BUICK CENTURY 2005 Owner's Manual

Flat Tire Change:Installation of a spare tire will be
covered at no charge. The customer is responsible
for the repair or replacement of the tire if not covered
by a warrantable failure.
Jump Start:No-start occurrences which require a
battery jump start will be covered at no charge.
Dealer Locator Service
In many instances, mechanical failures are covered
under Buick’s Bumper-to-Bumper warranty. However,
when other services are utilized, our Roadside
Assistance Representatives will explain any payment
obligations you might incur.
For prompt and efficient assistance when calling,
please provide the following to the Roadside
Assistance Representative:
Your name, home address, and home
telephone number.
Telephone number of your location.
Location of the vehicle.
Model, year, color, and license plate number.
Mileage, Vehicle Identication Number, and delivery
date of the vehicle.
Description of the problem.While we hope you never have the occasion to use our
service, it is added security while traveling for you
and your family. Remember, we are only a phone call
away. Buick Roadside Assistance: 1-800-252-1112,
text telephone (TTY) users, call 1-888-889-2438.
Buick reserves the right to limit services or
reimbursement to an owner or driver when, in Buick’s
judgement, the claims become excessive in frequency or
type of occurrence.
Roadside Assistance is not part of or included in the
coverage provided by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Buick reserves the right to make any changes or
discontinue the Roadside Assistance program at any
time without notication.
Canadian Roadside Assistance
Vehicles purchased in Canada have an extensive
roadside assistance program accessible from anywhere
in Canada or the United States. Please refer to the
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information book.
7-7

Courtesy Transportation
Buick has always exemplied quality and value in its
offering of motor vehicles. To enhance your ownership
experience, we and our participating dealers are
proud to offer Courtesy Transportation, a customer
support program for new vehicles.
The Courtesy Transportation program is offered to
retail purchase/lease customers in conjunction with the
Bumper-to-Bumper coverage provided by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty. Several transportation options
are available when warranty repairs are required. This will
reduce your inconvenience during warranty repairs.
Scheduling Service Appointments
When your vehicle requires warranty service, you should
contact your dealer and request an appointment.
By scheduling a service appointment and advising your
service consultant of your transportation needs, your
dealer can help minimize your inconvenience.
If your vehicle cannot be scheduled into the service
department immediately, keep driving it until it can be
scheduled for service, unless, of course, the problem is
safety-related. If it is, please call your dealership, let
them know this, and ask for instructions.
If the dealer requests that you simply drop the vehicle
off for service, you are urged to do so as early in
the work day as possible to allow for same day repair.
Transportation Options
Warranty service can generally be completed while you
wait. However, if you are unable to wait Buick helps
minimize your inconvenience by providing several
transportation options. Depending on the circumstances,
your dealer can offer you one of the following:
Shuttle Service
Participating dealers can provide you with shuttle
service to get to your destination with minimal
interruption of your daily schedule. This includes a
one way or round trip shuttle ride to a destination
up to 10 miles from the dealership.
Public Transportation or Fuel
Reimbursement
If your vehicle requires overnight warranty repairs,
reimbursement, ve days maximum, may be available
for the use of public transportation such a s taxi or bus.
In addition, should you arrange transportation through
a friend or relative, reimbursement for reasonable
fuel expenses, ve day maximum, may be available.
Claim amounts should reect actual costs and be
supported by original receipts.
7-8

Courtesy Rental Vehicle
Your dealer may arrange to provide you with a courtesy
rental vehicle or reimburse you for a rental vehicle
you obtained if your vehicle is kept for a warranty repair.
Reimbursement will be limited to a maximum of $30 a
day and must be supported by receipts. This requires
that you sign and complete a rental agreement and meet
state, local and rental vehicle provider requirements.
Requirements vary and may include minimum age
requirements, insurance coverage, credit card, etc.
You are responsible for taxes, levies, usage fees,
excessive mileage or rental usage beyond the
completion of the repair.
Generally it is not possible to provide a like-vehicle as
a courtesy rental.
Additional Program Information
Courtesy Transportation is available during the
Bumper-to-Bumper warranty coverage period, but it is
not part of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
A separate booklet entitled Warranty and Owner
Assistance Information furnished with each new vehicle
provides detailed warranty coverage information.
Courtesy Transportation is available only at participating
dealers and all program options, such as shuttle
service, may not be available at every dealer. Please
contact your dealer for specic information about
availability. All Courtesy Transportation arrangements
will be administered by appropriate dealer personnel.Canadian Vehicles:For warranty repairs during the
Complete Vehicle Coverage period of the General
Motors of Canada New Vehicle Limited Warranty,
alternative transportation may be available under the
Courtesy Transportation Program. Please consult
your dealer for details.
General Motors reserves the right to unilaterally modify,
change or discontinue Courtesy Transportation at
any time and to resolve all questions of claim eligibility
pursuant to the terms and conditions described
herein at its sole discretion.
Vehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders
Your vehicle, like other modern motor vehicles, has a
number of sophisticated computer systems that monitor
and control several aspects of the vehicle’s
performance. Your vehicle uses on-board vehicle
computers to monitor emission control components to
optimize fuel economy, to monitor conditions for air bag
deployment and, if so equipped, to provide anti-lock
braking and to help the driver control the vehicle
in difficult driving situations. Some information may be
stored during regular operations to facilitate repair
of detected malfunctions; other information is stored only
in a crash event by computer systems commonly
called event data recorders (EDR).
7-9

In a crash event, computer systems, such as the Air
Bag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) in your
vehicle may record information about the condition of
the vehicle and how it was operated, such as data
related to engine speed, brake application, throttle
position, vehicle speed, safety belt usage, air bag
readiness, air bag performance, and the severity of a
collision. This information has been used to improve
vehicle crash performance and may be used to improve
crash performance of future vehicles and driving
safety. Unlike the data recorders on many airplanes,
these on-board systems do not record sounds, such as
conversation of vehicle occupants.
To read this information, special equipment is needed
and access to the vehicle or the SDM is required.
GM will not access information about a crash event or
share it with others other than:
with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee,
in response to an official request of police or similar
government office,
as part of GM’s defense of litigation through the
discovery process, or
as required by law.In addition, once GM collects or receives data, GM may:
use the data for GM research needs,
make it available for research where appropriate
condentiality is to be maintained and need is
shown, or
share summary data which is not tied to a
specic vehicle with non-GM organizations for
research purposes.
Others, such as law enforcement, may have access to
the special equipment that can read the information
if they have access to the vehicle or SDM.
If your vehicle is equipped with OnStar
®, please check
the OnStar®subscription service agreement or manual
for information on its operations and data collection.
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.
7-10

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
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in
a situation like this, we certainly hope you will notify us.
Please call us at 1-800-521-7300, or write:
Buick Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33136
Detroit, MI 48232-5136
In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications
Ordering Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle, suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $120.00
7-11

Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer
Case Unit Repair Manual
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments, and specications for GM
transmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $50.00
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give technical service information
needed to knowledgeably service General Motors cars
and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to
assist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle.
In Canada, information pertaining to Product
Service Bulletins can be obtained by contacting
your General Motors dealer or by calling
1-800-GM-DRIVE (1-800-463-7483).
Owner’s Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner’s manual will include
the Maintenance Schedule for all models.In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Service Publications are available for current and
past model GM vehicles. To request an order form,
please specify year and model name of the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P. O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
7-12

A
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-90
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18
Air Conditioning......................................3-18, 3-21
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-31
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)......... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-49
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-55
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-58
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-55
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates?........................................1-56
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-54
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-52
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-66
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-33
Appearance Care............................................5-82
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-87
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-85
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-88
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-86
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-82
Finish Care.................................................5-86
Finish Damage............................................5-88
Glass Surfaces............................................5-85Appearance Care (cont.)
Instrument Panel.........................................5-85
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-85
Leather......................................................5-84
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-88
Tires..........................................................5-87
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-88
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-89
Vinyl..........................................................5-84
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-86
Weatherstrips..............................................5-85
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-87
Ashtrays........................................................3-18
Audio System(s).............................................3-44
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-63
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-65
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-66
Care of Your CDs........................................3-66
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-66
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-66
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-53
Radio with CD............................................3-45
Setting the Time..........................................3-44
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-63
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-64
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-21
1

B
Battery..........................................................5-39
Run-Down Protection...................................3-17
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-7
Emergencies................................................ 4-9
Parking......................................................2-24
System Warning Light..................................3-32
Brakes..........................................................5-36
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-17
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-47
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-51
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-49
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps.............5-48
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-47
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-45
Headlamps.................................................5-47
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-51
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-50
Buying New Tires...........................................5-64
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications............................5-96Carbon Monoxide...................2-12, 2-27, 4-26, 4-38
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-85
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-65
Your CD Player...........................................3-66
Your CDs ...................................................3-66
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-49
Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts.............1-20
Chains, Tire...................................................5-68
Charging System Light....................................3-32
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-36
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-88
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-33
Infants and Young Children...........................1-30
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-40
Older Children.............................................1-27
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-42
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Rear Seat Position...................................1-44
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position...............................1-42
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-46
Top Strap...................................................1-37
2

Child Restraints (cont.)
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-39
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-36
Chime Level Adjustment..................................3-66
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-18
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-87
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-86
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-82
Finish Care.................................................5-86
Glass Surfaces............................................5-85
Instrument Panel.........................................5-85
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-85
Leather......................................................5-84
Tires..........................................................5-87
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-88
Vinyl..........................................................5-84
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-86
Weatherstrips..............................................5-85
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-87
Climate Control System
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-26
Dual..........................................................3-18
Dual Automatic............................................3-21
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-26
Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt.....................1-24
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-81Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-6
Convenience Net............................................2-33
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-35
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-35
Heater, Engine............................................2-20
Cooling System..............................................5-27
Cornering Lamps............................................3-15
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-15
Cruise Control Lever.......................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-41
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-8
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..............................7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
3

D
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic
Headlamp System.......................................3-14
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Entry Lighting.....................................3-16
Delayed Exit Lighting.......................................3-17
Delayed Headlamps........................................3-13
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp...................................................3-16
Door
Locks........................................................2-10
Power Door Locks.......................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-11
Trunk Ajar Warning Light..............................3-42
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-12
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-16
City...........................................................4-20
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-3
Freeway.....................................................4-21
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-24
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-17
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-31
Winter........................................................4-26
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-21
Dual Climate Control System............................3-18
E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-90
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-91
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-91
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-91
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-91
Underhood Fuse Block.................................5-94
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-91
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-18
Battery.......................................................5-39
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-40
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-36
Coolant......................................................5-22
Coolant Heater............................................2-20
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-35
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-35
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-15
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-27
Oil .............................................................5-13
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-26
Overheating................................................5-25
Starting......................................................2-19
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)........................ 4-9
Warning Light.............................................3-34
Entry Lighting.................................................3-16
4