light BUICK CENTURY 1993 Owners Manual

Walter Marr and Thomas Buick
Buick’s chief engineer, Walter L. Marr (left), and
Thomas D. Buick, son. of founder David Dunbar Buick,
drove the first Flint Buick in a successful Flint-Detroit
round trip in July 1904.
David Buick was building gasoline engines by 1899, and
Man,
his engineer, apparently built the first auto to be
called a Buick in 1900. However, Buick traditionally
dates its beginnings to
1903. That was the year the
company was reorganized, refinanced and moved from
Detroit to Flint. Buick has always been a product
4
innovator. Buick engineers developed the “valve-in-head”
engine, a light, powerful and reliable engine which- would
eventually influence the entire automotive industry.
William
C. Durant was instrumental in promoting Buicks
across the country using his Durant-Dort Carriage
Co.
outlets and salespeople as the nucleus of a giant
distribution system. He knew
the Buick as a “self-seller? ,
If automobiles could be this good, he thought, maybe it
was time to switch from the horse and buggy business
to
automobiles.
William C. (Billy) Durant
At the 1905, New York
Auto Show, Durant took orders for 1,OOO Buicks
before the company had
built
40. On Buick’s
success, Durant created a
holding company, September 16, 1908. He
called it General Motors.
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Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you will find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD CAUSE
BATTERY
BURNS AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,111,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for. you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
4
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols
have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e3
TURN
WARNING
A
HAZARD
FLASHER
HIGH BEAM
OR =, =o
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD ' ' ' 0- 0-
WIPER &
WASHER
t0 @e4 i
WINDSHIELD=
WASHER I
wlNDsHIELDw DEFROSTER
WINDOW
@
REAR
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
HEADLAMP
-
WIPER -
WASHER zQ
Thes, ,ymbols
are used on
warning and indicator lights:
COOLANT F-
ENGINE
TEMP
--
CHARGING I-1
BATTERY SYSTEM
FUEL
ENGINE OIL wb
PRESSURE
TEMP
OIL &
ANTILOCK BRAKE (i)
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
RADIO
k
VOLUME a
CONDITIONING AIR a
HATCHBACK e
TRUNK
RELEASE
SPEAKER
b
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Safety Belts: They’re For Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. And it explains the Supplemental
Inflatable Restraint, or
“air bag” system.
A CAUTION:
Don’t let anyone ride where they can’t wear a
safety belt properly. if you am in a crash and
you’re not wearing a sahty belt, your Injuries
can be muoh wrse. Mu can hlt things Inside
the
vehlcle or be ejected from it. mu can be ,~
Iserloualy Injured or killed. In the -me crash,
you might not be if you am buckled up. Always
fasten your safety belt, and check thmt your
passengers’ belts are fastened properly bo.
This figure lights up when
you
turn the key to “Run”
or “Start” when your safety
belt isn’t buckled, and
you’ll hear a chime, too. It’s
the reminder to buckle up.
In many states and Canadian
provinces, the law
says to
wear safety belts. Here’s
why: They work.
.
1
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know
if it will be a bad one.
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@ If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why
should I wear safety belts?
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an
accident-even one that isn’t your fault-you and
your passengers can be hurt. Being
a good driver
doesn’t protect you from things beyond your control,
such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 km) of
home. And
the greatest number of serious injuries
and deaths occur at
speeds of less than 40 mph
(65 krn/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
Safety Belt Warning Light
When the key is turned to
“Run” or
“Start:’ a chime
will come on for about
eight seconds to remind
people. to fasten their safety
belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is buckled. The
safety belt light will also
come on and stay on for about
60 seconds or until
the driver’s
belt is buckled. A
i
h
A CAUTION:
I If your safety belt light ever comes on or stays
on after the front doors are closed and the
driver’s belt
is buckled, have your vehicle fixed.
If you don’t, you might not have the protection
you’d need in
a crash.
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Adults
This section is only for people of adult size.
A CAUTION:
There are special things to know about safety
belts and children.
And there are different
rules for babies and smaller children. If a child
will be riding
in your Buick, see the section
after this one, called “Childrenl’
Follow those I
rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
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A CAUTION:
Air bags inflate with great force, faster than
the blink of an eye. If you’re too close to
an
inflating air bag, it could seriously injure ,you.
Safety
belts help keep you in position for an
air bag inflation in a
crash. Always wear your
safety belt, even with
an air bag, and sit as far
back
as you can while still maintaining control
of your vehicle.
Air Bag System Light
There is an air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows
“AIRBAG.” The
system checks itself and the
light tells you if there
is a
problem.
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition to “Run”
or
“Start.” Then the light
should go out, which
means the system is ready.
In ! .CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on
when
you start your vehicle, or stays on, or
comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your
vehicle serviced right away.
How the Air Bag System Works
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When the work is complete, if the air bag system was
disconnected, be sure to reattach everything and replace
the
fuse before turning the ignition on. When you turn
the ignition key on, be sure you see the inflatable
restraint light on the instrument panel. If you don’t see
this light flash and then go out as usual, have your air bag
system repaired.
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and
the lap portion should be worn as low as possible
throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother.
When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more likely that \
the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women,
as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is
wearing them properly.
Right Front Passenger Position
fl
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same
way as the driver’s safety belt. See “Driver Position:’
earlier in this part.
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part 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Buick. and informat\
ion on starting.
shifting and braking . Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything
is working properly-and what to do if you have a problem .
Part 2 includes:
Keys ........................................................................\
........
Locks ........................................................................\
...... 65
Remote Keyless Entry System ........................................................... 66
New Vehicle Break-In ................................................................. 72
Ignition ........................................................................\
..... 73
Starting Your Engine .................................................................. 74
Shifting the Transaxle ........................................... : ..................... 77
parking Brake ........................................................................\
80
ShiftingIntoPark ..................................................................... 81
Windows ........................................................................\
... 84
Horn ........................................................................\
....... 86
TiltSteeringWheel ................................................................... 86
Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever ....................................................... 86
Windshield Wipers, Washer ........................................................... 88
CruiseControl ..................................................................... 91
InteriorLights ....................................................................... \
95
Headlights ........................................................................\
.. 95
Mirrors ........................................................................\
..... 98
Instrument Panel ..................................................................... 105
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators .................................................. 106
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Should interference to this system occur, try this:
Check to determine if battery replacement is necessary. See
the instructions on battery replacement later in this section.
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. This product has
a maximum range.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal.
See your Buick dealer or a qualified technician for
service.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to use
this equipment.
Operation
The driver’s door will unlock and the interior lights will
go on when “UNLOCK’ is pressed. If pressed again
within five seconds, all doors will unlock. The interior
lights will
go out after 40 seconds or when you turn on
the ignition.
All doors will lock when “DOOR” is pressed.
The trunk or liftgate will unlock when the opened trunk
symbol is pressed, but only when the transaxle is in
“P”
(Park). On the wagon the ignition must also be in the
“Off” position.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle
Each key chain transmitter is coded to prevent another
transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter
is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through
your dealer. Remember to bring the remaining
transmitter with you when you
go to your dealer. When
the dealer matches the replacement transmitter to your
vehicle, the remaining transmitter must also be matched. Once the new transmitter is coded, the lost transmitter
will not unlock your vehicle.
You can match a transmitter to as many different vehicles
as you own, provided they are equipped with
exactly the
same model system.
(General Motors offers several
different models of these systems on their vehicles.) Each
vehicle can have only two transmitters matched to it. See
your dealer to match transmitters to another vehicle.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the batteries in your key chain
transmitter should last about
two years.
You can tell the batteries are weak if the transmitter won’t
work at the normal range in any location.
If you have to
get
close to your vehicle before the transmitter works, it’s
probably time to change the batteries.
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Parking at Night: Park in a lighted spot, close all
windows and lock your vehicle. Remember
to keep your
valuables out of sight. Put them
in a storage area, or take
them with you.
Parking Lots: If you park in a lot where someone will be
watching your vehicle, it’s best
to lock it up and take your
keys. But what if you have to leave your ignition key?
What if you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
1. Put your valuables in a storage area, like your trunk or
glove box, or rear storage area in the’ wagon.
2. Lock the glove box.
3. Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
4. Then take the door key with you.
New Vehicle “Break-In”
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Ignition Key Positions Off: Unlocks the steering wheel, ignition, and transaxle,
but does not send electrical power to any accessories.
.Use
this position if your vehicle must be pushed or
towed, but never try to push-start your vehicle.
A
warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s door
when the ignition
is off and the key is in the ignition.
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Run: An “on” position to which the. switch returns after
you
start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays in the “Run” position when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can use
“Run” to operate your electrical power accessories, and
to display some instrument panel warning lights.
Start: Starts the engine. When the engine starts, release
the key. The ignition switch will return to “Run” for
normal driving.
with the ignition key
h the ignition switch, YOU can turn Note that even if the engine is not running, the positions
the switch to five positions: “Accessory” and “Run” \
are “on” positions that allow
.Accessory: An “on” position in which you can operate you to operate your electrical accessories, such as the
your electrical power accessories. Press
in the ignition ‘ radio.
switch as you
turn the top of it toward you.
Lock: The only position in which you can remove the
key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition
and
transaxle.
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