BUICK CENTURY 1998 Owner's Manual

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It works only when the ignition is on. When the
indicator nears Empty (E) you still have a little fuel left.
There is a reserve of about 1.5 gallons (5.6 L) in the fuel
tank. You need to get more fuel right away.
Here are some concerns some owners have had about
the fuel gage. All these situations are normal and do not
indicate anything wrong with the fuel gage.

At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads Full (F).

It takes more (or less) gas to fill up than the gage
indicated. For example, the gage may have indicated
half full, but it took more (or less) than half of the
tank's capacity to fill it.

The gage moves a little when you turn a corner,
speed up or stop your vehicle.

When you turn the engine off, the gage doesn't go all
the way back to Empty (E).Low Fuel Light
A light near the Empty (E)
mark on the fuel gage
comes on when your vehicle
is low on fuel. You have
less than 3 gallons (11.7 L)
remaining in your fuel tank.

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-NOTES

3-
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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 vehicle. Be
sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3
-2 Comfort Controls
3
-2 Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control
3
-5 Air Conditioning
3
-5 Heating
3
-6 Defogging and Defrosting
3
-6 Rear Window Defogger
3
-7 Passenger Zone Comfort Control
3
-7 Ventilation System
3
-9 Steering Wheel Controls for Climate
Control (Option)
3
-9 Audio Systems
3
-9 Setting the Clock3
-10 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape
and Compact Disc Player with Automatic
Tone Control
3
-15 Theft-Deterrent Feature
3
-17 Audio Steering Wheel Controls (Option)
3
-18 Understanding Radio Reception
3
-18 Tips About Your Audio System
3
-19 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
3
-20 Care of Your Compact Discs
3
-20 Care of Your Compact Disc Player
3
-20 Power Antenna Mast Care

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Comfort Controls
This section describes how to operate your climate
control system. Your climate control system uses
ozone
-friendly R-134a refrigerant.
Dual Automatic ComforTemp
Climate Control
Your vehicle has the Dual Automatic ComforTemp
Climate Control system. The following information tells
you how it works.
You will hear a beep each time a button is pushed and a
small light on the button will indicate which buttons are
active. The lights are on all buttons except TEMP, FAN
and AIR FLOW. The display will show fan speed,
comfort level setting and airflow direction for a few
seconds whenever AUTO is selected, and then it will
display the outside temperature. The outside temperature
reading is most accurate when the vehicle is moving.
During stops, the display shows the previous
temperature for best accuracy and system control.
If the display is flashing after the climate control system
is started, there is a problem with the system and you
should see your dealer for service.
Sun and temperature sensors automatically adjust the air
temperature, the airflow direction and the fan speed to
maintain your comfort setting. The system may supply
cooler air to the side toward the sun. Be careful not to
put anything over the sensors on top of the dash.

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Temperature Button
To adjust the comfort level you want maintained inside
the vehicle, push the TEMP button. If you want a
warmer comfort level, push the red arrow. If you want a
cooler comfort level, push the blue arrow. Your comfort
setting is shown in the display.
Fan Button
The speed of the blower fan is controlled automatically
if you have the system set for AUTO. Pressing the
FAN button will display and hold the current blower
fan setting.
If you want the blower fan to run at a lower speed, push
the bottom of the FAN button. The fan speed will
decrease with every push of the button until the lowest
speed is reached. If you want to increase the fan speed,
push the top of the FAN button. Notice the fan
indicators in the display.
Mode Controls
Press the AIR FLOW button to deliver air through the
floor, middle or windshield outlets. The system will stay
in the selected mode until the AUTO button is pushed.
Press the up arrow on the AIR FLOW button to cycle
through the available modes.Automatic Operation
Press the AUTO button when you want the system to
automatically adjust the interior temperature to your
preference. When the system is set for automatic
operation, air will come from the floor, middle or
windshield outlets depending on the temperature inside
the vehicle, the outside temperature and sun load. Fan
speed will vary as the system gets to and maintains the
comfort setting you have selected through the use of the
TEMP button.
To find your comfort setting, start with the system
in AUTO mode and the TEMP button adjusted to a
display of 75
F (24
C), give the vehicle about
20 minutes to stabilize, then readjust your comfort
setting if necessary. The display will show the comfort
setting for a few seconds and then it will display the
outside temperature. If you want to see your current
automatic fan speed, airflow direction and comfort
setting, press the AUTO button.
In cold weather, the system will delay turning on the
fan, to avoid blowing cold air. The length of the delay
depends on the engine coolant temperature and the
outside temperature. Pushing the FAN, AIR FLOW or
FRONT buttons will override this delay, turn off the
AUTO setting and change the fan speed.

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Manual Operation
You may also manually adjust the air delivery or fan speed.
AIR FLOW: This button is used to change the direction
of the airflow. The airflow choices available are FLOOR,
FLOOR
-MID, MID and WINDSHIELD-FLOOR.
If the system is set for AUTO, pressing the AIR FLOW
button will display the current airflow direction and the
comfort setting. Press the AIR FLOW up or down
button again to change the direction of the airflow.
If the AIR FLOW up button is selected while in the
FRONT defrost mode, the system will direct the air
toward the WINDSHIELD. If the AIR FLOW down
button is selected while in the FRONT defrost mode, the
system will direct the air toward the FLOOR, and the
FRONT defrost mode will cancel. Notice the arrows in
the display.
OFF: If the passenger's comfort control is turned on, it
can be turned off by pressing the OFF button once.
Pressing the OFF button a second time will turn off the
main system. Turning off the main system causes the fan
to turn off and the airflow to be directed to the FLOOR.
The system will still try to keep the interior of the
vehicle at the previously chosen comfort setting. The
outside temperature will show on the display when the
system is set to OFF.The ventilation system always allows fresh air to flow
through the interior when the vehicle is moving even
with the system in the OFF mode.
VENT: The VENT button allows outside air to flow
through your vehicle without the air conditioning
compressor working. Selecting VENT and the AUTO
button at the same time allows the system to control
automatically without the use of the air conditioning
compressor or the use of the RECIRC mode. To turn off
the VENT selection, push the VENT button again.
RECIRC: When RECIRC is selected, the system will
limit the amount of outside air entering your vehicle.
This is helpful when you are trying to cool the interior
of the vehicle quickly or limit the amount of outside air
entering your vehicle for some other reason. RECIRC
and AUTO may be selected at the same time. The
system will remain in RECIRC until the ignition is
turned off, then the system will return to the previously
selected mode. RECIRC can be selected in all manual
airflow modes except FRONT defrost. RECIRC cannot
be selected with the VENT button.
Operating RECIRC in cold temperature or under high
humidity conditions may cause moisture to form on the
inside of the windshield. If this condition occurs,
deselect the RECIRC button.

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FRONT: This selection is used to defrost
the windshield by directing the airflow toward
the windshield.
If FRONT is selected while in the AUTO mode, the
fan speed and the air temperature from the front
defroster will vary. If a manual fan speed setting is
selected, the fan speed will remain at that selection until
another fan speed selection is made or the AUTO mode
is selected. To turn off FRONT, press the AUTO or
AIR FLOW button.
FRONT defrost will work better if any ice or snow is
cleared from the hood and the air inlet area between the
base of the windshield and the hood.
Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let
the hot air out. This reduces the time required to cool the
interior of the vehicle to a comfortable level. If thesystem is in the AUTO mode on very hot days, the
system will automatically enter the RECIRC mode and
the temperature door will be positioned at the full cold
position for maximum cooling. If the system is not in
the AUTO mode, RECIRC should be selected to provide
maximum cooling. You can choose the extreme comfort
setting of 60
F (16
C), but the system will not cool any
faster by choosing the extreme comfort setting.
Heating
On cold days, if the AUTO mode is selected, the system
will automatically direct the air toward the floor and the
temperature door will be positioned at the full hot
position. You can choose the extreme comfort setting of
90
F (32
C) but the system will not warm up any faster
by selecting the extreme comfort setting. If the outside
temperature is cold, the fan will be delayed to avoid
blowing cold air. Pushing the FAN, AIR FLOW or
FRONT buttons will override this delay, turn off the
AUTO mode and change the fan speed.

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3-6 Defogging and Defrosting
Use the FRONT button to quickly remove fog, frost or
ice from the windshield in extremely humid or
cold conditions.
Select the FRONT button to defrost the windshield. By
choosing this button, the airflow will be directed at the
windshield. Adjust your comfort level by pressing the
TEMP up or down arrow. The fan speed will be
controlled by the system. You can change the fan speed
by pressing the top of the FAN button to increase speed,
and the bottom of the button to decrease speed.
Rear Window Defogger
The lines you see on
the rear window warm
the glass. Press the button
to start warming your
window. An indicator light
in the button will glow
while the rear window
defogger is operating.At speeds above 30 mph (48 km/h), the rear defogger
will stay on until you press the REAR defogger button
again. At speeds below 30 mph (48 km/h), the rear
window defogger will turn off automatically after about
10 minutes of use. If you press it again, the defogger
will operate for about five minutes only. You can also
turn the defogger off by turning off the ignition.
NOTICE:
Scraping the inside of your rear window could
cut and damage the heater. Your warranty would
not cover this damage. Don't put decals there
because you might have to scrape them off.

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3-7 Passenger Zone Comfort Control
The front seat passenger can control the air temperature
in the right front passenger seating area.This system can be activated by turning the COMFORT
CONTROL knob on the passenger's door.
Adjust the temperature by turning the COMFORT
CONTROL knob toward COOLER or WARMER. This
control can be set up to 5
F or 3
C cooler or warmer
than the primary setting. Notice the lighted display
above the control which indicates the difference from
the main temperature setting.
Push the OFF button on the main control panel once to
turn off this part of the system.
Ventilation System
When the vehicle is moving, fresh air flows through the
air outlets. When the vehicle is not moving, you can get
fresh air by selecting any airflow choice (except the rear
window defogger) and any fan speed.

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Adjust the direction of airflow by moving the louvered
air outlets.You can also adjust the direction of the airflow to the
rear seating area.
Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction such as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work better, reducing the chance of
fogging your windows.

Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle.