BUICK CENTURY 1996 Repair Manual

Door Locks
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers
-- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When a door is
locked, the inside handle won’t open it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be so obvious: You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors aren’t locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you will be far
better
off whenever you drive your vehicle. There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your door key or Remote Keyless
Entry transmitter,
if your vehicle has this option.
From the inside,
to lock the
door, slide the lock control
on the door rearward.
To unlock the door, slide the
lock control forward.

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Power Door Locks
Press the power door lock
switch on either front door
to lock
or unlock all the
doms atmce.
Automatic Door Locks
Just close your doors and turn on the ignition. All of the
doors will automatically lock when you move your shift
lever out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). If someone
needs to get out while the vehicle is running, have that
person use the manual or power lock. When
the door is
closed again, it will lock automatically if the transaxle is
in gear. All doors will automatically unlock when
you
turn the ignition off.
If you don’t want the doors to automatically unlock
when the key is turned
OFF, you can remove the
UNLOCK fuse located in the glove box. See “Fuses and
Circuit Breakers” in the Index for more information.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.
Remote Keyless Entry System
(Option)
If your Buick has this option, you can lock and unlock
your doors
or unlock your trunk from up to 30 feet (9 m)
away using the key chain transmitter supplied with
your vehicle.
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Should interference to this system occur, try this:
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions on battery replacement.
vehicle. This product has a maximum range.
blocking the signal.
for service.
0 Check the distance. You may be too far from your
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
0 See your Buick dealer or a qualified technician
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Your Remote Keyless Entry System operates
on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
( 1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
lperat
fhe drwer’s door will unlock and the interior lamps will
go on when UNLOCK is pressed. If pressed again
within five seconds, all doors will unlock. The interior
lamps will go
out after 40 seconds or when you turn on
the ignition.
All doors will lock when DOOR is pressed.
Press the opened trunk symbol
to unlock the trunk or
wagon liftgate. The transaxle must be in
PARK (P). If
you have the wagon, the ignition must also be OFF.
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Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each key chain transmitter. is coded to prevent another
transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If a transmitter
is lost or stolen,
a replacement can be purchased through
your dealer. Remember to bring any remaining
transmitters with you when you go to your dealer. When
the dealer matches the replacement transmitter to your
vehicle, any remaining transmitters must also be
matched. Once the new transmitter is coded, the lost
transmitter will not unlock your vehicle. Each vehicle
can have
only two transmitters matched to it.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the batteries in your key chain
transmitter should last about two years.
You can tell the batteries are weak if the transmitter
won’t work at the normal range
in any location. If you
have to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter
works, it’s probably time
to change the batteries.
For battery replacement, use two Duracella batteries,
I-
To replace batteries:
1. Carefully pry off the cover by inserting a dime (or
2.
3.
4.
5.
similar object) in a slot between the covers and twist.
Lift
off the front cover, bottom half first.
Remove and replace the batteries. Reassemble the transmitter. Make sure the cover
is on tightly,
so water won’t get in and snap the
cover together.
Check the transmitter operation.
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TrunkLiftgate Trunk Lock
- ~- c-
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the liftgate,
liftglass or trunk lid open because carbon
monoxide (CO) gas can come into your vehicle.
You can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the liftgate, liftglass or
trunk lid open or
if electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass through the seal between
the body and the liftgate, liftglass or trunk lid:
Make sure all windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on
NORM or VENT. That will force outside
air into your vehicle. See “Comfort
Controls” in the Index.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the
way.
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
To unlock the trunk from
the outside, insert the door
key and turn it clockwise.
Remote Trunk or Liftgate Release
You’ll find the release
button in the glove box.
The trunk will unlock
anytime the ignition is on
or
off. If you have the
wagon, the liftgate wi1.l
unlock when the ignition is
on, and the transaxle is in
PARK (P).
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Wagon Liftgate &Beration
The liftgate on your wagon has a liftglass and a liftgate.
NOTICE: __~__ ~~
Be sure there are no overhead obstructions
before
you open the liftgate. You could slam the
liftgate into something and break the glass.
Turn the key to the right to unlatch the liftgate, then
pull up on the bottom of the liftgate. To close, pull
down
on the handle inside the liftgate, then firmly shut
the liftgate.
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Turn the key to the left to release the liftgate glass.
Then, pull the glass up by the handle.
To close, lower
the glass until the latch catches.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your Buick has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put
on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don’t do it.
When you park your Buick and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear a chime reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you. Always do
this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition and transaxle. And remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember
to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with
you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best
to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your ignition key? What if
you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
@ Put your valuables in a storage area, like your trunk
or glove box.
0 Lock the glove box.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
0 Then take the door key with you.
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’ New Vehicle “Break-In”
NOTICE:
Your modern Buick doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
0
0
0
Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (804 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow
a trailer during break-in. See
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index
for more
information.
Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can
turn the switch
to five positions.
C
ACCESSORY (A): Position in which you can operate
your radio or windshield wipers. Press in the ignition
switch as you turn the top
of it toward you.
LOCK (B): The only position in which you can
remove the key.
This locks your steering wheel,
ignition and transaxle.
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OFF (C): Unlocks the steering wheel, ignition, and
transaxle, but does not send electrical power
to any
accessories. Use this position if your vehicle must be
pushed
or towed, but never try to push-start your
vehicle.
A warning chime will sound if you open the
driver’s door when the ignition is off and the key is in
the ignition.
RUN (D): Position to which the switch returns after you
start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays in the RUN position when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can
use
RUN to operate your electrical power accessories, and
to display some instrument panel warning lights.
START (E): Starts the engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch will return
to RUN
for normal driving.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure it is all the way in.
If it is, then
turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break
the key or the ignition switch.
If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
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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 restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
I NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Buick is
moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK
(P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Starting Your 2.2 Liter Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If your engine still 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 the
floor and holding it there
as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the car starts
briefly but then stops again,
do the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for five or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
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