1996 Buick Century Owner's Manual
1996 Buick Century Owner's Manual 1996 Buick Century Owner's Manual
Speedometer and OdometerYour speedometer lets you see your speed in both milesper hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (kmh). Yourodometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven,in either miles (used in the United States) or kilometers(used in Canada).Your Buick has a “tamper-resistant odometer.” If youcan see very noticeable bright silver lines between thenumbers, someone has probably tried to turn it back.The numbers may not be true.You may wonder what happens if a vehicle has to havea new odometer installed. If possible, the new one hasto be set to the same reading as the old one. If it can’tbe, then it’s set at zero, and a label on the driver’s doormust show the old reading and when the new onewas installed.Trip OdometerThe trip odometer can tell you how many miles youhave driven since you last set it to zero. To reset it, pushthe button on the instrument cluster.2-48Warning Lights, Gages and IndicatorsThis part describes the warning lights and gages that maybe on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them.Warning lights and gages can signal that something iswrong before it becomes serious enough to cause anexpensive repair or replacement. Paying attention toyour warning lights and gages could also save you orothers from injury.Warning lights come on when there may be or is aproblem with one of your vehicle’s hnctions. As you willsee in the details on the next few pages, some warninglights come on briefly when you start the engine just to letyou know they’re working. If you are familiar with thissection, you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problemwith one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages andwarning lights work together to let you know whenthere’s a problem with your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays onwhen you are driving, or when one of the gages showsthere may be a problem, check the section that tells youwhat to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.Waiting to do repairs can be costly -- and evendangerous. So please get to know your warning lightsand gages. They’re a big help.
Safety Belt Warning LightWhen the key is turned to RUN or START a chime willcome on for about eight seconds to remind people tofasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt isalready buckled./r\ CAUTION:The safety belt light willalso come on and stay onfor about 20 seconds, thenit will flash for about55 seconds. If the driver’sbelt is already buckled,neither the chime nor thelight will come on.-1 urour safety belt light ever comes on or stays onafter the front doors are closed and the driver’sbelt is buckled, have your vehicle fixed.If you don’t, the belt might not work as it should,and you might not have the protection you’dneed in a crash.Air Bag Readiness LightThere is an air bag readiness light on the instrumentpanel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks theair bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The lighttells you if there is an electrical problem. The systemcheck includes the air bag sensors, the air bag module,the wiring and the diagnostic module. For moreinformation on the air bag system, see “Air Bag” inthe Index.AIRBAGYou will see this light flashfor a few seconds when youturn your ignition to RUNor START. Then the lightshould go out. This meansthe system is ready.If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when youstart your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when youare driving, your air bag system may not work properly.Have your vehicle serviced right away.2-49
- Page 55 and 56: Larger ChildrenChildren who have ou
- Page 57 and 58: Never do this.Here a child is sitti
- Page 59 and 60: Here you can learn about the many s
- Page 61 and 62: Door LocksUnlocked doors can be dan
- Page 63 and 64: Your Remote Keyless Entry System op
- Page 65 and 66: TrunkLiftgatec-- ~-A CAUTION:Trunk
- Page 67 and 68: Turn the key to the left to release
- Page 69 and 70: OFF (C): Unlocks the steering wheel
- Page 71 and 72: NOTICE:Your engine is designed to w
- Page 73 and 74: 10 use the coolant heater:1. Turn o
- Page 75 and 76: REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back
- Page 77 and 78: FIRST (1): This position gives you
- Page 79 and 80: 2. Move the shift lever into the PA
- Page 81 and 82: Shifting Out of PARK (P)Your Buick
- Page 83 and 84: -A CAUTION:It can be dangerous to g
- Page 85 and 86: Wrn SignaVMultifunction LeverTurn S
- Page 87 and 88: For steady wiping at low speed, tur
- Page 89 and 90: ICruise control can be dangerous wh
- Page 91 and 92: Passing Another Vehicle While Using
- Page 93 and 94: Courtesy LampsWhen any door is open
- Page 95 and 96: MirrorsInside Daymight Rearview M r
- Page 97 and 98: Storage ArmrestRear Locking Storage
- Page 99 and 100: a. . , .- . ..,.,To use the cover,
- Page 101: 1 NOTICE:Don’t put papers and oth
- Page 104 and 105: Instrument Panel ClusterLOWTRACTION
- Page 108 and 109: Battery LightI-+IThe battery warnin
- Page 110 and 111: If the light flashes when you’re
- Page 112 and 113: Engine Coolant Temperature GageIkTE
- Page 114 and 115: If the Light Is FlashingThe followi
- Page 116 and 117: The oil light could also come on in
- Page 118 and 119: NOTES2-60
- Page 120 and 121: The upper lever has three air condi
- Page 122 and 123: Ventilation Tips000Keep the hood an
- Page 124 and 125: In addition to the four stationset
- Page 126 and 127: FORWARD: Press the right arrow to r
- Page 128 and 129: iFixed Mast AntennaThe fixed mast a
- Page 130 and 131: NOTES3-12
- Page 132 and 133: ~ DrunkenDriving The obvious way to
- Page 134 and 135: The body takes about an hour to rid
- Page 136 and 137: Avoid needless heavy braking. Some
- Page 138 and 139: Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t chang
- Page 140 and 141: Steering in EmergenciesThere are ti
- Page 142 and 143: 0 Do not get too close to the vehic
- Page 144 and 145: Driving at NightHere are some tips
- Page 146 and 147: Driving in Rain and on Wet RoadsRai
- Page 148 and 149: Hydroplaning usually happens at hig
- Page 150 and 151: eeway Driving-Mile for mile, freewa
- Page 152 and 153: Highway HypnosisIs there actually s
- Page 154 and 155: W* kter DrivingHere are some tips f
Speedometer and OdometerYour speedometer lets you see your speed in both milesper hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (kmh). Yourodometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven,in either miles (used in the United States) or kilometers(used in Canada).Your <strong>Buick</strong> has a “tamper-resistant odometer.” If youcan see very noticeable bright silver lines between thenumbers, someone has probably tried to turn it back.The numbers may not be true.You may wonder what happens if a vehicle has to havea new odometer installed. If possible, the new one hasto be set to the same reading as the old one. If it can’tbe, then it’s set at zero, and a label on the driver’s doormust show the old reading and when the new onewas installed.Trip OdometerThe trip odometer can tell you how many miles youhave driven since you last set it to zero. To reset it, pushthe button on the instrument cluster.2-48Warning Lights, Gages and IndicatorsThis part describes the warning lights and gages that maybe on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them.Warning lights and gages can signal that something iswrong before it becomes serious enough to cause anexpensive repair or replacement. Paying attention toyour warning lights and gages could also save you orothers from injury.Warning lights come on when there may be or is aproblem with one of your vehicle’s hnctions. As you willsee in the details on the next few pages, some warninglights come on briefly when you start the engine just to letyou know they’re working. If you are familiar with thissection, you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problemwith one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages andwarning lights work together to let you know whenthere’s a problem with your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays onwhen you are driving, or when one of the gages showsthere may be a problem, check the section that tells youwhat to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.Waiting to do repairs can be costly -- and evendangerous. So please get to know your warning lightsand gages. They’re a big help.
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