steering wheel BUICK PARK AVENUE 1994 Owners Manual

Where is the air bag?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering
wheel. The right-front passenger’s air bag is located in
the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
When is an air bag expected to inflate?
The air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal crashes. The air bag
will only
inflate
if the velocity of the impact is above the designed
threshold level. When impacting straight into a wall that
does not move or deform, the threshold level for most
GM vehicles is between 9 and 15 mph (14 and 23
km/h). However, this velocity threshold depends on the
vehicle design and may be several miles-per-hour faster
or slower. In addition, this threshold velocity
will be
considerably higher
if the vehicle strikes an object such
as a parked car which will move and deform on impact.
The air bag is also not designed
to inflate in rollovers,
side impacts, or rear impacts where
the inflation would
provide no occupant protection benefit.
It is possible that
in a crash, only one of the two air bags
in your Park Avenue will deploy. This is rare, but can
happen
in a crash just severe enough to make an air bag
inflate.
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In any particular crash, the determination of whether the
air bag should have inflated cannot be based solely on
the level of damage on the vehicle(s). Inflation is
determined by the angle
of the impact and the vehicle’s
deceleration, of which vehicle damage is only one
indication. Repair cost is not a good indicator of
whether an air bag should have deployed.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In a frontal or near-frontal impact of sufficient severity,
the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle
is
suddenly stopping as a result of a crash. The sensing
system triggers a chemical reaction of the sodium azide
sealed in the inflator. The reaction produces nitrogen
gas, which inflates a cloth bag. The inflator,
cloth bag,
and related hardware are all part
of the air bag inflator
modules packed inside the steering wheel and
in the
instrument panel in front of the passenger.
how does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. The air bag supplements the
protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute
the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s
upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But
air bags would not provide protection
in many types of
collisions, including rollovers and rear and side impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
the air bag. Air bags should never be regarded as
anything more than a supplement to safety belt
protection
in moderate to severe frontal and near-frontal
collisions.
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What will you see after an air bag inflation?
After the air bag has inflated, it will then quickly
deflate. This occurs
so quickly that some people may
not even realize that the air bag inflated. Some
components of the air bag module
in the steering wheel
hub for the driver’s air bag or the instrument panel for
the passenger’s bag may be hot for a short time, but the
portion of the bag that comes into contact with you will
not be hot to the touch. There will be small amounts
of
smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflated air
bags. The air bag
will not impede the driver’s vision or
ability to steer the vehicle,
nor will it hinder the
occupants from exiting the vehicle.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may occur in vehicles
with passenger air bags because the windshield acts as a
reaction surface for the inflating air bag.
0 The air bags are designed to inflate only once. After
they inflate, you’ll need some
new parts for your air
bag system. If you don’t get them, the air bag system
won’t be there to help protect you
in another crash.
A new system will include air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual has
information about the need to replace other parts.
0
0
Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module,
which records information about the air bag system.
The module records information about the readiness
of the system, when the sensors are activated and
whether the driver’s safety belt was
in use.
Let only qualified technicians work
on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your
air bag
system won’t work properly. See your dealer for
service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the driver’s or the
right-front passenger’s air bag, they may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag on the steering wheel or both the air bag and
the instrument panel for the passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or break the air bag covers.
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Part 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Buick. and information on starting. shifting
and braking
. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is working
properly
.. and what to do if you have a problem .
Part 2 includes:
Keys ........................................................................\
.... 64
DoorLocks
....................................................................... \
65
NewVehicleBreak-In
.............................................................. 79
StartingtheEngine
................................................................. 81
Shifting the Transaxle .............................................................. 83
Windows ........................................................................\
. 93
93
Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever
.................................................... 94
Headlight High-Low Beam Changer
.............................................. 96
Windshield Wipermasher
...................................................... 96
Cruisecontrol
................................................................ 98
Headlights
........................................................................\
103
Mirrors
........................................................................\
.. 108
Instrumentpanel ................................................................... 119
Speedometer and Odometer ..................................................... 119
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ............................................. 120
TiltSteeringWheel ................................................................
. . 63
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Illuminated Entry System (Option)
With this option, when you
push the door handle
button,
a light around the
door lock will come on for
about
25 seconds.
You’ll be able to see where to put the door key when it’s
dark, and the lights inside your Buick will go on.
They’ll
go off when you start your engine, or when 25
seconds have passed. If you have the Remote Keyless
Entry System option, it can make the illuminated entry
system work too. (See Remote Keyless Entry System in
the Index.)
If
you have this option, your interior lights will
automatically shut off after a
10 minute period if a door
is left ajar. This feature
is designed to help eliminate
battery wear down.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your Buick has a number of theft deterrent
features,
we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal. However, there are ways you can
help.
Key in the Ignition
If you walk away from your vehicle with the keys
inside, it’s an easy target for joy riders or professional
thieves
-- so don’t do it.
When you park your Buick and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear a chime reminding you
to remove your key
from the ignition and take
it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and
so will your
ignition and transaxle. And remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables
out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
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With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five different positions:
(A) Accessory: This position lets you use things like the
radio and the windshield wipers when the engine is off.
To use, push in the key and turn it toward you. Your
steering wheel will remain locked, just as
it was before
you inserted the key.
(B) Lock: Before you put the key in, your ignition will
be
in the Lock position. This position locks your
ignition, steering wheel and transaxle. It’s
a theft
deterrent feature.
(C) Off: This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering
wheel like Lock.
Use “Off’ if you must have your car in
motion while the engine is off.
(D) Run: This is the position for driving.
(E) Start: This key position starts your engine.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in “Lock” and you can’t
turn
it, be sure it is all the way in. If it is, then turn
the steering wheel left and right while you
turn
the key hard. But turn the key only with your
hand. Using a tool to force
it could break the key
or the ignition switch. If none of this works, then
your vehicle needs service.
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Power Windows
Your power window controls are on the armrest. The
switch for the driver’s window has an express-down
feature. Pull
the switch back all the way, release it and
the window will lower automatically.
To stop the
window from lowering, push the switch forward.
To
partially open the window, pull the switch back and
quickly release it.
You may also have a lock out button. Push
LOCK to
disable the power window switches. This
will prevent
passengers from opening and closing the windows. The driver
can still control all the windows
with the switch
in
the locked position. Push UNLOCK to allow your
passengers to use their window switches again.
Horn
To sound the horn, press a pad with the horn symbol on
either side of the steering wheel.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering 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.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever toward
you. Move the steering wheel to a
comfortable position, then release the lever to lock the
wheel
in place.
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@ Part 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this part you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control systems and audio systems offered with your Buick .
Be sure to read about the particular system supplied with your vehicle .
Part 3 includes:
Comfort Control System ............................................................ 132
Heater and Defroster
....................................................... 137. 138
Airconditioner
........................................................... 134. 140
Rear Window Defogger
.................................................... 139. 140
Ventilation
................................................................... 141
Steering Wheel Controls
........................................................ 155
Audiosystems
.................................................................... 143
Understanding Radio Reception
.................................................. 143
Radio Controls
....................................................... 144. 147. 151
Settingtheclock
.................................................... 146.149. 152
Tape Player Controls
.................................... ................. 146. 149
CD Player Controls
................................... ..................... 153
Steering Wheel Controls
............................. ....................... 155
Care of Cassette Tape Player and Tapes
............................................ 157
CareofCompactDiscs
......................................................... 158
Antennacare ................................................................ 158
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Steering Wheel Controls
t‘
If your car has this feature, you can control certain radio
and comfort control functions using the pads on the
steering wheel.
You can select radio stations by pressing the pad marked
SEEK A or v.
Press PROG A to hear the stations preset on your radio
pushbuttons.
Press
BAND v to receive AM, FM 1 or FM2 radio
signals. To
increase or decrease the volume, press the pad
marked
VOL A or v.
The pad marked TEMP A or allows you to select
higher or lower temperature for the climate control
system.
Anti-Theft Feature
Delco-Loc I1 is a security feature for the compact disc
player. It can be used or ignored. If ignored, the system
plays normally. If security system
is used, your player
won’t be usable
if it’s ever stolen, because it won’t turn
on.
The instructions below tell you how to enter your
personal secret code into the system. If your vehicle
loses battery power
for any reason, you must unlock
the system
with the secret code again before the system
will turn on.
Be sure to read through the entire procedure and become
familiar
with the appropriate buttons and knobs before
starting.
1. Write down any &digit number and keep it in a safe
place.
2. Turn the ignition to the ACC or RUN position.
3. Press PWR to turn the radio off.
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limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may re-engage the cruise control. (See
“Cruise Control” in the Index.) traction control system
off if you ever need to. (You
should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice or snow. See “Rocking Your Vehicle’’
in the Index.)
TRACTION
OFF
The “TRACTION OFF” warning light will come on
when you turn the traction control system off. When the
system
is on, this light will come on to let you know if
there’s a problem with your traction control system. See
“Traction Control System Warning Light” in
the Index.
When this warning light is
on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle.
To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions,
you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the To
turn the system off,
press the “TRACTION
CONTROL” button
on the
instrument panel to the left
of the steering wheel.
The “TRACTION
OFF” warning light will come on and
stay on.
If the system is limiting wheel spin when you
press the button, the system won’t
turn off right away. It
will wait until there’s no longer
a current need to limit
wheel spin.
You can
turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the button again. The “TRACTION
OFF” warning light
should go off.
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