service BUICK CENTURY 1993 Owners Manual

We support voluntary
technician certification.
GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem,
Buick, and the Buick Emblem are registered trademarks
of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in
the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors
of Canada Limited” for Buick Motor
Division whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your. Buick,
so it will be there
if
you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell
the vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so the new
owner can use it.
WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFlCAllON THROUGH
Natlonal Insttlute for
AUTOMOTIVE ’ SERVICE i
EXCELLENCE
c .. . - __x .
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer
a French Language Manual:
Aux proprietaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en francais chez
votre concessionaire
ou au DGN Marketing Services
Ltd.,
1500 Bonhill Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C7.
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Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 Buick Special
“Car of the Year:’ The first production V-6 engine was
used in the Special.
c
1962 Buick Special
Built inside the walls of the old buildings in Buick’s
former Flint complex, which formed the cornerstone of
General Motors, Buick City is a state-of-the-art assembly
facility with more than
200 robots and other high-tech
equipment. It was completed in the fall of
1985.
Buicks are, and will continue to be, premium American
motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich
detail and comfortable accommodation.
I
Ed Mertz, General Manager, Buick Motor Division
Our mission is simple:
“Buick will provide Premium American Motorcars
backed with services that exceed our customers’
expectations, throughout
the purchase, ownership,
service and repurchase experience?
Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL.
Buicks are DISTINCTIVE.
Buicks are POWERFUL.
Buicks are MATURE.
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Table of Contents
Introduction How to Use this Manual ....................................................... .10
This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safety and vehicle damage warnings\
and symbols.
Part 1 Seats and Safety Belts .......................................................... I3
This part tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly.
Part 2 Features & Controls .......................................................... .63
Part 3 Comfort Controls & Audio Systems. ............................................. W!
Part 4 Your Driving and the Road. .......................... : ........................ .I33
Part 5 Problems on the Road. ....................................................... .l83
Part 6 Service & Appearance Care .................................................... .221
Part7MaintenanceSchedule ...........................................................
Part 8 Customer .Assistance Information .............................................. .299
This part explains how to start and operate your Buick.
This part tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how
to operate your sound system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and \
how to drive under different conditions.
This part tells you what to
do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine overheating.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good.
This part tells you when
to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
This part tells
you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service publications. It also gives you information
on “Reporting Safety Defects on page 302.”
hrt9Index ......................................................~...............30\
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Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want
to read.
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How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. This will
help you learn about the htures and controls for your
vehicle.
In this manual, you’ll find that pictures and
words work together
to explain things quickly.
Index: A good place to look fbr what you need is the
Index
in back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of all
that’s
in the manual, and the page number where you’ll
find it;
14: Each part of this manual begins with a brief list
of its contents, so you can often find at a glance if a part
contains the information you want.
part 7: This part of the manual covers the maintenance
required for your vehicle.
Part 8 Customer Assistance: This part includes
important information about “Reporting Safety Defects.”
You
will also find customer satisfaction phone numbers
(including customer satisfaction numbers for the hearing
and speech impaired). ‘We’ve also included ordering
information for service publications in
this part.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use yellow and the word CAUTION to tell you about
things that could hurt you
if you were to ignore the
warning.
I A CAUTION:
I
In the yellow caution area, we tell you what the hazard
is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce
the hazard. Please read these cautions.
If you don’t, you
or others could be
hurt.
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It's possible that an automatic belt could keep you from
fully opening a door. That can happen if the door was slammed shut very hard. Just close the door all the way,
then slowly open
it. If that doesn't fix it, then your Buick
needs service.
We hope you'll always keep your automatic belt buckled.
However, you may need to unbuckle it in
an emergency.
And you would need to unbuckle it to let someone get
into the center front seat position,
if your vehicle has
one.
To unbuckle the automatic belt, just push the button on
the buckle.
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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
1
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A CAUTION:
Don’t attach anything to the steering wheel
pad.
It might injure the driver if the air bag
inflates.
The air bag
is designed to inflate only once.
After
it inflates, you’ll need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you
don’t get them, the
air bag system won’t be there
to help protect
you
in another crash. A new system will
include the air bag module and possibly other
parts. The service manual has information
about the need
to replace other parts.
Let only qualified technicians work
on your air
bag system. Improper service can mean that
your air bag system won’t work properly. See
your dealer for service.
Servicing Your Buick with the Air Bag
System
Please tell or remind anyone who works on your Buick
that it has
the air bag system. There are parts of the air
bag system in several places around your vehicle.
You
don’t want the system to inflate while someone is
working on your vehicle. The air bag system does not need regular maintenance. Your Buick
dealer and the
1993 Century Service Manual have information about the
air bag system, including repair
or disposal.
A CAUTION:
For up to 2 minutes after the ignition key is
turned
off and the battery disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service.
Yonn
can be injured if you are close to an air bag whc..
it inflates. Be sure to follow the proper service
procedures.
I
When electrical work is done under the hood or inside
your vehicle, the ignition should be
in “Lock” if possible.
Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape, or yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the air bag system.
But if the ignition has to be on for electrical work, or if
the steering column is
to be disassembled, the air bag
system must be disconnected.
To do this:
Turn off the ignition.
Remove the SIR (air bag) fuse (see “Fuses & Circuit
Disconnect the yellow connector at the base of the
Breakers” in the Index).
steering column.
3V
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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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If your key &ems suwn in ‘‘Lu~n IU Y~U
can’t turn it, be sure it is all the way in. If it is,
then turn the steering wheel left and right
while you turn the key hard. But turn the key
only with your hand. Using
a tool to force it
could break the key or the ignition switch. If
none
of this works, then your vehicle needs
service.
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Starting Your Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) shows the code letter or
number for your engine. You will find the VIN at the top
left of your instrument panel. (See “Vehicle Identification
Number” in the Index.) Follow the proper steps to
start
the engine.
Move your shift lever to
“P” (Park) or “N” (Neutral).
Your engine won’t
start in any other position-that’s a
safety feature.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use “N” (Neutral) only.
To start your 2.2L L4 (Code 4) engine:
1. Don’t push the accelerator pedal before starting your
engine. In some other vehicles you might need to do
this, but because
of your vehicle’s computer systems,
you don’t.
starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down
as your engine gets warm.
3. If it doesn’t start right away, push the accelerator pedal
about one-quarter of the way down while you turn the
key
to “Start;’ Do this until the engine starts. As soon
as it does, let go of the key and the accelerator pedal.
2. Turn your ignition key to “Start:’ When the engine
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Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have
left, when the ignition is on. When the indicator nears
“E” (Empty), you still have a little fuel left, but you
should get more
soon.
Here are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage and are
normal operating characteristics:
At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads
“F” (Full).
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the gage
indicated. For example, the gage may have indicated the tank was half
full, but it actually took
a little more
or less than half the
tank‘s capacity to fill the tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner, speed
up or brake.
The gage doesn’t go back to “E” when you turn off the
ignition.
Engine Oil Pressure Light
If you have a problem with
your
oil, this light may stay
on after you start your
engine, or come on when
you are driving.
This
indicates that oil is not
going through your engine
quickly enough to keep it
lubricated. The engine could be low on oil, or
could have some other oil
problem. Have it fixed right
away.
The
oil light could also come on in three other situations:
When the ignition is on but the engine is not funning,
the light will come on as a test to show you it is
working, but the light will go out when
you turn the
ignition to “Start? If it doesn’t come on with the
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