BUICK CENTURY 1993 Owners Manual

Volts Gage (Option)
When your engine is not
running, but
the ignition is
on (in the “Run” position),
the gage shows your
battery’s state of charge
in
DC volts. When the engine
is running, the gage shows
the condition of the
charging system. Readings
between the red warning
zones indicate the normal
operating range.
Readings in either red
warning zone indicate a possible problem in the electrical
system. Have your vehicle serviced immediately.
Brake System Warning Light
Your Buick‘s hydraulic
brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still work and stop you. For
good braking, though, you
need both parts working
well.
If the warning light
goes on, there could be a
brake problem. Have your
brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on
as you start the vehicle. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
This light will also come on when you set your parking
brake, and will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving, pull
off the road and
stop carefully.
You may notice that the pedal is harder to
push. Or, the pedal may go closer to -the floor. It may take
longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed
for service. (See “Towing Your Buick” in the Index.)
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A CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake warning light is on.
Driving with the brake warning light on can
lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after
you’ve pulled
off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
---I
This light tells you that
your engine coolant has
overheated or your radiator
cooling
fan is not working.
If you have been operating
your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road,
stop your vehicle and
turn
the engine off as soon as
possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN
BURN YOU BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road:’ this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage (Option)
‘1 If you have the Gage
Cluster, you have a gage
that shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too
hot! That reading means the same thing as the warning
light. It means that your engine coolant has
overheated. If you have
been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your-
vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
Also, the temperature symbol on the gage will come on
when your engine is too hot.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road:’ this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
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X"' 1 r-l
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
A computer monitors
I operation of your fuel,
ignition and. emission
control systems. This light should come on when the
ignition is on, but the
engine is not running, as a
check to show
you it is
working.
If it does not
come on at all, have it fixed
right away.
If it stays on, or
it comes on while you are
driving, the computer is
I
indicating that you have a problem. You should take your
vehicle in
for service soon.
Liftgate Ajar Warning Light (Wagon)
.-
- The "TAILGATE AJAR"
~ light on your instrument
panel
will come on if your
I
TAI! GAY E
ALAR
liftgate is not completely
1 closed.
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Part 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this part you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control systems Ad audio systems offered with your Buick.
Be sure to read about the particular system supplied with your ve\
hicle.
Part 3 includes:
Comfort Control System ............................................................... .114
Airconditioner.. ......................................................................
ventilation ....................................................................... \
.w
Heater and Defroster ................................................................
Rear Wi.ndow Defogger ................................................................ w
Tape Player Contrds. .............................................................. .QO
CDPlayerControls... .................................................,............~3
Care of Cassette Tape Player & Tapes ................................................. .~9
Care of Compact Discs .............................................................. .no
Power Armma Mast Care ........................................................... -131
Audio systems ........................................................................\
. ufj
RadiocOntrOlS.... .....................................,,..............,...........118
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1
Your Buick Comfort Control
Syst m -
The air conditioner and heater work best if you keep
your windows closed while using them. Your vehicle
also
has the flow-through ventilation system described later in
this section.
Lever Controls: The upper lever changes the functions
of your system. The lower lever changes the temperature
of the air coming through the system.
3f : Selects the force of air you want.
Air Conditioning
The upper lever has three air conditioner settings. On
very hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
inside air escape.
This reduces the amount of work your
air conditioner's compressor
will have to do, which
should help fuel economy.
MAX: Provides maximum cooling with the least amount
of work. This setting recirculates much of the air inside
your vehicle
so it maximizes your air conditioner's
performance and
fuel economy.
NORM (Normal): Use for normal cooling on hot days.
This setting cools outside air and directs it through the
instrument panel outlets.
BI-LEV (Bi-Level): Use this on cool, but sunny days.
This setting brings in the outside air, but directs it in two\

ways. The cool air
is directed to the upper portion of
your body through the instrument panel
outlets, but
warmed air is directed through the heater ducts and
defroster vents. At times
this temperature difference may
be more apparent than others.
To turn the 5x1 off, move the upper lever to the OF'F position.
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The air conditioner compressor operates in all AIR COND
positions, and in DEF (Defrost) when the outside
temperature is above about 40°F (4.5"
C).
Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures, when little heating or
cooling is needed, slide the upper lever to
VENT. Air
flow is through the instrument panel outlets. Rotate the
control next to the outlets to turn on, adjust or
turn off
the air flow. Adjust the lower lever on the control panel
to the temperature desired.
Heating
When outside temperatures are cold, sliding the upper
lever to
HEATER and the lower lever to HOT will send
heated air through the heater ducts, and some through the
defroster vents.
VENT and HEAmR are labeled
ECONOMY positions because the air conditioner
compressor doesn't run
in these two settings. This
reduces engine load, resulting
in improved he1 economy.
If either setting fails to keep you comfortable, or causes
your windows
to fog up, slide the upper lever to one of
the
AIR COND positions, or to DEF (Defrost).
Defrosting
The DEF setting directs most of the air through the
defroster vents, and some through the heater ducts.
Defogging Windows with Four Season
Climate Control
To quickly defog the windshield, set the upper lever to
DEF and move the hn switch to HI. Slide the lower
lever
to HOT.
In damp, cool weather (temperatures about 45"-65"F,
7"- 18" C), you can use BI-LEV to defog the side windows.
Set the upper lever to
BI-LEV and the fan switch to HI.
Aim the side vents toward the side windows. For increased
air flow to the side vents, close the center vents.
Rear Window Defogger (Option)
--
The rear window defogger
uses
a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear
window.
In winter, it can
also keep ice from forming
on the rear window.
Press the
ON portion of the
switch. The indicator light
will glow. The rear window
defogger will
turn off
automatically after about
10
minutes of use. You can
also turn
it off by turning
off the ignition or pressing the
OFF portion of the
switch.
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Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license across the
defogger grid
on the rear window.
Flow-Through Ventilation System
Your Buick's flow-through .ventilation system supplies outside
air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside air
will
also enter the vehicle when the heater or the air
conditioning fan is running.
Ventilation Tips
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow, or
any other obstruction (such as leaves). The heater and
defroster will work
far better, reducing the chance of
fogging the inside of your windows.
blower fan to
HI for a few moments before driving off.
This helps ,clear the intake ducts of snow and moisture,
and reduces the chance of fogging the inside of your
windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, turn the This helps
air to circulate throughout your vehicle.
Audio Systems
The
following pages describe the audio systems available
for your Buick, and how to get the best performance
frorr
*hmm Please read about the system in your vehicle.
A CAUTION:
Hearing damage from loud noise is almost
undetectable until
it is too'late. Your hearing
can adapt to higher volumes of sound. Sound
that seems normal can be loud and harmful to
-3ur hearing. Take precautions by adjusting
..re volume control on your radio to a safe
sound level before your hearing adapts to
it.
To help avoid hearing loss or damage:
1. Adjust the volume control to the lowest
-. Increase volume slowly until you hear
setting.
comfortably and clearly.
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F'M Stereo
FM Stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals
will reach only about
10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall
buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing
the sound to come and go.
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,
especially at night. The longer range, however, can cause
stations
to inkfiere with each other. AM can also pick up
noise from things like storms and power lines.
To lower
this noise, try reducing the treble level.
AM Stereo
Your Delco@ system may be able to receive C-Quam@
stereo broadcasts. Many
AM stations around the country
use C-Quam* to produce stereo, though some do not.
C-Quam@ is a registered trademark
of Motorola, Inc. If
your Delco@ system can get C-Quam@ signals, your
stereo indicator light will come on when you are
receiving it.
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AM/F" Stereo Radio
r
J
The digital display indicates information on time or radio station frequency,
the AM or FM radio band, whether
the station is
in stereo, and other radio functions.
PWR (Power): Press to turn the radio on and off when
the ignition is on.
Upper Knob (VOL): This knob'does two things:
Rotate it to control the volume.
When the ignition is off, press the knob to display the
time.
BAL @dance): The control ring behind the upper knob
adjusts the lewright speaker balance.
Lower Knob (TUNE): This knob does two things:
Rotate it to tune in radio stations.
Press it to change between the AM and FM bands.
FADE: The control ring behind the lower knob adjusts
the front/rear speaker balance.
TREBLE: Slide this lever up to increase treble, or down
to decrease it.
If a station is weak or noisy, reduce the
treble.
BASS: Slide this lever up to increase bass, or down to
decrease it.
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