change time BUICK CENTURY 1994 User Guide

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 fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
Towing a Trailer
1 NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by your warranty.
To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this section, and see your Buick
dealer
for important information about towing a
trailer with your vehicle.
Your car can tow a trailer if it is equipped with either the
2.2L L4 engine or the 3 100 SF1 V6 engine and proper
trailer towing equipment.
To identify what the vehicle
trailering capacity
is for your vehicle, you should read
the information in “Weight
of the Trailer” that appears
later in this section. But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes
in handling, durability, and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has
to be
used properly.
That’s the reason for this section. In
it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that
of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before
you pull a trailer.
165
ProCarManuals.com

10. Then replace the
pressure cap. At any
time during this
procedure if coolant
begins to flow
out of the
filler neck, reinstall the
pressure cap. Be sure
the arrows on pressure cap line up like this.
11. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at the
“HOT”
mark when the engine is hot or at the “ADD” mark
when the engine
is cold.
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 a tire goes flat, the next section shows how to use
your jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
193
ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE:
If you use oils that do not have either the
“starburst” symbol or an
API SH or SG
designation, you can cause engine damage not
covered by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil (in Canada, GM Engine Oil)
meets all the requirements for your vehicle.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your Buick dealer is
ready to advise if you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
0 Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km).
0 It’s below freezing outside and most trips are less
0 The engine is at low speed most of the time (as in
0 You tow a trailer often.
0 Most trips are through dwty places.
If any one of these is true for your vehicle, then you
need to change your oil and filter every
3,000 miles
(5 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever comes first.
If none
of them is true, change the oil every 7,500 miles
(12 500 km) or 12 months -- whichever comes first.
Change the filter at the first oil change and at every
other oil change after that.
than
10 miles (1 6 km).
door-to-door delivery,
or in stop-and-go traffic).
217
ProCarManuals.com

I NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire.
And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage
it. Always
have the air cleaner
in place when you’re driving.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level
is when the engine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in
the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at a Buick dealership Service
Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading on the
dipstick.
I NOTICE:
loo much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come
out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system, starting a fire. Be sure to get
an accurate reading
if you check your transaxle
fluid.
220
ProCarManuals.com

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 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.
Contact your dealer
to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
321
ProCarManuals.com

IMPORTANT:
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL
AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
I protection
Plan
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The
Plan supplements
your new vehicle warranties. See
your Buick dealer
for details.
Introduction
A Word About Maintenance
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle in good working condition. But we don’t know
exactly how you’ll drive it.
You may drive very short
distances only a few times a week. Or you may drive
long distances all the time in very hot, dusty weather.
You may use your vehicle in making deliveries. Or you
may drive it to work, to do errands
or in many other
ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their GM
vehicles, maintenance needs vary.
You may even need
more frequent checks and replacements
than you will
find in the schedules in this part.
So please read this
part and note how you drive.
If you have any questions
on
how to keep your vehicle in good condition, see your
Buick dealer, the place many GM owners choose to
have their maintenance work done.
Your dealer can be
relied upon to use proper parts and practices.
262
ProCarManuals.com

Identification Label. Service Parts .................. 253
Identification Number. Vehicle (VIN)
................ 253
Idling Your Engine
................................ 86
Ignition
Key
......................................... 66
Key Positions ................................. 75
Indicators. Warning Lights. Gages ................... 11 1
Infant Restraint ................................... 50
Inflation. Tire ................................... 239
Instrumentpanel
................................ 110
..................................... J ack. Tire 194
Jump Starting
................................... 173
Keyless Entry System. Remote
..................... 68
Keys
........................................... 66
Label. Service Parts Identification .................. 253
Lane Change Indicator
............................. 89
LapBelt
........................................ 44
Lap-Shoulder Safety Belt
Front Automatic
............................... 30
Rear
......................................... 45
Leather Cleaning ................................ 248
Leaving Your Vehicle .............................. 84
Liftgate/Remote Release Button
..................... 71
Lighter. Cigarette
................................ 109 Lights
Air Bag Readiness
............................. 38
Courtesy
.................................... 102
Daytime Running Lights
........................ -99
Headlights
.................................... 98
Interior Lights Delay
........................... 102
Map
........................................ 100
Operation .................................... 90
“ON’ Warning ................................ 99
Reading
................................. 100. I01
Removing & Replacing Bulbs ................... 232
Replacement Bulbs
............................ 258
Warning
..................................... 111
Loading Your Vehicle ............................ 236
Locks
.......................................... 67
Long Distance Driving ............................ 158
Loss of Control
................................. 151
Lubricants and Fluids. Recommended ................ 272
Luggagecarrier
................................. 106
Maintenance Inspections
.................................. 275
Materials
.................................... 252
Record ...................................... 278
Schedule
.................................... 261
Underbody
.................................. 251
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)
I16
Manualseat ..................................... 14
MapLight ...................................... 100
Master Cylinder. Brake
........................... 228
295
ProCarManuals.com