light BUICK CENTURY 1994 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 Marr, 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
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 1,000 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 may find on your vehicle.
Fur example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
Q
CAUSTIC
BURNS AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
FASTEN SEAT 4
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
AIRBAG P
These symbols have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e
TURN
HIGH BEAM
OR = =o
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are
on some of
your controls:
WIPER v
WINDSHIELDw DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols
are used
on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT F&
TEMP -.--
ENGINE
CHARGING
I-1
BAllERY SYSTEM
RADIATOR COOLANT
a
FUEL
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
TEMP
OIL 4%
ANTILOCK (@)
BRAKE
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
RADIO
k
VOLUME J
CONDITIONING A'R 0
RELEASE 6
TRUNK
LIGHTER
m
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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 Restraint System, or
“air bag” system.
This figure lights up as a reminder
to buckle up. (See
“Safety Belt Warning Light”
in the Index.)
In many states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.
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, ana 1 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 km/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 already buckled.
The safety belt light will also come
on and stay on for
20 seconds, then it will flash for an additional 55
seconds. If the driver’s belt is already buckled, neither
the chime nor the light will come on.
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AIR BAG
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.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows
“AIRBAG.” The system checks for
electrical malfunctions, and the light tells
you if there is
a problem. Remember,
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.
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?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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up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the key chain transmitter
supplied with your vehicle.
Your Remote Keyless Entry System operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules.
This device complies with Part
15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Should interference to this system occur, try this:
e
e
e
0
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions on battery
replacement.
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.
Press the opened trunk symbol to unlock the trunk or
wagon liftgate. The transaxle must be in “P” (Park.) If
you have the wagon, the ignition must also be “Off.”
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 any remaining
transmitters with you when
you go to your dealer. When
the dealer matches the replacement transmitter to your
vehicle, the remaining transmitters 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
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Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your Buick has a number of theft deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it
impossible to steal. However, there are ways you can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you walk away from your vehicle with the keys
inside, it’s an easy target for joy riders or professional
thieves
-- so don’t do it.
When you park your Buick and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear a chime reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it
with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel
will be locked, and so will your
ignition and transaxle. And remember to lock the doors.
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?
0 Put your valuables in a storage area, like your trunk
or glove box, or rear storage area in the wagon.
0 Lock the glove box.
0 Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
0 Then take the door key with you.
New Vehicle “Break-In”
I NOTICE:
Your modern Buick doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But
it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or slow
-- for the first 500 miles (804 km). Don’t
make full-throttle starts.
0 Avoid making hard stops for the first 200
miles (322 km) or so. During this time your
new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard
stops with new linings can mean premature
wear and earlier replacement. Follow this
“breaking-in” guideline every time you get
new brake linings.
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Ignition Key Positions
C
9.5 B
A i E
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five positions:
(A) Accessory: An “on” position in which you can
operate your electrical power accessories. Press
in the
ignition switch as you turn the top
of it toward you.
(B) Lock: The only position in which you can remove
the key. This locks
your steering wheel, ignition and
transaxle.
(C) 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.
(D) 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.
(E) Start: Starts the engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch will return
to “Run”
for normal driving.
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c
0 1 (First Gear)
This position gives you even more power (but lower
fuel economy) than
“2.” You can use it on very steep
hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the selector lever is
put in
“1,” the transaxle won’t shift into first gear
until the vehicle
is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck
in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes to hold your vehicle
in position on a hill.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake:
Hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right
foot. Push down the
parking brake pedal with
your left foot.
If the
ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will
come on.
To release the parking
brake:
Hold the regular
brake pedal down. Pull the
brake release lever.
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