BUICK CENTURY 1997 Owners Manual
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Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control (If Equipped)
With this system, you set a temperature. You can then
either let the system automatically control airflow
direction and force it to maintain the temperature, or you
can manually adjust
it. The system works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
Automatic Control
For the most efficient operation, you should set the
system temperature and press
AUTO. The system will
select the best fan speed and airflow settings to keep you
comfortable. The air conditioning compressor will run if
the outside temperature is above
40°F (4°C). You may
notice a delay of two to three minutes before the fan
comes on at start up in cool weather.
Driver’s Temperature Control
The TEMP switch sets the temperature for the entire
system when the light on the
DUAL button isn’t lit. If
the light is lit, this control sets the temperature for the
driver only. Press the up arrow to raise the temperature
and press the down arrow to lower the temperature. The
display will show your selection for a few seconds, then
the outside temperature will show.
If you push the
AUTO button,
the system will control the fan speed
and airflow.
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Passenger’s Temperature Control
The PASSENGER CONTROL buttons with the arrows
adjust the temperature on the passenger’s side
so it is
warmer or cooler than
the temperature set by the driver.
Push the
DUAL button so the indicator light on it is lit.
Press the right arrow button to raise the temperature.
Press the left arrow button to lower the temperature. The
display will not show the passenger’s side temperature,
only that of the driver. Indicators in the passenger
control section will show passenger temperature relative
to the driver’s set temperature.
0 The amber light indicates the same temperature as
set for the driver.
0 The red lights indicate a warmer temperature than
that of the driver.
0 The blue lights indicate a cooler temperature than
that of the driver.
Manual Control
If you prefer to manually control the heating, cooling
and ventilation
in your vehicle, you can select airflow
direction, fan speed, outside or recirculated air and air
compressor operation with the following buttons:
AIR FLOW: This control has several settings to
control the direction of aifflow when the system is not
in AUTO.
To access the various modes available, continue to press
the following four
AIR FLOW up and down arrows
until the desired mode appears in the display:
0
0
0
0
WINDSHIELD/FLOOR: This setting directs half
of the air to the floor ducts and half to the defroster
and side window vents.
MID/FLOOR: This setting directs half of the air
through the instrument panel outlets. Most of the
remaining air
is directed through the floor ducts and
a little
to the defroster and side window vents.
MID: This setting directs air through the instrument
panel outlets.
FLOOR: This setting sends most of the air through
the ducts near the floor. The rest comes out of the
defroster and side window vents.
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FRONT This setting brings in outside air and
directs most of
the air through the defrost vent. Some
of the air also goes
to the floor ducts and the side
window defogger outlets. The indicator on the button
will light and WINDSHIELD will be lit in the display.
The air conditioning compressor will run automatically
in this setting unless the outside temperature is below
40°F (4°C).
VENT This pushbutton turns the air conditioning
compressor
on and off. The indicator lights when
the compressor is turned
off. Recirculation is not
permitted when
the compressor is off. The system
will try
to control the temperature automatically, but
without the compressor.
RECIRC: This setting recirculates much of the
air inside your vehicle. This setting is not permitted
in FRONT defrost mode and is only permitted in
WINDSHIELD/FLOOR mode if the compressor is
turned on. The indicator light will be
lit when
Recirculation is engaged, but will light for
one second
and then turn off if selected when not permitted.
Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let
hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time for the
vehicle to cool down.
For a quick cool-down on very hot days, use MAX with
the temperature knob all the way in the blue area. If this
setting
is used for long periods of time, the air in your
vehicle may become too dry.
For normal cooling on hot days, use NORM with the
temperature knob
in the blue area. The system will bring
in outside air and cool it.
On cool, but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may
not be warm enough.
You can use BI-LEV and set the temperature knob to a
comfortable setting. The system will bring
in outside air
and direct it to your upper body, while sending slightly
warmed air
to your lower body. You may notice this
temperature difference more
at some times than others.
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Heating Ventilation System
On 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 the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can
use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it’s
cold outside
(0°F (-18°C) or lower). An engine coolant
heater warms the coolant your engine and heating
system use to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant
Heater” in the Index.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows.
To defrost the windows quickly, use
FRONT and full hot (90°F (32°C)). Driver sets
temperature and selects high fan speed.
To warm
passengers while keeping the windows clear, push the
AIR FLOW button until WINDSHIELD/FLOOR
appears in the display. Select fan speed for comfort and
windshield clearing performance. Adjust the direction
of
airflow
by moving the
louvered vents.
Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the air conditioning
fan is running.
If the airflow seems very low when the fan knob is
turned to the highest setting regardless of the mode
setting, your passenger compartment air filter may need
to be replaced. See “Maintenance Schedule” in
the Index.
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Ventilation Tips
0 Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction, such
as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of
fogging the inside
of your windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, adjust the
mode knob or button to FLOOR and the fan to the
highest speed for a few seconds before driving off.
This helps clear the intake ducts
of snow and
moisture and reduces the chance
of fogging the
inside
of your windows.
Rear Window Defogger
C
D
REAR
0
0 Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle. The
rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window. Press the button to
turn the rear defogger on.
It will turn itself off after
about
10 minutes.
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If you turn it on again, the rear defogger will only run Audio Systems
for about five minutes before turning off. You can also
turn it
off by pressing the button again. Your Delco@ audio system has been designed to operate
Do not attach anything like a temporary vehicle license
the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself
or decal across the defogger grid.
with it first. Find out what your Delco system can do
easily and give years
of listening pleasure.
You will get
h I and how to operate all its controls, to be sure you’re
I NOTICE: I
getting the most out of the advanced engineering that
went into
it.
I Don’t use a razor blade or anything else sharp on Setting the Clock
the inside of the rear window. If you do, you
could cut
or damage the warming grid, and the
repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. and hold MIN until the correct minute appears.
Press and hold
HRS until
the correct hour appears. Press
You may
set the clock with the ignition off if you press
RECALL first and follow the same procedure
described above.
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AM-FM Stereo
Playing the Radio
VOLUME:
This knob turns the system on and off and
controls the volume. To increase volume and turn the
radio on, turn the knob to the right. Turn it to
the left to
decrease volume.
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 (station or time),
press the knob until
you see the display you want, then
hold the knob until the display flashes. If you press the
knob when the ignition is off, the clock will show for a
few seconds.
Finding a Station
AM-FM:
Press the AM-FM button to switch between
AM, FMl and
FM2. The display shows your selection.
TUNE: Turn the lower knob to choose radio stations.
SEEK: Press the right or left arrow to go to the next
higher or lower station and stay there. The sound will
mute while seeking.
SCAN: Press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds,
and SCAN will appear on the display. Use SCAN to
listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will
go to
a station, stop for
a few seconds, then go on to the next
station. Press one
of the SEEK arrows again to stop
scanning. The sound will mute while scanning.
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PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let
you return to your favorite stations.
You can set up to
18 stations (six AM, six FM1 and six
FM2). Just:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Turn the radio on.
Press the AM-FM button to select the band.
Tune in the desired station.
Press and hold
one of the six numbered buttons. The
sound will mute. When it returns, release the button.
Whenever you press that numbered button, the
station you set will return.
Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
P SCAN: Press this button to listen to each of your
preset stations for a few sec0nd.s. The radio will go
to
the first preset station, stop for a few seconds, then go
on to the next preset station. Press
P SCAN again to stop
scanning. The radio will not stop at a preset station if the
station
is weak.
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. Turn the
knob to increase or decrease treble. If a station is weak
or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble.
Push these knobs back into their stored positions when
you’re not using them.
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 sound between the speakers.
FADE: Turn the control behind the lower knob to move
the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle
position balances the sound between the speakers.
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AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player
(If Equipped)
Playing the Radio
VOLUME:
This knob turns the system on and off and
controls the volume.
To increase volume and turn the
radio on, turn
the knob to the right. Turn it to the left to
decrease volume.
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 (station or time),
press
the knob until you see the display you want, then
hold
the knob until the display flashes. If you press the
knob when the ignition
is off, the clock will show for a
few seconds.
Finding a Station
AM-FM:
Press the lower knob to switch between AM,
FMl and
FM2. The display shows your selection.
TUNE: Turn the lower knob to choose radio stations.
SEEK: Press the right or left arrow to go to the next
higher or lower station and stay there. The sound will
mute while seeking.
SCAN: Press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds,
and SCAN will appear on the display. Use SCAN
to
listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to
a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next
station. Press one of the
SEEK arrows again to stop
scanning. The sound will mute while scanning.
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PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let
you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to
18 stations (six AM, six FM 1 and six FM2). Just:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press AM-FM to select the band.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons. The
sound will mute. When it returns, release the button.
Whenever you press that numbered button, the
station
you set will return.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
P SCAN: Press this button to listen to each of your
preset stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to
the first preset station, stop for a few seconds, then
go
on to the next preset station. Press P SCAN again to stop
scanning. The radio will
not stop at a preset if the station
is weak.
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. Turn the
knob to increase or decrease treble. If a station is weak
or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble.
Push these knobs back into their stored positions when
you’re not using them.
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 sound between the speakers.
FADE: Turn the control behind the lower knob to move
the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle
position balances the sound between the speakers.
Playing a Cassette Tape
The longer side with the tape visible should face to the
right. If the ignition and the radio are on, the tape can be
inserted and will begin playing. If
you hear nothing or
hear a garbled sound,
the tape may not be in squarely.
Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over.
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