warning BUICK PARK AVENUE 1994 Owner's Manual

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police
know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lights
will flash on and off.
196
ProCarManuals.com

e I
Press the button in to make
your front and rear turn
signal lights flash
on and
off.
I
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even
if the key isn’t in.
To turn off the flashers,
pull
out on the collar.
When
the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
197
ProCarManuals.com

Towing Your Park Avenue
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing
service tow your Buick. The usual towing equipment is
a sling-type
(A), wheel-lift (B) or car carrier (C) tow
truck.
B
C
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding after market items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle has front-wheel drive.
0 The make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can still move the shift lever.
0 If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to
see them.
203
ProCarManuals.com

Engine Overheating
You will find a warning light about a hot engine on your
Buick instrument panel and if you have the optional
gage cluster, a coolant temperature gage. You will also
find a low coolant warning light.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
If NO Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 Tow a trailer.
207
ProCarManuals.com

If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or
so:
1. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to “N” (Neutral).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about ten minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see
if
the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning, TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND GET
EVERYONE OUT OF THE VEHICLE until it cools
down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away. When you
decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
Coolant recovery tank
Radiator pressure cap
0 Electric engine fans
208
ProCarManuals.com

When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or
above the
“FULL COLD” mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there’s one more
thing you can try.
You can add the proper coolant mix
directly to the radiator but be sure the cooling system
is
cool before you do it.
ProCarManuals.com

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a
level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
i
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change
a tire.
215
ProCarManuals.com

What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements
that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be a real threat to the environment. If you
change your own
oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing
oil from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever dispose of
oil by putting it in the trash, pouring
it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
Air Cleaner
1
The air cleaner is in the front right section of the engine
compartment.
To check or replace the filter, undo the
wing screws and pull the air cleaner open. Replace the
air filter, close
the cover and tighten the wing screws.
243
ProCarManuals.com

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,
Let the warning lights work as they should.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half antifreeze that meets “GM
Specification 1825-M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts.
You can also use a recycled coolant conforming to
GM Specification 1825-M with a complete coolant flush
and refill. If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add
anything else.
I NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.

247
ProCarManuals.com

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.
252
ProCarManuals.com