BUICK CENTURY 1993 Owners Manual

3300 V6 Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
(A) Coolant recovery tank
(B) Radiator pressure cap
(C) Electric engine fan
I A CAUTION:
An electrlc fan under the hood can start up
even when the englne Is not running and can
injure
YOU. Ksep hands, clothing and twls
away from any underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don’t do anything else until it cools down.
ProCarManuals.com

The coolant should be at or slightly above the “FULL
HOT” mark. If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the
radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
A CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very
hot. Don’t touch them. If
you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t
run the engine if there __ a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine fire, and you could be
burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, check to see if the electric
engine
fan is running. If the engine is overheating, the fhn
should
be running. If it isn’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tl[)ank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t above
“ADD:’ add a 50/50 mixture of clean water
(preferably distilled) and the proper antifreeze at the
coolant recovery
tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the Index
for more information about the proper coolant mix.)
200
ProCarManuals.com

All Cooling Systems
A CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your c.ooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix will. Your vehicle's coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mix.
With plain water or the wrong mix, your
engine could get too hot but you wouldn't get
the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch
fire and you or others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mix of clean water and a proper
antifreeze.
I
I
A CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene
glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on
a hot engine. I
201
ProCarManuals.com

When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or
above
the “FULL HOT” mark, start your vehicle. If the
overheat
warning continues, there’s one more thing you
can try. You can add the proper coolant mix directly to
the radiator, but be sure the cooling system is cool before
you do it.
I
/i CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator
pllessure cap--even a little-they can -me
out at hlgh speed. NeAler turn the cap when
the cwllng qstern, Including the radiator
pressure
cap, is hot. Wait tor the cooling
system and radiator pressure cap to cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.
202
ProCarManuals.com

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
F
1. You can remove the
radiator pressure cap
when the cooling system,
including
the radiator
pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no
longer hot. Turn the
pressure cap slowly to
the left until it first stops. (Don’t press down while
turning the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait
for that to stop.
A hiss
means there
is still some pressure left. I
I
! 1 I
A
2. Then keep turning the
pressure cap, but now
push down as you turn
it. Remove the pressure
cap.
I’d 3. Fill the radiator with the
proper
mix, up to the
base
of the filler neck.
4. Then ffl the coolant
recovery
tank to the
“FULL HOT” mark.
J
= 203
ProCarManuals.com

i
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.
k
6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine fan.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator filler
neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add more of
the proper mix through the filler neck until the level
reaches the base
of the filler neck.
204
ProCarManuals.com

8. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure
the
arrows on the pressure
cap line up like this.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air
goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly. But
if you should ever have a “blowout:’ here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip
the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a
stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a skid.
In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle
to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.
If your tire goes flat; the next section shows how to use
your jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage ~y
driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
A CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over you
or other people. You and they could be badly injured. Find a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in “P” (Park).
3. Turn off the engine.
CAUTION (Continued)
205
ProCarManuals.com

CAUTION (Continued)
To be even more certain the vehicle won't
move, you can put chocks at the front and rear
of the tire farthest away from the one being
changed. That would be the tire on the other
side of the vehicle, at the opposite end.
I
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
Some steps apply to all models, others
to just the Century
coupe or sedan or to the Century wagon.
Follow the
steps listed for your vehicle.
Century Coupe or Sedan
The equipment you'll need is stored in the trunk.
1. Pull the carpeting from the floor of the trunk.
2. Turn the center retainer bolt on the compact spare tire
housing counterclockwise to remove it, then lift the
tire cover.
206
ProCarManuals.com

P). ,
3. Lift off the jack and remove the spare tire.
4. Remove the wheel wrench from the bag.
Century Wagon
The equipment you’ll need is stored in the rear of your
vehicle, behind the spare
tire cover.
207
ProCarManuals.com

To remove the spare tire cover:
1. Fold down the third seat, if so equipped. Then release
the housing that covers the spare tire by carefully
pushing in on the top edge
of the cover.
2. Slide the spare tire cover back while lifting it up and
out
of the lower track.
208
ProCarManuals.com