service BUICK PARK AVENUE 1996 Owners Manual

The 1996 Buick Park Avenue Owner’s Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems ............................................................. 1-1
Features and Controls .................................................................. 2-1
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... 3-1
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains “SRS” system.
This section explains how to start and operate your Buick.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or
overheated engine, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick’ running properly
and looking good.
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 6-1
Maintenanceschedule .................................................................. 7-1
Customer Assistance Information ........................................................ 8-1
This section tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service publications. It also
gives you information
on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8-7.
Index ........................................................................\
........ 9-1
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want
to read.
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GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem,
BUICK, the BUCK Emblem and the name
PARK
AVENUE are registered trademarks of General Motors
Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time
it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors
of Canada Limited” for Buick Motor
Division whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your Buick,
so it will be there
if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell
the vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so the new
owner can use
it.
We support voluntary
technician certification.
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
National Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux proprietaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en franqais chez
votre concessionaire
ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1500 Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario
L5T 1C7
Litho in
U.S.A. @Copyright General Motors Corporation 1995
Part No. 2563945 1 B First Edition All Rights Reserved
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1962 Buick Special
Built inside the walls of the old buildings in Buick’s
former Flint complex, which formed the cornerstone of
General Motors, Buick City is a state-of-the-art
assembly facility with more than
200 robots and other
high-tech equipment.
It was completed in the fall
of
1985.
Buicks are, and will continue to be, premium American
motorcars with smooth power, high performance, rich
detail and comfortable accommodation.
Ed Mertz, ‘General Manager-, Buick Motor Division
Our mission is simple:
“Buick will provide Premium American Motorcars
backed with services that exceed our customers’
expectations, throughout the purchase, ownership,
service and repurchase experience.”
Buicks are SUBSTANTIAL.
Buicks are DISTINCTIVE.
Buicks are
POWERFUL.
Buicks are MATURE.
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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 help you in many types
of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts 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 belts, and then only in
moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions.
What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, This occurs
so quickly that some people may not even realize 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 right front passenger’s bag, will
be hot for a short time. The part
of the bag that comes
into contact with you may be warm, but it will never be
too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust
coming from vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation will not prevent
the driver from seeing
or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor will it stop
people from leaving the vehicle.
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as
soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can’t get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
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 for your
vehicle covers the need
to replace other parts.
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I‘ and 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 driver’s safety belt
usage at deployment.
0 Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that yoyr
air bag
syst,em 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 module in the steering wheel’or both the
air
bag module and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s
air bag. Do not open or
break the
air bag covers.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Buick
Air bags affect how your Buick should be serviced.
There are parts
of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone
is working on your vehicle. Your
Buick dealer and the Park Avenue Service Manual have
information about servicing your vehicle and the air bag
system.
To purchase a service manual, see “Service and
Owner Publications’’ in the Index.
For up to
10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with ‘yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified
to do so.
me air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
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Should interference to this system occur, try this:
0 Check to determine if battery replacement is necessary.
See the instructions on battery replacement.
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. This product has a maximum range.
0 Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal.
See your Buick dealer or a qualified technician
for service.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
The driver’s door will unlock when
UNLOCK is
pressed.
If pressed again within five seconds, all doors
will unlock. Pressing any button will also illuminate the
interior lamps (see “Illuminated Entry” in the Index).
All doors will lock when
LOCK is pressed.
The trunk will unlock when the trunk open symbol is
pressed, but only when the ignition is in the
LOCK or
OFF position. The trunk symbol will also work when
the ignition
is on, but only while in PARK (P).
When the button with the horn symbol on the key
transmitter is pressed, the horn will sound and the
headlamps and taillamps will flash for up to two
minutes. This can be turned
off by pressing the instant
alarm button again, unlocking the vehicle with a key
or
by turning the ignition on.
If only the instant alarm button works, the transmitter
needs to be resynchronized to the receiver.
Do this by
pressing and holding both the LOCK and
UNLOCK
buttons for about eight seconds; you must be within
range of the vehicle.
Once the transmitter has been resynchronized, the horn
will chirp and the exterior lamps will flash once. The
system should now operate properly.
mal Choice Fer
Each key transmitter can be programmed to the driver’s
preference for memory door locks, security feedback,
delayed locking
and perimeter lighting. See each feature
in the Index.
The transmitters can also be programmed to move
the
driver’s seat and outside mirrors to a set memory position
when the
key transmitter’s UNLOCK button is pressed.
2-8
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PAS7-Kej I
T
Your vehicle is equipped
with the PASS-Key
11
(Personalized Automotive
Security System)
theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key
11 is a passive
theft-deterrent system.
It works when you insert
or remove the key from
the ignition.
PASS-Key
I1 uses a resistor pellet in the ignition key
that matches a decoder
in your vehicle.
When the PASS-Key I1 system senses that someone is
using the wrong key, it shuts down the vehicle’s starter
and fuel systems. For about three minutes, the starter won’t work and
fuel won’t go to the engine. If someone
tries to start your vehicle again or uses another key
during this time, the vehicle will not start. This
discourages someone from randomly trying different
keys with different resistor pellets in an attempt to make
a match.
The ignition key must be clean and dry before it’s
inserted in the ignition
or the engine may not start. If the
engine does not start and the SECURITY light comes
on,
the key may be dirty or wet. Turn the ignition off.
Clean and dry the key. Wait about three minutes and try
again. The SECURITY light may remain on during this
time. If the starter still won’t work, and the key appears
to
be clean and dry, wait about three minutes and try
another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to
check the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the
Index). If the starter won’t work with the other key, your
vehicle needs service. If your vehicle does start, the first
ignition key may be faulty. See your Buick dealer or a
locksmith who can service the PASS-Key
11.
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If you accidentally use a key that has a damaged or
missing resistor pellet, the starter won’t work and the
SECURITY light will flash. But you don’t have,to wait
three minutes before trying another ignition key.
See your Buick dealer or a locksmith who can service
the PASS-Key
11 to have a new key made.
If you’re ever driving and the SECURITY light comes
on and stays
on, you will be able to restart your engine if
you turn it off. Your PASS-Key 11 system, however, is
not working properly and must be serviced by your
Buick dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by the
PASS-Key
I1 system.
If you lose or damage a PASS-Key
11 ignition key, see
your Buick dealer or a lockskth who can service
PASS-Key
11 to have a new key made.
,
New Vehicle “Break-In”
NOTICE:
Your modern Buick doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (804 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time
you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in. See
“Towing
a Trailer” in the Index for more
information.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
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I.
I
Ignition Positions
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five different positions.
.. c
I
A E
ACCESSORY (A): An on position in which you can
operate your electrical power accessories. Press in the
ignition switch as you
hun the top of it toward you.
LOCK
(B): This is the only position in which yqu can
remove
the key. This position locks your ignition, steering
wheel and transaxle. It’s a theft-deterrent feature.
.. ,
OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering
-.
wheel like LOCK and it doesn’f send any electrical
power to the accessories. Use
OFF if you must have
your vehicle
in motion while the engine is not running.
RUN (D): This is- an on position that the switch returns
to after you start your engine and release the switch.
This is the position for driving.-Even when the engine is
not running, you can use RUN to operate your electrical ’
power accessories and to display some instrument panel
warning lights.
START (E): This position starts your engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch
will
return to RUN for normal driving.
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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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.
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