong with this? A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly as much protection this way. b CAUTION: You can be seriously

Maintenance When Trailer Towing Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more on t

Section 5 Problems on the Road Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road. 5-2 5 -3 5-8 5-15 5-18 Hazard Warning Flas

Hazard Warning Flashers I Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They also let police know you have a problem. Your front and rear turn s

Jump Starting If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your vehicle. But please follow the

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching each other. If they are, it could cause

5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on each battery. Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) jump starting terminal. The terminal is o

6. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged too. Before

8. Don’t let the other end touch metal. Connect it to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehi

14. Reinstall the red protective remote jump start cover on the vehicle that was jump started. A. Heavy Metal Engine Part B. Good Battery C. Dead Ba

When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator know that this manual contains detailed towing instructions and illustrations. The operator m

What's wrong with this? A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place. I A CAUTION: rn You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the

A vehicle can fa rom a car carrier if it isn’t adequately secured. This can cause a collision, serious personal injury and vehicle damage.

Front Towing r NOTICE: Do not tow with sling type equipment or fascia/fog lamp damage will occur. Use wheel-lift or car-carrier equipment.

Attach T-hook chains in front of the wheels, into the slots of the front shipping brackets on the cradle (both sides). Insert the hook from the inwar

Rear Towing Using a towing dolly for your drive wheels is recommended if your vehicle is towed more than 500 cumulative miles (800 km) or exc

Attach T-hook chains into slots in the bottom of the floor pan, just ahead of the rear wheels, on both sides. These slots are to be used when securin

Engine Overheating You will find a coolant temperature gage and a hot engine warning light on your instrument panel. See “Engine Coolant Temperat

If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine Steam from an overheated engine can burn you badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away from the

If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes

Cooling System When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what you’ll see: A. Coolant Recovery Tank B. Electric Engine Cooling Fans C. Radiat

If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the cooling system. Heater and rad

@ What’s wrong with this? I I I 1 I I I I I I I A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times.

NOTICE: In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts. Use the recommended coolant and

/I\ CAUTLN: Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling system can blow out and burn you badly. They are under pressure, and if you turn the rad

1 How to Add Coolant to the Radiator NOTICE: Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could cause your en

3. After the engine cools, open the coolant air bleed valves. There are two bleed valves. One is located on the thermostat housing. The other is loca

- XI 6. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the COLD mark on the overflow hose in the coolant bottle. 7. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery

10. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during this procedure if coolant begins to flow out of the filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap

Changing a Flat Tire If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard warning flasher

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools The equipment you’ll need is in the trunk. (See “Compact Spare Tire” later in this section for more information

A I 3. Turn the nut holding the jack to the left and remove it. Then remove the jack and wrench. The tools you'll be using include the jack (A)

Wheel Covers To remove a center cap, use the wrench to pry gently at the notch. Don’t use a tool that is narrower than the wrench to pry at this notc

@ What’s wrong with this? /--\ A: The belt is twisted across the body. /I\ C IUTION: You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire 1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts. 2. Turn the jack handle to the right

FRONT VEHICLE REAR EDGE OF FRONT WHEEL OPENING 3. For jacking at the vehicle’s front location, put the jack lift head about 6 inches (15 cm) from

5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle to the right. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground for the spare tire to fit under the vehicle.

A CAUTION: r 1 Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could fall off, causing a se

10. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence as shown. Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened wheel nuts can cause the whee

Storing the Flat Tire and Tools Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle could cause injury

Storing the Spare Tire and Tools Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle could cause injury.

Compact Spare Tire Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated when your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check the inflati

If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is to spin your wheels too fast. The method known a

$& NOTES 5-39

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of

fi NOTES 5-40

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel info

Service Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your dealer for all your service needs. You’ll get

Fuel You can be injured and your vehicle could be damaged if you try to do service work on a vehicle without knowing enough about it. Be sur

If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission Standards (indicated on the underhood emission control label), it is designed to operate o

Fuels in Foreign Countries If you plan on driving in another country outside the United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to find. Neve

The tethered cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of your vehicle. While refueling, let the cap hang by the tether below the fuel fill opening

NOTICE: If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get the wrong type, it may not fit properly. T

Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline, oil, coolant, brake fluid, winds

When you open the hood on the 3 100 (Code Mj Engine, you’ll see: P A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir B. Battery C. Radiator Fill Cap D. Remote Pos

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in

Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on properly. Then just pull the hood down and close it firmly. Engine Oil LOW OIL If the LOW

Checking Engine Oil Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again, keeping the t

What Kind of Engine Oil to Use Oils recommended for your vehicle can be identified by looking for the “Starburst” symbol. This symbol indicates that

RECOMMENDED SAE VlSCOSlTT GRADE ENGINE OILS FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLU STARTING, SELECT THE LOW SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL FOR THE EXPECTED T

Engine Oil Additives Don’t add anything to your oil. Your dealer is ready to advise if you think something should be added. When to Change Engine

Air Cleaner To check or replace the air filter, loosen the wing nut on the air duct and lift up on the two clips located on the top of the fil

Passenger Compartment Air Filter The passenger compartment air filter is located underneath your hood just below the windshield wiper arm on

Automatic Transaxle Fluid When to Check and Change A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid level is when the engine oil is changed. Ch

0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather. While pulling a trailer. To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal operating tempera

3. Check both side-s of the dipstick, and read the lower level. The fluid level must be in the cross-hatched area. 4. If the fluid level is in the

a CAUTION: Air bags inflate with great force, faster than the blink of an eye. If you’re too close to an inflating air bag, it could s

3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as described under “How to Check.” 4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the dipstick back

What to Use Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably distilled) and one-half DEX-COOL@ coolant which won’t damage aluminum parts. If you use

Checking Coolant When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the COLD mark or a little higher. When your engine is warm, the level sho

A CAUTION: Turning the radiator pressure cap when the engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you bad

Power Steering Fluid When to Check Power Steering Fluid It is not necessary to regularly check power steering fluid unless you suspect there is

What to Use To determine what kind of fluid to use, see “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index. Always use the proper fluid. Failure to us

NOTICE: 0 0 0 When using concentrated washer fluid, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for adding water. Don’t mix water with ready-to-

There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake fluid goes down to an acce

NOTICE: Using the wrong fluid can badly damage brake system parts. For example, just a few drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, i

Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly applied. This does not mean somethi

How the Air Bag System Works b Where are the air bags? The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel. The right front passenger’

Vehicle Storage If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more, remove the black, negative (-) cable from the battery. This will help

Headlamps I. Pull up on the headlamp retainers to release the 2. Slide the headlamp assembly out of the slots. assembly locator tabs. 3. Lift the

To check the aim, the vehicle should be properly prepared as follows: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Place the vehicle on a level pad or surface. The vehicle should n

If you find that the headlamp aiming needs adjustment, follow these steps: Driver’s Side Headlamp Shown A. Vertical aim adjustment screw B. Hori

2. Using an E8 Tom@ socket, turn the horizontal aiming adjustment screw (B) until the “0” (zero) on the pointer is lined up with the center marking on

3. Remove the bulb by turning it one-quarter of a turn right to left. 4. Place the new bulb into the bulb socket. Tail/Stop/Turn Signal Lamp 1. Rem

3. Squeeze the tab on the socket and turn the socket right to left. 4. Pull out the socket. 5. Pull the bulb out of the socket. (There are two bulbs

Then: 1. Install the new bulbs into the applique sockets (B). 2. Connect the applique to the lid. 3. Reconnect the wing nuts to the studs o

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement 3. Pull the windshield wiper arm 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm) away from the windshield. 1. Turn on the wipers to

Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are dangerous. 0 0 Overloading your tires can cause overheating as a result of too much friction. You co

The 1998 Buick Century Owner’s Manual 1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts proper

When should an air bag inflate? An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate on

I NOTICE: (Continued) I ~ If your tires have too much air (overinflation), you can get the following: i Unusual wear 0 Bad handling 0 Rough

When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation pattern shown here. Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation. Afte

The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that can’t be repaired well because of the size or location of the damage. Buying New Tires To find ou

Uniform Tire Quality Grading The following information relates to the system developed by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis

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 abi

Your dealer will know the lund of wheel you need. Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted

Tire Chains NOTICE: Use tire chains only where legal and only when you must. Use only SAE Class 44S” type chains that are the proper size for yo

Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather, plastic and painted surfaces

Special Fabric Cleaning Problems Stains caused by such things as catsup, coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit juice, milk, soft drinks, vomit, urine

Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces of the instrument panel. Sprays containing si

What makes an air bag inflate? In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing

Cleaning Glass Surfaces Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner will remove no

Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth of color, gloss retention and durability. Washing Your V

Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period of years. You can help to keep t

Sheet Metal Damage If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop applies anti-corrosio

Appearance Care Materials Chart PART NUMBER I SIZE I DESCRIPTION I USAGE I 994954 23 in. x 25 in. Polishing Cloth - Wax Treated Exterior polis

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) ENGINE ASSEMBLY CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT This is the legal identifier for your vehicle. It appears on a p

Headlamp Wiring The headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in the underhood electrical center. An electrical overload will cause the lamps

B C D E Circuit Description Breaker A Not Used B Power Windows/Sunroof C Rear Defog D Power Seats Fuse Description 1 Not Used 4 Ignition Signal

Fuse Description 24 Stoplamps 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Parking Lamps Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop) -- Hot in ACC and RUN Crank Signal --

Underhood Electrical Center -- Passenger's Side Some fuses and relays are in the underhood electrical center on the passenger's

When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other ‘

Relay 15 16 17 18 19 Fuse 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Description A/C Clutch Horn Not Used Not Used Fuel Pump Description Not Used Generator ECM A/C

Replacement Bulbs Exterior Lamps Bulb Number Back-up ... 1156 Center High-Mounted Stop ... 3 155 Front Parki

Engine Specifications 3100 (Code M) Type ... V6 Displacement ... 191 CID Firing Order ...

Section 7 Maintenance Schedule This section covers the maintenance required for your vehicle, Your vehicle needs these services to retain its s

I IMPORTANT: I KEEP ENGINE OIL I AT THE PROPER I I I LEVEL AND CHANGE AS RECOMMENDED Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan supplement

How This Section is Organized The remainder of this section is divided into five parts: “Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows what to have

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services Using Your Maintenance Schedule We at General Motors want to help you keep your vehicle in good working condi

I Maintenance Schedule I The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles (166 000 km) should be performed after 100,000 miles (166 000 km)

I Maintenance Schedule I 7,500 Miles (12 500 km) 0 Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor. See “Engine Oil” in

I Maintenance Schedule I CI Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper rotation pattern and additional informat

If your vehicle ever gets into a lot of water -- such as water up to the carpeting or higher -- or if water enters your vehicle and soaks the

I Maintenance Schedule I 45,000 Miles (75 000 km) 0 Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor. See “Engine Oil”

I Maintenance Schedule I 52,500 Miles (87 500 km) 0 0 DATE Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor. See

I Maintenance Schedule I 67,500 Miles (112 500 km) 0 Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor. See “Engine Oil” in

I Maintenance Schedule I 0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper rotation pattern and additional information.

I Maintenance Schedule I 100,000 Miles (166 000 km) Inspect spark plug wires. 0 Replace spark plugs. An Emission Control Service. An Emission Control

Part B: Owner Checks and Services Listed below are owner checks and services which should be performed at the intervals specified to help ensur

At Least Twice a Year Automatic Transaxle Check Restraint System Check Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your belts, buckles, lat

Starter Switch Check A CAUTION: When you are doing this check, the vehicle could move suddenly. If it does, you or others could be inju

Ignition Transaxle Lock Check While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn the ignition key to LOCK in each shift lever position. .e T

Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections Listed below are inspections and services which should be performed at least twice a year (for in

Lap Belt If your vehicle has a bench seat, someone can sit in the center position. When you sit in a center seating position, you have a lap safety

Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants NOTE: Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part number or specification may be obtained from yo

Part E: Maintenance Record After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading and who performed the service in the boxe

Maintenance Record ODOMETER DATE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED SERVICED BY READING 7-20

Maintenance Record 7-21

Maintenance Record ODOMETER ~ DATE RE * 9ING SRVICED BY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED 7-22

Maintenance Record SERVICED BY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED - 7-23

Maintenance Record ODOMETER I I READING SERVICED BY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED 7-24

(@ Section 8 Customer Assistance Information Here you will find out how to contact Buick if you need assistance. This section also tells you

Buick dealers have the facilities, trained technicians and up-to-date information to promptly address any concerns you may have. However, if a conce

STEP TWO -- If after contacting a member of dealership management, it appears your concern cannot be resolved by the dealership without further help,

I To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until the belt is snug. Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lap part of a l

For prompt assistance, please have the following information available to give the Customer Assistance Representative: Your name, address, home and b

Roadside Assistance Buick Motor Division is proud to offer Buick Premium Roadside Assistance to customers for vehicles covered under the 3 year/36,00

Courtesy Transportation To Buick Motor Division, Quality Means Service -- and service means “keeping you on the road.” Included with your Buick new

GM Participation in an Alternative Dispute Resolution Program This program is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Canadian owne

We prefer you utilize the Customer Satisfaction Procedure before you resort to AUTO LINE, but you may contact the BBB at any time. The BBB will attem

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle has a safety defect, you should

1998 BUCK SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDERING INFORMATION The following publications covering the operation and servicing of your vehicle can be

ORDER TOLL FREE (NOTE: For Credit Card Holders Only) (Monday-Friday 8:OO AM - 6:OO PM EST) FAX Orders Only 1-31 3-865-5927 1-800-782-4356 Orders will

,@% NOTES 8-12

. Section 9 Index Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle . Air Bag ... 6-3 Antifreeze ... Anti-Lock How Does it Restrain 1-23 How it W

Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions Lap-Shoulder Belt The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder belts. Here’s how to wear one properl

Back-up Lamp Bulb Replacement ... 6-37 Battery ... 6-29 Jump Starting ...

Cleaning Aluminum Wheels ... 6-52 Built-in Child Restraint ... 6-49 Built-in Child Restraint Harness ...

Driving City ... 4-19 Defensive ... 4-2 Drunken ...

Fuel ... 6-3 Canadian ... 6.3. 6.5 FillingYourTank ...

Key Lock Cylinders Service ... 7-14 Key Reminder Warning ... 2- 15 Keys ...

Magnetic Variable Effort Steering TM ... 4-9 Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts ... 6-62 Maintenance Record ...

Passenger Compartment Air Filter ... 6- 16 Periodic Maintenance Inspections ... 7-17 Auxiliary Connection ...

Safety Belts ... 1-5 Adults ... 1- 11 Center Passenger Position ...

Starter Switch Check ... 7- 15 Starting Your Engine ... 2-19 Steam ...

Passing ... 4-35 Tongueweight ... 4-33 Total Weight on Tires ...

2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When the shoulder be

Service Station Checkpoints WINDSHIELD REMOTE POSITIVE BATERY TERMINAL P5-5 WASHER FLUID TI RES ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK P6-11 SECONDARY HOOD RELEASE

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the stro

J To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Rear shoulder belt c

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK, the BUICK Emblem and the name CENTURY are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual

1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of the seatback and the interior body to remove the guide from its storage clip. 2. Slide the

3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top. 4. Buckle, position and rel

To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out from the guides. Pull the guide upward to e

/1\ CAUTION: Smaller children and babies should always be restrained in a child or infant restraint. The instructions for the restraint will say whet

ii A CAUTION: I-- Never hold a baby in your arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby doesn’t weigh much -- until a crash. During a crash a baby will

Built-in Child Restraint (Option) If your vehicle has this option, there’s a built-in child restraint in the center rear seat position. This chil

@ Which slots should I use for my child? A: With the child seated on the child restraint cushion, use the pair of slots that is at or just above the t

&.’ What if the top of my child’s shoulders is above A: A child whose shoulders are above the highest slots the highest pair of slots? shou

Adjusting the Harness Height 1. Lower the child restraint cushion. ... . . .:'...;& 2. If the left and right halves of the shoulder harne

3. If the lap-shoulder harness is buckled, unlatch it by pushing the button on the buckle. 4. Pull down the seatback part of the pad (D). 1-41

How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will

5. Select one side of the harness. Add some slack to the shoulder part by pulling up on the lap part. You'll keep most of this slack until you

8. Move the harness up or down to the cprrect slot. The correct slot is the one that will be at or just above the top of the child's

10. Pull on the harness. Make sure it is properly routed and isn't twisted or flipped over. the harness. Be sure both sides are adjusted to t

Using the vehicle’s regular safety belts on a child seated on the child restraint cushion can cause serious injury to the child in a sudden stop o

2. If the lap-shoulder harness is buckled, unlatch it by pushing the button on the buckle. 3. Place the child on the child restraint cushion. 4. Sele

5. Push the latch plate (F) into the buckle until it clicks. Be sure the buckle is free of any foreign objects that may prevent you from securing

8. Now fasten the left and right halves of the shoulder harness clip together. The indicator window (H) on the clip will show green when the two halve

9. On both sides of the harness, pull up on the lap part a little to be sure it’s locked. If the harness isn’t locked, or if it becomes too t

Removing the Child from the Built-in Child Restraint 2. 1. Unfasten the shoulder harness clip. 3. 4. 5. Unlatch the harness by pushing the button

Storing the Built-in Child Restraint Always properly store the built-in child restraint before using the vehicle’s lap belt in the cente

Vehicle Damage Warn s Also, in this book you will find these notices: I NOTICE: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle.

Child Restraints Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have protection provided by appropriate restraints.

A rear-facing infant restraint (B) positions an infant to face the rear of the vehicle. Rear-facing infant restraints are designed for infants

A forward-facing child restraint (C-E) positions a child upright to face forward itl the vehicle. These forward-facing restraints are desi

A booster seat (F, G) is designed for children who are about 40 to 60 lbs. (1 8 to 27 kg) and about four to eight years of age. It’s designed to impro

When choosing a child restraint, be sure the child restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying that it meets

Top Strap A child in a child restraint in the center front seat can be badly injured or killed by the right front passenger air bag if it inflates,

If your child restraint has a top strap, your dealer can obtain a kit with anchor hardware and installation instructions specifically designed for th

3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

5. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor while you push down on the child restraint. If you’re using a forward-

A child in a child restraint in the center front seat can be badly injured or killed by the right front passenger air bag if it infl

Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. For example, these symbols are used on an original battery: POSSIBLE A

4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 5. To ti

You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part about the top strap if the child restraint has one. Be sure to follow the instructio

5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back

Larger Children Children who have outgrown child restraints should wear the vehicle’s safety belts. If you have the choice, a child should sit ne

Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt, The belt can’t properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crus

/r\ CAUTION: I Never do this. Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. If the ch

Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your

Section 2 Features and Controls Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting, shif

Keys I A CAUTION: Leaving young children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or others could be

I The ignition key is for the ignition only. The door key is for the doors and all other locks. The ignition and door keys don’t have plugs. Your d

fi NOTES vi

Door Locks Unlocked doors can be dangerous. Passengers -- especially children -- can easily open the doors and fall out. When a door is locked, the in

Power Door Locks Press the power door lock switch to lock or unlock all doors. The rear doors do not have power door lock switches. The lever o

Rear-Door Child Security Locks Your vehicle is equipped with rear-door child security locks that help prevent passengers from opening the rear doors

Programmable Automatic Power Door Locks Programmable Automatic Power Door Locks is a standard feature that is intended to provide enhanced securit

Disconnecting the vehicle’s battery for up to a year will not change the programmed mode of the Programmable Automatic Power Door Locks. Delayed Lock

You may also customize your vehicle to activate the Delayed Locking feature as described above, or you may choose to completely disable the fea

This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interfer

Security Feedback Security Feedback provides audible and/or visible feedback that a remote keyless entry lock or unlock command has been received

The operating mode of the Security Feedback unlock feature will be changed when you perform the following sequence with your vehicle’s doors closed a

Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you’ll find information about the seats in your Buick and how to use your safety belts properly. You

To replace your battery: Trunk 1. Insert a flat object like a dime into the slot on the back of the transmitter. Gently pry apart the front and back.

Trunk Lock To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the door key and turn it. You can also press the car symbol on your remote keyless entry tran

PASS-K~~@ 11 Your vehicle is equipped with the PASS-Key I1 (Personalized Automotive Security System) theft-deterrent system. PASS-Key I1 is a passive

New Vehicle LLBreak-In” NOTICE: Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate “break-in.” But it will perform better in the long run if you follow

LOCK (B): Before you put the key into the ignition switch, the switch is in LOCK. It’s also the only position from which you can remove your key. This

Starting Your Engine Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a safety feature. To

2. If your engine won’t start (or starts but then stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way

To Use the Engine Coolant Heater 1. Turn off the engine. 2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The cord is attached to the underside

Automatic Transaxle Operation a km ,,r Your automatic transaxle will have a shift lever on the steering column. The graphic shown above is displayed o

Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting the engine. Your vehicle has a Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock (BTSI). You must fully