BUICK CENTURY 1996 Manual Online

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your Buick has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You
have to
fully apply your regular brake to shift from
PARK (P) when
the ignition is in the RUN position.
See “Automatic Transaxle Operation” in
the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever -- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear
you want. If you ever
hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out
of
PARK (P), try this:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Turn the key to OFF.
Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
Have the vehicle fixed as soon
as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
A-
I
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
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Engine Exhaust
A, CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you can’t see or
smell.
It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
0 Your exhaust system sounds strange or
0 Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
0 Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
0 Your vehicle was damaged when driving over
high points on the
road or over road debris.
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
0 Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
0 Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
different.
modified improperly.
blow out any
CO; and
Running Your Engine While
You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine runn,ing. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to k IW.
Idling the engine with the air system control off
could
allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle
(see the earlier Caution under “Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in
a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is
a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See
“Blizzard” in the Index.)
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-
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on
fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
(P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on
a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
Windows
Power Windows
With power windows, switches on the driver’s armrest
control each of the windows when the ignition is on. In
addition, each passenger door has a control switch for its
own window.
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Wagon Rear Vent Windows (Option)
TO open, pull the latch forward, then push on the
center
of the latch to swing the window out into the
open position.
To close the window, pull the center of the latch and
then press the latch into the closed position.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the horn symbol on
your steering wheel.
Tilt Wheel
r
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before
you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel
to a comfortable level,
then release the lever to lock the wheel
in place.
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Wrn SignaVMultifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer and
Passing Signal
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
0 Cruise Control (Option)
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow
you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is finished, the lever will return
automatically.
An 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 arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
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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 arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and check the
fuse
(see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers’’ in the Index).
Turn Signal Reminder
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound. To turn off the chime,
move the turn signal lever
to the OFF position.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer Windshield Wipers
a _:::a::_
To change
the headlamps
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 light
on the
instrument panel also
will be on. You
control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked WIPER.
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST.
GoTd
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.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or
snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
closer to
LO, the shorter the delay.
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For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away
from you to the
LO position. For high-speed wiping,
turn the band further, to
HI. To stop the wipers, move
the band
to OFF.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent you
from seeing well enough to
drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them.
If they’re frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them.
If your blades
do become damaged, get new blades
or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor.
A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow Or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
At the top of the turn signal/multifunction lever, there’s
a paddle with the word
PUSH on it. To spray washer
fluid on the windshield,
push the paddle.
If you push the paddle for less than one second, washer
fluid will spray three to four times while the wiper
blades cycle. If you push the paddle longer than one
second, washer fluid will spray as long as the paddle is
held. When you release the paddle, the wiper blades will
cycle three to four more times to clear the window and
then either stop or return to your preset speed.
Driving without washer fluid can be dangerous.
A bad
mud splash can block your vision. You could hit another
vehicle or go
off the road. Check your washer fluid level
often. See “Windshield Washer Fluid”
in the Index.
AUTION:
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
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The rear window
washedwiper switch is at
the center of the instrument
panel. Press the top
of the
switch labeled
WASH and
the rear wiper will run at a
constant speed.
Press the switch further and hold
to spray washer fluid
while
the wiper continues to run. The wiper will
continue to run until you press the
OFF switch.
The rear window washer fluid reservoir is the same
reservoir as the windshield washer reservoir.
Cruise Control (Option)
With cruise control,
you can maintain
a
speed of about 25 mph
(40 km/h) or more
without keeping
your
foot on the accelerator.
This can really help on
long trips. Cruise
control does not work
at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts
off.
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I
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at
a steady speed. So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads.
On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could
lose control. Don't
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit
a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to.
You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch
OFF until you want to use it.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push in the SET button
at
the end of the lever
and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
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Resuming a Set Speed Increasing Speed While U
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts off
the cruise control. But
you don’t need to reset it.
Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch from ON to
R/A (Resume/Accelerate) for about half
a second.
You’ll go right back up
to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you hold the switch at R/A longer than half a second,
the vehicle will keep going faster until you release the
switch or apply the brake. You could be startled and
even lose control.
So unless you want to go faster, don’t
hold the switch at
WA.
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speea.
Push the
SET button at the end of the lever, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal.
You’ll
now cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from ON to WA. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed
you want, and
then release the switch.
(To increase your speed in
very small amounts, move the switch
to R/A for
less than half a second and then release it. Each
time you do this, your vehicle will go
1 mph
(1.6 km/h) faster.)
The accelerate feature will only work after you turn on
the cruise control by pushing the SET button.
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
0 Push in the SET button at the end of the lever until
you reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
0 To slow down in very small amounts, push the SET
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll go
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
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