wheel BUICK CENTURY 2005 User Guide

Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-36
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-40
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-40
Security Light...............................................3-41
Cruise Control Light......................................3-41
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.....................3-41
Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light........................3-42
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-42
Fuel Gage...................................................3-42
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-43Audio System(s).............................................3-44
Setting the Time...........................................3-44
Radio with CD..............................................3-45
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-53
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-63
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-63
Radio Reception...........................................3-64
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-65
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-66
Care of Your CD Player................................3-66
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-66
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-66
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-13.
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-29.
D. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
E. Audio Steering Wheel Controls. SeeAudio Steering
Wheel Controls on page 3-63.
F. Gear Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transaxle
Operation on page 2-21.
G. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-26.H. Side Window Defogger Outlet.
I. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-11.
J. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-6.
K. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
L. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-44.
M. Ashtray. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette Lighter on
page 3-18.
N. Climate Control. SeeDual Climate Control System
on page 3-18.
O. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-33.
P. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-91.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will ash on and off.
The hazard warning asher
button is located on top of
the steering column.
Your hazard warning ashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key is not in.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, your turn
signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on your steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you drive. You can raise the steering wheel to
the highest level to give your legs more room when you
enter and exit the vehicle.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of the steering column.
To tilt the wheel, hold the
wheel and pull the lever.
Then move the wheel
to a comfortable position
and release the lever
to lock the wheel in place.
3-6

Cruise Control
If the vehicle has cruise control, a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more can be maintained without
keeping your foot on the accelerator. This can really help
on long trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds
below about 25 mph (40 km/h).
When the brakes are applied, the cruise control shuts off.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause needless wheel spinning,
and you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.The cruise control will automatically disengage when the
enhanced traction system begins to limit wheel spin.
SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-9.
When road conditions allow, the cruise control can be
used again.
Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
3-10

Enhanced Traction System
Warning Light
If the vehicle has the
Enhanced Traction
System, (ETS) the warning
light may come on for
the following reasons:
When the vehicle is shifted to SECOND (2) or
FIRST (1). To turn the system back on, shift
to THIRD (3) or AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
X).
SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-9.
If the vehicle needs service. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
When the parking brake is set with the engine
running, and the parking brake does not release fully.
After the parking brake is fully released and the
transaxle shift lever is in any position other than
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2). This means there is a
problem with the system.
If an engine-related problem affects the ETS and
turns the system off.
When the ETS warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
Low Traction Light
If the vehicle has the
Enhanced Traction System
(ETS), this light will
come on when the system
is limiting wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is
normal. Slippery road conditions may exist if the
low traction light comes on, so adjust your driving
accordingly. The light will stay on for a few seconds after
the ETS stops limiting wheel spin. SeeEnhanced
Traction System (ETS) on page 4-9.
The low traction light also comes on briey when the
ignition key is turned to RUN. If the light does not come
on then, have it xed so it will function properly to
indicate when the Enhanced Traction System is active.
3-34

Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK®is designed to discourage theft of your
vehicle’s radio. It works by using a secret code to
disable all radio functions whenever battery power is
removed and the radio is placed in a different vehicle.
This feature requires no user input to be activated.
The radio is automatically armed when it is put into the
vehicle for the rst time.
When the ignition is turned off, the blinking red light
indicates that THEFTLOCK
®is armed.
If THEFTLOCK
®is activated, the radio will not operate
if stolen. The radio will display LOCKED and a red
LED indicator light will come on above the key symbol
to indicate a locked condition. If this occurs, the radio will
need to be returned to your GM dealer.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
If your vehicle has this feature, some audio functions
can be adjusted at the steering wheel. They include
the following:
QSEEKR:Press the up or the down arrow to go to
the next or to the previous radio station. The radio
will only seek stations with a strong signal that are in
the selected band.
When a cassette tape or CD is playing, press the
up or the down arrow to go to the next or the
previous selection.
3-63

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light on
the instrument panel will come on briey when you
start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself.
You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that
your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel. United States
Canada
4-7

The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
a slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise,
but this is normal.
4-8

Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation
that requires hard braking.
If you have anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the
same time. However, if you do not have anti-lock, your
rst reaction — to hit the brake pedal hard and hold
it down — may be the wrong thing to do. Your wheels
can stop rolling. Once they do, the vehicle can not
respond to your steering. Momentum will carry it
in whatever direction it was headed when the wheels
stopped rolling. That could be off the road, into the very
thing you were trying to avoid, or into traffic.
If you do not have anti-lock, use a “squeeze” braking
technique. This will give you maximum braking while
maintaining steering control. You can do this by pushing
on the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the
brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or
feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal.
This will help you retain steering control. If youdohave
anti-lock, it is different. SeeAnti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) on page 4-7
In many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
If the vehicle has an Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
it will limit wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only if
it senses that one or both of the front wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system reduces engine power and may
also upshift the transaxle to limit wheel spin.
This light will come on the
instrument panel cluster
while the ETS is limiting
wheel spin. SeeEnhanced
Traction System Warning
Light on page 3-34.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
If the vehicle is in cruise control when the enhanced
traction system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. The cruise control
can be used again when road conditions allow safe
use of it. See “Cruise Control” underTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
4-9

The ETS operates in THIRD (3) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (
X). If the vehicle is in THIRD (3),
the system can upshift the transaxle to AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (
X). The ETS is turned off in
SECOND (2) or FIRST (1) gear, and when the parking
brake is set. SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation on
page 2-21.
While the ETS is on, this
warning light will come on
the instrument panel
cluster to show that the
system is not limiting
wheel spin.
SeeEnhanced Traction System Warning Light on
page 3-34. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, the ETS should always be left on. But the
system can be turned off. The ETS should be turned off
if the vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud or snow
and rocking the vehicle is required. See “Rocking Your
Vehicle To Get It Out” underIf You Are Stuck:
In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-30.To turn the system off, move the gear shift lever to
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) gear. See “Rocking Your
Vehicle To Get It Out” underIf You Are Stuck: In Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-30. When the system is
turned off, the TRAC OFF warning light will come on
and stay on. If the ETS is limiting wheel spin when
the system is turned off, the TRAC OFF light will
come on – but the ETS will not turn off right away.
It will continue to operate until there is no longer a
need to limit wheel spin.
4-10