battery BUICK PARK AVENUE 1996 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: BUICK, Model Year: 1996, Model line: PARK AVENUE, Model: BUICK PARK AVENUE 1996Pages: 388, PDF Size: 20.04 MB
Page 126 of 388

Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you
if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AI R
BAG
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition to
RUN
or START. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when
you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
Battery Warning Light
VOLT
When you turn the key to RUN, one of these lights will
come on briefly, to show that your alternator and battery
charging systems
are working. If the light stays on, you
need service, and you should take your Buick
to the
dealer at once.
To save your battery until you get there,
turn
off all accessories and set your air system to OFF.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 127 of 388

Voltage Indicator (Option)
If you have the optional
gage cluster, this gage
shows voltage in the
electrical system. The
8
normal range is I 1 to
18 15 volts.
W
If the reading stays outside the normal range, or the
battery warning light comes on, have your Buick dealer
check the electrical system.
Brake System Warning Light
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come
on
when you turn the ignition
key to
START. If it doesn’t
come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you if there’s a problem.
If the light and chime come on while you are driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that
the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer
to the floor. It may take longer
to stop. If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
2-71
ProCarManuals.com
Page 167 of 388

Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK" is designed to discourage theft of your
radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio
functions whenever battery power is removed.
If THEFTLOCK is active, the THEFTLOCK indicator
will flash when the ignition is OFF.
The THEFTLOCK feature for the radio may be used or
ignored. If ignored, the system plays normally and the
radio
is not protected by the feature. If THEFTLOCK is
activated, your radio will not operate if stolen.
When THEFTLOCK is activated, the radio will. display
LOC to indicate a locked condition anytime battery
power is removed. If your battery loses power for any
reason, you must unlock the radio with the secret code
before it will operate.
Activating the Theft-Detern Feature
The instructions which follow explain how to enter your
secret code to activate the THEFTLOCK system.
It is
recommended that you read through all nine steps
before starting the procedure.
NOTE: If you allow more than
15 seconds to elapse
between any steps, the radio automatically reverts to
time and you must start the procedure over at Step
4.
1. Write down any three or four-digit number from
000 to 1999 and keep it in a safe place separate from
the vehicle.
2. Turn the ignition to the ACCESSORY or RUN
position.
3. Turn the radio off.
4. Press the 1 and 4 buttons together. Hold them down
until
--- shows on the display. Next you will use the
secret code number which you have written down.
5. Press MIN and 000 will appear on the display.
6. Press MIN again to make the last two digits agree
with your code.
7. Press HRS to make the first one or two digits agree
with your code.
8. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the
code matches
the secret code you have written down.
The display will show
REP to let you know that you
need to repeat Steps
5 through 7 to confirm your
secret code.
9. Press AM-FM and this time the display will show
SEC to
let you know that your radio is secure.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 168 of 388

Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a
Power
Loss
Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than
15 seconds between steps:
1. LOC appears when the ignition is on.
2. Press MIN and 000 will appear on the display.
3. Press MIN again to make the last two digits agree
with your code.
4. Press HRS to make the first one or two digits agree
agree with your code.
5. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the
code matches the secret code you have written down.
The display will show SEC, indicating the radio is
now operable and secure.
If you enter the wrong code eight times, INOP will
appear
on the display. You will have to wait an hour
with the ignition on before you can try again. When you
try again, you will only have three chances to enter the
correct code before INOP appears.
If you lose or forget your code, contact your dealer.
Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature
Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than
15 seconds between steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Turn the ignition to the ACCESSORY or RUN
position.
Turn the radio off.
Press the
1 and 4 buttons together. Hold them down
until SEC shows on the display.
Press MIN and
000 will appear on the display.
Press MIN again to make the last two digits agree
with your code.
Press HRS to make the first one or two digits agree
with your code.
Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the
code matches the secret code you have written down.
The display will show
---, indicating that the radio is
no longer secured.
If the code entered is incorrect, SEC will appear on the
display. The radio will remain secured until the correct
code is entered.
When battery pow€
's given to a secured radio, the
radio won't turn on and LOC will appear
on the display.
,3928
ProCarManuals.com
Page 202 of 388

Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
Loading Your Vehicle
ym OCCUPANTS
VEHICLE CAP. WT.
TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION
7
FRT. CTR. RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING & GVWR
SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY WEIGHT XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE
SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
RTG PSI/KPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PSIi28KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
- ~ ~ __
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.
4-28
ProCarManuals.com
Page 214 of 388

To turn off the flashers, pull
out on the collar. When the
hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals
won't work. Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
Buick. But please follow the steps
in this part to do
it safely.
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.
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
If you don't follow these steps exactly, some
or all
of these things can hurt you. burn you.
1. Check the
other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 215 of 388

NOTICE: NOTICE: ~
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged. If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
your warranty.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able to
start your Buick, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the
parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an
automatic transaxle in PARK
(P) or a manual
transaxle in NEUTRAL (N).
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off the
radios and all lamps that aren’t needed. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries. It could
save your radio!
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
I
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 216 of 388

..
A CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use
a flashlight if
you need more light. .
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need to
add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps,. be sure the rightamount
offluid is there.
If it is low, add water to take care
of that first. If you don’t, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you.
If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
I
6. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock
and the vehicles could. be damaged.
Before you connect the cables, here are some basic
, . ’
things you should know. Positive (+) will ‘go to
positive (+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-)
or a metal .engine part. Don’t connect positive (+) to
negative
(-) or you’ll get a short that would damage
the battery and maybe other
parts, too.
,.
.,
I
Fans or other moving engine parts ean injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engines are running.
I
I. 5-4
ProCarManuals.com
Page 217 of 388

7. Connect the red
positive
(+) cable to the
positive
(+) terminal of
the vehicle with the dead
battery. Use a remote
positive
(+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
8. Don’t let the other
end touch metal. Connect it to the
positive
(+)
terminal of the
good battery. Use a
remote positive (+)
terminal if the
vehicle has one.
9. Now connect the
black negative
(-) cable
to the good battery’s
negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t
let the other end touch anything until the next
step. The other end of the negative
(-) cable doesn’t go
to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy unpainted metal
part
on the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery.
I
ProCarManuals.com
Page 218 of 388

10.
11. 12.
Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that
move. The electrical connection is just as good
there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the
battery is much less.
Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
Try to-start the vehicle with the dead battery.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or
any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B
. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
ProCarManuals.com