battery BUICK CENTURY 1993 User Guide

~ CAUTION (Contlnued)
1 Opien a wlndow Just a llttle on the side of the
vehlcie that’s
away fmm the wind. Thls will
help keep CO out.
I
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less
fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You
will need a well-charged battery to
restart
the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlights. Let the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat
this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel
as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out
of the vehicle and do some fhirly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
If You’re Stuck in Deep Snow
This manual explains how to get the vehicle out of deep
snow without damaging
it. See “Rocking Your Vehicle”
in the Index.
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Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the
side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to
start your
Buick.
But please follow the steps below to do it safely.
A CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangernus because:
@ They contain add that can burn you.
* They contain gas that can explode or Ignite.
9 They contaln enough mlectrielty to burn
If you don’t follow these step exactly, same or
all of these things can hurt you.
you.
To Jump Start Your Buick
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery
with
a negative ground system.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If ‘they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t
be able to
start your Buick, and the bad grounding could damage
the electrical
systems.
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‘
A CAUTION:
Mu could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set
the parking brake firmly
on each vehicle. Put
an automatic transaxle
in “P” (Park) or a
manual transaxle
in “N” (Neutral). I
3. ”urn off the igni;,,n on both vehicles. lwLLL all .,hts
that aren’t needed, and radios. This will avoid sparla
and help save both batteries. And it could save your radio!
If you leave your radio OI,, it could be badl,
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
I 1
A CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the
engine
is not running and can Injure you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools
away from any
underhood electric fan.
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Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
-
/1 CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause
battery gas to explode. People have been hurt
doing this, and some have been blinded.
Use a
flashlight If you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. Mu
don’t need to add water to the Delco
Freedom@ battery installed
in every new GM
vehicle. But if a battery has filler caps, be sure
the
right amount of fluid is there. If it is low,
add water to take care of that first. It you don’t,
explosive gas could be present.
Battery
fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you. Ifyou accidentally get it in
your
eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
-
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
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Before you connect the cables, here are some basic things
you should know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+) and
negative
(-) will go to negative (-) or a metal engine
part. Don’t connect
(+) to (-) or you’ll get a short that
would damage the battery and maybe other
parts, too.
/r CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can lnjum
you badly; Keep your hands away fmm mwlng
parts once the englnes are running.
6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the vehicle with the dead battery. Use a
remote positive
(+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
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3'.
7. Don't let the other end touch metal. Connect it
to the positive (+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
positive
(+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative
(-) cable to the
good battery's negative
(-) terminal.
Don't let the other end
touch anything until the
next step. The other end of
the negative cable
doesn't
go to the dead battery. It
goes to a heavy unpainted
metal part on the engine of
the vehicle with the dead
battery.
9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away from
the dead battery, but not near engine parts that move.
The electrical connection is just
as good there, but
the chance
of sparks getting back to the battery is
much less.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
U. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. the engine for a while.
If it won't start after a
few tries,
it probably needs
service.
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.
n
Part 6 Service and Appearance Care
. .
Here you will find information about the care of your Buick . This part begins with service and fuel information.
and then
it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels . There is also technical information about
your vehicle. and a section devoted to
its appearance care .
Part 6 includes:
Service ........................................................................\
..... 222
Fuel ........................................................................\
...... 223
HoodRelease ....................................................................... \
226
Engine Oil ........................................................................\
. 227
Aircleaner ........................................................................\
2.3
TransaxleFluid ..................................................................... 236
Enginecoolant ..................................................................... 239
Power Steering Fluid ................................................................. 241
Windshield Washer Fluid .............................................................. 242
Brakes ........................................................................\
.... 243
Battery ........................................................................\
.... 244
BulbReplacement ................................................................... 245
Tires ........................................................................\
...... 251
Loadingyourvehicle ................................................................. 249
Appearancecare .................................................................... 258
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), Add-on Electrical Equipment ............................ 265
Capacities and Specifications .......................................................... -270
Fuses&CircuitBreakers .............................................................. 266
ReplacementBulbs .................................................................... 269
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Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well’
together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
‘parts in them, as your Buick does when it is new. When
you replace parts of your braking system-for example,
when your brake linings wear down and you have to have
new ones put in-be sure you get new genuine
GM
replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example, if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the balance
between your front and rear brakes can change, for the worse. The braking performance you’ve come to expect
I
can change in many other ways if someone puts in the
wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Every new Buick has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have
to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom*
battery. Get one
that has the catalog number shown on
the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not ‘going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
more,
take off the black, negative (-) cable from the
battery. This will help keep your battery from running
down.
A CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode.
Ybu can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See “Jump Starting” in the ldex for tips on working around a battery
without getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
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Brake Fluid ................................ .243. 292
Electrical Equipment
..................... .75. 117. 265
Engine Coolant
................ .195. 239. 270. 272. 292
Engine Oil
........................ .227. 270. 272. 292
Sound Equipment
................................ 117
Power Steering Fluid
................ .241. 271. 273. . 292
Transaxle Fluid
.................... .236. 271. 273. 292
Windshield Washer Fluid
.................... .242. 293
AirBag(S1R)
..................................... 35
Air Cleaner
............................. .233. 271. 273
Air Conditioner
.......................... .114. 270. 272
Alcohol in Gasoline
................................ 223
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
........................ 262
Antenna Care
..................................... 131
Antifreeze
.......................... .239. 270. 272. 292
Ashtrays and Lighter
............................... 104
Audiosystems
.................................... 116
AM/FM Stereo Radio
............................. 118
Alcohol. Driving Under the Influence
of
............... 143
Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials
....... .258. 264
AM/FM Stereo Radio with Cassette Player
............ EO
AM/FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player ............ 123
Care
of Audio Systems ............................ 129 Radio Reception. Understanding
.............. 117
Setting the Clock
.................. .118. 121. 124
Automatic Door Locks
........................ 66
Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt (see “Safety Belts”)
Automatic Transaxle Adding Fluid
................ .236. 271. 273. 292
Checking Fluid
........................... 236
Shifting
.................................. 77
Starting Your Engine
........................ 74
Batteries. Remote Lock Control
............... 66
Battery
.................................... 244
Jump Starting
............................. 185
Warnings
....................... .185, 186, 244
Battery Warning Light
........................ 108
Blizzard
................................... 173
Block Heater, Engine
.................... .76, 232
Blowout, Tire
............................... 205
Brake Adjustment
............................... 149
Fluid ............................... 243, 292
Master Cylinder
.......................... 243
Parking
.................................. 80
307
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Clock. Setting the ......................... .118. 121. 124
Comfort Controls
Air Conditioning
................................. 114
Heating
............... .. ........................ 115
Ventilation
................................. .ll5. 116
Your Buick Comfort Control System
................. 114
Compact Disc Care
................................ 130
Compact Spare Tire ....................... .205. 215. 218
Compartment. Rear Locking Storage
.................. 103
Control of a Vehicle
................................ 146
Convenience Net
.................................. 101
Convex Outside Mirror
.............................. 99
Coolant (See “Engine Coolant”)
Courtesy Lights
.................................... 98
Cruisecontrol
..................................... 91
CupHolder
...................................... 103
Curves. Driving on
................................ 150
Customer Assistance Information ..................... 299
DaytimeR-ngLights
........................... 96
Dead Battery: What to Do
........................... 185
Defensive Driving
................................. 142
Defogger. Rear Window
............................. 115
Defogging Your Windows
............................ 115
Defrosting ........................................ 115
Dimensions
....................................... 269
Doing Your Own Service Work
...................... 222
DoorLoc
ks ....................................... 65
Downshifting
.................................. .79, 167
Driver Position .................................... 30
AtNight
....................................... 155
City .......................................... 162
Controlling a Skid
............................... 154
Defensively
.................................... 142
Drunken
........................................ 143
Freeway
....................................... 163
Hill and Mountain
............................... 166
Hydroplaning
................................... 159
In a Foreign Country
............................. 224
In Fog, Mist and Haze ............................ 160
IntheRain
..................................... 158
LongDistance .................................. 164
Loss of Control ................................. 154
OnCurves
..................................... 150
On Snow or Ice ................................. 172
Passing
......................................... 152
Through Deep Standing Water
....................... 76
Winter Driving
................................... 171
Drunken Driving
.................................. 143
Electrical Equipment,
Adding
................................. 75, 117, 265
Emergencies, Braking in
............................ 149
Emergencies on the Road
........................... 183
Emergencies, Steering in
............................ 151
EmergencyStarting
................................ 185
Emergency Towing ..... .......................... 189
Engine Block Heater
........................... .76, 232
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Warnings ...................................... 225
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ........................... 266
Gages Battery
......................................... 109
Coolant Temperature
............................. 110
Fuel
.......................................... 107
Gasoline
........................................ 223
Gasoline Tank. Filling Your
................ .225. 270. 272
Gear Positions (see “Shifting the Transaxle”) Gearshift Lever
(see “Shifting the Transaxle”)
GloveBox
........................................ 71
Halogen Bulbs ............................ .245. 269
Hazard Warning Flashers
........................... 184
Headlight
& Taillight. Removing and Replacing . .245. 247. 269
Headlights
........................................ 95
High-Low Beam Changer
.......................... 88
Instrument Panel Light Intensity Control ............... 95
“0n”Warning
................................... 96
Replacement Bulb ............................... 269
Head Restraints
.................................... 17
Hearing or Speech Impaired
......................... 301
Heater (see “Comfort Controls”)
Heater, Engine Block
.......................... .76. 232
HighBeams
................................... 88, 157
Highway Hypnosis ................................. 165
Wiring
........................................ 268 HillandMountainRoads
............................ 166
Hills. Parking on ............................. .168. 180
Hood Release .................................... 226
Safety Warning
............................ .226. 227
Warning. Overheated Engine
.............. .195. 200. 202
Horn ............................................ 86
Hot Engine. Safety Warnings
............... .195. 200. 202
Hydroplaning ..................................... 159
Identification Number. Vehicle
...................... 265
Idling Your Engine
................................. 82
If You’re Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow ............. 219
Ignition Key
........................................... 64
Positions ....................................... 73
Indicator Lights
(see “Warning Lights”)
Infant Restraint (see “Child Restraints”)
Inflation. Tires
................................... 252
Inside Rearview Mirror
.............................. 98
Instrument Panel .................................. 105
Instrument Panel Warning Lights ...................... 106
...................................... J ack. Ti re 205
Jump Starting
..................................... 185
Keyless Entry System
............................. 66
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Keys ............................................ 64
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