key battery BUICK CENTURY 1999 Owner's Manual

yellowblue
1-25

Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information about
the air bag system. The module records information
about the readiness of the system, when the sensors
are activated and driver's safety belt usage at
deployment. Some modules also record speed,
engine rpm, brake and throttle data.

Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or the
right front passenger's air bag, the bag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger's air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don't want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
dealer and the Century Service Manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. To
purchase a service manual, see ªService and Owner
Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the air bag system. Be sure to
follow proper service procedures, and make sure
the person performing work for you is qualified
to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.

yellowblue
2-6
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.

yellowblue
2-8
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).

yellowblue
2-10
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.

yellowblue
2-11
If you wish to let the Delayed Locking feature complete
the locking of the vehicle, no additional action is
required. The Delayed Locking feature will lock the
doors automatically after all the doors have been closed
for a period of five seconds. During this five second
period, any door may be reopened, at which time the
three possible actions shown above are again available.
You may also customize your vehicle to activate the
Delayed Locking feature as described above, or you
may choose to completely disable the feature at all
times. If disabled, the power door locks will activate
immediately when a power door lock switch is pressed.
The enabled/disabled state of the Delayed Locking
feature will be toggled when you perform the following
sequence with the doors closed and the ignition key
in RUN:
1. Apply your regular brakes.
2. Press and hold the power door unlock switch. While
holding the door unlock switch, move the shift lever
out of and back into PARK (P).After an initial transaxle cycle, each additional cycle
will toggle the enable/disable state of the Delayed
Locking feature. During this procedure, the chime will
sound, providing you with feedback. In Mode 1, a single
chime will be heard if the Delayed Locking feature is
disabled. In Mode 2, two chimes will be heard if the
feature is enabled. When the door unlock switch is
released, the vehicle will remain in the most recent
operating mode.
Disconnecting the vehicle battery for up to a year will
not change the programmed mode of the Delayed
Locking feature.
Illumination on Remote Activation
This feature provides interior lighting when a remote
keyless entry door unlock command is received and
executed by your vehicle. Your vehicle's ignition must be
off for the Illumination on Remote Activation feature to
work. The interior lamps will light until your vehicle's
ignition is turned to RUN or for a period of 40 seconds has
elapsed. If a door is opened during the illumination period,
the timed lighting will be canceled, and the interior lamps
will remain on since a door is open.

yellowblue
2-12 Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be
purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any
remaining transmitters with you when you go to your
dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your
vehicle. Each vehicle can have only four transmitters
matched to it.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless
entry transmitter should last about three years.
You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter won't
work at the normal range in any location. If you have to
get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it's probably time to change the battery.
NOTICE:
When replacing the battery, use care not to
touch any of the circuitry. Static from your
body transferred to these surfaces may damage
the transmitter.

yellowblue
2-13
To replace the battery:
1. Insert a flat object like a dime into the slot on the
back of the transmitter. Gently pry apart the front
and back.
2. Remove the old battery and replace it with the new
one. (Use type CR2032 or an equivalent.) Make sure
the positive (+) side of the battery is facing down.
Do not use a metal object to remove the old battery.
3. Snap the top and bottom together, making sure the
halves are together tightly so water won't get in.
4. Test the operation of the transmitter with your
vehicle. If the transmitter does not work, try
resynchronizing the transmitter. (See
ªResynchronizationº following.)
5. Resynchronize and then test the transmitter.Resynchronization
Resynchronization may be necessary due to the security
method used by this remote keyless entry system. The
transmitter does not send the same signal twice to the
receiver. The receiver will not respond to a signal it has
previously been sent. This prevents someone from
recording and playing back the signal from the transmitter.
To resynchronize the transmitter with the receiver, do
the following:
1. Stand close to your vehicle.
2. Simultaneously press and hold the LOCK and
UNLOCK buttons on the transmitter for about seven
seconds. The door locks should cycle (lock and
unlock) to confirm resynchronization.
If the locks do not cycle, see your dealer for service.

yellowblue
2-18
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can't
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
Starting Your V6 Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's a
safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.

yellowblue
2-40
You can customize the vehicle to activate Delayed
Headlamp Illumination when your vehicle's ignition is
turned off under the conditions described above, or you
may choose not to activate this feature under any
conditions. You can turn the feature on and off when
you perform the following sequence with the doors
closed and the ignition key in RUN:
1. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, cycle the headlamp
switch on and then off two times.
2. Release the power door lock switch. These steps
must be carried out in a time period of less than
10 seconds, followed by a delay period of no more
than 10 seconds.
3. Then, press and hold the power door unlock switch.
While holding the door unlock switch, turn the headlamp
switch on and then off two times. Release the courtesy
door unlock switch. These operations must be carried out
in a time period of less than 10 seconds.
After releasing the door unlock switch, a single chime
will be heard if the Delayed Headlamp Illumination
function has been disabled; two chimes will be heard if
the feature has been enabled. Disconnecting the
vehicle's battery for up to a year will not change the
programmed operation of this feature.Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
moving the LIGHTS dial. If you turn the dial past
MAX, your courtesy or interior lamps will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps come on. These
lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle. You can also turn these
lamps on by twisting or turning the interior lights knob
all the way to the right.
Illuminated Entry
Your courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a set
time whenever you press UNLOCK on the remote
keyless entry transmitter.
If you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it's open
and then turn off automatically about 25 seconds after
you close it. If you press UNLOCK and don't open a
door, the lamps will turn off after about 40 seconds.

yellowblue
2-42 Rearview Mirror Reading Lamps
Use the switch next to each lamp to turn them on and off.
Dome Lamp (If Equipped)
The dome lamp will come on when you open the doors.
Battery Rundown Protection
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery in case you accidentally leave the
interior courtesy lamps, reading/map lamps, visor vanity
lamps, trunk lamp, underhood lamp or glove box lamps
on. If you leave any of these lamps on, they will
automatically turn off after 20 minutes, if the ignition is
in OFF. The lamps won't come back on again until you:

turn the ignition on,

turn the lamp switch off, then on, or

open a door.
Note that if your vehicle has less than 15 miles (25 km)
on the odometer, the battery saver will turn off the lamps
after only three minutes.
Retained Accessory Power (If Equipped)
With retained accessory power, your power windows,
audio system and sunroof will continue to work up to
10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to OFF and
before any of the doors are opened.
Mirrors
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.