seats BUICK CENTURY 1997 Owners Manual

The 1997 Buick Century Owner’s Manual
1-1
2- 1
3-1
4-1
5-1
6-1
Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts\
properly. It also explains the “air bag” system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your Buick.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfo\
rt controls and how to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road\
and how to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving,\
such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running prop\
erly and looking good.
7-1 Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what \
fluids and lubricants to use.
8- 1
9-1
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how \
to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects”\

on page 8-8.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
i
ProCarManuals.com

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your Buick and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also
learn about some things
you should not do with air bags and safety belts.
1-2
1-5
1-9
1-10
1- 10
1-18
1-19
1-19
1-25 Seats
and Seat Controls
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
Here Are Questions Many People Ask About
Safety Belts
-- and the Answers
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Driver Position Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Right Front Passenger Position
Air Bag System
Center Passenger Position 1-26
1-29 1-32
1-34
1-49
1-57
1-60
1-60
1-61 Rear
Seat Passengers
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults
Children Built-in Child Restramt
Child Restraints
Larger Children
Safety Belt Extender
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash
1-1
ProCarManuals.com

Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you how to adjust the seats and
explains
the reclining seatbacks and head restraints.
Manual Front Seat
CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust
a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push
a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle
is not moving.
I
2-Way Manual Seat
Lift the bar under the front
of the seat using a twisting
motion. This will unlock the seat. Slide
the seat to where
you want
it and release the bar. Try to move the seat
with your body
to be sure the seat is locked into place.
1-2
ProCarManuals.com

Head Restraints
Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint is closest to
the top of your ears. This position
reduces the chance
of a neck injury in a crash.
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells
you some things you should not do
with safety belts.
And
it explains the air bag system.
U I
Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear
a safety belt properly.
If you are in a crash and
you’re not wearing
a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse. You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured or killed. In the same crash, you might
not be
if you are buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts
are fastened properly too.
‘
/d CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside
of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are more likely
to be
seriously injured or killed.
Do not allow people to
ride in any area of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure
everyone in your vehicle is in
a seat and using a
safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as
a reminder
to buckle
up. (See “Safety
Belt Reminder
Light” in
the Index.)
1-5
ProCarManuals.com

Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear
it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats’’ in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock
if you pull the belt across
you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure
it is secure.
If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt
Extender’’ at the end
of this section.
Make sure
the release button on the buckle is
positioned
so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly
if you ever had to.
1-11
ProCarManuals.com

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured if the right front passenger’s air
bag inflates. This
is because the back of a
rear-facing child restraint would be very close to
the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing
child restraint in the rear seat.
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has
one.
1.
2.
3.
Because your vehicle has a right front passenger air
bag, always move the seat as far back as it will
go
before securing a forward-facing child restraint. (See
“Seats” in the Index.)
Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions say.
4. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions
of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show
you how.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face
or neck, put it behind the child restraint.
5. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
1-55
ProCarManuals.com

Ventilation Tips
0 Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction, such
as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of
fogging the inside
of your windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, adjust the
mode knob or button to FLOOR and the fan to the
highest speed for a few seconds before driving off.
This helps clear the intake ducts
of snow and
moisture and reduces the chance
of fogging the
inside
of your windows.
Rear Window Defogger
C
D
REAR
0
0 Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle. The
rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window. Press the button to
turn the rear defogger on.
It will turn itself off after
about
10 minutes.
3-11
ProCarManuals.com

If you put things inside your vehicle -- like suitcases,
tools, packages or anything else
-- they will go as fast as
the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly, or
if there
is a crash, they’ll keep going.
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in
a sudden stop or turn, or in
a crash.
Put things in the trunk of your vehicle. In a
trunk, put them
as far forward as you can.
Try to spread the weight evenly.
inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops of the seats.
Don’t leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
Towing a Trailer
If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull
a
trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the
brakes may not work well
-- or even at all. You
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
Pull a trailer only if you have followed all the
steps in this section. Ask your Buick dealer
for
advice and information about towing a trailer
with your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by
your warranty.
To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your Buick dealer
for important information about towing a trailer
with your vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com

Circuit
Breaker
A
B
C
D
Description
Not Used
Power Windows/Sunroof
Rear Defog
Power Seats
Fuse
1
4
6
8
10
13
14
15
17
18
19
20
22
Description
Not Used
Ignition Signal
-- Hot in Run and
Start
-- PCM, BCM U/H Relay
Power Mirrors
Panel Dimming
Ignition Signal
-- Hot in Run,
Unlock and Start -- Cluster,
Powertrain Control Module, Body
Control Module
DRL Module
Interior Lamps
Door Locks
Taillamps, License Lp
Radio Heated Mirror
Cruise Control
Clusters
6-58
ProCarManuals.com

Underhood Electrical Center -- Passenger's Side
Some fuses and relays are in the underhood electrical
center on the passenger's side
of the engine compartment.
D
121
(31
(41
(51 F I I I I
m
[61
18j
(71 [TI
Fuse
1
2
3
Description
Cooling Fan
Starter Solenoid
Power Seats, Rear Defog
4
5
6
7
8
Relay
9
10
11
12
13
14
High Blower, Hazard Flasher,
Stoplamps, Power Mirror, Door Locks
Ignition Switch, BTSI, Stoplamps,
ABS, Turn Signals, Cluster, Air Bag,
DRL Module
Cooling Fan
Interior Lamps, Retained Accessory
Power, ABS, Keyless Entry, Data Link,
HVAC Head, Cluster, Radio,
AUX Power, Cigarette Lighter
Ignition Switch, Wipers, Radio,
Steering Wheel Controls, Body Control
Module, AUX Power, Power Windows,
Sunroof, HVAC Controls, DRL, Rear
Defog Relay
Description
Cooling Fan 2
Cooling Fan 3
Starter Solenoid
Cooling Fan
1
Ignition Main
Not Used
ProCarManuals.com