BUICK CENTURY 1998 Repair Manual

yellowblue
1-55
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle's safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
But if a safety belt isn't long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you an extender. It's free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that
you choose. Don't let someone else use it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is
torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)

yellowblue
1-56
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If you've had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during a more severe crash, then you need new belts.
If you ever see a label on the driver's or the right front
passenger's safety belt that says to replace the belt, be
sure to do so. Then the new belt will be there to help
protect you in a collision. You would see this label on
the belt near the latch plate.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have safety belt
or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs
may be necessary even if the belt wasn't being used at
the time of the collision.
If your seat adjuster won't work after a crash, the special
part of the safety belt that goes through the seat to the
adjuster may need to be replaced.
If an air bag inflates, you'll need to replace air bag
system parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier in
this section.

2-
yellowblue
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Keys
2
-4 Door Locks
2
-8 Remote Keyless Entry System
2
-13 Trunk
2
-14 Theft
2
-15 Universal Theft-Deterrent (Option)
2
-17 PASS-Key
II
2
-18 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-19 Ignition Positions
2
-21 Starting Your Engine
2
-23 Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
2
-24 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-27 Parking Brake
2
-28 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-30 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-31 Parking Over Things That Burn2
-32 Engine Exhaust
2
-32 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-33 Windows
2
-34 Tilt Wheel
2
-35 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-40 Exterior Lamps
2
-43 Interior Lamps
2
-46 Mirrors
2
-52 Storage Compartments
2
-58 Accessory Power Outlet
2
-58 OnStar
System (Option)
2
-60 Universal Transmitter (Option)
2
-64 The Instrument Panel - Your
Information System
2
-68 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

yellowblue
2-2
Keys
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don't
leave the keys in a vehicle with children.

yellowblue
2-3
The ignition key is for the
ignition only.
The door key is for the
doors and all other locks.When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer removes the
bar
-coded key tags from the keys, and gives them to the
first owner.
Each tag has a code on it that tells your dealer or a
qualified locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep the
tags in a safe place. If you lose your keys, you'll be able
to have new ones made easily using the tag. If you
misplace your tag, go to your dealer for the correct key
code if you need a new ignition key.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle has a number of features that can
help prevent theft. But you can have a lot of
trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever lock
your keys inside. You may even have to damage
your vehicle to get in. So be sure you have
extra keys.

yellowblue
2-4
Door Locks
CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers -- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When a door is
locked, the inside handle won't open it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be so obvious: You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors aren't locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you will be far
better off whenever you drive your vehicle.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your door key.
If your vehicle has a theft
-deterrent system and it is
activated, unlock the doors only with the key or remote
keyless entry system. This will avoid setting off
the alarm.
To lock the door from the inside, move the lock control
on the door forward.
To unlock the door, move the lock control toward the
rear of the vehicle. There is a red mark on the lock
control which shows when the door is unlocked.
Central Door Unlocking System (Option)
If the driver's door key is held in the unlock position for
more than one second, both doors will unlock.

yellowblue
2-5 Power Door Locks
Press the power DOOR
LOCK/UNLOCK switch
to lock or unlock both
doors at once.
Door Ajar Reminder
If one of the doors on your vehicle is not closed
properly, the DOOR AJAR light on the instrument panel
will come on and stay on until the doors are closed and
completely latched.
Memory Door Locks
This is a Personal Choice feature that programs your
door locks to automatically lock or unlock.
Close the doors and turn on the ignition. Every time you
move the shift lever out of PARK (P), all of the doors
will lock. And, every time you stop and move the shift
lever into PARK (P), the doors will unlock. If someone
needs to get out while you're not in PARK (P), have that
person use the manual or power lock. When the door is
closed again, it will not lock automatically. Just use the
manual or power lock to lock the door again. If you
need to lock the doors before shifting out of PARK (P),
use the manual or power lock button to lock the doors.

yellowblue
2-6
Customizing Your Memory Door Locks Feature
You can program the memory door locks feature to
change to the following modes:
Mode Operation
0 No automatic door lock or unlock.
1 Both doors automatically lock when shifted
out of PARK (P). No automatic door unlock.
2 Both doors automatically lock when shifted
out of PARK (P). Only the driver's door
automatically unlocks when shifted into
PARK (P).
3 Both doors automatically lock when shifted
out of PARK (P). Both doors automatically
unlock when shifted into PARK (P).Vehicles are delivered programmed in Mode 3.
To change the modes:
1. Close both doors and turn the ignition on. Keep both
doors closed throughout this procedure.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the driver's power door
lock switch through Step 4.
3. Press the LOCK button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter. The memory door locks will remain in
the current mode.
4. Press the LOCK button on the transmitter again.
Each time the transmitter's LOCK button is pressed,
the mode will advance by one, going from Mode 3
to 0 to 1, etc.
NOTE: The door locks will cycle according to the
mode entered while customizing memory door locks.
(Mode ª0º has no feedback.)
5. Release the power door lock switch. The memory
door locks will remain in the most recent
mode selected.
This procedure changes the mode for only the
transmitter used to change this setting. The procedure
will need to be repeated for the second transmitter.

yellowblue
2-7 Delayed Locking
This Personal Choice feature lets the driver delay the
actual locking of the vehicle. When the power door lock
switch is pressed with the key removed from the ignition
and the driver's door open, a chime will sound three
times to signal that the lock delay mode is active. When
both doors have been closed, the doors will lock
automatically after five seconds. If either door is opened
before this, the five
-second timer will reset itself once
both doors have been closed again.
Pressing the door lock switch twice within two seconds
will override this feature.
Personal Choice Programming
The delayed locking feature can be turned on or off for
each driver's remote keyless entry transmitter.
To turn the feature on:
1. Press and hold LOCK on the driver's power door
lock switch throughout this procedure. Both doors
will lock.
2. Press the UNLOCK button on the transmitter to
enter the programming mode. The lock delay is still
off and both doors will remain locked.3. Press the UNLOCK button on the transmitter again.
Lock delay is now active and both doors will unlock.
4. Release the power door lock switch.
To turn this feature off, repeat this procedure.
This procedure changes the mode for only the
transmitter used to change this setting. The procedure
will need to be repeated for the second transmitter.Lockout Protection
The power door locks will not work if the key is left in
the ignition with the driver's door open. You can
override this feature by holding the power door lock
switch for more than three seconds, unless the engine
is running.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from the inside. Then get out and
close the door.
If your vehicle has a theft
-deterrent system, see
ªUniversal Theft
-Deterrentº in the Index.

yellowblue
2-8
Remote Keyless Entry System
You can lock and unlock
your doors or unlock your
trunk from about 3 feet
(1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m)
away using the remote
keyless entry transmitter
supplied with your vehicle.
Your remote keyless entry system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause
undesired operation.This device complies with RSS
-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of
the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.