BUICK CENTURY 1999 Repair Manual

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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
-7 Remote Keyless Entry
2
-14 Trunk
2
-14 Theft
2
-15 PASS-Key
II
2
-16 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-17 Ignition Positions
2
-18 Starting Your V6 Engine
2
-19 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-20 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-25 Parking Brake
2
-26 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-28 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-29 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-30 Engine Exhaust
2
-30 Running Your Engine While You're Parked2
-31 Windows
2
-32 Horn
2
-32 TILT-WHEEL Adjustable Steering Column
2
-33 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-38 Exterior Lamps
2
-40 Interior Lamps
2
-42 Mirrors
2
-44 Storage Compartments
2
-46 Sun Visors
2
-46 Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)
2
-46 Astroroof (If Equipped)
2
-47 OnStar
(Option)
2
-48 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-49 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-50 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

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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.

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The ignition key is for the
ignition only.
The door key is for the
doors and all other locks.The ignition and door keys don't have plugs. Your
dealer or Buick Premium Roadside Assistance has the
code for your keys.
If you need a new ignition or door key, contact your
dealer who can obtain the correct key code, or, in an
emergency, call Buick Premium Roadside Assistance at
1
-800-252-1112. In Canada, call 1-800-268-6800.
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.

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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 or remote keyless
entry transmitter.
From the inside, to lock or unlock the door manually,
push the lever forward to lock the door. To unlock, push
the lever rearward.

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2-5 Power Door Locks
Press the power door lock
switch to lock or unlock all
doors.
The rear doors do not have power door lock switches.
The lever on each rear door works only that door's lock.
It won't lock or unlock all the doors.
Programmable Automatic Power
Door Locks
Programmable Automatic Power Door Locks is a
standard feature that is intended to provide enhanced
security and convenience by automatically locking and
unlocking doors. This feature provides four operating
modes. For your vehicle, you may select and program
one of the following four operating modes:Mode 1: No automatic door lock or unlock.
Mode 2: Automatic all
-door lock when the transaxle is
shifted out of PARK (P); no automatic door unlock.
Automatic door relock when any door is unlocked,
opened and then all doors are again closed while the
vehicle is not in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and the
driver's foot is on the brake pedal.
Mode 3: Automatic all
-door lock when the transaxle is
shifted out of PARK (P). Automatic all
-door unlock
when the transaxle is shifted into PARK (P). Automatic
door relock when any door is unlocked, opened and then
all doors are again closed while the vehicle is not in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and the driver's foot is on
the brake pedal.
Mode 4: Automatic all
-door lock when the transaxle is
shifted out of PARK (P). Automatic driver's door only
unlock when the transaxle is shifted into PARK (P).
Automatic door relock when any door is unlocked,
opened and then all doors are again closed while the
vehicle is not in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and the
driver's foot is on the brake pedal.

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The operating mode of the Programmable Automatic
Power Door Locks will be changed when the driver
performs the following sequence with the engine not
running, the doors closed and the ignition key in RUN:
1. Apply your regular brakes.
2. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, move the shift lever
out of and back into PARK (P).
After an initial transaxle cycle, each additional cycle
will advance the operating mode by one, starting from
the current operating mode. During this procedure, the
automatic door lock and unlock functions will operate as
defined by each mode above, providing the driver with
feedback of the current operating mode. If cycled
beyond Mode 4, the vehicle will enter operating
Mode 1. When the door lock switch is released, the
vehicle will remain in the most recent operating mode.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed mode of the Programmable
Automatic Power Door Locks.Rear-Door Child Security Locks
Your vehicle is equipped with rear-door child security
locks that help prevent passengers from opening the rear
doors of your vehicle from the inside. To use one of
these locks:
1. Open one of the rear doors.

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2. On the inside of the rear door will be a lock. Insert
your key into this lock and turn it upward. This will
engage the safety lock. To disengage the feature, turn
the lock downward.
3. Close the door.
4. Do the same thing to the other rear door lock.
The rear doors of your vehicle cannot be opened from the
inside when this feature is in use. If you want to open the
rear door when the security lock is on, unlock the door
from the inside and then open the door from the outside.
Lockout Protection Feature
This feature prevents a driver who has left the key in the
vehicle's ignition from locking the doors by using the
power door locks while any door is open. The feature
works by disabling the power door locks when a key is
in the ignition and any door is open.
You may override the Lockout Protection Feature by
holding the power door lock switch in the lock position
for more than three seconds while the key is in the
ignition and any door is open.Remember, this feature can't guarantee that you'll never
be locked out of your vehicle. If you use the manual
door lock or if you don't leave the key in the ignition,
you could still lock your keys inside your vehicle.
Always remember to take your keys with you.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door. (Also see ªDelayed Lockingº in this
section for more information.)
Remote Keyless Entry
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.

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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.
This system has a range of about 3 feet (1 m) up to
30 feet (9 m). At times you may notice a decrease in
range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry
system. If the transmitter does not work or if you have
to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to
work, try this:

Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions that follow.

Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.

Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or
right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.

If you're still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.Operation
Press UNLOCK once to
unlock the driver's door and
to turn on the interior lamps
(see ªIllumination on
Remote Activationº in the
Index for more details).
Press UNLOCK again within five seconds to unlock all
the doors. To lock all doors, press LOCK. To unlock the
trunk, press the trunk symbol on the remote keyless
entry transmitter. The trunk will only unlock if your
transaxle is in PARK (P).

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Instant Alarm
This feature allows you to activate an alarm by pressing
a button on the remote keyless entry transmitter. Your
vehicle's ignition must be off for the Instant Alarm to
work. When you press the horn button on the remote
keyless entry transmitter, your vehicle's headlamps will
flash, the horn will honk repeatedly, and your interior
lamps will illuminate, attracting attention if you need it.
The alarm will continue until:

You press the alarm button on the RKE transmitter a
second time,

the vehicle's ignition is in RUN, or

an alarm period of about two minutes has elapsed.
Security Feedback
Security Feedback provides audible and/or visible
feedback that a remote keyless entry lock or unlock
command has been received and executed. Your
vehicle's ignition must be off for this feature to work.
You may select one of four operating modes for
reception of a lock command. You may also select one
of four operating modes for reception of an unlock
command. The selection and programming of the lock
and unlock operating modes are independent of each
other. The following modes are available for either lock
or unlock verification:Mode 1: No Verification
Mode 2: Horn Chirp only
Mode 3: Headlamp Flash only
Mode 4: Horn Chirp and Headlamp Flash
The operating mode of the Security Feedback lock
feature will be changed when you perform the following
sequence with your vehicle's doors closed and the
ignition key in RUN:
Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, press and release the
remote keyless entry (RKE) transmitter lock button.
This will start the customization mode. While in the
customization mode, the feature will sound the number
of chimes corresponding to the current Security
Feedback lock mode.
Each additional press of the RKE transmitter lock button
will cause your vehicle to advance the lock mode by
one, starting from the current lock mode. If cycled
beyond lock Mode 4, the vehicle will enter lock Mode 1.
During this procedure, the feature will sound the number
of chimes corresponding to the current lock mode,
providing you with feedback. When the door lock
switch is released, the vehicle will remain in the most
recent lock mode.

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The operating mode of the Security Feedback unlock
feature will be changed when you perform the following
sequence with your vehicle's doors closed and the
ignition key in RUN:

Press and hold the power door unlock switch. While
holding the door unlock switch, press and release the
RKE transmitter unlock button. This will start the
customization mode.

While in the customization mode, the feature will
sound the number of chimes corresponding to the
current unlock mode.
Each additional press of the RKE transmitter unlock
button will cause your vehicle to advance the unlock
mode by one, starting from the current unlock mode. If
cycled beyond unlock Mode 4, the vehicle will enter
unlock Mode 1. During this procedure, the feature will
sound the number of chimes corresponding to the
current unlock mode, providing you with feedback.
When the door unlock switch is released, the vehicle
will remain in the most recent unlock mode.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed mode of the lock and
unlock Security Feedback features.Delayed Locking
Delayed Locking allows the doors to be locked while
passengers are exiting the vehicle. This feature also
provides a brief time period after all the doors are
closed, but before the doors are locked, in which the
doors may be reopened. Delayed Locking is user
programmable for enabling or disabling the feature.
Delayed Locking is activated when a door lock switch is
pressed while the key is not in the vehicle's ignition, and
a door is open. The door lock switch may be either the
lock switch on the door or on the remote keyless entry
transmitter (see ªRemote Keyless Entryº later in this
section for more details). The doors do not lock when
the lock switch is pressed, but instead, three chimes are
heard. These chimes indicate that the Delayed Locking
feature has been activated.
You have three actions possible once Delayed Locking
is activated:

Cancel the Delayed Locking by pressing the unlock
switch or by fully inserting the key in the ignition.

Override the Delayed Locking feature and lock the
doors immediately by pressing the lock switch a
second time.

Let the Delayed Locking feature complete the
locking of the vehicle.