service BUICK PARK AVENUE 1997 Owners Manual

Customer Satisfaction Procedure Buick dealers have the facilities, trained technicians and
up-to-date information to promptly address any
concerns you may have. However,
if a concern has not
been resolved to your complete satisfaction, take the
following steps:
STEP ONE -- Discuss your concern with a member
of dealership management. Normally, concerns can be
quickly resolved at that level.
If the matter has already
been reviewed with the Sales, Service or
Parts
Manager, contact the owner of the dealership or the
General Manager.
8-2
ProCarManuals.com

Roadside Assistance
Buick Motor Division is proud to offer Buick Premium
Roadside Assistance to customers for vehicles covered
under the
3 year/36,000 mile (60 000 lun) new car
warranty (whichever occurs first). Our commitment to Buick owners has always included
superior service through our network
of 3,000 Buick
dealers. Buick Premium Roadside Assistance provides
an extra measure of convenience and security.
Buick Premium Roadside Assistance:
Provides owners with access to minor repairs or
Takes the anxiety out of uncertain situations by
towing
for disabled vehicles.
providing easy access to service professionals trained
to work with Buick owners, 24 hours a day, 365 days
a year, including weekends and holidays.
For details on Buick Premium Roadside Assistance,
please consult your Buick Premium Roadside Assistance owner booklet included with your owner’s manual. For
needed assistance, call the Buick Premium Roadside
Assistance toll-free hotline: 1-800-252-1 112.
Canadian Roadside Assistance
Vehicles purchased in Canada have an extensive
Roadside Assistance program accessible from anywhere
in Canada or the United States. Please refer to the
separate brochure provided by the dealer or call
1-800-268-6800 for emergency services.
8-5
ProCarManuals.com

Courtesy Transportation
To Buick Motor Division, Quality Means Service -- and
service means “keeping you on the road.”
Included with your Buick new car warranty
(3 years/36,000 miles (60
000 km), whichever occurs
first), is Courtesy Transportation, a program which will
provide Buick retail customers with:
Reimbursement toward a loaner vehicle, courtesy of
Buick Motor Division, for up to five days for
vehicles requiring overnight warranty repairs. Also,
reimbursement up to
$30 a day (five days maximum)
may be available for the cost of a rental car, bus or
even a cab.
A free one-way shuttle ride up to 10 miles (16 km)
from the dealership is available for customers whose
vehicles require same-day warranty repairs. Courtesy Transportation
is Buick’s way of extending the
Premium Service you’ve come to expect from Buick
and its 3,000 dealers. Please review the Courtesy
Transportation glove box card contained in your vehicle,
or consult your Buick dealer for details.
Some state insurance regulations make it impractical to
rent vehicles to people under
21 years of age. If you are
under
21 and have difficulty renting a vehicle, Buick
will reimburse you up to $3O/day, for any documented
transportation you receive. Please consult your dealer
for details.
For warranty repairs during the Complete Vehicle
Coverage period in the New Vehicle Limited Warranty,
interim transportation may be available under the
Courtesy Transportation program. Please consult your
dealer for details. The Courtesy Transportation program
is available only in the United States and Canada.
In Canada, please consult your GM dealer for
information on Courtesy Transportation.
ProCarManuals.com

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN
GOVERNMENT
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited.
You may write to:
Transport Canada
Box 8880
Ottawa, Ontario KlG 3J2
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
TO GENERAL MOTORS
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada)
in a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify
us. Please call us at 1-800-521-7300, or write:
Buick Motor Division
Customer Relations Center
902
E. Hamilton Avenue
Flint, MI 48550 In Canada, please call us
at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre 1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario LlH 8P7
Ordering Service and Owner
Publications in Canada
Service manuals, service bulletins, owner’s manuals and
other service literature are available for purchase for all
current and past model General Motors vehicles.
The toll-free telephone number for ordering information
in Canada is 1-800-668-5539.
8-9
ProCarManuals.com

1997 BUCK SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDERING INFORMATION
The following publications covering the operation and servicing of your vehicle can be purchased by filling out
the Service Publication Order Form in this book and mailing it in with your check, money order,
or credit card information to Helm, Incorporated (address below.)
CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOR 1997 BUCK
SERVICE MANUALS
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information
on engines, transmission, axle, suspension, brakes,
electrical, steering, body, etc.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$90.00
TRANSMISSION, TRANSAXLE, TRANSFER CASE UNIT REPAIR MANUAL
This manual provides information on unit repair service procedures, adjustments and specifications for the
1997 GM transmissions, transaxles and transfer cases.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$40.00
OWNER’S INFORMATION
Owner publications are written directly for Owners and
intended to provide basic operational information about the
vehicle. The owner’s manual will include the Maintenance
Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual and
Warranty Booklet. RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$1 5.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$10.00
CURRENT & PAST MODEL ORDER FORMS
Service Publications are available for current and past
model
GM vehicles. To request an order form, please
specify year and model name of the vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com

I I
BBB Auto Line ................................. 8-7
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
Brake Belt. Engine Accessory
..................... 6-78. 6-79
Blizzard. Driving In
............................. 4-28
Adjustment
.................................. 6-33
Fluid
....................................... 6-30
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-30
Parking
..................................... 2-27
PedalTravel
.................................. 6-33
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-33
System Warning Light
......................... 2-75
Trailer
...................................... 4-36
Transaxle Shift Interlock
....................... 2-30
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check
.................. 7-41
Wear
....................................... 6-32
Brakes. Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Braking
in Emergencies .......................... 4- 10
Break-In. New Vehicle
.......................... 2- 19
BTSI
......................................... 2-30
BTSICheck
................................... 7-41
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-34
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-5
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-76
Carbon Monoxide
.......... 2-15.2-31.2-32.4-29. 4-35
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-39
Cassette Tape Player
....................... 3- 10. 3- 14
Cassette Tape Player Care ........................ 3-34 Cassette
Tape Player Errors
.................. 3.12. 3.16
CDChanger. TrunkMounted
...................... 3-27
Cellular Phone Readiness Package
................. 2-63
Center Passenger Position
........................ 1-26
Central Door Unlocking System
.................... 2-5
Certification Label .............................. 4-31
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-36
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-56
Change Engine Oil Soon
......................... 6-16
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-22
Check Tire Pressure System
....................... 6-49
Checking
Your Restraint Systems .................. 1-47
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-64
Child Restraints
................................ 1-35
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position
........... 1-37
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position
.......... 1-39
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position
.......... 1-41
TopStrap
................................... 1-36
Wheretoput
................................ 1-35
Chrome Wheels. Cleaning
........................ 6-62
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-62
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-68
Cleaner, Air
................................... 6-17
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome Wheels
................... 6-62
Exterior LampsLenses
........................ 6-61
Fabric
................................. 6-57. 6-58
Glass
....................................... 6-60
Inside
of Your Buick .......................... 6-57
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-59
9-2
ProCarManuals.com

Lights Air Bag Readiness
....................... 1.21. 2.74
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2.76. 4.7
Battery Warning
.............................. 2-74
Brake System Warning
......................... 2-75
Engine Oil Pressure Light
...................... 2-80
Interior
..................................... 2-46
Safety Belt Reminder
...................... 1.9, 2.73
ServiceEngine Soon
.......................... 2-78
Service Vehicle Soon
.......................... 2-81
Traction Control System Warning
............ 2.76. 4.9
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-30
Locks Cylinders
................................... 7-40
Door
........................................ 2-4
FuelDoor
.................................... 6- 7
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
.................. 7-42
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-40
Lockout Protection
............................. 2-8
Memory Door
............................ 2.5. 2.90
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-5
Rear Door Security
............................. 2-7
Trunk Release ................................ 2- 14
Window
.................................... 2-33
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-44
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7-40
Lumbar Controls
................................ 1-2
Magnasteer
................................ 4. 10
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts
............ 6-78 Maintenance
Kecord
............................ 7-46
Maintenance Schedule
............................ 7-1
Long Tripmighway Definition
................... 7-6
Long Tripmighway Intervals
..................... 7-6
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-39
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-43
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-44
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-4
Short Trip/City Definition
....................... 7-5
Short Trip/City Intervals
........................ 7-5
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-64
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-38
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-78
Maxifuse@/Relay Center
......................... 6-67
Memory Door Locks
........................ 2-5. 2-90
Memory Seat and Mirrors
......................... 1-3
Memory Seat Recall
............................. 2-92
Methanol
...................................... 6-5
Mirrors Convex Outside
.............................. 2-55
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview
.............. 2-50
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview with Compass
. . 2-51
Heated Outside
............................... 2-55
Illuminated Visor Vanity
....................... 2-62
Inside Manual Daymight Rearview
.............. 2-50
Memory
..................................... 1-3
Power Remote Control
......................... 2-54
MMT ......................................... 6-4
MountainRoads
................................ 4-24
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-34
9-7
ProCarManuals.com

Net. Convenience .............................. 2-61
Neutral. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-25
New Vehicle Break-In
........................... 2-19
Nightvision
................................... 4-17
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............. 6-78
Odometer
.................................... 2-72
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-72
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- 13
Oil. Engine .................................... 6-12
OilLifeIndex
.................................. 2-87
Oil Pressure Light
.............................. 2-80
Oil. Supercharger
............................... 6-20
Opener. Garage Door ....................... 2-56. 2-64
Outside Mirrors
................................ 2-54
Overdrive. Automatic Transaxle
................... 2-25
Overheating Engine
............................. 5 - 12
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-39
Owner Publications. Ordering
..................... 8- 10
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-64
ParadeDimming
............................... 2-49
Park
Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2-24
Shifting Into
................................. 2-28
Shifting Out of
............................... 2-30
AtNight
.................... ....... 2-15
Brake
................... ......... 2-27
Parking Brake
Mechanism Check
....................... 7-42
Over Things That Burn
........................ 2-31
With a Trailer
................................ 4-38
Passenger Climate Control
......................... 3-9
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
................... 3-7
PASS-Key I11 2-17
Perimeter Lighting
......................... 2.47. 2.92
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-43
Personal Choice Comfort Controls
.............................. 3-2
DICDisplay
................................. 2-85
Radio Controls
............................... 3-10
Personal Choice Features
......................... 2-10
Delayed Loclung
........................ 2.11. 2.90
Memory Door Locks
...................... 2.5. 2.90
Perimeter Lighting
....................... 2.47. 2.92
Programming. DIC
............................ 2-88
Security Feedback
....................... 2- 11. 2.91
DoorLocks
................................... 2-5
Remote Control Mirror
........................ 2-54
Seat
......................................... 1-2
Seatback Recliner
.............................. 1-5
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-28
Windows
................................... 2-33
Power. Retained Accessory
........ ............ 2-21
Lots
....................................... 2-16
Passing
...................................... 4-13 6 ................................
Power Steering
.................................... 4-10
9-8
ProCarManuals.com

Power Seat
Lumbar Controls
.............................. 1-2
Memory Function
.............................. 1-3
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts
.................... 1-19
Problems on the Road
............................ 5-1
Protection. Lockout
.............................. 2-8
Publications. Service and Owner
................... 8- 10
Radiator
..................................... 5- 19
Radiator Pressure Cap
........................... 6-28
Radio Reception
................................ 3-33
Radios
.......................... 3.10.14.3.18. 3.21
Theft Deterrent Feature
........................ 3-30
Rain. Driving In
................................ 4-18
Reading Lamps
........................... 2-48. 2-49
Rear
DoorSecurityLocks
........................... 2-7
Outside Seat Position
.......................... 1-28
Safety Belt Comfort Guides
..................... 1-31
Seat Passengers
.............................. 1-28
Storage Armrest
.............................. 2-60
Towing
..................................... 5-10
Window Defogger
............................. 3-8
Rear Seat Cushion. Removing
..................... 6-73
Rearview Mirror Electrochromic Daymight
...................... 2-50
Electrochromic Daymight
with Compass .......... 2-51
Inside Daymight
............................. 2-50
Reclining Front Seatbacks
......................... 1-5
RainSenseWipers
.............................. 2-38
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............... 7-44
Recovery Tank. Coolant
..................... 5.15. 5.16
Refrigerants.
Air Conditioning .................... 6-77
Remote Fuel Door Release
............................. 6-7
Keyless Entry
................................. 2-8
Keyless Entry. Instant
Alarm ..................... 2-9
Keyless Entry. Personal Choice Features
........... 2-10
Keyless Entry. Security Feedback
................ 2-11
Keyless Entry. Synchronization
.................. 2-10
Trunk Release
................................ 2-14
Replacement Bulbs
...................................... 6-75
Parts
....................................... 6-78
Wheel
...................................... 6-54
Replacing Safety Belts
........................... 1-48
Reporting Safety Defects
...................... 8-8, 8-9
Restraints Checking
................................... l-47
Child ....................................... l-35
Head ........................................ l-7
Replacing Parts After a Crash ................... 1-48
Systemcheck
................................ 7-40
Reverse, Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-24
Right Front Passenger Position
.................... 1-20
Roadside Assistance
.............................. 8-5
Roadside Assistance, Canadian
..................... 8-5
Rocking
Your Vehicle ........................... 5-34
Rotation, Tires
................................. 6-50
9-9
ProCarManuals.com

safety Belt Extender ............................ 1-47
Safety Belts
.................................... 1-8
Center Passenger Position
...................... 1-26
Children
.................................... 1-33
Driver Position
............................... 1 - 13
How to Wear Properly
......................... 1 - 13
Incorrect Usage
.................... 1-15,l-45, 1-46
Lap Belt
............................... 1-26, 1-28
Lap-Shoulder
........................... 1-13, 1-28
Questions and Answers
........................ 1-12
Rear
Comfort Guides .......................... 1-3 1
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
............ 1-28
Rear Seat Passengers
.......................... 1-28
Reminder Light
.......................... 1-9, 2-73
Replacing After a Crash
........................ 1-48
Right Front Passenger Position
.................. 1-20
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
................... 1-15
Smaller Children and Babies
.................... 1-33
Use During Pregnancy
......................... 1-19
WhyTheyWork
............................... 1-9
Safety Chains
.................................. 4-36
Safety Defects, Reporting
..................... 8-8, 8-9
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................... 7-4
Adults
...................................... l-13
Care ....................................... 6-60
Extender
.................................... l-47
LargerChildren ..........,................... l-44
... Safety Warnings and Symbols ...................... vu1 Seatback
Power Recliner
................................ 1-5
Reclining Front ............................... 1-5
Lumbar Control
............................... 1-2
Restraint Systems
.............................. 1-1
Securing a Child Restraint ............ 1-37,l-39, 1-41
Second Gear, Automatic Transaxle
................. 2-26
Security System
........................... 2-16, 2-17
Bulletins, Ordering
............................ 8-10
Manuals, Ordering
............................ 8-10
Parts Identification Label
....................... 6-66
Publications, Ordering
.......................... 8-10
Work, Doing
Your Own ......................... 6-2
Service and Appearance Care
...................... 6-1
Service and Owner Publications
................... 8-10
Servicing
Your Ar Bag-Equipped Buick ............ 1-26
Sheet Metal Damage
............................ 6-63
Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2-23
Into Park (P)
................................. 2-28
Outofpark
.................................. 2-30
Seats
Heated
...................................... 1-5
Memory ..................................... l-3
Power ....................................... l-2
SeatControls ................................. l-2
Security Feedback ......................... 2-11, 2-91
Service
........................................ 6-2
ServicePublications
............................. 8-10
ShiftLever
.................................... 2-23
Shifting
ProCarManuals.com