ESP BUICK PARK AVENUE 1993 Owner's Manual

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on
a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system, and brake adjustment.
Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help
you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these sections before
you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are
tight.
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8. Then replace the
pressure cap. Be
sure the arrows
on
the pressure cap
line up like this.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have
a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what
to do:
If a front .tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a
stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in
a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to
go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to
a stop, well off the road if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the next section shows how to use
your jacking equipment
to change a flat tire safely.
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Gasolines for Cleaner Air
Your use of gasoline with detergent additives will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel
system. That helps keep your engine in tune and your
emission control system working properly. It’s good for
your vehicle, and
you’ll be doing your part for cleaner
air.
Many gasolines are now blended with materials called
oxygenates. General Motors recommends that you use
gasolines with these blending materials, such as MTBE
and ethanol.
By doing so, you can help clean the air,
especially in those parts of the country that have high
carbon monoxide levels.
In addition, some gasoline suppliers are now producing
reformulated gasolines. These gasolines are specially
designed to reduce vehicle emissions. General Motors
recommends that you use reformulated gasoline. By
doing
so, you can help clean the air, especially in those
parts of the country that have high ozone levels.
You should ask your service station operators if their
gasolines contain detergents and oxygenates, and
if they
have been reformulated to reduce vehicle emissions.
Fuel
If you have the Supercharged 3800 V6 (L67) engine, use
premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher.
It should meet specifications ASTM D4814 in the
U.S.
and CGSB 3.5-92 in Canada. These fuels should have
the proper additives,
so you should not have to add
anything to the fuel.
In the
U.S. and Canada, it’s easy to be sure you get the
right kind of gasoline (unleaded). You’ll see
“UNLEADED” right on the pump. And only unleaded
nozzles will
fit into your vehicle’s filler neck.
Be sure the posted octane is at least 9
1. If the octane is
less than
9 1, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. (In an emergency,
you may be able to use
lower octane
- as low as 87 -- if heavy knocking does
not occur.)
If you’re using 91 or higher octane unleaded
gas and you still get heavy knocking, your engine needs
service.
What about gasoline with blending materials that
contain oxygen, such as MTBE or alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.’’ Fuel that
is no
more than
15% MTBE is fine for your car.
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Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol. Properly-blended fuel
that is no more than
10% ethanol is fine for your car.
Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol.
Fuel that is more than 5% methanol is bad for
your vehicle. Don’t use it.
It can corrode metal
parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t be covered under your Warranty. And even at
5%
or less, there must be “cosolvents” and
corrosion preventers in this fuel to help avoid
Gasolines for Cleaner Air
Your use
of gasoline with detergent additives will help
prevent deposits from forming
in your engine and fuel
system. That helps keep your engine in tune and your
emission control system working properly. It’s good for
your vehicle, and you’ll be doing your part for cleaner
air.
Many gasolines are now blended with materials called
oxygenates. General Motors recommends that you use
gasolines with these blending materials, such as MTBE and ethanol.
By doing
so, you can help clean the air,
especially
in those parts of the country that have high
carbon monoxide levels.
In addition, some gasoline suppliers are now producing
reformulated gasolines. These gasolines are specially
designed to reduce vehicle emissions. General Motors
recommends that you use reformulated gasoline. By
doing
so, you can help clean the air, especially in those
parts of the country that have high ozone levels.
You should ask your service station operators if their
gasolines contain detergents and oxygenates, and if they
have been reformulated to reduce vehicle emissions.
Fuels in
Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
U.S. or Canada, unleaded fuel may be hard to find. Do
not use leaded gasoline. If you use even one tankful,
your emission controls won’t work well or at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get fouled,
the exhaust
system can corrode, and your engine oil can deteriorate
quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor will be damaged.
All
of that means costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business
in the
country where you’ll be driving.
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Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32 C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
1 80 F to 200 F
(82OC to 93OC).
Get
the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures .are above
50 F
(10OC). If it’s colder than 50°F (lO°C), you may have
to drive longer.
To check the fluid level:
Park your vehicle on a level place.
0 Place the shift lever in “P’ (Park) with the parking
brake applied.
0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever
in “P’ (Park).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these
steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
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2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be in the cross-hatched
area.
4. If the fluid level is where it should be, push the
dipstick back
in all the way.
How to Add Fluid:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level
into the cross-hatched area on the dipstick, It
doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a
pint. Don’t overfill. We recommend
you use only fluid
labeled DEXRONWIE, because
fluids with that label
are made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRONB-IIE is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
0 After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back
in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when
it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in the
Index.
The proper coolant for your Buick will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37 “C) .
0 Give boiling protection up to 262 F ( 128 ” C) .
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights work as they should.
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When to Check: Check your tires once a month or
more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60
psi (420 Ha).
How to Check: Use a good quality pocket-type gage to
check tire pressure. Simply looking
at the tires will not
tell you the pressure, especially
if you have radial tires --
which may look properly inflated even if they’re
underinflated.
i
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back
on. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have them inspected and
rotated at the mileages recommended
in the
Maintenance Schedule. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index. Use
this rotation
pattern.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressure as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque”
in the
Index.
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1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B,
and C. They represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions
on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability
to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a
level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Those grades are molded on the sidewalls
of passenger
car tires.
While the tires available as standard or optional
equipment on General Motors vehicles may vary with
respect to these grades, all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have been approved
for use on General Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements
in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
275
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Section E: Maintenance Record
After the scheduled services are performed, record the
date, odometer reading and who performed
the service
in the columns indicated. When completing the
Maintenance Performed column, insert the numbers from
the Schedule I or
Schedule I1 maintenance charts
which correspond
to the maintenance performed. Also,
you should retain all maintenance receipts. Your owner
information portfolio
is a convenient place to store
them.
Maintenance Record
ODOMETER
DATE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED
READING SERVICED
BY
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@) Part 8 Customer Assistance Information
1
m
Here you will find out how to contact Buick if you need assistance. This part also tells you how to obtain service
publications and how to report any safety defects.
Part
8 includes:
Customer Satisfaction
Customer Assistance for Hearing/Speech Impaired
........................................ 3 14
Reporting Safety Defects ............................................................ 3 15
ServicePublications ................................................................ 316
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to your
dealer and Buick. Normally, any problems with the sales
transaction or the operation of your vehicle will be
resolved by your 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 problem with a member of
dealership management. Complaints can often 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.
313
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