BUICK PARK AVENUE 1994 Owners Manual

Add coolant mix at the recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill
it.
Radiator Pressure Cap
Your radiator pressure cap is a 15 psi (1 05 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed
to prevent coolant
loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be sure the arrows on
the cap line up with the overflow tube on the
radiator filler neck.
Wlien you replace your radiator pressure cap, ap AC@
cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat
is recommended.
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Power Steering Fluid
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
Replace the cap and completely tighten it. Then remove
the cap again and look at the fluid level
on the dimtick.
When the engine compartment is hot, the level
should be at the
“HOT” mark.
0 When the engine compartment is cool, the level
should be at the
“FULL COLD” mark.
What to Add
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
NOTICE:
When adding power steering fluid or making a
complete fluid change, always use the proper
fluid. Failure to use the proper fluid can cause
leaks and damage hoses and seals.
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Windshield Washer Fluid
To Add
Open the cap labeled
“WASHER
FLUID ONLY.”
Add washer fluid until the
bottle
is full.
~ ~ NOTICE:
~ When using concentrated washer fluid,
~ follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
~ adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution
to
freeze and damage your washer fluid tank
and other parts of the washer system.
Also,
water doesn’t clean as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only 3/4 full
when it’s very cold. This allows for
expansion, which could damage the tank
if
it is completely full.
windshield washer.
It can damage your
washer system and paint.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your
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Brakes
Brake Master Cylinder
Your brake master cylinder is here. It is filled with
DOT-3 brake fluid. fluid is leaking
out of the brake system. If it is, you
should have your brake system fixed, since a leak means
that sooner or later your brakes won’t work well, or
won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’
your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid won’t correct a
leak. If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then
you’ll have too much fluid when you get new brake
linings.
You should add (or remove) brake fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level
in
your master cylinder might go down. The first is that the
brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the fluid level goes back up. The other reason is that When
your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. A chime will sound if you
try to drive with this warning light on. See “Brake
System Warning Light” in the Index.
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What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only, and always clean
the brake fluid
reservoir cap before removing
it.
Brake Wear
Your Buick has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
NOTICE:
0 DOT-5 silicone brake fluid can damage
your vehicle. Don’t use
it.
Don’t let someone put in the wrong kind of
fluid. For example, just
a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in
your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to
be replaced.
Brake fluid can damage paint, so be careful
not
to spill brake fluid on your vehicle. If
you do, wash
it off immediately. See
“Appearance Care”
in the Index.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except
when
you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
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I 1 Brake Adiustment
I NOTICE:
I
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
- - __-- - - - -- tJ-----------
I Every time you apply the brakes moderately, with or
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or
lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear indicators, but
if
you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear
brake linings inspected. Also, the rear brake drums
should be removed and inspected each time the tires are
removed for rotation or changing. When you have the
front brakes replaced, have the rear brakes inspected,
too.
Brake linings
should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase
in pedal
travel. This could be a sign
of brake trouble. without the vehicle moving,
your brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts
in them, as your Buick does when it is new. When
you replace parts of your braking system
-- for example,
when your brake linings wear down and you have
to
have new ones put in -- be sure you get new genuine
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example,
if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the
balance between your front and rear brakes can change,
for the worse. The braking performance you’ve come to
expect can change
in many other ways if someone puts
in the wrong replacement brake parts.
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Battery
Every new Buick has a Delco Freedom’ battery. You
never have to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom’
battery. Get one that has the catalog number shown on
the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
more, take off the black, negative
(-) cable from the
battery. This will help keep your battery from running
down. Contact
your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Halogen Bulbs
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Headlamp Bulb Replacement Remove the retainers by turning in a counter-clockwise
direction.
Each headlamp
is attached by retainers with round
plastic knobs.
Lift the headlamp away from the car.
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Turn the bulb socket 1/4
turn counter-clockwise,
while pressing
it firmly.
Remove
the wire connector
from the bulb by lifting
the
lock tab and pulling it away
from the plastic base.
To reassemble, attach the wire connector (A) to the
plastic base making sure the lock tab
(B) is over the lock
(C). Install the bulb by putting the small tab (D) into the
small notch
in the lamp (E). Turn the bulb socket 1/4
turn clockwise to lock into place. When reinstalling the
headlamp assembly
into the headlamp mounting panel,
make sure
the tab is properly engaged in the panel slot.
Taillamp Bulb Replacement
Open the trunk. On either
side
of the rear of the trunk
are two plastic nuts.
Remove only the side that
you need
to access. Pull the
carpet back away from the
rear area. The taillamp,
sidemarker and back-up
lights can now be accessed.
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Two taillamp bulbs are a tabbed assembly. Squeeze the
release
in and pull the assembly out. Pull the bulb
straight out from the socket. To replace the assembly,
insert the tabs into the slots and push
in until it locks
into place.
To replace the third taillamp bulb and sidemarker bulb,
turn the socket 1/4 turn and pull it out. Pull the bulb
straight out from the socket.
The backup bulb can be replaced by squeezing the lock
on the socket, turning it
1/4 turn and pulling it out. Pull
the bulb straight out. Reverse the above steps to
reassemble the light and the trunk trim.
Loading Your Vehicle
%I OCCUPANTS
VEHICLE CAP. WT.

TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION
FRT. CTR.
RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING
& GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY WEIGHT XXX
COLD TIRE
TIRE
SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
RTG PSliKPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PS1/28KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
( INFORMATION \]]!mlp ,j;;f&ip
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire Loading Information label
found on the rear edge of the driver's door tells
you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires on your vehicle.
It also gives you
important information about the number of people that
can be
in your vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight
and includes the weight
of all occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
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