instrument panel BUICK CENTURY 2002 Owner's Guide

2-59

Stolen Vehicle Tracking: Call the center at
1
-888-4-ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) to report
your vehicle stolen. The system can then attempt to
locate and track your vehicle and the advisor will
assist the proper authorities.

Roadside Assistance with Location: For vehicle
breakdowns, press the OnStar button. An advisor
will contact the appropriate help.

Remote Diagnostics: If an instrument panel light
comes on, the center can perform a check of the
engine on
-board computer. An advisor can then
recommend what action needs to be taken.

OnStar MED
-NET: Med-Net can store your
personal medical history and provide it to emergency
personnel if necessary. (Requires activation and
additional fee.)

Accident Assist: An advisor can provide
step
-by-step guidance following an accident.
Remote Door Unlock: To contact the center,
call 1
-888-4-ONSTAR. You will be required to
provide your security information. An advisor will
send a command to your vehicle to unlock itself.
The advisor can delay unlocking your vehicle.
Remote Door Unlock is disabled 48 hours after the
vehicle is parked to maintain the battery charge.

Vehicle Locator Service: To contact the center,
call 1
-888-4-ONSTAR. You will be required to
provide your security information. An advisor will
send a command to your vehicle to sound the horn
and/or flash the lamps.

Route Support: An advisor can provide directions
or guidance to anywhere you want to go. In addition,
they can help you locate gas stations, rest areas,
ATMs, hospitals, hotels, stores, eateries and more.

Ride Assist: An advisor can locate transportation in
the event that you are unable to drive.

Concierge Services: The concierge advisor can
obtain tickets, reservations, or help with vacation/trip
planning and other unique items and services.

2-62
The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System

2-63
The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Exterior Lamps Control
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
C. Instrument Panel Cluster
D. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
E. Gear Shift Lever
F. Vents
G. Side Window Defogger VentH. Hood Release
I. Tilt Wheel Lever
J. Horn
K. Audio System
L. Ashtray
M. Climate Controls
N. Glove Box
O. Instrument Panel Fuse Block

2-64
Instrument Panel Cluster
The instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know how fast
you're going, about how much fuel is in your tank and many other things you need to drive safely and economically.
United States version shown, Canada, Base Level similar

2-65 Speedometer and Odometer
The speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
The odometer shows how far your vehicle has been
driven in either miles (used in the United States) or in
kilometers (used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper
-resistant odometer. If you see
ERROR, you'll know someone has probably tampered
with it and the numbers may not be accurate.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer, then that will be done.
But if it can't, then it will be set at zero and a label must
be put on the driver's door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was installed.Trip Odometer
The trip odometer tells how far you have driven since
you last reset it. To set it to zero, press the button on
the right side of the instrument panel cluster.
The trip/select reset button will go back and forth
between the odometer and the trip odometer if the
button is pressed and released within 1.5 seconds.
If the button is pressed and held for longer than
1.5 seconds while in the trip odometer mode, it will be
reset to zero. If the button is pressed and held for longer
than 1.5 seconds while in the odometer mode, it will
have no effect.

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.

2-80 Fuel Gage
United States Canada
Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have left
when the ignition is on. When the indicator nears empty, you
still have a little fuel left, but you should get more soon.
Here are four things that some owners ask about. All
these things are normal and do not indicate that anything
is wrong with the fuel gage:

At the gas station, the pump shuts off before the gage
reads full.

It takes more (or less) fuel to fill up than the gage
reads. For example, the gage reads half full, but it took
more (or less) than half of the tank's capacity to fill it.
The gage pointer may move while cornering, braking
or speeding up.

The gage may not indicate empty when the ignition
is turned off.
Low Fuel Light
United States Canada
If your fuel is low, a circular light on your instrument
panel cluster will come on and stay on and a chime will
sound periodically until you add fuel.
It will also come on for a few seconds when you first
turn on the ignition as a check to show you it's working.
If it doesn't come on then, have it fixed.

3-3
Mode Knob
The right knob has several settings to control the
direction of airflow.
MAX (Maximum Air Conditioning): This setting
recirculates much of the air inside your vehicle
and sends it through the instrument panel outlets.
The air conditioning compressor will run automatically
in this setting unless the outside temperature is below
40
F (4
C). (Even when the compressor is running,
you can control the temperature.)
VENT (Ventilation): This setting brings in outside
air and directs it through the instrument panel outlets.
BI
-LEV (Bi-Level): This setting brings in outside
air and directs it two ways. Half of the air is directed
through the instrument panel outlets. Most of the
remaining air is directed through the floor ducts and
a little to the defrost and side window vents.
HTR (Heater): This setting sends most of the air
through the ducts near the floor. The rest comes out of
the defroster and side window vents.BLEND: This setting allows half of the air to go to
the floor ducts and half to the defroster and side
window vents. The air conditioning compressor will
run automatically in this setting unless the outside
temperature is below 40
F (4
C). (Even when the
compressor is running, you can control the temperature.)
DEF (Defrost): This setting directs most of the air
through the defroster and side window vents. Some of
the air goes to the floor ducts and the side window vents.
The air conditioning compressor will run automatically
in this setting unless the outside temperature is below
40
F (4
C). (Even when the compressor is running,
you can control the temperature.)
A/C (Air Conditioning): Press this button to
turn the air conditioning on and off. The system will
cool and dehumidify the air inside the vehicle when the
A/C light is on.

3-4 Dual Automatic ComforTemp
Climate
Control (If Equipped)
With this system, you set a temperature. You can
then either let the system automatically control airflow
direction and force to maintain the temperature, or you
can manually adjust it. The system works best if you
keep your windows closed while using it.
Manual Control
If you prefer to manually control the heating,
cooling and ventilation in your vehicle, you can
select airflow direction, fan speed, outside or
recirculated air, air compressor and temperature
operation with the following:AIR FLOW: This control has several settings to
control the direction of airflow when the system is
not in AUTO.
To access the various modes available, continue to press
the AIR FLOW rocker switch up or down until the
desired mode appears in the display:
WINDSHIELD/FLOOR: This setting directs half
of the air to the floor ducts and half to the defroster
and side window vents. The air conditioning
compressor will run automatically in this setting
unless the outside temperature is below 40
F (4
C).
MID/FLOOR (Instrument Panel/Floor): This
setting directs half of the air through the instrument
panel outlets. Most of the remaining air is directed
through the floor ducts
and a little to the defroster and side window vents.
MID (Instrument Panel): This setting directs air
through the instrument panel outlets.
FLOOR: This setting sends most of the air through
the ducts near the floor. The rest comes out of the
defroster and side window vents. When in this
setting and the RECIRC setting, the windows can
fog up. See ªRECIRCº in the Index.

4-39 Making Turns
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you're turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal. Do this so your trailer won't strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument panel
will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash,
telling other drivers you're about to turn, change lanes
or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you
are seeing your signal when they are not. It's important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are
still working.