lock BUICK CENTURY 1997 Owner's Guide

Automatic Transaxle Operation PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
Your automatic transaxle will have
a shift lever on the
steering column.
The graphic shown above is displayed on your
instrument panel cluster
in reference to your steering
column shift lever.
Maximum engine speed is limited on automatic
transaxle vehicles when you’re in
PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) to protect driveline components from
improper operation.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
L
CAUTIO,. :
It is 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 have 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).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
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Make sure the shift lever is fully into PARK (P) range
before starting the engine. Your Buick has
a
brake-transaxle shift interlock. You must fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK
(P)
when the ignition is in RUN. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever by pushing it
all the way into PARK (P) while keeping the brake pedal
pushed down. See “Shifting Out of PARK
(P)” in
the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
_____~ ~~ ~~ ~
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see
“Stuck:
In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine
doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re
already moving, use NEUTRAL
(N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL
(N) when your vehicle is being towed.
Shifting out of
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine
is “racing” (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or
objects. Don’t shift out
of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
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Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is
in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
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It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don't leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have
to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the enginc
running, be sure your vehicle is in
PARK (P) anu your
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After
you've moved the shift lever into the PARK
(P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if
you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pulling it toward you. If you can, it means
that the shift lever wasn't fully locked into PARK
(P).
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Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into PARK
(P) properly before you leave the driver’s
seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a
little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle,
so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your Buick has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You
must fully apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
“Automatic Transaxle Operation” in the Index.
If
you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing
it all the way into PARK (P)
while keeping the brake pedal pushed down. Then move
the shift lever
out of PARK (P).
If
you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
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Windows
Power Windows
Switches on the driver’s door armrest control each of the
windows when the ignition is
on. In addition, each
passenger’s door
has a switch for its own window. The
driver’s window switch has
an express-down
feature. This switch is labeled
AUTO. Tap the rear of
the switch, and the driver’s window will open a small
amount. If the rear of the switch is pressed all the way
down, the window will go all the way down.
To stop the window while it is lowering, press the front
of the switch. To raise the window, press and hold the
front
of the switch.
The driver’s window controls also include a lock-out
switch. Press
LOCK to stop front and rear passengers
from using their window switches. The driver can still
control all the windows with the lock on. Press the other
side of the
LOCK button for normal window operation.
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Horn Tilt Steering Wheel
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,
Press on or anywhere near the horn symbols on your then release the lever to lock the wheel into place.
steering wheel pad
to sound the horn.
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Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever, there’s a paddle with
the word
PUSH on it. To spray washer fluid on the
windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will run
for
several sweeps and then either stop or return to your preset
speed. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in the Index.
LOW WASH
The LOW WASH light on
your instrument panel
cluster will glow when the
fluid level
is low.
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In freezlng weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice
on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
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).
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Exterior Lamps
The lamp controls are located on the instrument panel.
They control these systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
0 Parklamps
0 License Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lamps
0 Courtesy Lamps If you
pull the knob out
halfway,
it will turn on only
your parklamps.
If you pull
the knob all the way
out,
your headlamps will then
come on.
Push the knob
in all the way to turn off the lamps.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when
you turn the ignition switch to OFF, LOCK
or ACC with the lamps on.
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Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp Control
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 on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work,
so be sure it isn’t covered.
The DRL system
will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when:
0 The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is off and
0 The parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your your front turn signal
lamps will be on. The headlamps, 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 front turn signal
lamps will turn off and your vehicle’s headlamps and
parklamps will turn on. The other lamps that come on
with your headlamps will also come on.
When it’s bright enough outside, your headlamps will go
off and your front turn signal lamps will come on.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while the ignition is in
OFF or LOCK. Then start
your vehicle. The DRL, headlamps and parklamps 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.
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Twilight Sentinel
Twilight Sentinel provides a period of exterior
illumination as you leave the vicinity of your vehicle.
The feature is activated when your vehicle’s headlamps
are on due to the automatic headlamp control feature
described previously
in this section, and when your
vehicle’s ignition is turned off. Your headlamps will
then remain
on until the headlamp switch is moved from
OFF to the parklamp position or until a 90 second
illumination period has elapsed.
If you turn off the ignition with the headlamp switch in
the parklamp or headlamp position, the Twilight
Sentinel cycle will not occur.
You can customize the vehicle
to activate the Twilight
Sentinel when your vehicle’s ignition is turned off under
the conditions described above, or you may choose not
to activate this feature under any conditions. The
enabled/disabled state of this feature will be toggled
when you perform the following sequence with the
doors closed and the ignition key
in the RUN position: Press
and hold
the power door lock switch. While
holding
the door lock switch, cycle the headlamp switch
on and then off two times. Release the power door lock
switch. These operations must be carried out
in a time
period
of less than 10 seconds, followed by a delay
period of no more than
10 seconds. Then, press and hold
the power door unlock switch. While holding the door
unlock switch, cycle the headlamp switch on and then
off two times. Release the courtesy door unlock switch.
These operations must be carried out
in a time period of
less than 10 seconds.
After releasing the door unlock switch, a single chime
will be heard if the Twilight Sentinel function has been
disabled; two chimes
will be heard if the feature has
been enabled. This feature will be enabled when your
vehicle is shipped from the factory. Disconnecting the
vehicle’s battery for up to a year will not change the
programmed operation of this feature.
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