BUICK CENTURY 2003 Owner's Manual

Bulb Replacement
For any bulb changing procedure not listed in this
section, contact your dealer. For the type of bulb,
see
Replacement Bulbs on page 5-55.
Halogen Bulbs
{CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside
and can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb.
You or others could be injured. Be sure to read
and follow the instructions on the bulb
package.
Headlamps
1. Open the hood.
2. Pull up on the headlamp retainers (A) to release the
assembly locator tabs.
3. Disconnect the electrical connector (B) from the
headlamp assembly.
4. Slide the headlamp assembly out of the slots.
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5. Remove the rubber access cover from behind the
bulb you are replacing.
6. Turn the bulb socket one-quarter turn and remove it
from the headlamp assembly.
7. Lift the plastic locking tab on the electrical connector
and pull the connector from the headlamp bulb
socket.
8. Connect the new headlamp bulb to the electrical
connector, making sure the connector tab snaps
into place.9. Insert the bulb socket into the headlamp assembly.
10. Reverse all steps to reassemble the headlamp
assembly, then check the lamps.
Front Turn Signal and Parking
Lamps
1. Remove the headlamp assembly. Refer to the
removal procedure earlier in this section.
2. Remove the rubber bulb access cover.
3. Twist the sidemarker lamp socket, located on the
outboard side of the headlamp assembly,
counterclockwise and pull it from the headlamp
assembly.
4. Holding the base of the socket, pull the old bulb
from the socket.
5. Push the new bulb into the socket.
6. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to reinstall the lamp
assembly.
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Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL)
1. Open the trunk.
2. Reach through the access opening in the trunk lid.3. Remove the old bulb by turning it one-quarter turn
counterclockwise.
4. Push the new bulb into the bulb socket.
5. Turn the socket one-quarter turn clockwise to
reinstall.
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Taillamps, Turn Signal, and
Stoplamps1. Open the trunk.
2. If your vehicle is equipped with a convenience net,
remove it.
3. Remove the three plastic wing nuts (A).
There is one wing nut located on the outside of the
carpet. The other two are located underneath
the carpet.
4. Pull the taillamp housing (B) away from the body of
the vehicle.
5. Squeeze the tab on the socket and turn the socket
counterclockwise.
6. Pull out the socket.
7. Pull the old bulb out of the socket. (There are two
bulbs on each taillamp.)
8. Push in a new bulb.
9. Reverse these steps to reinstall the lamp assembly.
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Back-Up Lamps
1. Open the trunk lid.
2. Remove the seven wing nuts (A) from the lamp
covering.
3. Remove the lamp covering.4. Twist and pull the bulb socket (B) from the trunk lid.
5. Twist and/or pull the old bulb from the bulb
socket.
6. Twist and/or push the new bulb into the lamp
socket.
7. Twist and/or push the lamp socket into the trunk lid
covering.
8. Reverse Steps 2 and 3 to reinstall the lamp
covering.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamps Bulb Number
Back-Up 1156
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL)3155
Front Turn Signal and Parking
Lamps4157NAK
Headlamps, High Beam 9005
Headlamps, Low Beam 9006
Taillamps and Stoplamps/Turn
Signal3057
Taillamp 194
For any bulb not listed here contact your dealer.
5-55

Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected at least
twice a year for wear or cracking. See ªWiper Blade
Checkº under
Part B: Owner Checks and Services on
page 6-10for more information.
1. Turn on the wipers to LO.
2. Turn off the ignition while the wipers are at the
outer positions of the wiper pattern. The blades
are more accessible for removal/replacement while
in this position.
3. Pull the windshield wiper arm 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to
10 cm) away from the windshield.
4. While holding the wiper arm away from the glass,
push the release clip from under the windshield
wiper arm connecting point and slide the blade
assembly down toward the glass to remove it from
the wiper arm.
5. Slide the new wiper blade securely on the wiper
arm until you hear the release clip ªclickº into
place.
For wiper blade length and type, see
Normal
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 5-95.
5-56

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service,
see your Buick Warranty booklet for details.
{CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
·Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. See ªLoading Your
Vehicleº in the Index.
·Underin¯ated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
·
Overin¯ated tires are more likely to be cut,
punctured or broken by a sudden
impact Ð such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
·Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If
your tread is badly worn, or if your tires
have been damaged, replace them.
In¯ation Ð Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the
inside of the trunk lid, shows the correct in¯ation
pressures for your tires when they're cold. ªColdº means
your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no more than 1 mile (1,6 km).
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Notice:Don't let anyone tell you that underin¯ation
or overin¯ation is all right. It's not. If your tires
don't have enough air (underin¯ation), you can get
the following:
·Too much ¯exing
·Too much heat
·Tire overloading
·Bad wear
·Bad handling
·Bad fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (overin¯ation), you
can get the following:
·Unusual wear
·Bad handling
·Rough ride
·Needless damage from road hazards
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don't forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can't tell if your tires are properly in¯ated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly in¯ated even when they're underin¯ated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
Tire Pressure Monitor System
If your vehicle has the tire in¯ation monitor system, it
can alert you to a large change in the pressure of
one tire. The system ªlearnsº the pressure at each tire
throughout the operating speed range of your vehicle.
The system normally takes between 45 and 90 minutes
of driving to learn the tire pressures. This time may
be longer depending on your individual driving habits.
Learning need not be accumulated during a single
trip. Once learned, the system will remember the tire
pressures until the system is recalibrated.
After the system has learned tire pressures with properly
in¯ated tires, the LOW TIRE light will come on if the
pressure in one tire becomes 12 psi (83 kPa) lower than
the other three tires. The tire in¯ation monitor system
won't alert you if the pressure in more than one tire is low,
if the system is not properly calibrated, or if the vehicle is
moving faster than 70 mph (110 km/h).
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The tire in¯ation monitor system detects differences in tire
rotation speeds that are caused by changes in tire
pressure. The system can alert you about a low tire ± but
it doesn't replace normal tire maintenance. See
Tires on
page 5-57.
When the LOW TIRE light comes on, you should stop
as soon as you can and check all your tires for damage.
(If a tire is ¯at, see
If a Tire Goes Flat on page 5-66.)
Also check the tire pressure in all four tires as soon as
you can. See
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure on page 5-57.
The LOW TIRE light will also be displayed (while
the ignition is on) until you reset (calibrate) the system.
Don't reset the tire in¯ation monitor system without
®rst correcting the cause of the problem and checking
and adjusting the pressure in all four tires. If you
reset the system when the tire pressures are incorrect,
the system will not work properly and may not alert
you when a tire is low.
Any time you adjust a tire's pressure, rotate your tires,
or have one or more tires repaired or replaced, you'll
need to reset (calibrate) the tire in¯ation monitor system.
You'll also need to reset the system whenever you
buy new tires and whenever the vehicle's battery has
been disconnected.To reset (calibrate) the system:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN.
2. Locate the red RESET button inside of your
instrument panel fuse block.
The fuse block is located under the cover labeled
FUSES, which is at the end of the instrument panel
on the passenger's side of the vehicle. The
RESET button is the ®rst button in the top row of
the fuse block.
3. Press and hold the RESET button for about ®ve
seconds.
The LOW TIRE light will come on and ¯ash three
times. Then it will go off. If the light doesn't go
off, see your dealer for service.
The system completes the calibration process during
driving.
The system normally takes 15 to 20 minutes of driving
in each of three speed ranges to ªlearnº tire pressures.
The speed ranges are 15 to 40 mph (25 to 65 km/h),
40 to 65 mph (65 to 105 km/h) and above 65 mph
(105 km/h). When learning is complete, the system will
alert you after two to eight minutes if a tire is 12 psi
(83 kPa) different from the other three tires. Detection
thresholds may be higher and detection times may
be longer on rough roads, curves and at high speeds.
The system is not capable of detection at speeds greater
than 70 mph (110 km/h).
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Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles (12 500 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires
as soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also
check for damaged tires or wheels. See
When It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-61andWheel Replacement
on page 5-64for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The ®rst rotation
is the most important. See ªPart A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services,º in Section 6, for scheduled
rotation intervals.When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don't include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear in¯ation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label.
Reset the Tire In¯ation Monitor System. See
Tire
Pressure Monitor System on page 5-58.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened.
See ªWheel Nut Torqueº under
Capacities and
Speci®cations on page 5-94.
5-60