warning BUICK CENTURY 1997 Owner's Guide

When to Chang( Cngine Oil
If any one of these is true for you, use the short tripkity
maintenance schedule:
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
your vehicle.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine
oil to break
down sooner.
If any one of these is true for your vehicle,
then you need to change your oil and filter every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever occurs
first. (See “Change Oil Soon” Light in the Index.)
If none
of them is true, use the long triphighway
maintenance schedule. Change the oil and filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months -- whichever
occurs first. Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed
engine under highway conditions causes engine oil to
break down slower. (See
“Change Oil
Soon” Light in the Index.)
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be a real threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever dispose of oil
by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies
of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil.
If
you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
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Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL’ extended life coolant.
J
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low.
If you have a problem with
engine overheating or if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 OF ( 129 O C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you use
only
DEX-COOL@ silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to the
system, premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the use
of coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is not
covered
by your new vehicle warranty.
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What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half dean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum parts. If
you use this mixture,
you don’t need
to add anything else.
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix
will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50150 mix of clean
water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t
be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
6-21
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system fixed, since a leak means that sooner or later your
brakes won’t work well, or won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak. If
you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when
you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @I (GM Part
No. 12377967). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only.
Always clean
the brake fluid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
A
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on the
engine. The fluid
will burn if the engine is hot
enough. You or others could be burned, and your
vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only
when work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See “Brake System Warning
Light” in the Index.
CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
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Brake Wear
NOTICE:
0
0
Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a few
drops
of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in
the Index. Your
Buick has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn
and new pads are needed. The sound may come and go or
be heard all the time
your vehicle is moving (except when
you are
pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
I
I
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead
to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
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Treadwear Temperature -- A, B, C
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(1
1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and
C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions
on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straight ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction. The
temperature grades are
A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
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Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flame if
you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous if
you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your
Buick, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings
and instructions. And always open your doors or
windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
0 Benzene
0 Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
0 Acetone
0 Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
0 Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
-- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too. Don’t
use any of these unless this manual says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Buick
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe
vinyl or leather with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Buick dealer has two cleaners,
a solvent-type spot
lifter and
a foam-type powdered cleaner. They will clean
normal spots and stains very well.
Do not use them on
vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
Clean up stains as soon as you can -- before they set.
Use
a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean area
often. A soft brush may be used
if stains are stubborn.
Use solvent-type cleaners in
a well-ventilated area
only.
If you use them, don’t saturate the stained area.
If a ring forms after spot cleaning, clean the entire
area immediately or
it will set.
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Section 9 Index
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle ..... 6-3
AirBag
....................................... 1-19
How Does
it Restrain .......................... 1-23
How
it Works ................................ 1-21
Location
.................................... 1-21
Readiness Light
......................... 1.20. 2.56
Servicing
................................... 1-24
What Makes
it Inflate .......................... 1-22
What Will You See After
it Inflates ............... 1-23
When Should
it Inflate ......................... 1-22
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-1s
Air Conditioning
........................ 3-3,3-6, 3-9
Air Conditioning Refrigerants ..................... 6-63
Alarm, Instant
................................. 2- 12
Alignment and Balance, Tire
...................... 6-43
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning ...................... 6-5 1
AM-FM Stereo ................................ 3- 13
AM-FM Stereo
with Cassette Tape Player ........... 3- 15
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and
Automatic Tone Control
........................ 3- 18
AM-FM Stereo
with Compact Disc Player and
Automatic Tone Control
........................ 3-22
AM-FM Stereo
with Cassette Tape and Compact
Disc Player with Automatic Tone Control
.......... 3-26
Antenna Backglass
.................................... 3-37
FixedMast
.................................. 3-36 Antifreeze
..................................... 6-20
Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light
................. 2.59. 4.9
Brake System Warning Light
................ 2.58. 4.7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Using ....................................... 4-9
Anti.Theft. Radio .............................. 3-31
Appearance Care
............................... 6-45
Appearance Care Materials ....................... 6-54
Arbitration Program
.............................. 8-7
Armrest. Storage
............................... 2-49
Audio Controls. Steering Wheel Touch Control
....... 3-33
Audio Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-35
Audio Systems
................................. 3-12
Audio Systems. Tips
............................ 3-34
Auto-Down Window
............................ 2-32
Automatic Headlamp Control
............................ 2-42
Overdrive
(0) .......................... 2-24.2-25
Power Door Locks
............................. 2-7
Transaxle Check
.............................. 7-38
Transaxle Fluid
............................... 6-17
Transaxle Operation
........................... 2-22
Transaxle Park Mechanism Check ................ 7-40
Ashtrays
...................................... 2-50
Auxiliary Power Connection
...................... 2-51
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Back-up Lamp Bulb Replacement ................. 6-35
Battery
....................................... 6-29
Jump Starting
................................. 5-3
Replacement. Remote Keyless Entry
.............. 2- 13
Rundown Protection ........................... 2-46
Warnings
................................ 5.3. 5.5
RBB Auto Line ................................. 8-7
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
Brake
Adjustment
.................................. 6-29
Fluid
....................................... 6-26
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-26
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-29
System Warning Light
......................... 2-57
Parking
..................................... 2-26
PedalTravel
................................. 6-29
Trailer
...................................... 4-34
Transaxle Shift Interlock
....................... 2-29
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check
.................. 7-39
Wear
....................................... 6-28
Brakes. Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Braking
in Emergencies ........................... 4-9
Break-In. New Vehicle
.......................... 2- I7
BTSICheck ................................... 7-39
Built-in Child Restraint .......................... 1-34
Built-in Child Restraint. Cleaning
.................. 6-48
Built-in Child Restraint Harness. Cleaning
........... 6-49
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-30
BTSI
......................................... 2-29 Canadian
Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-5
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-62
Carbon Monoxide
............... 2.14.2.30.4.27. 4.33
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-37
Cassette Tape Player
.................. 3- 16.3.20. 3.28
Cassette Tape Player Care ........................ 3-35
Cellular Phone Provisions
........................ 2-52
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
Bulb Replacement .... 6-32
Certification
Label .............................. 4-29
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-34
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-44
Change Oil Soon Light
.......................... 2-66
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-25
Charging System Light
.......................... 2-57
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-60
Chemical Paint Spotting .......................... 6-53
Child Restraints
...................... 1.32. 1.33. 1-49
Built-in
..................................... 1-34
Securing
in a Rear Outside Seat Position ........... 1-51
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position .......... 1-53
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-54
TopStrap ................................... 1-50
Wheretoput
................................ 1-49
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-50
Circuit Breakers and Fuses ....................... 6-57
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-15
Aluminum Wheels
............................ 6-51
Built-in Child Restraint
........................ 6-48
Built-in Child Restraint Harness
................. 6-49
Fabric
...................................... 6-46
Glass ....................................... 6-49
Cassette
Tape Player Errors
............. 3- 17.3.21. 3.28
Center Passenger Position
........................ 1-25
Cleaning
...................................... 6-45
9-2
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Inside of Your Buick .......................... 6-45
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-48
Leather
..................................... 6-48
Outside of Your Buick
......................... 6-50
Special Problems
............................. 6-47
Stains
...................................... 6-46
Tires
....................................... 6-52
Vinyl ....................................... 6-47
Wheels
..................................... 6-51
Windshield and Wiper Blades
.................... 6-50
Clock. Setting the
............................... 3- 12
Comfort Controls
............................ 3- 1. 3.2
Compact Disc Care ............................. 3-36
Compact Disc Player
....................... 3.24. 3.30
Compact Disc Player Errors .................. 3.24. 3.30
Control. Lossof
................................ 4-13
Control
of a Vehicle .............................. 4-6
Convenience
Net ............................... 2-49
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-48
Coolant
....................................... 6-20
Bleedvalves
................................. 5-22
RecoveryTank
............................... 5719
Coolant Heater. Engine
.......................... 2-20
Cooling System
................................ 5-17
Courtesy Lamps
................................ 2-44
Courtesy Transportation
........................... 8-6
Cruise Control
................................. 2-37
Cruise Light
................................... 2-67
Compact Spare
Tire
............................. 5-37
Cupholders
.................................... 2-49
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users
......... 8-4
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8- 1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure .................... 8-2 Damage.
Finish
............................... 6-52
Damage. Sheet Metal
............................ 6-52
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-42
Dead Battery
................................... 5-3
Defects. Reporting Safety
......................... 8-8
Defensive Driving
............................... 4-2
Defogger. Rear Window
......................... 3-11
Defogging ............................ 3-4.3.6. 3- 10
Defrosting ............................ 3.4.3.6. 3.10
Delayed Exit Lighting ........................... 2-45
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-63
Dolby@
B Noise Reduction ............. 3.18.3.21. 3.29
Dome Lamp Bulb Replacement
.................... 6-35
DoorLocks ..................................... 2-4
Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light
................... 2-68
Driver Position
................................. 1 . IO
Driving
City
........................................ 4-19
Defensive
.................................... 4-2
Drunken
..................................... 4-3
Freeway
.................................... 4-20
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-26
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-5
IntheRain
.................................. 4-16
Night
...................................... 4-14
OnCurves
................................... 4-9
On Grades While Towing
a Trailer ............... 4-36
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-22
On Snow or Ice
.............................. 4-25
WetRoads
.................................. 4-16
Winter
...................................... 4-24
With
a Trailer ................................ 4-34
Delayed Entry Lighting
.......................... 2-44
Through Deep Standing Water
................... 4-18
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