Buick 1994 Century User manual

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Century

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The 1994 Buick Century
Owner's Manual
Litho in USA
Part No. 25609658 B First Edition 'Copyright General Motors Corporation
1993
All Rights Reserved
1

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GENERAL MOTORS, GMand the GM Emblem,
Buick, and the Buick Emblem areregistered trademarks
of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information
at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors
of Canada Limited” for Buick Motor
Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your Buick,
so it will be
there if youever need
it when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new
owner can use it.
VOLUNTARYTECHNICIAN
WE SUPPORT
CERTIFICATIONTHROUGH
AUTOMOTIVE
EXCELLENCE
SERVICE
Narlonal Instatute for
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux proprietaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer
un exemplairede ceguide en francais chez votre
concessionaire ou au
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.,
1500 Bonhill Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5T lC7.
2

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Buick Motor Division
provides one of the most dramatic
and importantchapters
in the history
of theAmerican automobile
3

WalterMarr and Thomas Buick
Buick’s chief engineer, Walter L. Marr (left), and
Thomas D. Buick, son of founder David Dunbar Buick,
drove thefirst Flint Buick ina successful Flint-Detroit
round trip in July 1904.
David Buick was building gasoline engines by 1899,
and Marr, his engineer, apparently built the first auto to
be called a Buick in 1900. However, Buick traditionally
dates itsbeginnings to 1903.That was the year the
company was reorganized, refinanced and moved from
Detroit to Flint. Buick has always been a product
innovator. Buick engineers developed the
“valve-in-head” engine, alight, powerful and reliable
engine which would eventually influence the entire
automotive industry.
William
C. Durant was instrumental in promoting
Buicks across
the country using his Durant-Dort
Carriage
Co. outlets and salespeopleasthe nucleus of a
giant distribution system.
He knew the Buick asa
“self-seller”.
If automobiles could be this good, he
thought, maybe
it was time to switch from the horse and
buggy business
to automobiles.
William C. (Billy) Durant
At the 1905,New York
Auto Show, Durant took
orders
for 1,000Buicks
before the company had
built
40. On Buick’s
success, Durant created a
holding company,
September 16, 1908.He
called it General Motors.
4

Durant also created a racing team that won 500 racing
trophies
in 1909 and 19 10, including successes at
Indianapolis two years before
the Indy 500 began.
The success
of Buick engines was visible not only on
the race track, but
in endurance tests across the country
and around the world. Buick was the only car to
complete a 1,000-mile Chicago-to-NewYork race
in
1906. And a Buick was the first car to travel across
South America, driven from Buenos Aires, Argentina,
over theAndes to Santiago, Chilein
19 14.
1911 Model 21 Touring Car on Buick’s Test Hill
Buick drew plenty of attention because it could climb
hills and run through mud like no other car. Buick’s
endurance and reliability were world famous.
During World War
I, Buick built Liberty aircraft engines
as well as Red Cross ambulances
so successful that one
Buick ambulance was awarded the Croix de Guerreby
the French government.
As a builder of premier automobiles, Buick was hard hit
by the Great Depression. However, new General
Manager, Harlow
H. Curtice created popular new
models including the Special and the Roadmaster. Buick
sales soon flourished.
First Buick Factory
5

In World War 11, Buick built aircraft engines, tanks and
other military hardware. This post-war period brought
great styling and engineering changes which resulted
in
increased sales. The torque converter automatic
transmission, Dynaflow, was introduced
in the 1948
Roadmaster. Buick’s famous “portholes” came along in
1949.
I949 Roadmaster
A high-compression V-8 engine was introduced in 1953.
And Buick’sfamous vertical pillar “toothy” grille,
(introduced
in 1942), became more massive in the
post-war era.
I953 Skylark
Motor Trend magazine named the 1962 Buick Special,
“Car
of the Year”. The first production V-6 engine was
used
in the Special.
6

I962 Buick Special
Built inside the walls of the old buildings in Buick’s
former
Flint complex, which formed the cornerstone of
General Motors,Buick City, is a state-of-the-art
assembly facility with more than
200 robots and other
high-tech equipment. It was completed
in the fall of
1985.
Buicks are, and will continue to be, premium American
motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich
detail and comfortable accommodation.
I
Ed Mertz,Gener-ulManager,Buic-k Motor- Division
Our mission is simple:
“Buick will provide Premium American Motorcars
backed with services that exceed
our customers’
expectations, throughout the purchase, ownership,
service and repurchase experience.”
Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL.
Buicks are DISTINCTIVE.
Buicks are POWERFUL.
Buicks are MATURE.
7

8

@ Table of Contents
How to Use this Manual ................................................................ 10
This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safety and vehicle damage warnings and symbols.
Seatsand Restraint Systems ............................................................. 13
This part tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. Italso explains the “SRS” system.
This part explains how
to start and operate your Buick.
This part tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
sound system.
YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 139
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 171
This part tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine
overheating, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good.
This part tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
This part tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how
to get service publications.It also
gives
you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 283.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something
you want to read.
FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 65
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... 121
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 207
Maintenanceschedule .................................................................. 261
Customer Assistance Information
........................................................ 281
Index
................................................................................ 291
7

How to Use This Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. This
will help
you learn about the features and controls for
your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find that pictures
and words work together
to explain things quickly.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box with gray background and the word
CAUTION
to tell you about things that could hurt you if
you were to ignore the warning.
In the gray caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions.
If you don’t, you or
others could be
hurt.
You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this
book.
fl This safetv svmbol means
“Don’t,” “Don’t
do this,” or
“Don’t let this happen.”
4.’
10

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
In the notice area, wetell you about somethingthat can
damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the noticewill tell
you what to doto help avoid the
damage.
When
you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and
NOTICE warnings in different colors or
in different words.
You’ll also seewarning labels on your vehicle. They use
yellow for cautions, blue for noticesand the words
CAUTION orNOTICE.
11

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
Fur example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
Q
CAUSTIC
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
FASTEN SEAT 4
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
AIRBAG P\
These symbols
have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e
TURN
HIGH BEAM
OR = =o
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are
on some of
your controls:
WIPER v
WINDSHIELDw DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used
on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT F&
TEMP -.--
ENGINE
CHARGING
I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
RADIATOR
COOLANT
a
FUEL
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
TEMP
OIL 4%
ANTILOCK (@)
BRAKE
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
RADIO
k
VOLUME J
CONDITIONING A'R 0
RELEASE 6
TRUNK
LIGHTER
m

n
Part 1 Seats and RestraintSystems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your Buick. and how to use your safety belts properly . You can also
learn about some things you should
not do with safety belts .
Part 1 includes:
Seatsandseatcontrols ............................................................. 14
HeadRestraints ................................................................... 17
Folding Rear Seats (Wagon) .......................................................... 18
SafetyBelts ...................................................................... 22
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................................................... 29
Automatic Lap-Shoulder Belt ................................................... 30
Supplemental Restraint System (Air Bag)
............................................... 37
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
..................................................... 42
Children ......................................................................... 48
Smaller Children and Babies
.................................................... 49
Child Restraints .............................................................. 50
SafetyBeltExtender ................................................................ 63
Checking Your Restraint System
...................................................... 63
Replacing Safety Belts After
a Crash .. ....... ...................................... 64
LargerChildren
............................................................... 61
13

Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats-how to adjust
them, and also about folding seats, reclining front
seatbacks, and headrestraints.
Manual Seat
Move the lever under the
front seat to the left to
unlock it. Slide the seat to
where you want
it then
release the lever
to lock.
Try to move the seat
with
your body, to make sure the
seat is locked into place.
14

Power Seat (Option) Reclining Front Seatback
The switch is located on the
front of the seat.To recline
the seatback hold the
switch up. Hold the switch
down to raise the seatback.
The power seat controls are located on the frontof the
seat.To adjust thepower seat:
Front Control (F): Raise the frontof the seatby holding
the switch
up. Hold the switch down to lowerthe front of
the seat.
Center Control (C): Move the seat forward or back by
holding the control to the right or left. Raise or lower the
seat by holding the control up or down.
Rear Control (R): Raise the rear of the seatby holding the
switch up. Hold the switch downtolower the rearof the seat.
15

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.

Head Restraints
Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint
is closest to the top of your ears.
This position reduces the chance
of a neck injury in a
crash.
Folding Rear Seats (Wagon)
To add more cargoroom, the seatbacks of your rear
second and optional rear-facing third seats can be easily
folded down. Be sure tocheck your seatback latches
now and then by pushing the seatback back and forth.
If
they donot latch properly, have them checked by your
dealer.
Remember
to keep safety belts clear of seat hinges and
latches
so they arenot damaged when you raise and
lower the seatbacks.
17

Folding Second Seat
To Lower the Split Second Seatback: Each seat has its
own release button. Press the release button and pull the
seatback forward and down.
I
To Raise the Split Second Seatback: Lift the seatback
until it locks
in the upright position. Push back and forth
on the seatback to be sure it is locked in place.
18