coolant temperature BUICK CENTURY 1996 Owners Manual

10 use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into
a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
4. After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to
store the cord as it
was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If
you don’t, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind
of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here; we ask that you contact
your Buick dealer
in the area where you’ll be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give
you the best advice for
that particular area.
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Anti-Lock Brake S A
LOW
TRACTION
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
the anti-lock brakg system active light will come on.
Slippery road conditions may exist if this light comes
on,
so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will
stay
on for a few seconds after the system stops
adjusting brake pressure.
The anti-lock brake system active light also comes on
briefly when
you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come
on then, have it fixed so it will be
there to tell you when the system
is active.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning
Light
This warning light is
designed to tell you that
your engine coolant has
overheated or your radiator
cooling fan is not working.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn the engine off as soon as possible.
The section “Problems on the Road,” in this manual
explains what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
II k
TEMPERATURE -Z
Domestic Canadian
This
gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage
pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too hot!
That reading means the same thing
as the warning light.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, and stop your
engine as soon as possible.
The section “Problems on the Road,” in this manual
explains what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
Malfunction.Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Domestic Canadian
Your
Buick is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage or the
warning light about a hot engine on
your Buick’s
instrument panel.
If St1 .-m Is 1 - - ng Fro Your Engine
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn
it off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until
it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant before
opening the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
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Engine Coolant
@ Protect ag- rust and corrosion.
@ Help.keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the whg lightd md gages work as
they shouicl.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant it is important that you use
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored, silicate-free)
coolant meeting
GM Specification 6277M.
If silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion may result. In addition, the engiue
coolant will
require change sooner -- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first.
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Add coolant mix at the recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill it.
'B CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and
it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
Radiator Pressure Cap
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.
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I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
17 Drain, flush and refill cooling system
(or every
60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See “Engine
Coolant’’ in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap and neck. Pressure test
cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
Inspect spark plug wires.
0 Replace spark plugs.
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32°C) or higher.
An Emission Control Service.
An
Emission Control Service.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, the fluid and filter do not
require changing.
DATE SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
~ .. ~ - - z - ~- -_ .~~_ - :_ ~~ -. ..
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I - mg Tripmighway Maintenance Schedule
100,000 Miles (1 66 000 ’ 2)
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system
(or every
60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See “Engine
Coolant’’ in the Index for what
to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap and neck. Pressure test the
cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service. 3-
Inspect spark plug wires.
An Emission Control Service.
0 Replace spark plugs.
0 Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter
if
the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90 OF
(32°C) or higher.
An Erni,wion Control Service.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
IJ‘yocr do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, the fluid and filter do not
require changing.
DATE
SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
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Cruise Control .................................. 2-30
Cupholders
.................................... 2-39
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8- 1
Damage. Finish ............................... 6-52
Damage. Sheet Metal
............................ 6-52
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-34
Dead Battery
................................... 5-2
Defects. Reporting Safety
......................... 8-7
Defensive Driving
............................... 4- 1
Defogger. Rear Window
.......................... 3-3
Defogging
..................................... 3-2
Defrosting
..................................... 3-2
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-63
Door
Drive Position. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2- 18
Driver Position
................................. 1 - 13
Driving
City
....................................... 4-19
Defensive
.................................... 4-1
Drunken
..................................... 4-2
Freeway
.................................... 4-20
In a Blizzard ................................. 4-26
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-4
IntheRain
.................................. 4-16
Night
...................................... 4-14
OnCurves
................................... 4-9
On Grades While Towing a Trailer ............... 4-35
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-22
Customer Assistance for
Text Telephone Users
......... 8-3
Locks
....................................... 2-3 OnSnowandIce
............................. 4-25
Wet Roads
.................................. 4-16
Winter ...................................... 4-24
With a Trailer
................................ 4-34
DrunkenDriving
................................ 4-2
Electrical Equipment. Adding
................ 3-9. 6-56
Electrical System
............................... 6-56
Engine 6-8. 6-9
Engine
Coolant
..................................... 6-22
Coolant Heater
............................... 2-14
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-37
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-54
Exhaust
..................................... 2-24
Identification
................................ 6-55
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-37
Overheating
................................. 5-13
Running While Parked ......................... 2-24
Specifications
................................ 6-63
Starting Your
........................... 2- 12. 2-13
Engineoil
.................................... 6-10
Adding
..................................... 6-12
Additives
................................... 6-13
Checking
................................... 6-10
Used
....................................... 6-14
Whentochange
.............................. 6-14
Engine
Oil Pressure Light ........................ 2-57
Ethanol
........................................ 6-3
Through Deep Standing
Water
................... 4-18
Coolant Temperature Warning Light
.............. 2-53
Exhaust. Engine
................................ 2-24
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Fabric Cleaning ............................... 6-47
FillingYourTank
................................ 6-4
Filter, Air
..................................... 6-14
Filter, Engine Oil
............................... 6- 14
Finish Care
.................................... 6-5 1
Finish Damage ................................. 6-52
First Gear, Automatic Transaxle
................... 2- 19
Flashers, Hazard Warning
......................... 5-1
Flat Tire, Changing ............................. 5-24
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-42
Foreign Countries, Fuel
........................... 6-4
French Language Manual
11
Front Sidemarker Bulb Replacement ................ 6-34
FrontTowing
................................... 5-9
Front Turn and Parking Lamp Bulb Replacement
...... 6-34
Fuel
.......................................... 6-2
Filling Your Tank
.............................. 6-4
Gage
....................................... 2-59
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-4
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-57
.. ...........................
Gages
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-54
Fuel
....................................... 2-59
GAWR
....................................... 4-28
Gear Positions. Automatic Transaxle
................ 2- 16
GloveBox .................................... 2-38
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-28
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-28
Guide en Franpis
11 .. .................................
GVWR ....................................... 4-28 Halogen
Bulbs
................................ 6-33
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-1
Head Restraints ................................. 1-4
Headlamps .................................... 2-33
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-33
High/Low Beam Changer
...................... 2-28
Onwarning
................................. 2-34
Wiring
..................................... 6-56
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance
.............. 8-3
Heating
........................................ 3-2
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-28
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-22
Hitches, Trailer
................................. 4-33
Hood
Checking Things Under
......................... 6-6
Prop
........................................ 6-7
Release
...................................... 6-6
Horn
......................................... 2-26
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-17
Ignition Positions
.............................. 2. 1 0
Inflation. Tire .................................. 6-39
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-37
Inspections
.................................... 7-41
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-41
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Boot
.................. 7-41
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Seal
................... 7-41
Radiator and Heater
Hose ...................... 7-41
Steering
.................................... 7-41
Suspension
.................................. 7-41
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-41
Brakesystem
................................ 7-41
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