tow BUICK CENTURY 2003 Service Manual

5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground for the spare compact tire to ®t underneath
the wheel well.
6. Remove all wheel nuts and take off the ¯at tire.7. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
the places where the wheel attaches to the
vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a cloth
or a paper towel to do this; but be sure to use
a scraper or wire brush later, if you need to, to
get all the rust or dirt off.
5-73

{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If
you do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel
could fall off, causing a serious accident.
8. Install the compact spare tire.
Put the wheel nuts back
on with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each nut by
hand until the wheel is
held against the hub.9. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
5-74

Here are some cleaning tips:
·Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
·Clean up stains as soon as you can ± before
they set.
·Carefully scrape off any excess stain.
·Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean
area often. A soft brush may be used if stains are
stubborn.
·If a ring forms on fabric after spot cleaning, clean
the entire area immediately or it will set.
Using Cleaner on Fabric
1. Vacuum and brush the area to remove any loose
dirt.
2. Always clean a whole trim panel or section. Mask
surrounding trim along stitch or welt lines.
3. Follow the directions on the container label.
4. Apply cleaner with a clean sponge. Don't saturate
the material and don't rub it roughly.
5. As soon as you've cleaned the section, use a
sponge to remove any excess cleaner.
6. Wipe cleaned area with a clean, water-dampened
towel or cloth.
7. Wipe with a clean cloth and let dry.
Special Fabric Cleaning Problems
Stains caused by such things as catsup, coffee (black),
egg, fruit, fruit juice, milk, soft drinks, vomit, urine
and blood can be removed as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the
soiled area with cool water.
2. If a stain remains, follow the cleaner instructions
described earlier.
3. If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine, treat
the area with a water/baking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml)
of lukewarm water.
4. Let dry.
Stains caused by candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chili
sauce and unknown stains can be removed as follows:
1. Carefully scrape off excess stain.
2. Clean with cool water and allow to dry completely.
3. If a stain remains, follow the cleaner instructions
described earlier.
5-80

Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{CAUTION:
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them. In a crash, they
might not be able to provide adequate
protection. Clean safety belts only with mild
soap and lukewarm water.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every six
months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent
application may be required. See
Part D: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-16.
Cleaning the Outside of Your
Vehicle
The paint ®nish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle's ®nish is to keep it
clean by washing it often with lukewarm or cold water.
Don't wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Use a car washing soap. Don't use strong soaps
or chemical detergents. Be sure to rinse the vehicle
well, removing all soap residue completely. You can get
GM-approved cleaning products from your dealer.
See
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials on page 5-85.
Don't use cleaning agents that are petroleum based,
or that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agents
should be ¯ushed promptly and not allowed to dry on the
surface, or they could stain. Dry the ®nish with a soft,
clean chamois or an all-cotton towel to avoid surface
scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter
your vehicle.
5-82

Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with
mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel. A wax
may then be applied.
The surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface of your vehicle. Don't use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners,
cleaners with acid, or abrasive cleaning brushes on
them because you could damage the surface. Do not
use chrome polish on aluminum wheels.
Don't take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
that has silicone carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can also damage the surface of these wheels.
Cleaning Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with tire cleaner.
Notice:When applying a tire dressing, always take
care to wipe off any overspray or splash from all
painted surfaces on the body or wheels of the
vehicle. Petroleum-based products may damage the
paint ®nish and tires.
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Original manufacturer replacement parts will provide the
corrosion protection while maintaining the warranty.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the
®nish should be repaired right away. Bare metal
will corrode quickly and may develop into major repair
expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials avaliable from your dealer. Larger areas of
®nish damage can be corrected in your dealer's
body and paint shop.
5-84

30,000 Miles (50 000 km)
qReplace passenger compartment air ®lter. If you
drive regularly under dusty conditions, the ®lter
may require replacement more often.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote .) (See footnote +.)
qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-18for more information.An Emission Control Service.
37,500 Miles (62 500 km)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote .) (See footnote +.)
45,000 Miles (75 000 km)
qInspect engine air cleaner ®lter. If necessary, replace
the ®lter. If vehicle is driven in dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect ®lter at every engine oil change. See
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-18for more information.An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qReplace passenger compartment air ®lter. If you drive
regularly under dusty conditions, the ®lter may require
replacement more often.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote .) (See footnote +.)
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
qChange automatic transaxle ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or
higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the ¯uid and ®lter at 100,000 miles
(166 000 km).
6-7

90,000 Miles (150 000 km)
qReplace passenger compartment air ®lter. If you
drive regularly under dusty conditions, the ®lter
may require replacement more often.
qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter. See
Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-18for more information.An Emission Control Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote .) (See footnote +.)
97,500 Miles (162 500 km)
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote .) (See footnote +.)
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
qInspect spark plug wires.An Emission Control
Service.
qReplace spark plugs.An Emission Control Service.
qChange automatic transaxle ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC)
or higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
qIf you haven't used your vehicle under severe service
conditions listed previously and, therefore, haven't
changed your automatic transaxle ¯uid, change both
the ¯uid and ®lter.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
qDrain, ¯ush and re®ll cooling system (or every
60 months since last service, whichever occurs ®rst).
See
Engine Coolant on page 5-23for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure
cap and neck. Pressure test the cooling system
and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
qInspect engine accessory drive belt.An Emission
Control Service.
6-9

GM Mobility Program for Persons
with Disabilities
This program, available to
quali®ed applicants, can
reimburse you up to $1,000
toward aftermarket driver or
passenger adaptive
equipment you may require
for your vehicle (hand
controls, wheelchair/
scooter lifts, etc.).
This program can also provide you with free resource
information, such as area driver assessment centers and
mobility equipment installers. The program is available
for a limited period of time from the date of vehicle
purchase/lease. See your dealer for more details or call
the GM Mobility Assistance Center at 1-800-323-9935.
Text telephone (TTY) users, call 1-800-833-9935.
GM of Canada also has a Mobility Program. Call
1-800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for details. All TTY users
call 1-800-263-3830.
Roadside Assistance Program
Buick Motor Division is proud to offer Buick Premium
Roadside Assistance to customers for vehicles covered
under the 3 year/36,000 mile (60 000 km) new car
warranty (whichever occurs ®rst).
Our commitment to Buick owners has always included
superior service through our network of Buick dealers.
Buick Premium Roadside Assistance provides an
extra measure of convenience and security.
Buick's Roadside Assistance toll-free number is staffed
by a team of technically trained advisors, who are
available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
We take anxiety out of uncertain situations by providing
minor repair information over the phone or making
arrangements to tow your vehicle to the nearest Buick
dealer.
We will provide the following services for
3 years/36,000 miles (60 000 km), at no expense to you:
·Fuel delivery
·Lock-out service (identi®cation required)
·Tow to nearest dealership for warranty service
·Change a ¯at tire
·Jump starts
7-6

Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could
cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to notifying
General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it ®nds that a safety defect exists in
a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer or
General Motors.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety
Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in
the Washington, D.C. area) or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from the hotline.
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to:
Transport Canada
330 Sparks Street
Tower C
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
7-10

Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities................................................ 7-6
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government............................................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
D
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic Headlamp
System......................................................3-12
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.................................3-19
Delayed Entry Lighting.....................................3-14
Delayed Exit Lighting.......................................3-15
Delayed Headlamps........................................3-13
Delayed Locking............................................... 2-7
Dinghy Towing................................................4-32Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature.................3-49
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-3
Dolly Towing..................................................4-33
Dome Lamp...................................................3-15
Door.............................................................2-10
Locks........................................................2-10
Power Door Locks.......................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-11
Trunk Ajar Warning Light..............................3-36
Driver............................................................1-12
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-12
Driving On Grades..........................................4-40
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-27
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-20
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-20
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-39
Driving..........................................................4-16
At Night.....................................................4-16
City...........................................................4-21
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-3
Freeway.....................................................4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-24
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-18
Winter........................................................4-26
Dual Climate Control System............................3-17
4