1986 Buick Century Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 1986 Buick Century deals with three gasoline engines, naturally aspirated with overhead valves: a 2.5L inline-four, a 2.8L V6 and a 3.8L V6. They powered a wagon, a sedan and a coupe, the first two with four doors and the coupe with two. Six trims are listed, including the SS and the T-Type alongside Base, Custom, Estate and Limited. Procedures, specifications and diagnostics address the engine, fuel, ignition and cooling systems, with wiring diagrams for the electrical system.

Engines covered

• 2.5L inline-four (151 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 2.8L V6 (173 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 3.8L V6 (231 cu in) — OHV, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door wagon
• 4-door sedan
• 2-door coupe

Trims covered

• Base
• Custom
• Estate
• Limited
• SS
• T-Type

Known issues on the 1986 Century. Two recalls name the 1986 Century. On certain cars with luggage rack and opera lamp options, a wiring harness with misplaced terminals could keep the center high-mounted stop lamp lit whenever the headlamps or parking lamps were on, and it covered 197 vehicles. On certain cars with a particular engine, the generator battery terminal could rub through its boot against the carburetor fuel inlet pipe and cause an underhood fire; that recall covered 772 vehicles. Owners filed 22 complaints, 6 on engine and engine cooling and 5 on steering; 2 reported a crash, 2 a fire, 4 an injury and 1 a death. Wiring diagrams and fuel system procedures address those systems.