2005 Buick Century Owners Manual

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System Automatic Transaxle Key Lock Cylinders Hood Latch Assembly, Secondary Latch, Pivots, Spring Anchor and Release Pawl Fluid/Lubricant GM Power Steering Fluid (GM Part No. U.S. 89021184, in Canada 89021186). DEXRON®-III Automatic Transmission Fluid. Look for Approved for the H-Speciﬁcation on the label. Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in Canada 10953474). Lubriplate Lubricant Aerosol (GM Part No. U.S. 12346293, in Canada 992723) or lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI #2, Category LB or GC-LB. Hood and Door Hinges Weatherstrip Conditioning Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in Canada 109435474). Dielectric Silicone Grease (GM Part No. U.S. 12345579, in Canada 992887). 6-13 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts Replacement parts identiﬁed below by name, part number, or speciﬁcation can be obtained from your GM dealer. Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts Part GM Part Number Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Engine Oil Filter Passenger Compartment Air Filter Spark Plugs Windshield Wiper Blades (Hook Type) 22.0 inches (56.0 cm) 24508572 25010792 10406026 12568387 22143943 ACDelco® Part Number A1614C PF47 — 41–101 8-2221 6-14 Engine Drive Belt Routing 6-15 Maintenance Record After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading, who performed the service and the type of services performed in the boxes provided. See Maintenance Requirements on page 6-2 in this section. Any additional information from Owner Checks and Services on page 6-9 can be added on the following record pages. Also, you should retain all maintenance receipts. Date Odometer Reading Serviced By Maintenance I or Maintenance II Services Performed Maintenance Record 6-16 Date Odometer Reading Serviced By Maintenance I or Maintenance II Services Performed Maintenance Record (cont’d) 6-17 Date Odometer Reading Serviced By Maintenance I or Maintenance II Services Performed Maintenance Record (cont’d) 6-18 Section 7 Customer Assistance and Information Customer Assistance and Information ...............7-2 Customer Satisfaction Procedure ......................7-2 Online Owner Center ......................................7-4 Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users ...............................................7-4 Customer Assistance Offices ............................7-4 GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities ...........................................7-6 Roadside Assistance Program ..........................7-6 Courtesy Transportation ...................................7-8 Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders ..........................................7-9 Reporting Safety Defects ................................7-10 Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government ..........................7-10 Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government ................................7-11 Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors .........................................7-11 Service Publications Ordering Information ..................................7-11 7-1 Customer Assistance and Information Customer Satisfaction Procedure Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to your dealer and to Buick. Normally, any concerns with the sales transaction or the operation of your vehicle will be resolved by your GM dealer’s sales or service departments. Sometimes, however, despite the best intentions of all concerned, misunderstandings can occur. If your concern has not been resolved to your satisfaction, the following steps should be taken: STEP ONE: Discuss your concern with a member of dealership management. Normally, concerns can be quickly resolved at that level. If the matter has already been reviewed with the sales, service, or parts manager, contact the owner of the dealership or the general manager. STEP TWO: If after contacting a member of dealership management, it appears your concern cannot be resolved by the dealership without further help, contact the Buick Customer Assistance Center by calling 1-800-521-7300. In Canada, contact GM of Canada Customer Communication Centre by calling 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French). We encourage you to call the toll-free number in order to give your inquiry prompt attention. Please have the following information available to give the Customer Assistance Representative: (cid:127) Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number. This is available from the vehicle registration or title, or the plate at the top left of the instrument panel. (cid:127) Dealership name and location (cid:127) Vehicle delivery date and present mileage When contacting Buick, please remember that your concern will likely be resolved at a dealer’s facility. That is why we suggest you follow Step One ﬁrst if you have a concern. 7-2 STEP THREE: Both General Motors and your dealer are committed to making sure you are completely satisﬁed with your new vehicle. However, if you continue to remain unsatisﬁed after following the procedure outlined in Steps One and Two, you should ﬁle with the BBB Auto Line Program to enforce any additional rights you may have. Canadian owners refer to your Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet for information on the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP). The BBB Auto Line Program is an out of court program administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus to settle automotive disputes regarding vehicle repairs or the interpretation of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Although you may be required to resort to this informal dispute resolution program prior to ﬁling a court action, use of the program is free of charge and your case will generally be heard within 40 days. If you do not agree with the decision given in your case, you may reject it and proceed with any other venue for relief available to you. You may contact the BBB Auto Line Program using the toll-free telephone number or write them at the following address: BBB Auto Line Program Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. 4200 Wilson Boulevard Suite 800 Arlington, VA 22203-1804 Telephone: 1-800-955-5100 This program is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Eligibility is limited by vehicle age, mileage and other factors. General Motors reserves the right to change eligibility limitations and/or discontinue its participation in this program. 7-3 Online Owner Center The Owner Center is a resource for your GM ownership needs. Speciﬁc vehicle information can be found in one place. The Owner Center allows you to: (cid:127) Get e-mail service reminders. (cid:127) Access information about your speciﬁc vehicle, including tips and videos and an electronic version of this owner’s manual. (United States only) (cid:127) Keep track of your vehicle’s service history and maintenance schedule. Find GM dealers for service nationwide. (cid:127) Receive special promotions and privileges only available to members. (United States only) Refer to the web for updated information. To register your vehicle, visit www.MyGMLink.com. (United States) or My GM Canada within www.gmcanada.com (Canada). Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users To assist customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired and who use Text Telephones (TTYs), Buick has TTY equipment available at its Customer Assistance Center. Any TTY user can communicate with Buick by dialing: 1-800-83-BUICK. TTY users in Canada can dial 1-800-263-3830. Customer Assistance Offices Buick encourages customers to call the toll-free number for assistance. If a U.S. customer wishes to write to Buick, the letter should be addressed to Buick’s Customer Assistance Center. 7-4 (cid:127) United States – Customer Assistance Buick Customer Assistance Center P.O. Box 33136 Detroit, MI 48232-5136 1-800-521-7300 1-800-832-8425 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs)) Roadside Assistance: 1-800-252-1112 Fax Number: 313-381-0022 Overseas – Customer Assistance Please contact the local General Motors Business Unit. Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Islands/Countries (Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands) – Customer Assistance General Motors de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. Customer Assistance Center Paseo de la Reforma # 2740 Col. Lomas de Bezares C.P. 11910, Mexico, D.F. 01-800-508-0000 Long Distance: 011-52-53 29 0 800 From Puerto Rico: 1-800-496-9992 (English) 1-800-496-9993 (Spanish) Fax Number: 313-381-0022 From U.S. Virgin Islands 1-800-496-9994 Fax Number: 313-381-0022 Canada – Customer Assistance General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Communication Centre, 163-005 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7 1-800-263-3777 (English) 1-800-263-7854 (French) 1-800-263-3830 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs)) Roadside Assistance: 1-800-268-6800 7-5 GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities This program, available to qualiﬁed applicants, can reimburse you up to $1,000 toward eligible aftermarket driver or passenger adaptive equipment that may be required for your vehicle, such as hand controls, wheelchair/scooter lifts, etc. This program can also provide you with free resource information, such as area driver assessment centers and mobility equipment installers. The offer is available for a limited period of time from the date of vehicle purchase/lease. For more details, or to determine your vehicle’s eligibility, see your GM dealer or call the GM Mobility Assistance Center at 1-800-323-9935. Text telephone (TTY) users, call 1-800-833-9935. GM of Canada also has a Mobility Program. Call 1-800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for details. All TTY users call 1-800-263-3830. 7-6 Roadside Assistance Program Call 1-800-252-1112 for Buick Roadside Assistance. As the proud owner of a new Buick vehicle, you are automatically enrolled in the Buick Roadside Assistance program. This value-added service is intended to provide you with peace of mind as you drive in the city or travel the open road. Buick’s Roadside Assistance toll-free number is staffed by courteous and capable Roadside Assistance Representatives who are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We will provide the following services during the Bumper-to-Bumper warranty period, at no expense to you: Fuel Delivery: Delivery of enough fuel, $5 maximum, for the customer to get to the nearest service station. Lock-out Service (identiﬁcation required): Replacement keys or locksmith service will be covered at no charge if you are unable to gain entry into your vehicle. Delivery of the replacement key will be covered within 10 miles. (cid:127) Emergency Tow: Tow to the nearest dealership for warranty service or in the event of a vehicle-disabling accident. Assistance when the vehicle is mired in sand, mud, or snow. (cid:127) (cid:127) Flat Tire Change: Installation of a spare tire will be covered at no charge. The customer is responsible for the repair or replacement of the tire if not covered by a warrantable failure. Jump Start: No-start occurrences which require a battery jump start will be covered at no charge. (cid:127) Dealer Locator Service In many instances, mechanical failures are covered under Buick’s Bumper-to-Bumper warranty. However, when other services are utilized, our Roadside Assistance Representatives will explain any payment obligations you might incur. For prompt and efficient assistance when calling, please provide the following to the Roadside Assistance Representative: (cid:127) Your name, home address, and home telephone number. Telephone number of your location. Location of the vehicle. (cid:127) Model, year, color, and license plate number. (cid:127) Mileage, Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number, and delivery date of the vehicle. (cid:127) Description of the problem. While we hope you never have the occasion to use our service, it is added security while traveling for you and your family. Remember, we are only a phone call away. Buick Roadside Assistance: 1-800-252-1112, text telephone (TTY) users, call 1-888-889-2438. Buick reserves the right to limit services or reimbursement to an owner or driver when, in Buick’s judgement, the claims become excessive in frequency or type of occurrence. Roadside Assistance is not part of or included in the coverage provided by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Buick reserves the right to make any changes or discontinue the Roadside Assistance program at any time without notiﬁcation. Canadian Roadside Assistance Vehicles purchased in Canada have an extensive roadside assistance program accessible from anywhere in Canada or the United States. Please refer to the Warranty and Owner Assistance Information book. 7-7 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Courtesy Transportation Buick has always exempliﬁed quality and value in its offering of motor vehicles. To enhance your ownership experience, we and our participating dealers are proud to offer Courtesy Transportation, a customer support program for new vehicles. The Courtesy Transportation program is offered to retail purchase/lease customers in conjunction with the Bumper-to-Bumper coverage provided by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Several transportation options are available when warranty repairs are required. This will reduce your inconvenience during warranty repairs. Scheduling Service Appointments When your vehicle requires warranty service, you should contact your dealer and request an appointment. By scheduling a service appointment and advising your service consultant of your transportation needs, your dealer can help minimize your inconvenience. If your vehicle cannot be scheduled into the service department immediately, keep driving it until it can be scheduled for service, unless, of course, the problem is safety-related. If it is, please call your dealership, let them know this, and ask for instructions. If the dealer requests that you simply drop the vehicle off for service, you are urged to do so as early in the work day as possible to allow for same day repair. 7-8 Transportation Options Warranty service can generally be completed while you wait. However, if you are unable to wait Buick helps minimize your inconvenience by providing several transportation options. Depending on the circumstances, your dealer can offer you one of the following: Shuttle Service Participating dealers can provide you with shuttle service to get to your destination with minimal interruption of your daily schedule. This includes a one way or round trip shuttle ride to a destination up to 10 miles from the dealership. Public Transportation or Fuel Reimbursement If your vehicle requires overnight warranty repairs, reimbursement, ﬁve days maximum, may be available for the use of public transportation such a s taxi or bus. In addition, should you arrange transportation through a friend or relative, reimbursement for reasonable fuel expenses, ﬁve day maximum, may be available. Claim amounts should reﬂect actual costs and be supported by original receipts. Courtesy Rental Vehicle Your dealer may arrange to provide you with a courtesy rental vehicle or reimburse you for a rental vehicle you obtained if your vehicle is kept for a warranty repair. Reimbursement will be limited to a maximum of $30 a day and must be supported by receipts. This requires that you sign and complete a rental agreement and meet state, local and rental vehicle provider requirements. Requirements vary and may include minimum age requirements, insurance coverage, credit card, etc. You are responsible for taxes, levies, usage fees, excessive mileage or rental usage beyond the completion of the repair. Generally it is not possible to provide a like-vehicle as a courtesy rental. Additional Program Information Courtesy Transportation is available during the Bumper-to-Bumper warranty coverage period, but it is not part of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. A separate booklet entitled Warranty and Owner Assistance Information furnished with each new vehicle provides detailed warranty coverage information. Courtesy Transportation is available only at participating dealers and all program options, such as shuttle service, may not be available at every dealer. Please contact your dealer for speciﬁc information about availability. All Courtesy Transportation arrangements will be administered by appropriate dealer personnel. Canadian Vehicles: For warranty repairs during the Complete Vehicle Coverage period of the General Motors of Canada New Vehicle Limited Warranty, alternative transportation may be available under the Courtesy Transportation Program. Please consult your dealer for details. General Motors reserves the right to unilaterally modify, change or discontinue Courtesy Transportation at any time and to resolve all questions of claim eligibility pursuant to the terms and conditions described herein at its sole discretion. Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders Your vehicle, like other modern motor vehicles, has a number of sophisticated computer systems that monitor and control several aspects of the vehicle’s performance. Your vehicle uses on-board vehicle computers to monitor emission control components to optimize fuel economy, to monitor conditions for air bag deployment and, if so equipped, to provide anti-lock braking and to help the driver control the vehicle in difficult driving situations. Some information may be stored during regular operations to facilitate repair of detected malfunctions; other information is stored only in a crash event by computer systems commonly called event data recorders (EDR). 7-9 In a crash event, computer systems, such as the Air Bag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) in your vehicle may record information about the condition of the vehicle and how it was operated, such as data related to engine speed, brake application, throttle position, vehicle speed, safety belt usage, air bag readiness, air bag performance, and the severity of a collision. This information has been used to improve vehicle crash performance and may be used to improve crash performance of future vehicles and driving safety. Unlike the data recorders on many airplanes, these on-board systems do not record sounds, such as conversation of vehicle occupants. To read this information, special equipment is needed and access to the vehicle or the SDM is required. GM will not access information about a crash event or share it with others other than: (cid:127) with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee, in response to an official request of police or similar government office, as part of GM’s defense of litigation through the discovery process, or as required by law. In addition, once GM collects or receives data, GM may: use the data for GM research needs, (cid:127) make it available for research where appropriate conﬁdentiality is to be maintained and need is shown, or share summary data which is not tied to a speciﬁc vehicle with non-GM organizations for research purposes. Others, such as law enforcement, may have access to the special equipment that can read the information if they have access to the vehicle or SDM. If your vehicle is equipped with OnStar®, please check the OnStar® subscription service agreement or manual for information on its operations and data collection. Reporting Safety Defects Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to notifying General Motors. 7-10 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it ﬁnds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer, or General Motors. To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in the Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation Washington, D.C. 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the hotline. Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle has a safety defect, you should immediately notify Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to: Transport Canada 330 Sparks Street Tower C Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5 Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in a situation like this, we certainly hope you will notify us. Please call us at 1-800-521-7300, or write: Buick Customer Assistance Center P.O. Box 33136 Detroit, MI 48232-5136 In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write: General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Communication Centre, 163-005 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7 Service Publications Ordering Information Service Manuals Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information on engines, transmission, axle, suspension, brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $120.00 7-11 Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit Repair Manual This manual provides information on unit repair service procedures, adjustments, and speciﬁcations for GM transmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $50.00 Service Bulletins Service Bulletins give technical service information needed to knowledgeably service General Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to assist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle. In Canada, information pertaining to Product Service Bulletins can be obtained by contacting your General Motors dealer or by calling 1-800-GM-DRIVE (1-800-463-7483). Owner’s Information Owner publications are written speciﬁcally for owners and intended to provide basic operational information about the vehicle. The owner’s manual will include the Maintenance Schedule for all models. In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual, and Warranty Booklet. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 Current and Past Model Order Forms Service Publications are available for current and past model GM vehicles. To request an order form, please specify year and model name of the vehicle. ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123 Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Eastern Time For Credit Card Orders Only (VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com Or you can write to: Helm, Incorporated P. O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 Prices are subject to change without notice and without incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery. Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make checks payable in U.S. funds. 7-12 A Additives, Fuel ................................................. 5-6 Add-On Electrical Equipment ............................ 5-90 Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine ................................. 5-18 Air Conditioning ...................................... 3-18, 3-21 Airbag Readiness Light .......................................... 3-31 Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) ......... 7-9 Airbag System ................................................ 1-49 How Does an Airbag Restrain? ...................... 1-55 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .......... 1-58 What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? ...................... 1-55 What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? ........................................ 1-56 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .................... 1-54 Where Are the Airbags? ............................... 1-52 Antenna, Fixed Mast ....................................... 3-66 Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........................... 4-7 Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light .............. 3-33 Appearance Care ............................................ 5-82 Aluminum Wheels ........................................ 5-87 Care of Safety Belts .................................... 5-85 Chemical Paint Spotting ............................... 5-88 Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses .................... 5-86 Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 5-82 Finish Care ................................................. 5-86 Finish Damage ............................................ 5-88 Glass Surfaces ............................................ 5-85 Appearance Care (cont.) Instrument Panel ......................................... 5-85 Interior Plastic Components ........................... 5-85 Leather ...................................................... 5-84 Sheet Metal Damage ................................... 5-88 Tires .......................................................... 5-87 Underbody Maintenance ............................... 5-88 Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials ................ 5-89 Vinyl .......................................................... 5-84 Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 5-86 Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-85 Windshield and Wiper Blades ........................ 5-87 Ashtrays ........................................................ 3-18 Audio System(s) ............................................. 3-44 Audio Steering Wheel Controls ...................... 3-63 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player ................ 3-65 Care of Your CD Player ............................... 3-66 Care of Your CDs ........................................ 3-66 Chime Level Adjustment ............................... 3-66 Fixed Mast Antenna ..................................... 3-66 Radio with Cassette and CD ......................... 3-53 Radio with CD ............................................ 3-45 Setting the Time .......................................... 3-44 Theft-Deterrent Feature ................................ 3-63 Understanding Radio Reception ..................... 3-64 Automatic Transaxle Fluid .......................................................... 5-19 Operation ................................................... 2-21 B Battery .......................................................... 5-39 Run-Down Protection ................................... 3-17 Before Leaving on a Long Trip ......................... 4-22 Brake Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........................ 4-7 Emergencies ................................................ 4-9 Parking ...................................................... 2-24 System Warning Light .................................. 3-32 Brakes .......................................................... 5-36 Braking ........................................................... 4-6 Braking in Emergencies ..................................... 4-9 Break-In, New Vehicle ..................................... 2-17 Bulb Replacement ........................................... 5-47 Back-Up Lamps ........................................... 5-51 Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) ........ 5-49 Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps ............. 5-48 Halogen Bulbs ............................................ 5-47 Headlamp Aiming ........................................ 5-45 Headlamps ................................................. 5-47 Replacement Bulbs ...................................... 5-51 Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps ............ 5-50 Buying New Tires ........................................... 5-64 California Fuel .................................................. 5-6 Canadian Owners ................................................ ii Capacities and Speciﬁcations ............................ 5-96 Carbon Monoxide ................... 2-12, 2-27, 4-26, 4-38 Care of Safety Belts ................................................ 5-85 Your Cassette Tape Player ............................ 3-65 Your CD Player ........................................... 3-66 Your CDs ................................................... 3-66 Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) ........... 5-49 Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts ............. 1-20 Chains, Tire ................................................... 5-68 Charging System Light .................................... 3-32 Check Engine Light ............................................... 3-36 Checking Things Under the Hood ...................... 5-10 Chemical Paint Spotting ................................... 5-88 Child Restraints Child Restraint Systems ............................... 1-33 Infants and Young Children ........................... 1-30 Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) .......................... 1-40 Older Children ............................................. 1-27 Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System ................................... 1-42 Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear Seat Position ................................... 1-44 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position ............................... 1-42 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ................................... 1-46 Top Strap ................................................... 1-37 Child Restraints (cont.) Top Strap Anchor Location ............................ 1-39 Where to Put the Restraint ........................... 1-36 Chime Level Adjustment .................................. 3-66 Cigarette Lighter ............................................. 3-18 Cleaning Aluminum Wheels ........................................ 5-87 Exterior Lamps/Lenses ................................. 5-86 Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 5-82 Finish Care ................................................. 5-86 Glass Surfaces ............................................ 5-85 Instrument Panel ......................................... 5-85 Interior Plastic Components ........................... 5-85 Leather ...................................................... 5-84 Tires .......................................................... 5-87 Underbody Maintenance ............................... 5-88 Vinyl .......................................................... 5-84 Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 5-86 Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-85 Windshield and Wiper Blades ........................ 5-87 Climate Control System Air Filter, Passenger Compartment ................. 3-26 Dual .......................................................... 3-18 Dual Automatic ............................................ 3-21 Outlet Adjustment ........................................ 3-26 Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt ..................... 1-24 Compact Spare Tire ........................................ 5-81 Control of a Vehicle .......................................... 4-6 Convenience Net ............................................ 2-33 Coolant Engine Temperature Gage ............................ 3-35 Engine Temperature Warning Light ................. 3-35 Heater, Engine ............................................ 2-20 Cooling System .............................................. 5-27 Cornering Lamps ............................................ 3-15 Courtesy Lamps ............................................. 3-15 Cruise Control Lever ....................................... 3-10 Cruise Control Light ........................................ 3-41 Customer Assistance Information Courtesy Transportation .................................. 7-8 Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users ............................... 7-4 Customer Assistance Offices ........................... 7-4 Customer Satisfaction Procedure ..................... 7-2 GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities .......................................... 7-6 Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors ........................................ 7-11 Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government .............................. 7-11 Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government ......................... 7-10 Roadside Assistance Program ......................... 7-6 Service Publications Ordering Information ........ 7-11 D Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic Headlamp System ....................................... 3-14 Defensive Driving ............................................. 4-2 Delayed Entry Lighting ..................................... 3-16 Delayed Exit Lighting ....................................... 3-17 Delayed Headlamps ........................................ 3-13 Doing Your Own Service Work ........................... 5-4 Dome Lamp ................................................... 3-16 Door Locks ........................................................ 2-10 Power Door Locks ....................................... 2-11 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............. 2-11 Trunk Ajar Warning Light .............................. 3-42 Position, Safety Belt ..................................... 1-12 Driver Driving At Night ..................................................... 4-16 City ........................................................... 4-20 Defensive ..................................................... 4-2 Drunken ....................................................... 4-3 Freeway ..................................................... 4-21 Hill and Mountain Roads .............................. 4-24 In Rain and on Wet Roads ........................... 4-17 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out ................. 4-31 Winter ........................................................ 4-26 Dual Automatic Climate Control System ............. 3-21 Dual Climate Control System ............................ 3-18 Electrical System Add-On Equipment ...................................... 5-90 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ........................... 5-91 Headlamp Wiring ......................................... 5-91 Instrument Panel Fuse Block ......................... 5-91 Power Windows and Other Power Options ...... 5-91 Underhood Fuse Block ................................. 5-94 Windshield Wiper Fuses ............................... 5-91 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ......................................... 5-18 Battery ....................................................... 5-39 Change Engine Oil Light ............................... 3-40 Check and Service Engine Soon Light ............ 3-36 Coolant ...................................................... 5-22 Coolant Heater ............................................ 2-20 Coolant Temperature Gage ........................... 3-35 Coolant Temperature Warning Light ................ 3-35 Drive Belt Routing ....................................... 6-15 Engine Compartment Overview ...................... 5-12 Exhaust ..................................................... 2-27 Oil ............................................................. 5-13 Overheated Protection Operating Mode ........... 5-26 Overheating ................................................ 5-25 Starting ...................................................... 2-19 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) ........................ 4-9 ............................................. 3-34 Entry Lighting ................................................. 3-16 Warning Light Event Data Recorders (EDR) ............................. 7-9 Extender, Safety Belt ....................................... 1-26 Exterior Lamps ............................................... 3-13 Filter Engine Air Cleaner ...................................... 5-18 Finish Damage ............................................... 5-88 Fixed Mast Antenna ........................................ 3-66 Flash-to-Pass ................................................... 3-8 Flat Tire ........................................................ 5-69 Flat Tire, Changing ......................................... 5-70 Flat Tire, Storing ............................................. 5-79 Fluid Automatic Transaxle ..................................... 5-19 Power Steering ........................................... 5-34 Windshield Washer ...................................... 5-35 Folding Rear Seat ............................................ 1-6 Front Storage Area ......................................... 2-33 ............................................................... 5-5 Fuel Additives ...................................................... 5-6 California Fuel .............................................. 5-6 Filling a Portable Fuel Container .................... 5-10 Filling Your Tank ........................................... 5-8 Fuels in Foreign Countries .............................. 5-7 Gage ......................................................... 3-42 Gasoline Octane ........................................... 5-5 Fuel (cont.) Fuses Gasoline Speciﬁcations .................................. 5-5 Low Warning Light ....................................... 3-43 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ........................... 5-91 Instrument Panel Fuse Block ......................... 5-91 Underhood Fuse Block ................................. 5-94 Windshield Wiper ......................................... 5-91 Gage Gasoline Engine Coolant Temperature ......................... 3-35 Fuel .......................................................... 3-42 Speedometer .............................................. 3-30 Octane ........................................................ 5-5 Speciﬁcations ............................................... 5-5 Glove Box ..................................................... 2-33 GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities ............................................. 7-6 Hazard Warning Flashers ................................... 3-6 Head Restraints ............................................... 1-5 Headlamp Aiming ....................................................... 5-45 Headlamp Wiring ............................................ 5-91 Headlamps .................................................... 5-47 Bulb Replacement ....................................... 5-47 Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic Headlamp System .................................... 3-14 Delayed ..................................................... 3-13 Flash-to-Pass ............................................... 3-8 Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps ............. 5-48 Halogen Bulbs ............................................ 5-47 High/Low Beam Changer ................................ 3-8 On Reminder .............................................. 3-13 Heater ........................................................... 3-18 Heater ........................................................... 3-21 Highway Hypnosis ........................................... 4-23 Hill and Mountain Roads .................................. 4-24 Hood Checking Things Under ................................ 5-10 Release ..................................................... 5-11 Horn ............................................................... 3-6 How to Use This Manual ...................................... ii How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................... 1-12 If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ....... 4-30 Ignition Positions ............................................. 2-18 Infants and Young Children, Restraints ............... 1-30 Inﬂation -- Tire Pressure .................................. 5-60 Instrument Panel Brightness .................................................. 3-15 Cluster ....................................................... 3-29 Overview ..................................................... 3-4 Interior Lamps ................................................ 3-15 Jump Starting ................................................. 5-40 Keyless Entry System ....................................... 2-4 Keys ............................................................... 2-2 Labelling, Tire Sidewall .................................... 5-54 Lamps Battery Run-Down Protection ......................... 3-17 Cornering ................................................... 3-15 Courtesy .................................................... 3-15 Dome ........................................................ 3-16 Exterior ...................................................... 3-13 Interior ....................................................... 3-15 Reading ..................................................... 3-17 LATCH System Child Restraints ........................................... 1-40 Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System ................................... 1-42 Leaving Your Vehicle ....................................... 2-12 Light Airbag Readiness ........................................ 3-31 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning ................... 3-33 Brake System Warning ................................. 3-32 Change Engine Oil ...................................... 3-40 Charging System ......................................... 3-32 Cruise Control ............................................. 3-41 Door/Trunk Ajar Warning ............................... 3-42 Engine Coolant Temperature Warning ............. 3-35 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Warning Light .......................................... 3-34 Low Fuel Warning ....................................... 3-43 Low Traction ............................................... 3-34 Low Washer Fluid Warning ........................... 3-41 Malfunction Indicator .................................... 3-36 Oil Pressure ............................................... 3-40 Safety Belt Reminder ................................... 3-30 Security ..................................................... 3-41 Service Vehicle Soon ................................... 3-42 Tire Pressure .............................................. 3-36 Lighting Delayed Entry ............................................. 3-16 Delayed Exit ............................................... 3-17 Entry ......................................................... 3-16 Lockout Protection .......................................... 2-12 Locks Door .......................................................... 2-10 Leaving Your Vehicle .................................... 2-12 Lockout Protection ....................................... 2-12 Power Door ................................................ 2-11 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............. 2-11 Loss of Control ............................................... 4-15 Low Fuel Warning Light ................................... 3-43 Low Traction Light .......................................... 3-34 Low Washer Fluid Warning Light ....................... 3-41 Maintenance Schedule Additional Required Services ........................... 6-6 At Each Fuel Fill ........................................... 6-9 At Least Once a Month ................................ 6-10 At Least Once a Year .................................. 6-10 Introduction .................................................. 6-2 Maintenance Footnotes .................................. 6-8 Maintenance Record .................................... 6-16 Maintenance Requirements ............................. 6-2 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ......... 6-14 Owner Checks and Services ........................... 6-9 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ............. 6-13 Scheduled Maintenance ................................. 6-4 Using Your ................................................... 6-2 Your Vehicle and the Environment ................... 6-2 Malfunction Indicator Light ................................ 3-36 Manual Seats ................................................... 1-2 Mirrors Manual Rearview Mirror ................................ 2-29 Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ............. 2-29 Outside Convex Mirror ................................. 2-30 Outside Power Mirrors .................................. 2-30 MyGMLink.com ................................................ 7-4 New Vehicle Break-In ...................................... 2-17 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ............ 6-14 Odometer ...................................................... 3-30 Odometer, Trip ............................................... 3-30 Off-Road Recovery .......................................... 4-13 Oil Change Engine Oil Light ............................... 3-40 Engine ....................................................... 5-13 Pressure Light ............................................. 3-40 Older Children, Restraints ................................ 1-27 Online Owner Center ........................................ 7-4 OnStar® System ............................................. 2-31 Other Warning Devices ...................................... 3-6 Outlet Adjustment ............................................ 3-26 Outside Convex Mirror ............................................. 2-30 Power Mirrors ............................................. 2-30 Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode .......................................... 5-26 Owner Checks and Services .............................. 6-9 Owners, Canadian ............................................... ii Park (P) Parking Shifting Into ................................................ 2-25 ............................................ 2-26 Shifting Out of Brake ........................................................ 2-24 Over Things That Burn ................................. 2-27 Passenger Compartment Air Filter ..................... 3-26 Passing ......................................................... 4-13 PASS-Key® II ................................................. 2-16 Power Door Locks ................................................. 2-11 Electrical System ......................................... 5-91 Retained Accessory (RAP) ............................ 2-19 Seat ............................................................ 1-3 Steering Fluid ............................................. 5-34 Windows .................................................... 2-15 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ................. 2-11 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......... 1-11 Radiator Pressure Cap .................................... 5-24 Radios .......................................................... 3-44 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player ................ 3-65 Care of Your CD Player ............................... 3-66 Care of Your CDs ........................................ 3-66 Radio with Cassette and CD ......................... 3-53 Radio with CD ............................................ 3-45 Setting the Time .......................................... 3-44 Theft-Deterrent ............................................ 3-63 Understanding Reception .............................. 3-64 Reading Lamps .............................................. 3-17 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ...................... 1-24 Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts .................. 1-21 Rearview Mirror with OnStar® ........................... 2-29 Rearview Mirrors ............................................. 2-29 Reclining Seatbacks .......................................... 1-4 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ................. 6-13 Recreational Vehicle Towing ............................. 4-36 Remote Keyless Entry System ............................ 2-4 Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation ............ 2-5 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire .................................................. 5-73 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ................... 5-71 Replacement Bulbs ......................................... 5-51 Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government .................................. 7-11 General Motors ........................................... 7-11 United States Government ............................ 7-10 Restraint System Check Checking Your Restraint Systems ................... 1-58 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash .......................................... 1-59 Restraint Systems Checking .................................................... 1-58 Replacing Parts ........................................... 1-59 Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................... 2-19 Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts ......... 1-19 Roadside Assistance Program ....................................... 7-6 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out .................... 4-31 Routing, Engine Drive Belt ............................... 6-15 Running Your Engine While You Are Parked .......... 2-28 Safety Belt Safety Belts Reminder Light ............................................ 3-30 Care of ...................................................... 5-85 Center Passenger Position ............................ 1-20 Driver Position ............................................ 1-12 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................ 1-12 Safety Belts (cont.) Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ........ 1-11 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults ......................... 1-24 Rear Seat Passengers ................................. 1-21 Right Front Passenger Position ...................... 1-19 Safety Belt Extender .................................... 1-26 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ................. 1-19 Safety Belts Are for Everyone ......................... 1-6 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster ........................ 1-18 Safety Warnings and Symbols .............................. iii Scheduled Maintenance ..................................... 6-4 Seats Head Restraints ............................................ 1-5 Manual ........................................................ 1-2 Power Seat .................................................. 1-3 Reclining Seatbacks ...................................... 1-4 Split Folding Rear Seat .................................. 1-6 Securing a Child Restraint Center Rear Seat Position ............................ 1-44 Designed for the LATCH System ................... 1-42 Rear Outside Seat Position ........................... 1-42 Right Front Seat Position .............................. 1-46 Security Light ................................................. 3-41 Service ........................................................... 5-3 Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle .............................................. 5-5 Doing Your Own Work ................................... 5-4 Service (cont.) Engine Soon Light ....................................... 3-36 Publications Ordering Information ................... 7-11 Vehicle Soon Light ....................................... 3-42 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .............. 1-58 Setting the Time ............................................. 3-44 Sheet Metal Damage ....................................... 5-88 Shifting Into Park (P) ....................................... 2-25 Shifting Out of Park (P) ................................... 2-26 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster ........................... 1-18 Signals, Turn and Lane-Change .......................... 3-7 Spare Tire Installing .................................................... 5-73 Removing ................................................... 5-71 Storing ....................................................... 5-79 Speciﬁcations, Capacities ................................. 5-96 Speedometer .................................................. 3-30 Split Folding Rear Seat ..................................... 1-6 Starting Your Engine ....................................... 2-19 Steering ........................................................ 4-11 Steering Wheel Controls, Audio ......................... 3-63 Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel ................................. 3-6 Storage Areas Convenience Net ......................................... 2-33 Front Storage Area ...................................... 2-33 Glove Box .................................................. 2-33 Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ...................... 4-30 Sun Visors ..................................................... 2-15 10 T Taillamps Turn Signal, and Stoplamps .......................... 5-50 Theft-Deterrent, Radio ..................................... 3-63 Theft-Deterrent Systems ................................... 2-16 PASS-Key® II .............................................. 2-16 Tilt Wheel ........................................................ 3-6 Tire Pressure Light ............................................. 3-36 Tires ............................................................. 5-53 Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning .......................... 5-87 Buying New Tires ........................................ 5-64 Chains ....................................................... 5-68 Changing a Flat Tire .................................... 5-70 Cleaning .................................................... 5-87 Compact Spare Tire ..................................... 5-81 If a Tire Goes Flat ....................................... 5-69 Inﬂation -- Tire Pressure ............................... 5-60 Inspection and Rotation ................................ 5-63 Installing the Spare Tire ................................ 5-73 Pressure Monitor System .............................. 5-61 Removing the Flat Tire ................................. 5-73 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ............... 5-71 Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools ............ 5-79 Tire Sidewall Labelling .................................. 5-54 Tire Terminology and Deﬁnitions .................... 5-57 Uniform Tire Quality Grading ......................... 5-65 Tires (cont.) Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ................. 5-67 Wheel Replacement ..................................... 5-67 When It Is Time for New Tires ...................... 5-64 Top Strap ...................................................... 1-37 Top Strap Anchor Location ............................... 1-39 Towing Recreational Vehicle ..................................... 4-36 Towing a Trailer .......................................... 4-38 Your Vehicle ............................................... 4-36 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) .................... 4-9 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Warning Light .......................................... 3-34 Low Light ................................................... 3-34 Traction Transaxle Fluid, Automatic ........................................... 5-19 Transaxle Operation, Automatic ......................... 2-21 Trip Odometer ................................................ 3-30 Trunk ............................................................ 2-12 Turn and Lane-Change Signals .......................... 3-7 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever ........................... 3-7 Understanding Radio Reception ........................ 3-64 Uniform Tire Quality Grading ............................ 5-65 11 Washer Fluid, Low Warning Light ...................... 3-41 Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance .......................... 5-67 Replacement ............................................... 5-67 Where to Put the Restraint ............................... 1-36 Windows ....................................................... 2-14 Power ........................................................ 2-15 Windshield Wiper Blades, Cleaning ................................ 5-87 Windshield Washer ........................................... 3-9 Fluid .......................................................... 5-35 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ...................................... 5-52 Fuses ........................................................ 5-91 Windshield Wipers ......................................... 3-8 Winter Driving ................................................ 4-26 Your Vehicle and the Environment ....................... 6-2 Vehicle Control ........................................................ 4-6 Damage Warnings ........................................... iv Service Soon Light ...................................... 3-42 Symbols ......................................................... iv Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders ............................................. 7-9 Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN) ............................................. 5-90 Service Parts Identiﬁcation Label ................... 5-90 Ventilation Adjustment ...................................... 3-26 Visors ........................................................... 2-15 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ................ 3-28 Warnings Hazard Warning Flashers ............................... 3-6 Other Warning Devices .................................. 3-6 Safety and Symbols ......................................... iii Vehicle Damage .............................................. iv 12 2005 Buick Century Owner Manual M Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1 Front Seats ............................................... 1-2 Rear Seats ............................................... 1-6 Safety Belts .............................................. 1-6 Child Restraints ....................................... 1-27 Airbag System ......................................... 1-49 Restraint System Check ............................ 1-58 Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1 ........................................................ 2-2 ...................................... 2-10 ................................................. 2-14 ............................ 2-16 ........... 2-17 .................................................... 2-29 ...................................... 2-31 ......................................... 2-33 Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1 .......................... 3-4 ...................................... 3-18 ........ 3-28 ....................................... 3-44 Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors OnStar® System Storage Areas Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Audio System(s) Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Towing Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1 ........ 4-2 ................................................... 4-36 Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1 Service ..................................................... 5-3 Fuel ......................................................... 5-5 Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10 Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-45 Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-47 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-52 Tires ...................................................... 5-53 Appearance Care ..................................... 5-82 Vehicle Identiﬁcation ................................. 5-90 Electrical System ...................................... 5-90 Capacities and Speciﬁcations ..................... 5-96 Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1 ................................ 6-2 Customer Assistance and Information .............. 7-1 ........... 7-2 ........................... 7-10 Index .................................................................1 Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects Maintenance Schedule GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK, the BUICK Emblem, and the name CENTURY are registered 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 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. Keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it while you are on the road. If you sell the vehicle, leave this manual in the vehicle. Canadian Owners A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer or from: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 How to Use This Manual Many people read the owner manual from beginning to end when they ﬁrst receive their new vehicle. If this is done, it can help you learn about the features and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work together in the owner manual to explain things. Index A good place to quickly locate information about the vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found. Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 05CENTURY A First Edition ©Copyright General Motors Corporation 3/22/04 All Rights Reserved ii Safety Warnings and Symbols There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. {CAUTION: These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. In the 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 do not, you or others could be hurt. You will also ﬁnd a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Do Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let this happen.” iii Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this manual you will ﬁnd these notices: Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. Vehicle Symbols The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a speciﬁc component, control, message, gage, or indicator. If you need help ﬁguring out a speciﬁc name of a component, gage, or indicator, reference the following topics: (cid:127) Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1 Features and Controls in Section 2 Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3 (cid:127) Climate Controls in Section 3 (cid:127) Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3 (cid:127) Audio System(s) in Section 3 (cid:127) Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5 iv (cid:127) (cid:127) These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle: ✍ NOTES vi Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Front Seats ......................................................1-2 Manual Seats ................................................1-2 Power Seat ...................................................1-3 Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4 Head Restraints .............................................1-5 Rear Seats .......................................................1-6 Split Folding Rear Seat ...................................1-6 Safety Belts .....................................................1-6 Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone .................1-6 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-11 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-12 Driver Position ..............................................1-12 Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment .....................1-18 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-19 Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-19 Center Passenger Position .............................1-20 Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-21 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults ..........................1-24 Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-26 Child Restraints .............................................1-27 Older Children ..............................................1-27 Infants and Young Children ............................1-30 Child Restraint Systems .................................1-33 Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-36 Top Strap ....................................................1-37 Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-39 Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-40 Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System ....................................1-42 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position .........................1-42 Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear Seat Position ....................................1-44 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ....................................1-46 Airbag System ...............................................1-49 Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-52 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .....................1-54 What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? .......................1-55 How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-55 What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? .........................................1-56 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-58 Restraint System Check ..................................1-58 Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-58 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash ............................................1-59 1-1 Front Seats Manual Seats {CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving. 1-2 Lift the bar located under the front of the passenger’s seat to unlock the seat. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the bar. Try to move the seat to be sure it is locked into place. Power Seat To adjust the power seat, do the following: To move the seat forward or rearward, push the control forward or rearward. To raise or lower the entire seat, push the control up or down. To raise or lower the front of the seat, push the front of the control up or down. To raise or lower the rear of the seat, push the rear of the control up or down. If your vehicle has this feature, the power seat control is located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat cushion. 1-3 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Reclining Seatbacks To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on the outboard side of the seat and move the seatback to where you want it. Release the lever to lock the seatback. Pull up on the lever without pushing on the seatback and the seatback will go to an upright position. But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. 1-4 {CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can not do their job when you are reclined like this. The shoulder belt can not do its job because it will not be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt can not do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. Head Restraints Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your head. This position reduces the chances of a neck injury in a crash. 1-5 Rear Seats Split Folding Rear Seat If the vehicle has a split folding seat, you can gain access to the interior of the vehicle through the trunk. Safety Belts Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. To do this, pull forward on the seat tab, located on the side of the rear seat, to move the rear seatback down. To return the seatback to its original position, push it back up, making sure the seat latch locks it in place. 1-6 {CAUTION: Do not let anyone ride where he or she can not wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you are not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too. {CAUTION: It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work. You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter...a lot! Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-30. 1-7 Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. Put someone on it. Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels. 1-8 Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... 1-9 or the instrument panel... or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense. 1-10 Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in an accident – even one that is not your fault – you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone. Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I am wearing a safety belt? A: You could be – whether you are wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear safety belts? A: Airbags are in many vehicles today and will be in most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts – not instead of them. Every airbag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that has airbags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. 1-11 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-27 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-30. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. First, you will want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We will start with the driver position. Driver Position This part describes the driver’s restraint system. Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index. 1-12 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-26. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. 1-13 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt against your body. A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give nearly as much protection this way. 1-14 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you. A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place. 1-15 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times. 1-16 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to ﬁx it. A: The belt is twisted across the body. 1-17 Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you. Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder. To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle. 1-18 To move it down, squeeze the release lever and the shoulder belt guide as shown and move the height adjuster to the desired position. You can move the adjuster up just by pushing up on the shoulder belt guide. After you move the adjuster to where you want it, try to move it down without squeezing the release lever to make sure it has locked into position. Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts. A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy. The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly. Right Front Passenger Position To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-12. The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt — except for one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again. 1-19 Center Passenger Position Lap Belt If your vehicle has front and rear bench seats, someone can sit in the center positions. To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until the belt is snug. Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lap part of a lap-shoulder belt. If the belt isn’t long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-26. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. When you sit in the center seating position, you have a lap safety belt, which has no retractor. To make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt. 1-20 Rear Seat Passengers It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions Lap-Shoulder Belt The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder belts. Here is how to wear one properly. 1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 1-21 2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. If the belt stops before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until you can buckle it. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-26. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 1-22 3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part. {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt against your body. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. 1-23 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Rear shoulder belt comfort guides provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for small adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide better positions the belt away from the neck and head. There is one guide for each outside passenger position in the rear seat. To provide added safety belt comfort for children who have outgrown child restraints and booster seats and for smaller adults, the comfort guides may be installed on the shoulder belts. Here is how to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt: 1-24 1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of the seatback and the interior body to remove the guide from its storage clip. 2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide. 3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies ﬂat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top. 1-25 Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer will order you an extender. It is free. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to ﬁt. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt. For more information see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender. 4. Buckle, position and release the safety belt as described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-21. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder. To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guides. Pull the guide upward to expose its storage clip, and then slide the guide onto the clip. Turn the guide and clip inward and in between the seatback and the interior body, leaving only the loop of the elastic cord exposed. 1-26 Child Restraints Older Children Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts? A: If possible, an older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should ﬁt snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear seat. In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety belts properly. Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts. If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a window so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. 1-27 {CAUTION: Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt. The belt can not properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crushed together and seriously injured. A belt must be used by only one person at a time. Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt, but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child’s face or neck? A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder, so that in a crash the child’s upper body would have the restraint that belts provide. If the child is sitting in a rear seat outside position, see Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults on page 1-24. If the child is so small that the shoulder belt is still very close to the child’s face or neck, you might want to place the child in the center seat position, the one that has only a lap belt. 1-28 {CAUTION: Never do this. Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. If the child wears the belt in this way, in a crash the child might slide under the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash. 1-29 Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle. Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint. 1-30 {CAUTION: People should never hold a baby in their arms

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2005 Buick Century Owners Manual