ignition BUICK CENTURY 1999 Owner's Manual

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Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information about
the air bag system. The module records information
about the readiness of the system, when the sensors
are activated and driver's safety belt usage at
deployment. Some modules also record speed,
engine rpm, brake and throttle data.

Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or the
right front passenger's air bag, the bag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger's air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don't want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
dealer and the Century Service Manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. To
purchase a service manual, see ªService and Owner
Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the air bag system. Be sure to
follow proper service procedures, and make sure
the person performing work for you is qualified
to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.

2-
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Keys
2
-4 Door Locks
2
-7 Remote Keyless Entry
2
-14 Trunk
2
-14 Theft
2
-15 PASS-Key
II
2
-16 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-17 Ignition Positions
2
-18 Starting Your V6 Engine
2
-19 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-20 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-25 Parking Brake
2
-26 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-28 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-29 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-30 Engine Exhaust
2
-30 Running Your Engine While You're Parked2
-31 Windows
2
-32 Horn
2
-32 TILT-WHEEL Adjustable Steering Column
2
-33 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-38 Exterior Lamps
2
-40 Interior Lamps
2
-42 Mirrors
2
-44 Storage Compartments
2
-46 Sun Visors
2
-46 Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)
2
-46 Astroroof (If Equipped)
2
-47 OnStar
(Option)
2
-48 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-49 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-50 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

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Keys
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don't
leave the keys in a vehicle with children.

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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
dealer or Buick Premium Roadside Assistance has the
code for your keys.
If you need a new ignition or door key, contact your
dealer who can obtain the correct key code, or, in an
emergency, call Buick Premium Roadside Assistance at
1
-800-252-1112. In Canada, call 1-800-268-6800.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle has a number of features that can
help prevent theft. But you can have a lot of
trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever
lock your keys inside. You may even have to
damage your vehicle to get in. So be sure you
have extra keys.

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The operating mode of the Programmable Automatic
Power Door Locks will be changed when the driver
performs the following sequence with the engine not
running, the doors closed and the ignition key in RUN:
1. Apply your regular brakes.
2. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, move the shift lever
out of and back into PARK (P).
After an initial transaxle cycle, each additional cycle
will advance the operating mode by one, starting from
the current operating mode. During this procedure, the
automatic door lock and unlock functions will operate as
defined by each mode above, providing the driver with
feedback of the current operating mode. If cycled
beyond Mode 4, the vehicle will enter operating
Mode 1. When the door lock switch is released, the
vehicle will remain in the most recent operating mode.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed mode of the Programmable
Automatic Power Door Locks.Rear-Door Child Security Locks
Your vehicle is equipped with rear-door child security
locks that help prevent passengers from opening the rear
doors of your vehicle from the inside. To use one of
these locks:
1. Open one of the rear doors.

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2. On the inside of the rear door will be a lock. Insert
your key into this lock and turn it upward. This will
engage the safety lock. To disengage the feature, turn
the lock downward.
3. Close the door.
4. Do the same thing to the other rear door lock.
The rear doors of your vehicle cannot be opened from the
inside when this feature is in use. If you want to open the
rear door when the security lock is on, unlock the door
from the inside and then open the door from the outside.
Lockout Protection Feature
This feature prevents a driver who has left the key in the
vehicle's ignition from locking the doors by using the
power door locks while any door is open. The feature
works by disabling the power door locks when a key is
in the ignition and any door is open.
You may override the Lockout Protection Feature by
holding the power door lock switch in the lock position
for more than three seconds while the key is in the
ignition and any door is open.Remember, this feature can't guarantee that you'll never
be locked out of your vehicle. If you use the manual
door lock or if you don't leave the key in the ignition,
you could still lock your keys inside your vehicle.
Always remember to take your keys with you.
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. (Also see ªDelayed Lockingº in this
section for more information.)
Remote Keyless Entry
You can lock and unlock your doors or unlock your
trunk from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m) away
using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied with
your vehicle.
Your remote keyless entry system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
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.

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Instant Alarm
This feature allows you to activate an alarm by pressing
a button on the remote keyless entry transmitter. Your
vehicle's ignition must be off for the Instant Alarm to
work. When you press the horn button on the remote
keyless entry transmitter, your vehicle's headlamps will
flash, the horn will honk repeatedly, and your interior
lamps will illuminate, attracting attention if you need it.
The alarm will continue until:

You press the alarm button on the RKE transmitter a
second time,

the vehicle's ignition is in RUN, or

an alarm period of about two minutes has elapsed.
Security Feedback
Security Feedback provides audible and/or visible
feedback that a remote keyless entry lock or unlock
command has been received and executed. Your
vehicle's ignition must be off for this feature to work.
You may select one of four operating modes for
reception of a lock command. You may also select one
of four operating modes for reception of an unlock
command. The selection and programming of the lock
and unlock operating modes are independent of each
other. The following modes are available for either lock
or unlock verification:Mode 1: No Verification
Mode 2: Horn Chirp only
Mode 3: Headlamp Flash only
Mode 4: Horn Chirp and Headlamp Flash
The operating mode of the Security Feedback lock
feature will be changed when you perform the following
sequence with your vehicle's doors closed and the
ignition key in RUN:
Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, press and release the
remote keyless entry (RKE) transmitter lock button.
This will start the customization mode. While in the
customization mode, the feature will sound the number
of chimes corresponding to the current Security
Feedback lock mode.
Each additional press of the RKE transmitter lock button
will cause your vehicle to advance the lock mode by
one, starting from the current lock mode. If cycled
beyond lock Mode 4, the vehicle will enter lock Mode 1.
During this procedure, the feature will sound the number
of chimes corresponding to the current lock mode,
providing you with feedback. When the door lock
switch is released, the vehicle will remain in the most
recent lock mode.

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The operating mode of the Security Feedback unlock
feature will be changed when you perform the following
sequence with your vehicle's doors closed and the
ignition key in RUN:

Press and hold the power door unlock switch. While
holding the door unlock switch, press and release the
RKE transmitter unlock button. This will start the
customization mode.

While in the customization mode, the feature will
sound the number of chimes corresponding to the
current unlock mode.
Each additional press of the RKE transmitter unlock
button will cause your vehicle to advance the unlock
mode by one, starting from the current unlock mode. If
cycled beyond unlock Mode 4, the vehicle will enter
unlock Mode 1. During this procedure, the feature will
sound the number of chimes corresponding to the
current unlock mode, providing you with feedback.
When the door unlock switch is released, the vehicle
will remain in the most recent unlock mode.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed mode of the lock and
unlock Security Feedback features.Delayed Locking
Delayed Locking allows the doors to be locked while
passengers are exiting the vehicle. This feature also
provides a brief time period after all the doors are
closed, but before the doors are locked, in which the
doors may be reopened. Delayed Locking is user
programmable for enabling or disabling the feature.
Delayed Locking is activated when a door lock switch is
pressed while the key is not in the vehicle's ignition, and
a door is open. The door lock switch may be either the
lock switch on the door or on the remote keyless entry
transmitter (see ªRemote Keyless Entryº later in this
section for more details). The doors do not lock when
the lock switch is pressed, but instead, three chimes are
heard. These chimes indicate that the Delayed Locking
feature has been activated.
You have three actions possible once Delayed Locking
is activated:

Cancel the Delayed Locking by pressing the unlock
switch or by fully inserting the key in the ignition.

Override the Delayed Locking feature and lock the
doors immediately by pressing the lock switch a
second time.

Let the Delayed Locking feature complete the
locking of the vehicle.

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If you wish to let the Delayed Locking feature complete
the locking of the vehicle, no additional action is
required. The Delayed Locking feature will lock the
doors automatically after all the doors have been closed
for a period of five seconds. During this five second
period, any door may be reopened, at which time the
three possible actions shown above are again available.
You may also customize your vehicle to activate the
Delayed Locking feature as described above, or you
may choose to completely disable the feature at all
times. If disabled, the power door locks will activate
immediately when a power door lock switch is pressed.
The enabled/disabled state of the Delayed Locking
feature will be toggled when you perform the following
sequence with the doors closed and the ignition key
in RUN:
1. Apply your regular brakes.
2. Press and hold the power door unlock switch. While
holding the door unlock switch, move the shift lever
out of and back into PARK (P).After an initial transaxle cycle, each additional cycle
will toggle the enable/disable state of the Delayed
Locking feature. During this procedure, the chime will
sound, providing you with feedback. In Mode 1, a single
chime will be heard if the Delayed Locking feature is
disabled. In Mode 2, two chimes will be heard if the
feature is enabled. When the door unlock switch is
released, the vehicle will remain in the most recent
operating mode.
Disconnecting the vehicle battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed mode of the Delayed
Locking feature.
Illumination on Remote Activation
This feature provides interior lighting when a remote
keyless entry door unlock command is received and
executed by your vehicle. Your vehicle's ignition must be
off for the Illumination on Remote Activation feature to
work. The interior lamps will light until your vehicle's
ignition is turned to RUN or for a period of 40 seconds has
elapsed. If a door is opened during the illumination period,
the timed lighting will be canceled, and the interior lamps
will remain on since a door is open.

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Trunk
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk 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 trunk open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections
must pass through the seal between the body
and the trunk:

Make sure all other windows are shut.

Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on VENT. That will force outside air into
your vehicle. See ªComfort Controlsº in
the Index.

If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See ªEngine Exhaustº in the Index.
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 transmitter.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle 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 vehicle 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.