key BUICK CENTURY 2002 Owner's Guide

2-26
Starting Your 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. With your foot off 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.
2. If your engine won't start (or starts but then stops),
it could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for not more than 15 seconds at a time. This
clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.

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.

2-45 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.

2-52
Storage Compartments
Glove Box
Use the door key to lock and unlock the glove box.
To open, lift the latch.
Front Storage Armrest
To use the storage area, fold down the armrest located in
the center front seat. Press the latch on the front edge
and pull up to access the storage area.
Rear Storage Armrest (If Equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with a split folding rear seat
it will also be equipped with a rear storage armrest.
To access the rear storage armrest, pull down on the
cloth strap located toward the top of the center back
seat cushion.
To open, pull up on the lever at the end of the armrest
and lift. You will then have access to the storage
compartment and dual oversized cupholders.
To use the cupholders, lift up and place the cupholders
in the front of the storage compartment. Replace when
not in use.
Center Console (Option)
If your vehicle is equipped with bucket seats it may
have a center console. The console has cupholders,
two storage areas for cassette tapes or compact discs
and a coinholder.
To open the console's rear storage area, press the latch
located toward the front of the console lid on the
driver's side of the vehicle and pull up.

2-66
Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they're working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there's a problem with your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They're a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for about 20 seconds,
then it will flash for
about 55 seconds.
If the driver's belt is already buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will come on.

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.

2-68 Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come on briefly when
you turn on the ignition, as
a check to show you it's
working. Then it should
go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the charging system. It could
indicate that you have a loose accessory belt or another
electrical problem. Have it checked right away. Driving
while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn't come on then,
have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there's
a problem.