steering BUICK CENTURY 2005 Owner's Manual

Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.The right front passenger’s frontal air bag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
1-52

If your vehicle has one, the driver’s side impact air bag is
in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the bag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an airbag,
and do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering. Do not let seat covers block
the ination path of a side impact airbag.
1-53

A driver’s side impact air bag is not designed to inate in
frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts,
because ination would not likely help the occupant.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
For frontal air bags, ination is determined by the angle
of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down
in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact
air bags, ination is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.
What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both
the frontal and side impact airbags, the sensing system
triggers a release of gas from the inator, which
inates the airbag. The inator, airbag and related
hardware are all part of the airbag modules. Frontal
airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel
and instrument panel. For vehicles with a driver’s
side impact airbag, the airbag modules are located in
the seatback closest to the driver’s door.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The airbag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal airbags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion
is not toward the airbag. A side impact airbag would not
help you in many types of collisions, including frontal
or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
that airbag. Airbags should never be regarded as
anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and
then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
collisions for the driver’s and right front passenger’s
frontal airbags, and only in moderate to severe
side collisions for vehicles with a driver’s side
impact airbag.
1-55

What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates?
After the airbag inates, it quickly deates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the airbag
inated. Some components of the airbag module – the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s airbag, the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, the
side of the seatback closest to the door for the driver’s
side impact airbag – will be hot for a short time.
The parts of the bag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will
be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deated airbags. Airbag ination does not prevent
the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle,
nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
can not get out of the vehicle after an airbag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag deployment,
you should seek medical attention.
1-56

In many crashes severe enough to inate an airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from
the right front passenger airbag.
Airbags are designed to inate only once. After an
airbag inates, you will need some new parts for
your airbag system. If you do not get them,
the airbag system will not be there to help protect
you in another crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly other parts. The
service manual for your vehicle covers the need to
replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records information after
a crash. SeeVehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders on page 7-9.
Let only qualied technicians work on your airbag
systems. Improper service can mean that an
airbag system will not work properly. See your
dealer for service.Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s airbag, or the airbag
covering on the driver’s seatback, the bag may
not work properly. You may have to replace
the airbag module in the steering wheel, both the
airbag module and the instrument panel for the right
front passenger’s airbag, or the airbag module
and seatback for the driver’s side impact airbag.
Do not open or break the air bag coverings.
1-57

Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the ignition, the key can be
turned to ve different positions:
A (ACCESSORY):This position lets the radio and
windshield wipers operate when the engine is off.
To use ACCESSORY, push in the key and turn
it counterclockwise.B (LOCK):This is the only position in which the ignition
key can be inserted or removed. This position locks
the ignition and transaxle. It is a theft-deterrent feature.
Notice:If your key seems stuck in LOCK and
you can not turn it, be sure you are using the correct
key; if so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. Turn the key only with your hand. Using a
tool to force it could break the key or the ignition
switch. If none of these works, then your vehicle
needs service.
C (OFF):In this position the engine is off. Use the
OFF position if the vehicle must be pushed or towed.
D (RUN):This position is where the key returns to after
the vehicle is started. This position displays some of
the warning and indicator lights.
E (START):This position starts the engine.
A warning chime will sound when the driver’s door is
opened if the ignition is in OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY
and the key is in the ignition.
2-18

Automatic Transaxle Operation
The shift lever for the automatic transaxle is on the
steering column.
The ignition positions are displayed on the instrument
panel cluster and will indicate the gear the vehicle is in.
Maximum engine speed is limited on automatic
transaxle vehicles when they are in PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) to protect driveline components from
improper operation.There are several different positions for the shift lever.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always set
your parking brake and move the shift lever
to PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 2-25. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-38.
PARK (P): This position locks the vehicle’s front
wheels. It is the best position to use when the engine is
started because the vehicle cannot move easily.
2-21

Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-36
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-40
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-40
Security Light...............................................3-41
Cruise Control Light......................................3-41
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.....................3-41
Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light........................3-42
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-42
Fuel Gage...................................................3-42
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-43Audio System(s).............................................3-44
Setting the Time...........................................3-44
Radio with CD..............................................3-45
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-53
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-63
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-63
Radio Reception...........................................3-64
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-65
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-66
Care of Your CD Player................................3-66
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-66
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-66
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-13.
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-29.
D. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
E. Audio Steering Wheel Controls. SeeAudio Steering
Wheel Controls on page 3-63.
F. Gear Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transaxle
Operation on page 2-21.
G. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-26.H. Side Window Defogger Outlet.
I. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-11.
J. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-6.
K. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
L. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-44.
M. Ashtray. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette Lighter on
page 3-18.
N. Climate Control. SeeDual Climate Control System
on page 3-18.
O. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-33.
P. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-91.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will ash on and off.
The hazard warning asher
button is located on top of
the steering column.
Your hazard warning ashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key is not in.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, your turn
signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on your steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you drive. You can raise the steering wheel to
the highest level to give your legs more room when you
enter and exit the vehicle.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of the steering column.
To tilt the wheel, hold the
wheel and pull the lever.
Then move the wheel
to a comfortable position
and release the lever
to lock the wheel in place.
3-6