coolant level BUICK CENTURY 2003 Owner's Manual

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-3
Other Warning Devices...................................3-4
Horn.............................................................3-4
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-4
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-5
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-11
Interior Lamps..............................................3-14
Auxiliary Power Connection
(Power Drop)............................................3-16
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-16
Climate Controls............................................3-17
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-17
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-20
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-22
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-23
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-24
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-24
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-25
Charging System Light..................................3-26
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-27
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-28
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light.........3-28
Low Traction Light........................................3-29Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-29
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-30
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-30
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-31
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-34
Low Oil Level Light.......................................3-35
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-35
Security Light...............................................3-36
Cruise Control Light......................................3-36
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.....................3-36
Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light........................3-36
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-37
Fuel Gage...................................................3-37
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-38
Audio System(s).............................................3-39
Setting the Time...........................................3-39
AM-FM Radio...............................................3-40
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-42
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-48
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-50
Understanding Radio Reception......................3-50
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-51
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-52
Care of Your CD Player................................3-52
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-52
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-38.
B. Battery. See
Battery on page 5-42.
C. Underhood Fuse Block. See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-89.
D. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See
Jump
Starting on page 5-43.
E. Radiator Pressure Cap. See
Radiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-26.
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. See
Engine Coolant
on page 5-23.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See
Power Steering
Fluid on page 5-36.
H. Electric Engine Cooling Fan. See
Jump Starting on
page 5-43.
I. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
K. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See
Automatic
Transaxle Fluid on page 5-19.
L. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brakes on page 5-39.
M. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. See
Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-18.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It's a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick
handle is the yellow loop
located near the front
of the engine. See
Engine
Compartment Overview
on page 5-12
for more
information on location.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
5-13

The vehicle must be on a
level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at the
COLD mark or a little
higher.
When your engine is warm, the level should be up to
the HOT mark or a little higher.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOLž
coolant mixtureat the coolant recovery tank,but be
careful not to spill it.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant to the radiator. See ªHow to Add Coolant to the
Radiatorº later in this section.
{CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
With the coolant recovery tank, you will almost
never have to add coolant at the radiator.
Never turn the radiator pressure cap Ð even a
little Ð when the engine and radiator are hot.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
Occasionally check the coolant level in the radiator.
For information on how to add coolant to the radiator,
see
Cooling System on page 5-29.
5-25

Cooling System
When you decide it's safe to lift the hood, here's what
you'll see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
C. Radiator Pressure Cap{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood
can start up even when the engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
don't do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface.
5-29

When the engine is cold,
the coolant level should be
at or above the COLD
mark on the coolant
recovery tank. If it isn't,
you may have a leak at the
pressure cap or in the
radiator hoses, heater
hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else
in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don't touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don't run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine ®re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak ®xed before you drive the
vehicle.If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both fans should be
running. If they aren't, your vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn't covered by your warranty.
See ªOverheated Engine Protection Operating
Modeº in the Index for information on driving to a
safe place in an emergency.
Notice:When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only DEX-COOLž(silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOLžis added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner Ð at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs ®rst.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL
žis not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
5-30

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven't found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn't at the COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture ofclean,
drinkable waterand DEX-COOLžengine coolant at
the coolant recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-23for more information.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. Your vehicle's
coolant warning system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong
mixture, your engine could get too hot but you
wouldn't get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch ®re and you or others could be
burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
žcoolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts. Use
the recommended coolant and the proper coolant
mixture.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at the
COLD mark, start your vehicle.
5-31

6. Then ®ll the coolant recovery tank to the COLD
mark on the coolant recovery tank.
7. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.8. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fans.
9. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
®ller neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL
žcoolant mixture
through the ®ller neck until the level reaches
the base of the ®ller neck.
5-35

10. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure if coolant begins to ¯ow out of the
®ller neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure
the arrow on the pressure cap lines up like this.
11. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at the HOT
mark when the engine is hot or at the COLD mark
when the engine is cold.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering ¯uid reservoir is located on the
passenger's side of the vehicle at the back of the engine
compartment, and can be identi®ed by the above
graphic on the cap. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page 5-12for reservoir location.
5-36

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed in this part are owner checks and services
which should be performed at the intervals speci®ed to
help ensure the safety, dependability and emission
control performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any ¯uids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each fuel ®ll.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13for further
details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOLž
coolant mixture if necessary. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 5-23for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer ¯uid level in the windshield
washer tank and add the proper ¯uid if necessary.
See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-38for further
details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire In¯ation Check
Make sure tires are in¯ated to the correct pressures.
Don't forget to check your spare tire. SeeTires on
page 5-57for further details.
Cassette Tape Player Service
Clean cassette tape player. Cleaning should be done
every 50 hours of tape play. SeeAudio System(s)
on page 3-39for further details.
6-10

E
Electrical System............................................5-88
Add-On Equipment......................................5-88
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-89
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-88
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-88
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-88
Emergency Trunk Release Handle.....................2-14
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-33
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................6-10
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing..................4-41
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-16
Engine Oil Level Check...................................6-10
Engine Oil Scheduled Maintenance..................... 6-5
Engine..........................................................5-18
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-18
Battery.......................................................5-42
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-35
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-31
Compartment Overview................................5-12
Coolant Heater............................................2-21
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-30
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-29
Coolant......................................................5-23
Cooling System Inspection............................6-14Engine (cont.)
Exhaust.....................................................2-30
Oil .............................................................5-13
Overheating................................................5-26
Starting......................................................2-20
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)......................4-10
Warning Light.............................................3-28
Entry Lighting.................................................3-14
Express-Down Window....................................2-16
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-29
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-11
F
Filter.............................................................5-18
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-18
Finding a Station....................................3-40, 3-42
Finish Care....................................................5-83
Finish Damage...............................................5-84
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-52
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-7
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-67
Flat Tire........................................................5-66
Fluid.............................................................5-19
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-19
Power Steering...........................................5-36
Windshield Washer......................................5-38
5