headlights BUICK CENTURY 1994 Owners Manual

?art 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Buick. and information 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 ........................................................................\
.. 66
DoorLocks .............................. ................................... 67
New Vehicle Break-In ..................... ..................................... 74
StartingtheEngine
................................................................. 76
ShiftingtheTransaxle ............................................................ 79
Windows ....................................................................... \
87
TiltSteeringWheel
................................................................ 88
Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever .................................................... 89
Headlight High-Low Beam Changer
.............................................. 91
Windshield Wipermasher ...................................................... 91
CruiseControl
................................................................ 94
Headlights
........................................................................\
98
Mirrors ........................................................................\
.. 102
Instrumentpanel ................................................................... 110
Speedometer and Odometer ..................................................... 110
Warning Lights . Gages and Indicators ............................................. 111
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I I A green arrow on the
instrument panel will flash
in the direction of the turn
or lane change.
To signal a lane change,
just raise
or lower the lever
until the green arrow starts
to flash. Hold
it there until
you complete your lane
change. The lever will
return by itself when you
release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don’t
flash but just stay on, a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace
it to help avoid an
accident. If the green arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse (see “Fuses” in the Index)
and for burned-out bulbs.
nrn Signal Reminder
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile,
a chime will sound.
To turn off the chime, move the turn
signal lever
to the off position.
Operation of Lights
Although your vehicle’s lighting system (headlights,
parking lights, fog lamps, side marker lights and
taillights) meets all applicable federal lighting
requirements, certain states and provinces may apply
their own lighting regulations that may require special
attention before you operate these lights.
For example, some jurisdictions may require that you
operate your fog lamps only when your lower beam
headlights are also on, or that headlights be turned on
whenever you must use your windshield wipers. In
addition, most jurisdictions prohibit driving solely with
parking lights, especially at dawn
or dusk. It is
recommended that you check with your own state or
provincial highway authority for applicable lighting
regulations.
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Headlight High-Low Beam
BRIGHT
To change the headlights
from low beam to high
or
high to low, pull the turn
signal lever all the way
toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams are
on, this blue light on the
instrument panel also will
be on.
Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked “WIPER.”
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to “MIST.”
Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go. The
wipers will stop after one cycle.
If you want more
cycles, hold the band on
“MIST” longer.
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To Get Out of Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn
off the Cruise Control:
-
1. Step lightly on the brake
pedal,
OR
2. Move the Cruise switch
to
“OFF.”
To Erase Speed Memory
When you turn off the Cruise Control or the ignition,
your Cruise Control set speed memory is erased.
Lights
I These switches control the
following light systems:
Headlights
Parking Lights
Side Marker Lights
Taillights
License Plate Lights
Instrument Panel Lights
To turn on the headlights, press the switch with the light
symbol.
Press the switch marked
“P’ to turn on the parking
lights.
Press
“OFF” to turn off all lights.
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Interior/Instrument Panel Lights
You can brighten or dim the
instrument panel lights by
rotating the control up or
down. To turn on the
interior courtesy lights,
rotate the control all the
way up to
“HI.”
Headlight ccOn99 Warning
If you open the door while leaving the lights on, you
will hear
a warning chime.
Daytime Running Lights (Canada Only)
The Canadian Federal Government has decided that
“Daytime Running Lights” (DRL) are a useful feature,
in that DRL can make your vehicle more visible to
pedestrians and other drivers during daylight hours.
DRL are required on new vehicles sold in Canada.
Your DRL work with a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Don’t cover it up.
The low beam headlights will come on at reduced
brightness in daylight when:
0 the ignition is on,
0 the headlight switch is off, and
0 the parking brake is released.
At dusk, the exterior lights will come on automatically
and the low beams will change to full brightness. At
dawn, the exterior lights will go out and the low beams
will change to the reduced brightness
of DRL (if the
headlight switch is off).
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Of course, you may still turn on the headlights any time
you need to.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while the ignition
is in the “Off’ or “Lock”
position. Then start the vehicle. The
DRL will stay off
until you release the parking brake.
Press the switch to turn the
map light on and off.
Front Seat Reading Lights (Option)
.. . , ..
L
Press the switch to turn the front seat reading lights on
or off.
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0
0
0
0
0
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlights behind you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow
down and keep more space between you and other
vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlights can light up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired,
pull off the road in a safe place and
rest.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light
to see the
same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you
do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example,
if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes
will
have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re
driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut
down on glare from headlights, but they also make a lot
of things invisible. You
can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights.
It can take a second or two, or
even several seconds, for
your eyes to readjust to the dark. When
you are faced
with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t lower
the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlights),
slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into the
approaching lights.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt
on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlights light up far less of a
roadway when
you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick
out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlights should be
checked regularly
for proper aim, so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and
aren’t even aware
of it.
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more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing
on the road. If you can see reflections from trees,
telephone poles, or other vehicles, and raindrops
“dimple” the water’s surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
0 Turn on your low-beam headlights -- not just your
parking lights
-- to help make you more visible to
others.
City Driving
I
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room
ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted
by road spray.
0 Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See
“Tires” in the Index.) One
of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You’ll want
to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals.
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bags, rags, floor mats -- anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing
to keep warm.
You
can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
Run your engine only as long as
you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged.
You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later
on
with your headlights. Let the heater run for awhile.
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Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical size
and rating.
Headlights
The headlight wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in
the light switch. An electrical overload will cause the
lights
to go on and off or, in some cases, to remain off. If
this happens, have your headlight system checked right
away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and a fuse.
If the motor overheats due to heavy snow, etc.,
the wiper will stop until the motor cools.
If
the overload is caused by some electrical problem, have
it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Window
Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the current
load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and closes,
protecting
the circuit until the problem is fixed.
Cigarette Lighter Fuse and Safety Belt Fuse
These fuses are located behind the glove box. The fuse
holders are taped together with gray tape.
Other Fuses
The Safety Belt/Chime (ICAM) Module fuse and the
Remote Lock Control fuse are located behind the fuse
block, above the hush panel.
The Fuel Pump and
ECM fuses are located under the
hood.
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