BUICK CENTURY 1997 Owners Manual

Low Oil Level Light
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil
as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and
is not covered by your
warranty.
LOW
OIL
Your engine is equipped with
an oil level monitoring
system. When the ignition
key is turned
on, the LOW
OIL light will come on
briefly.
If the light does not
come on briefly, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you if there’s a problem.
If
the light stays on, stop the vehicle on a level surface
and turn the engine off. Check the oil level using the
engine oil dipstick. (See “Engine Oil” in the Index.) If
the light does not flash, have the low oil level sensor
system repaired
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s
a problem.
The oil level monitoring system only checks oil level
during the brief period between key
on and engine
crank.
It does not monitor engine oil level when the
engine is running. Additionally, an oil level check
is
only performed if the engine has been turned off for a
considerable period of time, allowing the oil normally in
circulation
to drain back into the oil pan.
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Change Oil Soon Light Security Light
CHANGE OIL
SOON
Your
CHANGE OIL SOON
light should come on as a
bulb check when you start
the engine. If this light stays
on for about 20 seconds
after
you turn on the
ignition, have the
oil chaneed. SECURITY
This light will come on
when
you turn the key to
START and stay on until the
vehicle starts. It will also
flash if your key
is too dirty
or wet for the PASS-Key I1
system to read the resistor
pellet. See “Pass-Key
11” in
the Index.
When to change your oil also depends
on driving habits
and conditions because they directly affect engine speed,
coolant temperature and vehicle speed. Because of this,
the
CHANGE OIL SOON light may come on as early as
2,000 miles (3,200 km) or less for harsh conditions.
Remember, after changing your engine oil, the system
must be reset; with the ignition key
in the RUN position,
but
the engine off, fully push and release the accelerator
pedal three times within five seconds.
If the CHANGE
OIL SOON light flashes two times, the system is reset.
However
if the light comes on and stays on for five
seconds,
it did not reset. You’ll need to reset the
system again. If
the resistor pellet is damaged or missing, the light will
come on.
If you’re driving and the SECURITY light comes on
and remains on, your PASS-Key I1 system is not
working properly. Your vehicle is not protected by
PASS-Key
11, and you should see your dealer.
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Cruise Light
The CRUISE light comes
on whenever you
set your
cruise control.
See “Cruise
CRUISE
Control” in the Index.
Service Vehicle Soon Light
SERVICE VEHICLE
SOON
This light will come on if
you have certain
non-emission related
vehicle problems. These
problems may
not be obvious and may affect
vehicle performance or durability. Consult
a qualified
Buick dealership for necessary repairs to maintain top
vehicle performance. The light will come on briefly
when your ignition is turned
on to show that it is
working properly.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
This light will come on
when your windshield
washers are working and
the
fluid container is low. The
light will also come
on
briefly when your ignition
is turned on
to show that it
is working properly.
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Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light
DOORDRUNK
Fuel Gage
This light will come on if
your trunk
or any door is
not completely closed.
Your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left when the ignition
is on. When the indicator
nears
EMPTY (E), you still
have a little fuel left, but
you should get more soon. Here
are some things owners
ask about. All these
situations are normal and
do not show a problem with
your
fuel gage:
0
0
0
At the service station, the pump shuts off before the
gage reads
FULL (F).
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated
the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to
fill it.
The gage moves
a little when you turn a corner or
speed
up.
Low Fuel Light
If your fuel is low, a circular
light on your instrument
panel cluster will come on
and stay on and a chime will
sound periodically until you
add fuel.
It will also come
on for a few seconds when
you first turn on the ignition
as a check to show you it’s
working.
If it doesn’t come
on then, have
it fixed.
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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your Buick. Be sure
to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3-2
3-2
3-4
3-7
3- 10
3-11
3-12
3- 12
3-13
3-15
3-18 Comfort Controls
Manual Single Zone Climate Control
Dual ComforTemp Climate Control
Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control
Ventilation System
Rear Window Defogger
Audio Systems
Setting the Clock
AM-FM Stereo
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and
Automatic Tone Control 3-22
3-26
3-3
1
3-33
3-34
3-34
3-35
3-36
3-36
3-37
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and
Automatic Tone Control
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Automatic
Tone Control
Theft-Deterrent Feature
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Understanding Radio Reception
Tips About Your Audio System
Care
of Your Cassette Tape Player
Care of Your Compact Discs
Fixed Mast Antenna
Backglass Antenna
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Comfort Controls
Manual Single Zone Climate Control
- .
0 IIl
COMFORT CONTROL II
With this system, you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation in your vehicle. The system works best
if
you keep your windows closed while using it.
Fan Knob
The left knob selects the amount of air you want. To turn
the fan
off, turn the knob to OFF.
If the airflow seems very low when
the fm knob is
turned
to the highest setting, regardless of the mode
setting, your passenger compartment air filter may
need
to be replaced. See "Maintenance Schedule" in
the Index.
Temperature Knob
The center knob changes the temperature of the air
coming through the system. Turn this knob toward
red (clockwise) for warmer air. Turn it toward blue
(counterclockwise) for cooler air.
Mode Knob
The right knob has several settings to control the
direction of airflow:
MAX: This setting recirculates much of the air inside
your vehicle and sends it through the instrument panel
outlets. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below 40°F
(4°C). (Even when the
compressor is running, you can control the temperature.)
NORM: This setting brings in outside air and sends
it through the instrument panel outlets. The air
conditioning compressor will run automatically in
this setting unless the outside temperature is below
40°F (4°C). (Even when the compressor is running,
you can control the temperature.)
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BI-LEV: This setting brings in outside air and directs
it two ways. Half
of the air is directed through the
instrument panel outlets. Most of the remaining air is
directed through the floor ducts and a little
to the defrost
and side window vents. The air conditioning compressor
will run automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below 40°F (4°C).
VENT This setting brings in outside air and directs it
through the instrument panel outlets.
HTR: This setting sends most of the air through the
ducts near
the floor. The rest comes out of the defroster
and side window vents.
BLEND: This setting allows half of the air to go to
the floor ducts and half to the defroster and side
window vents. The air conditioning compressor will
run automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperture is below 40°F (4°C).
9 FRONT This setting directs most of the air
through the defroster and side window vents. Some
of
the air also goes to the floor ducts. The air conditioning
compressor will run automatically in this setting unless
the outside temperature is below
40°F (4°C).
Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let
hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time for the
vehicle to cool down.
For a quick cool-down
on very hot days, use MAX with
the temperature knob all the way
in the blue area. If this
setting is used for long periods of time,
the air in your
vehicle may become too dry.
For normal cooling on hot days,
use NORM with the
temperature knob in the blue area. The system will bring
in outside air and cool it.
On cool, but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough.
You can use BI-LEV and set the temperature knob to a
comfortable setting. The system will bring in outside air
and direct
it to your upper body, while sending slightly
warmed air
to your lower body. You may notice this
temperature difference more at some times than others.
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Heating
On cold days, use HTR with the temperature knob all
the way in the red area. The system will bring in outside
air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it’s
cold outside
(OOF (- 18°C) or lower). An engine coolant
heater warms the coolant your engine and heating
system use to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant
Heater” in the Index.
Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed,
use VENT to direct outside air
through your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the
flow-through ventilation system described later in
this section.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows.
To defrost the windows quickly, use
FRONT with the temperature knob all the way in the red
area.
To warm passengers while keeping the windows
clear, use
BLEND.
Dual ComforTemp Climate Control
(If Equipped)
With this system, the driver and passenger can maintain
separate temperatures. The system works best
if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
Fan Control
The left knob labeled FAN controls the fan
speed selection.
If the airflow seems very low when the fan knob is turned
to the highest setting regardless of the mode setting, your
passenger compartment
air filter may need to be replaced.
See “Maintenance Schedule’’ in
the Index.
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Driver’s Temperature Knob
The center knob sets the temperature for the driver’s
outlets. Turn the knob toward red (clockwise) for
warmer air. Turn it toward blue (counterclockwise) for
cooler air.
Passenger’s Temperature Lever
The bottom lever adjusts the air temperature on the
passenger’s side independent of the temperature set by
the driver. Slide
the lever toward the right to raise the
temperature. Slide the lever toward
the left to lower
the temperature.
Mode Knob
The right knob has several settings to control the
direction of airflow. To access the various modes
available, turn the mode button to the desired mode.
MAX: This setting recirculates much of the air inside
your vehicle and sends it through the instrument panel
outlets. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below 40°F (4°C). (Even when
the
compressor is running, you can control the temperature.)
NORM: This setting brings in outside air and sends
it through the instrument panel outlets. The air
conditioning compressor will run automatically
in
this setting unless the outside temperature is below
40°F
(4°C). (Even when the compressor is running,
you can control the temperature.)
BI-LEV This setting brings in outside air and directs
it two ways. Half
of the air is directed through the
instrument panel outlets. Most of the remaining air
is
directed through the floor ducts and a little to the defrost
and side window vents. The air conditioning compressor
will
run automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below 40°F (4°C). (Even when the
compressor
is running, you can control the temperature.)
VENT This setting brings in outside air and directs it
through the instrument panel outlets.
HTR: This setting sends most of the air through the
ducts near
the floor. The rest comes out of the defroster
and side window vents.
BLEND: This setting allows half of the air to go to the
floor ducts and half to the defroster and side window
vents. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below 40°F (4°C). (Even when the
compressor is running, you can control
the temperature.)
FRONT This setting directs most of the air
through the defroster and side window vents. Some
of
the air goes to the floor ducts and the side window vents.
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The air conditioning compressor will run automatically
in this setting unless the outside temperature is below
40°F
(4°C). (Even when the compressor is running, you
can control the temperature.)
Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let
hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time for the
vehicle to cool down.
For a quick cool-down on very hot days, use MAX with
the temperature knobs all the way in the blue area. If
this setting is used for long periods of time, the air
in
your vehicle may become too dry.
For normal cooling on
hot days, use NORM with the
temperature knobs in the blue area. The system will
bring in outside air and cool it.
On cool, but sunny days, the
sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough.
You can
use BI-LEV and set the temperature knob to a
comfortable setting. The system will bring in outside air
and direct it to your upper body, while sending slightly
warmed air to your lower body.
You may notice this
temperature difference more at some times than others.
Heating
On cold days, use HTR with the temperature knobs all
the way
in the red area. The system will bring in outside
air, heat it and send
it to the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can
use
it to help your system provide warm air faster when it’s
cold outside (0°F
(- 1 SOC) or lower). An engine coolant
heater warms the coolant your engine and heating
system use to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant
Heater” in
the Index.
Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use
VENT to direct outside air through
your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the flow-through
ventilation system described later in this section.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front
and side windows. To defrost
the windows quickly,
use
FRONT.
For maximum defroster performance, set both driver and
passenger temperature controls to the warmest setting.
To warm passengers while keeping the windows clear,
use
BLEND.
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