windshield wipers BUICK CENTURY 1997 Owners Manual

New Vehicle “Break-In”
NOTICE:
Your modern Buick doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
0 Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
See “Towing
a Trailer’’ in the Index for
more information.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
0 Don’t tow a trailer during break-in.
Ignition Positions
A L
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch
to five positions:
ACC
(A): This position lets you use the radio and
windshield wipers when the engine is off. To use
ACC
(Accessory), push in the key and turn it toward you.
Your steering wheel will stay locked.
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Turn SignaUMultifunction Lever
L
Lr
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
0 Headlamp HighLow Beam
Windshield Wipers
0 Windshield Washer
0 Cruise Control
0 Flash-to-Pass
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow
you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the
turn is finished, the lever will return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the turn
or
lane change.
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Windshield Wipers
I
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked WIPER. For a single wiping cycle, turn the band
to MIST. Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go.
The wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles,
hold the band on MIST longer.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band to LO. For
high-speed wiping, turn the band further,
to HI. To stop
the wipers, turn the band to OFF.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This
can be very useful in light rain or
snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
closer
to LO, the shorter the delay.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they're frozen
to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers.
A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.
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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.
I
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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Passenger Compartment Air Filter
-------
To change the passenger compartment air filter, use the
following steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The passenger compartment air filter is located
underneath your hood just below the windshield wiper
arm on the car’s passenger side (underneath the air
inlet grill).
The filter traps most
of the pollen from the air entering
the vehicle. Like your vehicle’s air filter, it may need to
be changed periodically. For information
on how often
to change the passenger compartment air filter, see
“Maintenance Schedule” in the Index.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Turn off the ignition switch when the windshield
wipers are in the
up position.
Raise the hood.
Remove (disconnect) the windshield washer pump
hose from the fender rail and air inlet grill.
Reposition the hood weatherstrip from the right
side of the vehicle (peel back halfway to center).
Remove (disconnect) the air inlet grill retainers.
Remove (disconnect) the air inlet grill.
Remove (disconnect.) the passenger compartment
air filter.
Then install the new air filter.
Replace the air inlet grill retainers.
Re-position the hood weatherstrip.
Reconnect the windshield washer pump hose to the
fender rail and
air inlet grill.
Close the hood.
Return the windshield wipers to the park position.
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2. Lift the plastic locking tab on the electrical
connector and pull the connector from the dome
lamp assembly.
3. Grasp the bulb housing located in the center of the
assembly and pull straight
up.
4. Pull the bulb out of the socket.
5. Push in a new bulb.
6. Replace the socket into the dome lamp assembly.
7. Reconnect the dome lamp assembly to the wiring
harness, making sure the connector
tab snaps
into place.
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
8. Reposition the dome lamp assembly to the roof, and
gently push the assembly into the base plate.
Replacement blades for your vehicle are
22 inches
(56 cm) in length.
1. Turn the wipers on to the lowest intermittent setting.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Turn off the ignition while the wipers are at the
outer positions of the wiper pattern. The blades are
more accessible for removal/replacement while
in
this position.
Pull the windshield wiper arm
3 to 4 inches
(7.5 to 10 cm) away from the windshield.
While holding the wiper arm away from
the glass,
push the release clip from under the blade
connecting point and pull
the blade assembly down
toward the glass to remove it from
the wiper arm.
Push the new wiper blade securely
on the wiper arm
until
you hear the release clip “click” into place.
For wiper blade replacement length and type, also see
“Capacities and Specifications”
in the Index.
Tires
Your new Buick comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where
to obtain service, see
your Buick Warranty booklet for details.
Pol .y maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
0
0
0
0
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as
a result of too much friction.
You could have an air-out and a serious
accident. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in
the Index. Underinflated tires pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked when your tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured
or broken by a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
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Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
NOTICE:
Don’t add anything electrical to your Buick
unless you check with your dealer first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment
can keep other components from working as
they should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your Buick, see “Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Buick” in the Index.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in
the underhood electrical center.
An electrical overload
will cause the lamps to go on and off, or in some cases
to remain
off. If this happens, have your headlamp
system checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and a fuse.
If the motor overheats due to heavy
snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor cools. If
the overload is caused by some electrical problem, have
it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the current
load
is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and closes,
protecting the circuit until the problem is fixed.
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TTYUsers ..................................... 8-4
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
............. 2-34
Turn Signal On Chime
........................... 2-35
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
................... 2-34
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
................ 4-36
Twilight Sentinel
............................... 2-43
Two-way Manual Seat
........................... 1-2
Underbody Flushing Service
..................... 7-40
Underbody Maintenance
......................... 6-53
Underhood Electrical Center (Passenger’s Side)
....... 6-60
Vehicle Control
...................................... 4-6
Damage Warnings
.............................. ix
Dimensions ................................. 6-63
Identification Number
......................... 6-55
Loading
.................................... 4-28
Storage
..................................... 6-30
Symbols
....................................... x
Ventilation System .............................. 3- 10
Visor Vanity Mirrors ............................ 2-5 1
Visors. Sun .................................... 2-50 warning
Devices
............................... 5-2
Warranty Information
............................. 8-8
Washing Your Vehicle ........................... 6-50
Weatherstrips
.................................. 6-50
Wheel Alignment
.................................. 6-43
Nut Torque ............................. 5-34. 6-62
Replacement
................................. 6-43
Used Replacement
............................ 6-44
Window Lock
.................................. 2-32
Windows
..................................... 2-32
Auto-Down
................................. 2-32
Power
...................................... 2-32
Windshield Washer
............................. 2-36
Fluid
.................................. 2-37. 6-25
Fluid Level Check
............................ 7-37
Windshield Wipers
.............................. 2-36
Blade Replacement
........................... 6-36
Fuses
...................................... 6-56
Winter Driving
................................. 4-24
Wiper Blade Check
............................. 7-38
Wiring. Headlamp
.............................. 6-56
WreckerTowing
................................. 5-9
Warning Lights. Gages and Indicators ............... 2-55
Your Driving and the Road
....................... 4-1
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