ignition BUICK CENTURY 2002 Owner's Guide

2-32
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot.
Push down the parking
brake pedal with your
left foot.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. When you lift your left
foot, the parking brake pedal will follow it to the
released position.A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is set,
the ignition is on and the shift lever is not in PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N).
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on any hill, see
ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.

2-33
Shifting Into PARK (P)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won't move,
even when you're on fairly level ground, use the
steps that follow. If you're pulling a trailer, see
ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake with your left foot.
2. Move the shift lever into
PARK (P) by holding in
the button on the lever
and then pushing the
lever all the way toward
the front of your vehicle.
Then turn the ignition
key to LOCK.
3. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).

2-35
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shiftlock
control system. You must fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in RUN. See ªAutomatic Transaxle
Operationº in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing it all the way into PARK (P)
while keeping the brake pedal pushed down. Then move
the shift lever out of PARK (P).
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't
shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.

2-43
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal, or

move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
or shift into PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), your cruise
control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
This control, located to the
left of the cluster on the
instrument panel, operates
the exterior lamps.The exterior lamps control has three positions:
OFF: Pushing the control all the way in turns off all
lamps and lights.
Parking Lamps: Pulling the control out, halfway to the
first position, turns on the parking lamps together with
the following:

Taillamps

Licence Plate Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights
Headlamps: Pulling the control out all the way, to the
second position, turns on the headlamps together with
the previously listed lamps and lights.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver's
door when you turn the ignition switch to OFF, LOCK
or ACCESSORY with the lamps on.

2-44 Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp Control
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully
functional daytime running lamps are required on all
vehicles first sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when the following conditions are met:

The ignition is on,

the exterior lamps control is off and

the parking brake is released.When the DRL are on, only your front turn signal lamps
will be on. The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won't be on. Your instrument panel won't
be lit up either.
When it's dark enough outside, your front turn signal
lamps will turn off and your vehicle's headlamps and
parking lamps will turn on. The other lamps that come
on with your headlamps will also come on.
When it's bright enough outside, your headlamps will
go off and your front turn signal lamps will come on.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL and automatic
headlamp control off, set the parking brake while the
ignition is in OFF or LOCK. Then start your vehicle.
The DRL, headlamps and parking lamps will stay off
until you release the parking brake.
To turn off the automatic headlamp feature when it's
dark outside, move the exterior lamps control to the
parking lamp position. Your parking lamps will remain
illuminated and your headlamps will turn off.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.

2-45 Delayed Headlamp Illumination
Delayed headlamp illumination provides a period of
exterior lighting as you leave your vehicle's area. The
feature is activated when your vehicle's headlamps are
on due to the automatic headlamp control feature
described previously in this section, and when your
vehicle's ignition is turned off. Your headlamps will
then remain on until the exterior lamps control is
moved from OFF to the parking lamp position or
until a 90 second lighting period has ended.
If you turn off the ignition with the exterior lamps
control in the parking lamp or headlamp position, the
delayed headlamp illumination cycle will not occur.
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:
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN.
2. Close all the doors.
3. Press and hold the power door lock switch. While
holding the door lock switch, cycle the exterior
lamps control on and then off two times.
4. 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.
5. Then, press and hold the power door unlock switch.
While holding the door unlock switch, turn the
exterior lamps control 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 for this feature.

2-46
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
This feature control the brightness of the instrument
panel lights.
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
adjusting the exterior lamps control located to the right
of the exterior lamps control.
If you turn to control clockwise the interior lamps will
come on and become brighter as the control is turned
further to MAX. Turning the control all the way
clockwise turns on the courtesy lamps. If you turn the
control counterclockwise the lamps will begin to dim
and continue to get dimmer as the control is turned
closer toward LIGHTS MIN. If the control is turned
all the way counterclockwise, the lamps and lights will
turn off.
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 turning the exterior lamps control all the
way clockwise to MAX.
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.
Illuminated entry includes a feature called theater
dimming. With theater dimming, the lamps don't just
turn off at the end of the delay time. Instead, they slowly
dim after the delay time until they go out. The delay
time is canceled if you turn the ignition key to RUN or
START, so the lamps will dim right away.
When the ignition is on, illuminated entry is inactive,
which means the courtesy lamps won't come on unless a
door is opened.
Delayed Entry Lighting
Delayed entry lighting lights your vehicle's interior for a
period of time after all the doors have been closed.

2-47
The ignition must be off for delayed entry lighting to
work. Just after all the doors have been closed, the
delayed entry lighting feature will continue to work until
one of the following occurs:

The ignition is in RUN, or

the doors are locked, or

an illumination period of 25 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period will be canceled and the
interior lamps will remain on.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature illuminates the interior for a period of time
after the ignition key is removed from the ignition.
The ignition must be off for delayed exit lighting to
work. When the ignition key is removed, interior
illumination will activate and remain on until one of the
following occurs:

The ignition is in RUN, or

the power door locks are activated, or

an illumination period of 25 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period will be canceled and the
interior lamps will remain on.
Rearview Mirror Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the underside of the
rearview mirror.
Use the button next to each lamp to turn them on
and off.
Dome Lamp (If Equipped)
The dome lamp will come on when you open a door.
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
do one of the following:

Turn the ignition on,

turn the exterior lamps control off, then on, or

open a door.
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.

2-61
Sunroof (Option)
Your vehicle may be equipped with an express-open
sunroof. It includes a sliding glass panel and a
one
-piece sunshade.
The switch is located overhead on the headliner.
The switch works only when the ignition is on or when
retained accessory power is active. SeeªRetained
Accessory Powerº in the Index.
VENT: To open the sunroof to the vent position only,
push and hold the front of the switch. You will need to
open the sunshade by hand. To close the sunroof from
the vent position, push and hold the rear (indented part)
of the switch.
Open/Express Open: To open the sunroof, push the
rear (indented part) of the switch once. The sunroof and
sunshade will open by themselves. This is the
express
-open feature.
Close: To close the sunroof, push and hold the front of
the switch until the sunroof motor stops. The sunshade
can only be closed by hand.

2-67 Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag's electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The
system check includes the air bag modules, the wiring
and the crash sensing and diagnostic module. For more
information on the air bag system, see ªAir Bagº in
the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your vehicle,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.