Every 2001 Century 1-800-252-1112 under warranty is backed with the ((For vehicles purchased in Canada, following call services: 1-800-268-6800)) that provides in an emergency: Free lockout assistance Courtesy Free dead-battery assistance Transportation Free out-of-fuel assistance Free flat-tire change Emergency towing 2001 Buick Century Owner's Manual Litho in U.S.A. © Copyright General Motors Corporation 2000 Part Number 10422380 A First Edition All Rights Reserved i Table of Contents Seats and Restraint Systems Section 1 Seats and Seat Controls Air Bag Systems Safety Belts Restraint Systems for Children Features and Controls Section 2 Windows Cruise Control (If Equipped) Keys and Door Locks Exterior and Interior Lamps Remote Keyless Entry Mirrors Trunk Release Storage Compartments Automatic Transaxle Convenience Net (If Equipped) Parking Brake Auxiliary Power Connection Tilt Wheel OnStar® System (If Equipped) Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever Sunroof (If Equipped) Windshield Wipers Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages ii Table of Contents (cont'd) Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Section 3 Heating and Air Conditioning Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature Setting the Radio Clock Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped) Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player Your Driving and the Road Section 4 Defensive Driving Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions Drunken Driving Recreational Vehicle Towing Control of a Vehicle Loading Your Vehicle Braking Towing a Trailer Steering Problems on the Road Section 5 Hazard Warning Flashers Engine Overheating Jump Starting Changing a Flat Tire Towing Your Vehicle If You're Stuck iii Table of Contents (cont'd) Service and Appearance Care Section 6 Fuel Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Checking Fluids and Lubricants Tires and Wheels GM Oil Life System™ (If Equipped) Appearance Care Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers Passenger Compartment Air Filter (If Equipped) Capacities and Specifications Brakes Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts Bulb Replacement Maintenance Schedule Section 7 Scheduled Maintenance Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Owner Checks and Services Maintenance Records Periodic Maintenance Inspections iv Table of Contents (cont'd) Customer Assistance Information Section 8 Customer Satisfaction Procedure Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual) Customer Assistance Offices Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-9 Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation Service Publications Index Section 9 In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read. Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide v We support voluntary technician certification. 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 after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Buick Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be French Language Manual: there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez owner can use it. votre concessionaire ou au: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 vi How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning CAUTION: to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and These mean there is something that could hurt controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find you or other people. that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly. 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 don’t, you or others could be hurt. You will also find a circle with a slash through it in Safety Warnings and Symbols this book. This safety You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. symbol means “Don’t,” We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you “Don’t do this” or “Don’t about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore let this happen.” the warning. vii Vehicle Damage Warnings In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would Also, in this book you will find these notices: not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help NOTICE: avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see These mean there is something that could CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. damage your vehicle. You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. viii Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index. For example, These symbols These symbols These symbols These symbols Here are some these symbols are important for have to do with are on some of are used on other symbols are used on an you and your your lamps: your controls: warning and you may see: original battery: passengers indicator lights: whenever your vehicle is driven: MASTER WINDSHIELD CAUTION LIGHTING WIPER POSSIBLE SWITCH ENGINE FUSE INJURY CHILD COOLANT RESTRAINT TEMP TOP STRAP TURN PROTECT WINDSHIELD ANCHOR SIGNALS EYES BY WASHER BATTERY LIGHTER SHIELDING CHARGING DOOR LOCK PARKING SYSTEM CAUSTIC UNLOCK LAMPS WINDSHIELD BATTERY HORN DEFROSTER ACID COULD BRAKE CAUSE FASTEN HAZARD BURNS SEAT WARNING BELTS FLASHER REAR COOLANT FUEL AVOID WINDOW SPARKS OR DEFOGGER FLAMES DAYTIME POWER RUNNING WINDOW ENGINE OIL LAMPS PRESSURE SPARK OR FLAME VENTILATING COULD AIR BAG FAN EXPLODE FOG LAMPS ANTI-LOCK BATTERY BRAKES ix Service Station Guide Windshield Washer Fluid See Section 6 Tire Pressure For Battery Cooling System See Section 6 a More See Section 6 See Section 5 Detailed Look at What's Under the Hood See Section 6 Spare Tire Pressure See Section 5 Hood Release See Section 6 Engine Oil Dipstick Fuel See Section 6 Use unleaded only. Oil Viscosity See Section 6 Engine Oil for octane ratings. See Section 6 Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts. 1-2 Seats and Seat Controls 1-31 Rear Seat Passengers 1-6 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone 1-34 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children 1-11 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About and Small Adults Safety Belts -- and the Answers 1-36 Children 1-12 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly 1-40 Restraint Systems for Children 1-12 Driver Position 1-55 Older Children 1-19 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy 1-58 Safety Belt Extender 1-20 Right Front Passenger Position 1-58 Checking Your Restraint Systems 1-21 Air Bag Systems 1-58 Replacing Restraint System Parts After 1-29 Center Passenger Position a Crash 1- 1-1 Seats and Seat Controls This section tells you how to adjust the seats and explains the reclining seatbacks and the head restraints. 2-Way Manual Front 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 don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when Lift the bar located under the front of the driver’s and the vehicle is not moving. the passenger’s seat. This will unlock the seat. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar. Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked into place. 1-2 6-Way Power Seats (If Equipped) Reclining Front Seatbacks The driver’s switch is located on the left side of the driver’s seat cushion. The passenger’s switch is located on the right side of the passenger’s seat cushion. To move the seat forward or rearward, push the switch forward or rearward. To raise or lower the entire seat, push the switch up or down. To raise or lower the front portion of your seat, push the front of the switch up or down. To raise or lower the rear portion of your seat, Lift the lever to release the seatback, then move the push the rear of the switch up or down. seatback to where you want it. Release the lever to lock the seatback into place. Pull up on the lever without pushing on the seatback and the seatback will move forward. 1-3 CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job when you’re reclined like this. The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it won’t 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’t do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen.