engine BUICK PARK AVENUE 1994 User Guide

3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops),
it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding
it there as you hold the key in
“Start” for about three seconds. If the car starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for five or
six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine. After
waiting about
15 seconds, repeat the normal starting
procedure.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the fuel injection system operates. Before adding
electrical equipment, check with your dealer.
If
you don’t, your engine might not perform
properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to
do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Car”
in the Index.
Driving Through Deep Standing
Water
I NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or
standing water, water can come
in through your
engine’s air intake and badly damage your
engine.
If you can’t avoid deep puddles or
standing water, drive through them very slowly.
Engine Coolant Heater (Engine Block
Heater) (Canada Only)
In very cold weather, 0°F (- 18 “C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged
in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt outlet.
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Automatic Transaxle
NOTICE:
After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to
store the cord
as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If you don’t, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in?
The answer depends on the weather, the kind
of oil you
have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list
everything here,
we ask that you contact a Buick dealer in
the area where you’ll be parking your vehicle. The dealer
can give you the best advice for that particular area. There are
several different positions for your shift lever.
P (Park)
This locks your front wheels. It’s the best position to
use when you start your engine because your vehicle
can’t move easily.
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Ensure the shift lever is fully in T’ (Park) range before
starting the engine. Your Buick has a brake-transaxle
shift interlock. You have
to fully apply your regular
brakes
before you can shift from “P” (Park) when the
ignition key
is in the “Run” position. If you cannot shift
out of “P’ (Park), ease pressure on the shift lever - push the
shift lever all the way into
“P’ (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then move the shift lever
into the gear
you wish. See “Shifting Out of ‘P’ (Park)”
in this part.
R (Reverse)
Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to “R” (Reverse) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift to “R” only after your vehicle is stopped.
I
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see
“If
You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
0 N (Neutral)
In this position, your engine doesn t connect with the
wheels.
To restart when you’re already moving, use
“N” (Neutral) only. Also, use “N” when your vehicle
is being towed.
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NOTICE:
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of “P” (Park) or “N” (Neutral) with the engine
racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
@ Automatic Overdrive
This position is for normal driving. If you need more
power for passing, and you’re:
- Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push
your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
- Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more
power.
D or 3 (Third Gear)
This is like @, but you never go into Overdrive.
Here are some times you might choose
“D or 3 ”
instead of @:
- When driving on hilly, winding roads
- When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
- When going down a steep hill
between
gears
2 (Second Gear)
This position gives you more power but lower fuel
economy.
You can use “2” on hills. It can help
control your speed as you go down steep mountain
roads,
but then you would also want to use your
brakes
off and on.
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NOTICE:
Don’t drive in “2” (Second Gear) for more than 5
miles (8 km), or at speeds over 55 mph (88 km/h),
or you can damage your transaxle. Use
“@” or
“@ or 3” as much as possible.
Don’t shift into
“2” unless you are going slower
than
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can damage your
engine.
1 (First Gear)
This position gives you even more power (but lower
fuel economy) than
“2.” You can use it on very steep
hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the selector lever is
put in
“1,” the transaxle won’t shift into first gear
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand
or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there
with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes or shift into
“P” Park
to hold your vehicle in position on a hill.
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Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to “Lock.”
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
walk away from
your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your vehicle is in “P” (Park).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle
is in “P” (Park) and your
parking brake
is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the
“P” (Park)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see
if
you can move the shift lever away from “P” (Park)
without first pulling
it toward you. If you can, it means
that the
shift lever wasn’t fully locked into “P” (Park).
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Parking Over Things That Burn Engine Exhaust
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Running Your Engine While You’re
Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
won’t
move. See “Shifting Into ‘P’ (Park)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
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Courtesy Lights
When any door is opened, several lights go on. They
make it easy for you
to enter and leave the car. You also
can
turn these lights on by sliding the panel lights lever
to INT (interior).
Time Out Feature
The interior lights will automatically shut off after a 10
minute period if a door is left open. This feature is
designed
to help eliminate battery wear down.
Twilight Sentinel (Option)
Twilight Sentinel turns your
lights on and
off by sensing
how dark it is outside.
To operate
it, leave the light
switch off and move the
Twilight Sentinel control to
any position but MIN. If you
move the control all the way to
MAX, your lights
will remain on
for three minutes after you turn off your
engine.
If you move the control almost all the way in the
other direction,
so it’s just on, the lights will go off
quickly when you turn off your engine. You can change
this delay time from only a few seconds to three
minutes.
Please don’t cover the light
sensor. If you cover the
sensor,
it will read “dark”
~ and your lights will come
on. It is
on top of the
instrument panel, on the
driver’s side
of the
defroster outlets.
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Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in your
tank. It works only when the engine is on. When the
indicator nears
“E,” you still have a little fuel left. You
need to get more fuel right away.
Here are some concerns owners have had about
the fuel
gage. All these situations are normal and indicate
nothing wrong with the fuel gage.
0
0
0
0
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads
“F’.
It takes more (or less) gas to fill up than the gage
indicated.
For example, the gage may have indicated
1/2 full, but it took more (or less) than half of the
tank’s capacity to
fill it.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner,
speed up, or stop your vehicle.
When you turn the engine off, the gage doesn’t go all
the way back to
“E”.
Low Fuel Light (Option)
If your Buick has this
option, a yellow light near
the fuel gage will
go on
when
you are low on fuel.
You should get more fuel as
soon as
you can.
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