check engine BUICK CENTURY 1993 Owner's Manual

Section B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which should be performed at the intervals specified to help
ensure the safety, dependability and emission control
performance of your vehicle. Be
sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown in
Section
D.
At Each Fuel Fill (It is important for you or a service station attendant to perform these undechd checks at each fuel fill.)
CHECK
I OR SERVICE I WHAT TO DO
Engine Oil Level
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if necessar\
y. See “Engine Oil” in the
Index for further details.
Engine Coolant Level Check the engine coolant level in the coolant recovery tank and add \
the proper coolant mix
I if necessary. See “Engine Coolant” in the Index for furth\
er details. I
Windshield Washer Check the windshield washer fluid level in th\
e windshield washer tank and add the proper
Fluid Level
I fluid if necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in the \
Index for further details. I
At Least Once a Month
CHECK
I OR SERVICE I WHAT TO DO
Tire Inflation Check tire inflation. Make sure they are inflate\
d to the pressures specified on the Tire-
Loading Information label located on the rear edge of the driv\
er’s door. See “Tires”
in the
Index
for further details.
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At Least Once a Year
CHECK
OR SERVICE I WHAT TO DO
I
Key Lock Cylinders I Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant specified in Section D.
Body Lubrication Lubricate all body door hinges. Also lubricate all hinges and \
latches, including those for the
hood, glove box door and console door. Section
D tells you what to use. I
Starter Switch
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could move suddenly\
. If it does,
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake (see “Parking Brake” \
in the Index if necessary) and
NOTE: Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to turn off the engine immediately if
it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The starter should work onl\
y in “P” (Park) or “N”
the regular brake.
(Neutral). If the starter works in any other position, your \
vehicle needs service.
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CHECK
OR SERVICE WHAT TO DO
Steering Column While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn the key to “LOCK’ in each shift
Lock lever position.
The key should turn to “LOCK’ only when the shift lever is in “P” (Park).
The key should come out only in “LOCK.”
Parking Brake and
Automatic Transaxle
“P” (Park) Mechanism
Check
Underbody Flushing
/t! CAUTION:
When you are doing this chick, your vehicle could begin to mow. Mu or
others could be injured and property could be damaged. Make sure there is
room in front of your vehicle In case it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
-gular
bWe at wce ahauld +he vehicle hmnin +* m-
Park on a 1 ply steep hill, with the vehicle facing downhill. Keeping your foot\
on the
regular brake, set the parking brake.
To check the parking brake: With the engine running and transaxle in “N” (Neutral),
---
slowly remove foot pressure from the regular brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held
by the parking brake only.
all brakes.
To check the “P” (Park) mechanism’s holding ability: Shift to “P” (Park). Then release
At least every spring, use plain water to flush any corrosive materials from
the underbody.
Take care to clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris can \
collect.
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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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Pedal Travel ...................................... 149
RearDrum
..................................... 149
Replacement
................................... 244
Warning Light-
.................................. 109
Wear Indicators-Disc Brakes ....................... 148
Brake System Wakng Light
......................... 109
Braking in Emergencies .............................. 149
“Break-In:’ New Vehicle
Normd Driving. ................................. 72
When Towing a Trailer
........................... 176
Braking
......................................... 146
Buckling Up (see “Safety Belts”)
Bulb Replacement
Headlight
................................. .245. 269
Turn Signal ............................... .246, 269
Taillight
.................................. .247. 269
capacities and Specifications
................. .270. 272
CarbonMonoxide
.............................. 83. 173
Cargo Security Cover
................................ 101
Cassette Tape Holder
............................... 103
Cassette Tape Player
(see “Audio Systems”)
Center Passenger Position
............................ 41
Chains. Tire
................................. .217. 257
Changing a Flat Tire
............................... 205
Checking BrakeFluid
.................................... 243
Engine Coolant
................................. 239
Engine0
il ..................................... 227 Power Steering Fluid
............................. 241
Safety Belt Systems
......... ...................... 60
Transaxle Fluid .................................. 236
Underhood
..................................... 226
Chemical paint Spotting
............................ 263
ChildRestraints
.................................... 47
Children’
......................................... 45
Cigarette Lighter
.................................. 105
Circuit Breakers
& Fuses ........................... 266
Cleaner, Air
............................. .233. 271. 273
Cleaning AluminumWheels
............................... 262
Antenna
....................................... 131
Cassette Player .................................. 129
Fabric
........................................ 258
Glass
.......................................... 261
Inside of Your Buick ............................. 258
Materials ........................................ 264
Outside of Your Buick
............................ 261
Safety Belts
.................................... 261
Special Problems
................................ 260
Top of Instrument Panel
........................... 260
Underbody Maintenance
.......................... 263
Vinyl
......................................... 260
Warnings ...................................... 258
Weatherstrips
.................................... ‘262
White Sidewall Tires
............................. 262
Windshield and Wiper Blades
...................... 261
Climate Control
................................... 115
CityDriving ..................................... 162
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Engine Coolant .......................... .238. 270. 272
Checking
& Adding ......................... .l95. 239
Proper Mixture
to Use ............................ 239
Safety Warnings About
.................... 110. 195. 201
Temperature Gage
................................ 110
Temperature Warning Light
........................ 110
(see “Engine Coolant”)
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
Engine Exhaust
................................ .83. 173
Engine Identification
.............................. -265
Engineoil
....................................... 227
Additives
...................................... 231
Checking
& Adding ................. .227. 270. 272. 292
Crankcase Capacity
.......................... .270. 272
Energy Conserving
.............................. 231
Warning Light
.................................. 107
When to Change
................................ 232
Engine Specifications
......................... .270. 272
Engine. Starting
.................................... 74
Ethanol in Gasoline.
............................... 223
Exhaust Dangerous Gas
in ............................ .83. 173’
Expectant Mothers. Use
of Safety Belts ................. 40
Expressway Driving
............................... 163
Extender. Safety Belt
................................ 60
Disposing of Used Oil ............................ 232
Filter
................................. 232.271. 273
Engine Overheating
............................ 110. 195
Running Engine While Parked
....................... 84
Exterior Appearance (see “Appearance Care”) Fabric
cleaning
(see ‘%Appearance care”)
Fan Warnings
.................... .186. 187. 197. 199. 226
Filling the Fuel Tank
...................... .225. 270. 272
Filter. Oil
................................ 232.271. 273
Finish Damage
................................... 263
Flashers. Hazard Warning
........................... 184
Flat Tire
........................................ 205
Flip-Open Rear Vent Windows
........................ 85
Flooded Engine
.................................... 75
Capacities
..................................... 292
Power Steering
..................... .241. 271. 273. 292
Transaxle
......................... .236. 271. 273. 292
Windshield Washer
...................... .89. 242. 293
Fluids and Lubricants
.............................. 292
Fog. Driving
in ................................... 160
FoldingRearSeats .................................. 18
Freeway Driving
.................................. 163
French Language Manual
............................. 2
Fluid
Brake
..................................... 243. 292
Foreign Counties
.................................... 224
Fuel
............................................ 223
AlcoholinFuel
................................. 223
Capacity
................................... 270. 272
Exhaust Warnings
........................... .83. 173
Filling Your Tank
....................... .225. 270. 272
In Foreign Countries
............................. 224
Mileage Chart
.................................. 320
Gage
.......................................... 107
Requirements . ................................... 223
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Traffic Lights ................................... 140
Your Own Signals
................................ 141
Roads. Hill and Mountain
........................... 166
Rocking Your Vehicle
............................... 218
Rotation. Tire
.................................... 253
Running Your Engine While Parked .................... 84
safety Belt Extender
.............................. 60
Sa~~Bel ts ....................................... 23
Adults
......................................... 29
Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt
....................... 30
Center Passenger Position
.......................... 41
Checking
....................................... 60
Children ........................................ 45
ChildRes traints
.................................. 47
Cleaning
....................................... 261
Driver Position
.................................. 30
Extender ....................................... 60
Howtowear .................................... 29
LargerChildren
.................................. 58
Pregnancy. Use During ............................ 40
Questions &Answers
.............. .28, 29. 33. 34. 35. 61
RearSafetyBel ts ................................. 43
Replacement
.................................... 61
Right Front, Adult Passenger
........................ 40
Smaller Children and Babies
........................ 46
Third Seat Passenger Position
....................... 41
TopStrap
....................................... 48 Torn
........................................... 61
Twisted
........................................ 35
Vehicles First Sold in Canada
....................... 30
Warning Light
................................... 29
Why You Should Wear Safety Belts ................... 23
Safety Defects. Reporting
........................... 302
Scheduled Maintenance Services
...................... 278
Seat Belts
(see “Safety Belts”)
Seats
............................................ 14
Front Seatback Latches
........................... -17
HeadRestraints
.................................. 17
Manual Front Seat
................................ 14
Power Seat
...................................... 15
Rear Seats, Folding ............................... 18
Reclining Seatback
................................ 15
Second Seat, Folding .............................. 18
Third Seat, Folding
............................... 20
Service Engine Soon Light ........................... 111
Service Information ................................. 221
Service
parts Identification Label ..................... 265
Service Publications
............................... 303
Service Publications Order Form
..................... 305
Setting the Clock .......................... .118, 121, 124
Setting
the Trip Odometer ........................... 1%
Shifting Into “P” (Park) ............................. 81
Shifling the Transaxle
............................... 77
Signaling
Turns ............................... .87, 141
Signs, Road
...................................... 134
SIR (Supplemental Inflatable Restraint) .................. 35
Skidding
........................................ 154
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