BUICK PARK AVENUE 2004 Owner's Manual

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlet. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-29.
B. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps
on page 3-12.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn Signal/
Multifunction Lever on page 3-5.
D. Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped). SeeSteering
Wheel Climate Controls on page 3-30andAudio
Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-78.
E. Hazard Warning Flashers Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-4.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-33.
G. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation on
page 2-27.
H. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-57.
I. Air Outlet. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-29.
J. Fuel Door Release Button. SeeFilling Your Tank on
page 5-6.K. Trunk Release and Lockout Button. See “Remote
Trunk Release” and “Remote Trunk Release
Lockout” underTrunk on page 2-15.
L. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-10.
M. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-24.
N. Traction Control Button (If Equipped). SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-9.
O. Heated Seat Controls (Option). SeeHeated Seats
on page 1-3.
P. Ashtray and Cigarette Lighter. SeeAshtrays and
Cigarette Lighter on page 3-23.
Q. Climate Control System. SeeDual Automatic
Climate Control System on page 3-24.
R. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-47.
S. Passenger Climate Control (Option). See “Passenger
Temperature Control” underDual Automatic
Climate Control System on page 3-24.
3-3

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will ash on and off.The hazard warning asher
button is located on top of
the steering column.
Your hazard warning ashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key isn’t in.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ash on and off. To turn off the ashers, press
the button again.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, your turn
signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
3-4

Horn
Press on the center area of the steering wheel to sound
the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you drive. You can also raise it to the highest
level to give your legs more room when you exit
and enter the vehicle.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of the steering column.
To tilt the wheel, hold the
wheel and pull the lever
toward you. Then move
the steering wheel to
a comfortable position and
release the lever to lock
the wheel in place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
Flash-to-Pass
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
Cruise Control
For information on the exterior lamps, seeExterior
Lamps on page 3-12.
3-5

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is nished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Head-Up Display
(HUD), an arrow will also appear in the display area
to indicate the direction of the turn or lane change.
SeeHead-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-18for more
information.
You may also have an arrow in the outside mirror that
ashes when the turn signal is used. SeeOutside Power
Mirrors on page 2-39for more information.To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by itself
when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
ash at twice the normal rate, this may indicate that a
signal bulb may be burned out and other drivers will not
see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse and check for burned-out
bulbs. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-99.
If you have a trailer towing option with added wiring for
the trailer lamps, the signal indicator will ash even if
a turn signal bulb is burned out. Check the front and
rear turn signal lamps regularly to make sure they
are working. You do not need to add a different asher.
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each ash of the
turn signal. To turn off the chime, move the turn signal
lever to the off position.
3-6

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high or
high to low, pull the turn signal lever toward you,
then release it.
When the high beams are
on, a light on the instrument
panel cluster will also
be on. If your vehicle is
equipped with HUD, this
light will also appear in
the display area.
Flash-To-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, but not
so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are off or on low beam, your
high-beam headlamps will turn on. They will stay on as
long as you hold the lever toward you and the high-beam
indicator on the instrument panel cluster will come on.
Release the lever to turn the high-beam headlamps off.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wipers are controlled by turning the
band marked WIPER.
OFF:Turn the band to OFF to turn the wipers off.
MIST:For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST.
Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go.
The wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles, hold the band on MIST longer.
LO (Low Speed):Turn the band to LO for steady
wiping at a slow speed.
HI (High Speed):Turn the band to HI for steady wiping
at a high speed.
The wiper speed may be set for a long or short delay
between wipes. Turn the band to choose the delay time.
The closer to LO, the shorter the delay.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Keep in mind that damaged wiper blades may prevent
you from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the
wiper blades before using them. If your blades do
become damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
3-7

Rainsense™ II Wipers
If your vehicle has this feature, the moisture sensor is
mounted on the interior of the windshield below the
rearview mirror and is used to automatically operate
the wipers. This system operates by monitoring
the amount of moisture build-up on the windshield.
Wipes occur as needed to clear the windshield
depending on the driving conditions and the sensitivity
setting. In light rain or snow, fewer wipes will occur.
In heavy rain or snow, wipes will occur more frequently.
The system will operate in the delay, low speed and
high speed modes. If the system is left on for long
periods of time, occasional wipes may occur without
any moisture on the windshield. This is normal and
indicates that the Rainsense™ system is active.
The Rainsense™ system is activated by turning the
wiper control band to one of the ve sensitivity levels
within the delay area. The delay position closest to
OFF/MIST is the lowest sensitivity setting, level
one. This allows more rain or snow to collect on the
windshield between wipes. You can increase the
sensitivity of the system and the frequency of wipes by
turning the wiper control band away from you to thehigher sensitivity levels. The highest sensitivity setting,
level ve, is closest to the LO position. A single wipe
will occur each time you turn the wiper control band to a
higher sensitivity level to indicate that the sensitivity
level has been increased.
The windshield wipers also remain in a “high park”
position (the wipers are stopped on the windshield and
are not in the normal park position), even when the
ignition is turned off.
Notice:If you do not turn off the windshield wipers
when driving through an automatic car wash, you
could damage the wipers. Always turn off the
windshield wipers before entering an automatic
car wash.
The MIST and wash cycles operate as normal and
are not affected by the moisture-sensing function.
The system can be overridden at any time by manually
turning the wiper band to LO or HI speed.
Notice:Do not place stickers or other items on
the exterior glass surface directly in front of
the moisture sensor. Doing this could cause the
moisture sensor to malfunction.
3-8

Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever there is a paddle
with the word PUSH on it. For “programmed” operation,
press and release the paddle. The washer will provide
a measured amount of uid to the windshield and
the wiper will either stop or return to your original wiping
speed. For “demand” operation, press and hold the
paddle for at least two seconds. Release the paddle
when you have enough uid and the wipers will either
stop or return to your original wiping speed.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
If your vehicle is equipped with a DIC, a WINDSHIELD
WASHER FLUID LOW message will appear on the
instrument panel cluster when the vehicle is low
on washer uid. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-50.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control shuts off.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where
you can not drive safely at a steady speed.
So, do not use your cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
needless wheel spinning, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise control on
slippery roads.
3-9

If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-9. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.1. Move the cruise control
switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push in the SET button at the end of the turn signal
lever and release it. The CRUISE light on the
instrument panel cluster will come on.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
3-10

Resuming a Set Speed
Setting the cruise control at a desired speed and then
applying the brake will end the cruise control function.
Once you are going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch from ON to R/A
(Resume/Accelerate) briey to reset. This returns you to
your desired preset speed.
Remember, if you hold the switch at R/A, the vehicle
will accelerate until you release the switch or apply the
brake. So unless you want to go faster, do not hold
the switch at R/A.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to go to a higher speed.
Push the SET button at the end of the lever, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal.
You will now cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you reach a desired speed and then
release the switch. To increase your speed in
very small amounts, briey move the switch to R/A,
then release it.Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you have set
the cruise control speed by pushing the SET button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Push in the SET button at the end of the lever until
you reach a desired lower speed, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button briey. Each time you do this, you will
go about 1 mph (1 6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
3-11

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control.
Many drivers nd this to be too much trouble and do not
use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Move the cruise switch to OFF. The CRUISE light
will also go out.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
This control, located to the
left of the steering column,
operates the following
systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Interior Courtesy Lamps
3-12