BUICK PARK AVENUE 1996 Owners Manual

Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section 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.
Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to operate your comfort
controls. Your comfort control system uses
ozone-friendly
R- 134a refrigerant.
With these systems, you can control the heating,
cooling and ventilation in your Buick.
Your vehicle
also has
a flow-through ventilation system described
later in this section.
Electronic Touch Climate Control
If your Buick has this climate control system, the
following information tells you how it works.
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The FAN control is used to select the speed of the
blower fan and the force of air you want. There are four
speeds to choose from. Moving the lever between LOW
and
HIGH will decrease or increase the fan speed. The
fan will be off when the system is off.
This lever regulates the temperature
of the air coming
through the system. Move the TEMPERATURE lever to
change the temperature of the air coming through your
outlets. Move the lever between COOL and WARM to
lower or raise the temperature.
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The buttons on your system allow you to choose settings
to deliver
air through lower, middle or windshield outlets.
RECIRC: Press this button to limit the amount of air or
cool the air in your vehicle. To turn off RECIRC, press
the button again. If you select FRONT defrost or
BLEND while RECIRC is selected, the system will
automatically turn
off RECIRC to prevent fogging.
VENT This setting directs airflow through the middle
instrument panel outlets. The air conditioning
compressor
is not working when VENT is selected.
HTR: This button directs air out of the heater outlets.
Most
of the air will come from the floor outlets while
some of it will flow through the windshield and side
window outlets. The air conditioning compressor is not
working when
HTR is selected.
BLEND: When BLEND is selected the airflow will be
split between the windshield and the floor outlets. The
air conditioning compressor will be operating.
FRONT This setting directs most of the airflow toward
the windshield.
OFF: The ventilation system always allows fresh air to
flow through your Buick when the vehicle is moving.
The system will try
to keep the air at a previously
chosen temperature. When the system is
off, the blower
fan is also off.
MAX: This setting directs airflow through the middle
instrument panel outlets.
NORM: This setting cools the air entering your vehicle
and directs it through the middle instrument panel outlets.
BI-LEV: This setting directs warm air to the floor and
cooler air to the middle instrument panel outlets.
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Dual Automatic ComforTemp
Climate Control (Option)
If your Buick has the dual automatic comfortemp
climate control option, the following information tells
you how it works.
You will hear a beep each time a button is pushed and a
small light on the button will indicate which buttons are
active. The lights are on all buttons except TEMP, FAN
and AIR
FLOW. The display will show fan speed,
comfort level setting and airflow direction for a few
seconds whenever AUTO is selected, and then it will
display the outside temperature. The outside temperature
reading is most accurate when the vehicle
is moving.
During stops, the display shows the previous
temperature for best accuracy and system control. If the display
is flashing after the climate control system
is started, there is a problem with the system and you
should see your dealer for service.
Sun and temperature sensors automatically adjust the air
temperature, the airflow direction and the fan speed to
maintain your comfort setting. The system may supply
cooler air to the
side towards the sun. Be careful not to
put anything over the sensors on top of the dash.
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Temperature Button
To adjust the comfort level you want maintained inside
the vehicle, push the TEMP button. If you want a
warrner comfort level, push the red arrow. If
you want a
cooler comfort level, push the blue arrow. Your comfort
setting is shown in the display.
Fan Button
The speed of the blower fan is controlled automatically
if you have the system set for AUTO. Pressing the
FAN button will display and hold the current blower fan setting.
If you want the blower fan to run at a lower speed, push
the bottom
of the FAN button. The fan speed will
decrease with every push
of the button until the lowest
speed is reached. If you want to increase the fan speed,
push the top of the FAN button. Notice the fan
indicators on the display.
Mode Controls
Press the AIR FLOW button to deliver air through the
floor, middle or windshield outlets. The system will stay
in the selected mode until the AUTO button is pushed.
Press the up arrow on the AIR FLOW button to cycle
through the available modes.
Automatic Operation
Press the AUTO button when you want the system to
automatically adjust to changes in the temperature inside
the vehicle, the outside temperature and the sun load on
the vehicle. When the system is set for automatic
operation, air will come from the floor, middle or
windshield outlets depending on the temperature inside
the vehicle, the outside temperature and sun load. Fan
speed will vary as the system gets to and maintains the
comfort setting
you have selected through the use of the
TEMP button.
To find your comfort setting, start with the system in
AUTO mode and the TEMP button adjusted to a display
of 75°F
(24"C), give the vehicle about 20 minutes to
stabilize, and adjust your comfort setting if necessary, by
using the TEMP button. The display will show the
comfort setting for
a few seconds and then it will
display the outside temperature.
If you want to see your
current automatic fan speed, airflow direction and
comfort setting, press the AUTO button.
In cold weather, the system will delay turning on the
fan, to avoid blowing cold air. The length of the delay
depends on the engine coolant temperature and the
outside temperature. Pushing the FAN, AIR FLOW or
FRONT buttons will override this delay, turn off the
AUTO setting and change the fan speed.
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Manual Operation
You may also manually adjust the air delivery or
fan speed.
AIR FLOW: This button is used to change the direction
of the arflow. The airflow choices available are FLOOR,
FLOOR-MID,
MID and WINDSHIELD-FLOOR. If the
system is set for
AUTO, pressing the AIR FLOW button
will display the current airflow direction and the comfort
setting. Press the
AIR FLOW up or down button again to
change the direction of the airflow.
If the
AIR FLOW up button is selected while in the
FRONT defrost mode, the system will direct the air
toward the WINDSHIELD-FLOOR. If the AIR FLOW
down button is selected while in the FRONT defrost
mode, the system will direct the air toward the FLOOR,
and the FRONT defrost mode will cancel. Notice the
arrows in the display.
OFF: If the passenger comfort control is turned on, it
can be turned
off by pressing the OFF button once.
Pressing the
OFF button a second time will turn off the
main system. Turning off the main system causes the fan
to turn
off and the airflow to be directed to the FLOOR.
The system will still try to keep the interior of the
vehicle at the previous chosen comfort setting. The
outside temperature will show on the display when the
system is
OFF.
The ventilation system always allows fresh air to flow
through your Buick when the vehicle is moving even
with the system in the OFF mode.
VENT The VENT button allows outside air to flow
through your Buick without the air conditioning
compressor working. Selecting VENT and the
AUTO
button at the same time allows the system to control
automatically without the use of the air conditioning
compressor or the use of the RECIRC mode. To
turn off
the VENT selection, push the VENT button again.
RECIRC: When RECIRC is selected, the system will
limit the amount
of outside air entering your vehicle.
This
is helpful when you are trying to cool the interior
of the vehicle quickly or limit the amount of outside air
entering your vehicle for some other reason. RECIRC
and AUTO may be selected at the same time. The
system will remain in RECIRC for
12 minutes or
until the ignition is turned off, then the system will
return back to the previously selected mode. RECIRC
can be selected in all manual airflow modes except
FRONT defrost. RECIRC cannot be selected with
the VENT button.
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FRONT This selection is used to defrost the
windshield by directing the airflow toward the windshield.
If
FRONT is selected while in the AUTO mode, the fan
speed and the air temperature from the front defroster will
vary. If a manual
fan speed setting is selected, the fan
speed will remain at that selection until another fan speed
selection is made or the AUTO mode
is selected. To turn
off FRONT, press the AUTO or AIR FLOW button.
FRONT defrost will work better if any ice or snow is
cleared from the hood and the air inlet area between the
base
of the windshield and the hood.
Air Condi,,.
On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
inside air escape. This reduces the time it takes for your
vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows closed
for the air conditioner to work its best.
If you have the electronic touch system, for quick
cool-down on very
hot days, use MAX with the
temperature and fan speed adjusted to COOL and
HIGH.
For normal cooling on hot days, use NORM and adjust the
temperature and fan speed for your comfort. If REClRC is
selected while
in the NORM air conditioning mode, the
system works like
MAX and recirculates the air. Use
BI-LEV to deliver warm air to the floor and cooler air to
the middle instrument panel outlets.
If you have the dual automatic comfortemp system and
on very hot days using the AUTO mode, the system will
automatically enter the RECIRC mode and the
temperature door will be positioned at the full cold
position for maximum cooling. If the system
is not in
the AUTO mode, RECIRC should be selected to provide
maximum cooling. You can choose the extreme comfort
setting of
60°F (16"C), but the system will not cool any
faster by choosing the extreme comfort setting.
When the air conditioner is on, you may sometimes notice
slight changes in your vehicle's engine speed and power.
This is normal because
the system is designed to cycle the
compressor on and
off to keep the desired temperature.
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Heating
If you have the electronic touch system, on cold days,
use HTR with the TEMPERATURE lever toward
WARM. If you have the dual automatic comfortemp
system, press
AUTO and adjust the temperature by
pressing the TEMP up or down arrow. You may also
adjust the dual automatic comfortemp system manually
by pressing the AIR FLOW button until FLOOR
appears. Again, adjust the temperature by pressing the
TEMP up or down arrow.
With each system, outside air will be brought in and sent
through the floor outlets. The heater works best if you
keep your windows closed.
Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use
VENT (on the electronic touch
system or manual operation of the dual automatic
cornfortemp system) to direct outside air through
your
vehicle. Air will flow through the middle instrument
panel outlets.
Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when it’s moving. When the
vehicle is not moving, you can get outside air to flow
through by selecting any air choice (except the rear
window defogger) and any fan speed.
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Adjust the direction of
airflow by moving the
louvered vents.
If you have the rear passenger comfortemp option,
you can adjust the direction of the airflow
to the rear
seating area.
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Ventilation Tips
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Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction such as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work better, reducing the chance of
fogging your windows.
When you enter a vehicle with the electronic touch
system in cold weather, select HTR to supply air
through the floor outlets. Then move the FAN lever
to HIGH for a few moments before driving away.
This will blow moist air from the intake outlets
toward the floor, not the windshield. It reduces the
chance of fogging your windows. If you have the
dual automatic comfortemp system, the AUTO
setting will do this for you. Manual operation of the
automatic comfortemp system in the
FLOOR mode
will also supply air through the floor outlets.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects.
This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.
When the engine idles for a long time, the exterior
temperature sensor may cause the system
to blow air
that is too cool. Once the vehicle is moving again,
the system will try to maintain the set temperature
inside your vehicle.
0 When you start your vehicle and the EXT display
flashes (dual automatic comfortemp system only) for
some time, the system may need repair. See your
Buick dealer.
Defogging and Defrosting
On cool but humid days, use FRONT to keep the
windshield and side windows clear and to quickly
remove fog, frost or ice from the windshield.
If you have the the electronic touch system, adjust the
TEMPERATURE lever toward
WARM and the FAN
lever toward HIGH.
If you have the dual automatic cornfortemp system,
while in the AUTO mode, the fan speed will vary.
If a
manual fan speed setting
is selected, the fan speed will
remain at that selection until the engine is turned
off or
another selection has been made. To turn off FRONT,
press
AUTO or AIR FLOW.
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Rear Window Defogger (Option)
E The lines you see on the
rear window warm the
glass. Press this button to
start warming your window.
After
10 minutes it will turn off by itse lf, or
by press ing
the button during the heating cycle will turn it off. If you
need additional warming time, push the button again.
The system will then operate for five minutes before
going
off by itself.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license, tape or decals
across the defogger grid on the rear window.
I NOTICE:
Don’t use a razor blade or something else sharp
on the inside
of the rear window. If you do, you
could cut or damage the warming grid, and the
repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
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