BUICK CENTURY 1996 Owners Manual

Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down
to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step
on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift
to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out
of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be
too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal; or
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Lamps
..
li
LtOWtS
0 Headlamps
0 Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
0 License Plate Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
To turn on the headlamps, press the switch with the
lamp symbol.
Press
the switch marked P to turn on the parking lamps.
Press
OFF to turn off all lamps.
2-33
ProCarManuals.com

Headlamps on Warning
If you open the door while leaving the lamps on, you
will hear a warning chime.
Daytime Running Lamps (Option)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor in the instrument panel cluster makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn’t covered.
The DRL system will make your low-beam headlamps
come on at reduced brightness when:
the ignition is on,
the headlamp switch is off, and
the parking brake is released.
When the
DRL are on, only your low-beam headlamps
will be
on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps
won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t be lit up either.
When it’s dark enough outside, your headlamps will
come on to full brightness. The other lamps that come
on with your headlamps will also come on. When
it’s bright enough outside, the regular lamps will
go off, and your low-beam headlamps will come
on at a
reduced brightness.
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.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when
you need it.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
., . I. .
1.r
LOW
You can brighten or dim the
instrument panel lights by
rotating the control up or
down.
To turn on the
interior courtesy lamps,
rotate the control all the way
up to HI.
2-34
ProCarManuals.com

Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps go on. These
lamps are under the instrument panel. They make it
easy for you to enter and leave the vehicle. You also
can turn these lamps on by rotating the interior lamps
switch
to HI.
Interir -- amps Delay
Front Seat Reading Lamps
When you purl on the driver's outside door handle, the
dome and courtesy lamps will
go on and stay on for
about
40 seconds, or until you turn the ignition on.
If you pull on the driver's inside door handle within
30 seconds of switching off the ignition, the interior
lamps will go on and stay on for about five seconds,
to
allow you to unlock your door(s).
Press the switch
to turn the front seat reading lamps on
or
off.
2-35
ProCarManuals.com

gear Reading Lamps (Wagon)
This lamp will go on when you open the liftgate. To turn
on
the lamp when the liftgate is closed, press the switch.
Map Lamp
Press the switch to turn the
map lamp
on and off.
2-36
ProCarManuals.com

Mirrors
Inside Daymight Rearview M ror
When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position,
adjust the mirror
so you can see clearly behind your
vehicle. The dayhight adjustment allows you to reduce
glare from lights behind you.
To reduce glare pull the
lever toward
you to the night position.
Manual Remote Control Mirror
Both the driver and passenger side outside mirrors
should
be adjusted so that you just see the side of your
vehicle and the area behind your vehicle when you are
sitting
in a comfortable driving position.
Use the remote control knob on the driver's door to
adjust the driver's outside mirror. Adjust the passenger's
outside mirror by hand.
2-37
ProCarManuals.com

Power Remote Control Mirror (Option)
Both the driver’s and optional passenger’s side outside
mirrors can be adjusted with the control lever on the
driver’s door.
Turn the knob left or right
to select the driver’s or
passenger’s mirror. Rotate the knob to adjust the mirror.
Adjust each mirror
so that you can just see the side of
your vehicle and the area behind your vehicle when
you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface
is curved so you can see more from the
driver’s seat.
1 A CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before changing lanes.
Storage Compartments
Glove Box
Use the door key to lock and unlock the glove box. To
open, pinch the latch release.
2-38
ProCarManuals.com

Storage Armrest Rear Locking Storage Compartment
(Wagon)
Use your door key to unlock the storage bin on the
driver’s side near the liftgate.
The front armrest opens into
a storage area.
To open it,
lift the lever at the front edge. Inside is a coinholder, slots
to hold cassettes or
CDs and a dual cupholder. To use the
cupholder, flip it forward and close the armrest cover.
The cupholder can be removed
for cleaning. Flip
the cupholder into
the armrest storage area. Squeeze
the arms inward to release
the retainer pins. Remove
the cupholder.
The armrest can be raised so that a passenger can sit in
the center position.
2-39
ProCarManuals.com

Convenience Net (Option)
Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You'll see it
just inside the back wall of the trunk.
Put small loads, like grocery bags, behind the net.
It can
help keep them from falling over during sharp turns or
quick starts and stops.
The net isn't for larger, heavier loads. Store them
in the
trunk as far forward as
you can. You can unhook the net
so that it will lie flat when you're not using it.
Wagon Cargo Security Cover (Option)
This cover is designed to help conceal articles in the
rear storage area. It pulls out and retracts like a
window shade.
If you have the optional rear-facing third seat, make sure
it is folded down.
A CAUT7N:
An improperly stored cargo coy could be
thrown about the vehicle during a collision or
sudden maneuver. You or others could be
injured.
If you remove the cover, always store it
properly secured. When you put it back, always
be sure that
it is securely reattached.
2-40
ProCarManuals.com

a
. . , .- ....... ..,.,
To use the cover, grasp the handle and pull the cover
over the rear storage area. Insert the ends of the support
rod into the slots in the trim panel near the liftgate.
When the cover isn’t in use, roll
it back onto the roller.
Hold the handle and lift the support rod out of the slots.
Tug the cover lightly, then let it roll back automatically.
Don’t release the handle
until the cover has rolled
back completely.
To remove the cover, you can remove the cover and
roller assembly for extra cargo room. Slide back the
end sleeve and lift the assembly out of the notch in
the trim panel.
To replace the assembly, reverse the procedure.
ProCarManuals.com

Luggage Carrier (Option)
If you have the optional luggage carrier, you can load
things on top
of a wagon, or on the deck lid of your
vehicle. The luggage carrier has slats attached to the
roof, side rails and adjustable crossrails. The crossrails
can be adjusted by loosening the screws. After moving
the crossrails, be sure to tighten the screws securely.
Don’t exceed the maximum vehicle capacity when
loading your Buick. For more information on vehicle
capacity and loading,
see “Loading Your Vehicle”
in the Index.
To prevent damage or loss
of cargo as you’re driving,
check now and then to make sure the luggage carrier and
cargo are still securely fastened.
NOTICE:
Loading cargo that weighs more than 50 lbs.
(23 kg) for the deck lid or 200 lbs. (90kg) for the
roof on the luggage carrier may damage your
vehicle. When you carry large things, never let
them hang over the rear or the sides of your
vehicle. Load your cargo
so that it rests on the
slats and does not scratch or damage the vehicle.
Put the cargo against the rear rail of the deck lid
carrier and fasten it securely. On the wagon, put
the cargo against the side rails of the roof carrier
and fasten it securely.
Ashtrays and Lighter
Reach under the front edge of the ashtray compartment
to open it.
To remove the ashtray for cleaning, reach
under the ashtray and push up from behind
it.
To clean the rear ashtrays, fully open the ashtray.
Press down on the snuffer
as you pull the ashtray
down and out.
2-42
ProCarManuals.com