BUICK CENTURY 1993 Manual Online

If your automatic transaxle has Overdrive, “D” is like
“a,” but you never go into Overdrive. Here are some
times you might choose
“D” instead of “@”:
- When driving on hilly, winding roads
- When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between
gears
- When going down a steep hill
2 (Second Gear)
This position gives you more power but lower fuel
economy. You can use
“2” on hills. It can help control
your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but
then you would also want to use your brakes off and on.
1 (First Gear)
This position gives you even more power (but lower fuel
economy) than 2. You can use it on very steep hills, or
in deep snow or mud. If the selector lever is put in “1 i’
the transaxle won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is
going slowly enough.
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Parking Brake
The parking brake uses the brakes on the rear wheels.
I
To set the parking brake:
Hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right
foot. Push down the
parking brake pedal with
your left foot.
If the ignition
is on, the brake system
I warning light will come on.
L
I
To release the parking
brake:
Hold the regular
brake pedal down. Pull the
brake release lever.
NOTICE:
Driving with thiparl ‘g brake or )use
your rear brakesto oveFheat. ybu may have
-
replace them, and you could alse damage
other parts
of your vehicle.
If you are on a hill: See “Parking on Hills” in the Index.
That section shows
how to turn your front wheels.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any
hill: See “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section
shows what to do first to keep the trailer from
moving.
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Shifting Into “P” (Park)
,3
/i CAUTION: ~
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehlcle
if the shift lever is not fully in “P” (Park) with ,
the parking brake firmly set. bur vehicle can -.
roll.
If you have left the engine runnin.g, the vehicle
can move suddenly. ybu
or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t inwe,
when you’re on fairly level ground, Use the ‘
steps that follow. If you are parking on a hill,
or if you’m pulling a trailer, also see. “Parking
on Hills” or “Towing B Trailer” in the Index.
Steering Column Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and set
the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the “P” (Park) position like
this:
Pull the lever toward you.
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F- LA- 1
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 walk
away from your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is
in “P” (Park).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
“P”
(Park) with the parking brake firmly set. And, if
you leave the vehicle with the engine running,
it could overheat and even catch fire. Ybu or
others could be injured. Don’t leave your
vehicle with the engine running unless you
have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running,
be sure your vehicle
is in “P” (Park) and your parking
brake is firmly set before you leave it. After you’ve
moved the shift lever into
the “P” (Park) position, hold
the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move
the shift lever away from
“P” (Park) without first pulling
it toward you.
If you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t hlly
locked into
“P’ (Park).
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Parking Over Things That Burn Engine Exhaust
a CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things
that can
burn.
A CAUTION:’ ‘
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you can’t see or
death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange or
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
I Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving over
I high points on the road or over road debris.
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
If you
ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
Have it fixed immediately.
I smell. It can cause unconsciousness and
different.
modified improperly.
blow out any
CO; and
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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.
1
I a CAUTION: I
Idling the engine with the air system “control
off could allow dangerous exhaust into your
vehicle (see the earlier
CAUTION under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling In a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the hlghest setting. One
place this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust-. -
with C0-n come in easily.’ NEVER park in a
garage wlth the engine running.
Another closed-in place can
be a blizzard.
It can be dpngeroua to get out of your vehicle
If the shift lever is not fully On “P” (Park) wlth
the parking
brake firmly set. bur vehicle can
roll. Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
Os runnhg unless you. have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly.
Nu or others could be injured. To
I
I
I (See “Blizzard” In.the Index.)
CAUTION (Continued)
- - - -
I CAUTION (C __ ____ Jued) ..
be sureyour vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, always set your
parking
brake and move the shift lever to “P”,
(Park).
Follow the proper steps to be &re your
vehicle won’t move.
See “Shifting Into ‘P’
(Park)”.in the Index.
If you are parking on
a hill, or if you’re pulling
a trailer, also see “Parking On Hills” or
“Towing
a Thiler” in the Index.
i
Windows
On a vehicle with manual windows, use the window
crank
to open and close each window.
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Power Windows (Option)
*.”
._
Flip-Open Rear Vent Windows (Option, Wagon)
With power windows, switches on the driver’s armrest
control each
of the windows when the ignition is on. In
addition, each passenger door has a control switch for its
own window. To open, pull the latch forward, then push on the center
of the latch to swing the window out into the open
position.
To close the window, pull the center of the latch and then
press the latch into the closed position.
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Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the horn symbol on
your steering wheel.
Tilt Steering Wheel (Option)
b
-.
A tilt steering wheel allows
you
to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive. You
can
also raise it to the
highest level
to give your
legs more room when you
exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the
steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering
wheel to a comfortable
level, then release the lever
to lock the wheel in place.
The I’urn SignaUHeadlight Beam
Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column includes
your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
Headlight High-Low Beam
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
Cruise Control (Option)
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Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for Right) and two
downward (for Left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will return
automatically.
A green arrow on the
instrument panel will flash
in the direction of the turn
or lane change.
To signal a lane change,
just raise or lower the lever
until the green arrow
starts
to flash. Hold it there until
you complete your lane
change. The lever will
return by itself when you
release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don’t
flash but just
stay on, a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won’t
see your turn signal.
If a bulb
is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the green arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the
fuse (see “Fuses 8z Circuit
Breakers” in the Index) and for burned-out bulbs.
Turn Signal Reminder
If your turn signal is left on for more than % of a mile, a
chime will sound.
To turn off the chime, move the turn
signal lever to the off position.
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Headlight Highhw Beam Windshield Wipers
To change the headlights
from low beam to high, or
high to low, pull the
turn
signal lever all the way
toward
you. Then release
it. When the high beams
are on,
.this blue light on
the instrument panel also will be on.
i
I
You control the windshield wipers by turging the band
marked
“WIPERI’
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to “MIST? Hold it there until the wipers
start, then let go. The wipers will
stop after one cycle.
If you want more cycles, hold the
band on “MIST” longer.
For steady wiping at low speed,
turn the band away from
YOU to the “LO” position. For high speed wiping, turn
the band further, to “HI? To stop the wipers, move the
band to “OFF?
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