BUICK CENTURY 1994 Owners Manual

Remove the wing nut and pull off the cover. Remove and replace the filter. Replace the cover,
wing
nut and rubber duct. Tighten the hose clamp.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to replace the air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services’’
in the Index.
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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.
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Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 180°F to
200°F (82°C
to
93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it’s colder than 50°F ( 10°C), you may have
to drive longer.
To check the fluid level
0 Park your vehicle on a level place and keep the
0 With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
engine
running.
in “P’ (Park).
0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever
in “P” (Park).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.
Then, without shutting off the engine. follow these
steps:
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The dipstick on the 2.2L L4 engine looks like this.
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull
it back out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be
in the cross-hatched
area.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back
in all the way.
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid
to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Engine Coolant
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on the
dipstick.
1. Pull
out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a pint
(OSL).
Don’t overfill. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-I11 or DEXRON@-IIE,
because fluids with that label are made especially for
your automatic transaxle. Damage caused by fluid other
than DEXRON@-I11 or DEXRON@-IIE is
not covered
by your new vehicle warranty. dipstick
hole
to bring it to the proper level.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way. The following explains
your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or if
you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
The proper coolant for your Buick will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 262 “F ( 128 “C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights work as they should.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half antifreeze that meets “GM
Specification 1825-M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts.
You can also use a recycled coolant conforming to
GM Specification 1825-M with a complete coolant flush
and refill. If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add
anything else.
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Adding Coolant
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
The coolant recovery tank is located on the passenger’s
side
of the engine compartment.
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To Check Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
“ADD” or a little higher. When your engine is warm, the
level should be up to
“FULL HOT’’ or a little higher.
To Add Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper mix at the
coolant recovery tank.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant to the radiator. (See “Engine Overheating” in the
Index.) Add
coolant mix at the recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill it.
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Radiator Pressure Cap
I NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed
to prevent coolant
loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be sure the arrows on
the cap line up with the overflow tube on the radiator filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@
cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow
of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When
you replace your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat
is recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering fluid
reservoir
is located on the
passenger’s side
of the
engine compartment.
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
Replace the cap and completely tighten it. Then remove
the cap again and look at the fluid level
on the dipstick.
0 When the engine compartment is hot, the level
should be at the
“H” (Hot) mark.
0 When the engine compartment is cool, the level
should be at the “C” (Cold) mark.
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What to Add
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
NOTICE:
When adding power steering fluid or making a
complete fluid change, always use the proper
fluid. Failure to use the proper fluid can cause
leaks and damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
To Add
- a
The windshield washer reservoir is located on the
passenger’s side
of the engine compartment.
The wagon rear washer fluid comes from the windshield
washer reservoir.
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Open the cap labeled “WASHER FLUID ONLY.” Add
washer fluid until the bottle is full.
NOTICE:
When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution to
freeze and damage your washer fluid tank
and other parts of the washer system.
Also,
water doesn’t clean as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only 3/4 full
when it’s very
cold. This allows for
expansion, which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
windshield washer.
It can damage your
washer system and paint.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your
Brakes
Brake Master Cylinder
Your brake master cylinder is here. It is filled with
DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
your master cylinder might go down. The first is
that the
brake fluid
goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the fluid level goes back up. The other reason is that
fluid
is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you
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