BUICK PARK AVENUE 1997 Repair Manual

Section 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.
2-2
2-4
2-8
2- 14
2-15 2-16
2- 17
2-
19
2-20
2-2 1
2-22
2-23
2-27
2-28
2-30
2-3
1
Keys
Door Locks
Remote Keyless Entry System
TrUnk
Theft
Content Theft Deterrent
PASS-Key@
III
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Parking Brake Shifting Into PARK
(P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Parking Over Things That
Burn
2-3 1
2-32
2-33
2-34
2-34
2-44
2-46
2-50
2-55
2-64
2-64
2-68
2-73
2-82
2-84 Engine Exhaust
Running
Your Engine While You’re Parked
Windows
Tilt Wheel
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Astroroof
Universal Transmitter
Instrument Panel
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
Head-Up Display (HUD)
Driver Information Center (DIC)
2-1
ProCarManuals.com

Keys
A CAUTION:
Leaving young children in a vehicle with the
ignition key
is dangerous for many reasons.
A child or others could be badly injured or
even killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don’t
leave the keys in
a vehicle with young children.
Your Park Avenue has a two key system, one key is the
master and the other is a valet key.
ProCarManuals.com

The master key is used
for the ignition, as well
as all door
locks and
storage compartments.
Ill The valet key is used for the
ignition and the two side
doors only.
It will not open
the trunk or glove box.
This
is a theft-deterrent feature. When
a new Park Avenue is delivered, the dealer
removes the plugs from the keys, and gives them to the
first owner. However, if the ignition key does not have a
plug, there may be
a bar-coded key tag instead.
Each plug has a code on
it that tells your dealer or a
qualified locksmith
how to make extra keys. Keep the
plugs in a safe place.
If you lose your keys, you’ll be
able to have new ones made easily using these plugs
or
the tag. If your ignition keys don’t have plugs, go to
your Buick dealer for the correct key code if you need a
new ignition key.
NOTICE:
Your Buick has a number of features that can
help prevent theft. But you can have a lot of
trouble getting into your vehicle
if you ever lock
your keys inside. You may even have to damage
your vehicle to get in.
So be sure you have
extra keys.
2-3
ProCarManuals.com

Door Locks
I
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers
-- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When a door is
locked, the inside handle won’t open
it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be
so obvious: You increase the
chance
of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash
if the doors aren’t locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you will be far
better
off whenever you drive your vehicle.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your door key or Remote Keyless
Entry transmitter.
To lock the door from the inside, move the lock control
on the door handle forward.
To unlock the door, move the lock control on the door
handle toward the rear
of the vehicle.
2-4
ProCarManuals.com

Central Door Unlocking System
From outside the vehicle, if the driver’s door key is held
in the unlock position for more than two seconds, or, if
the key is turned to the unlock position twice within
three seconds, all doors will electronically unlock.
Power Door Locks
With power door locks, you
can lock or unlock
all doors
of your vehicle by using
either the driver or front
passenger power door
lock switch.
Door Ajar Reminder (If Equipped)
If your Park Avenue is equipped with the Driver
Information Center (DIC), and a door is not fully
closed, the DIC will display a DOOR
AJAR message.
See “Driver Information Center” in the Index.
Memory Door Locks
Close your doors and turn on the ignition. Every time
you move your shift lever out of PARK (P), all of the
doors will lock. And, every time you stop and move
your shift lever into PARK (P), your doors will unlock.
If someone needs to get out while you’re not in
PARK (P), have that person use the manual or power
lock. When the door is closed again, it will not lock
automatically. Just use the manual
or power lock to lock
the door again.
If you need to lock your doors before
shifting out of PARK (P), just use the manual
or power
lock button
to lock the doors.
2-5
ProCarManuals.com

Customizing Your Memory Door Locks Feature
You can program the memory door locks feature to
change to the following modes:
Mode Operation
0 No automatic door lock or unlock.
1
2
3
All doors automatically lock when
shifted out of PARK (P).
No automatic
door unlock.
All doors automatically lock when shifted out of PARK (P). Only the driver’s door
automatically unlocks when shifted into
PARK (P).
All doors automatically lock when shifted
out
of PARK (P). All doors automatically
unlock when shifted into PARK
(P).
Vehicles are delivered programmed in Mode 3; however,
each Remote Keyless Entry transmitter can be
programmed
to a different mode according to the
user’s preference.
To change modes:
1. Close all doors and turn the ignition on. Keep all
doors closed throughout this procedure.
driver’s door through Step
4.
3. Press the LOCK button on the Remote Keyless
Entry transmitter to enter the programming mode.
The memory door lock mode will remain in the
current mode.
2. Press and hold the power door lock switch on the
4. Press the LOCK button on the transmitter again.
Each time the transmitter’s LOCK button is pressed,
the mode will advance by one, going from mode
3 to
mode
0 to mode 1, etc.
For each press of the LOCK button, the door locks will activate
in the same manner they would activate in the
corresponding memory door lock mode. For example,
pressing the LOCK button on the transmitter to advance to mode
2 would result in all doors locking
and then,
only the driver’s door would unlock. For
mode
0, no locking or unlocking will occur.
5. Release the power door lock switch and turn the
ignition off. The automatic door locks will remain in
the most recent mode selected.
2-6
ProCarManuals.com

You can also program the memory door locks feature
using the Driver Information Center.
See “Driver
Information Center Personal Choice Programming”
in the Index.
Rear Door Security Locks
CHILD
SECURITY
LOCK
SET LEVER
REAR DOORS ON BOTH
Your Buick is equipped
with rear door security
locks that help prevent
passengers from opening
the rear doors of your
vehicle from the inside.
3. Close the door.
4. Do the same thing to the other rear door lock.
The rear doors
of your vehicle cannot be opened from
the inside when this feature is in use.
To open a rear door when the security lock is on:
1. Unlock the door from the inside.
2. Then open the door from the outside. If you don’t
cancel the security lock feature, adults or older
children who ride in the rear won’t be able to open
the rear door from the inside.
You should let adults
and older children
know how these security locks
work, and how to cancel the locks.
To cancel the rear door security lock:
1. Unlock the door from the inside and open the door
from the outside.
To use one of these locks:
1. Open one of the rear doors.
2. Move the lever on the door all the way up to the
ENGAGED position.
2. Move the lever all the way down.
3. Do the same thing for the other rear door.
The rear door locks will now work normally.
2-7
ProCarManuals.com

Lockout Protection
The power door locks will not work if the key is left in
the ignition, the ignition is turned to OFF and the
driver's door is open.
You can override this feature
by holding the power door lock switch for more than
three seconds.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside, then get out and close
the door.
Remote Keyless Entry System
With the remote keyless entry system, you can lock
and unlock your doors or unlock your trunk from about
3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the remote
keyless entry transmitter supplied with your vehicle. Your
remote keyless
entry system operates
on a radio frequency
subject to Federal
Comunications
Commission (FCC)
Rules and with Industry and Science Canada.
This device complies with Part
15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry and
Science Canada. Operation is subject
to the following
two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause
interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may
'
cause undesired operation of the device.
2-8
ProCarManuals.com

This system has a range of about 3 feet (1 m) up to
30 feet (9 m). At times you may notice a decrease in
range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry
system. If the transmitter does not work or if you have
to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to
work, try this:
0
0
0
0
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions that follow.
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or
right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.
If you’re still having trouble, 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.
Operation
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 button is pressed,
and the ignition is in LOCK or
OFF. The trunk button
will also work when the ignition is on, but only while in
PARK (P).
Instant Alarm
When the button with the horn symbol on the remote
keyless entry transmitter is pressed, the horn will sound
and the headlamps and taillamps will flash for up to
30 seconds. This can be turned off by pressing the
instant alarm button again or by turning the ignition on.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Content
Theft-Deterrent feature, you may also turn
off the
instant alarm by unlocking the vehicle with a key.
2-9
ProCarManuals.com

Synchronization
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 on the transmitter 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.
Theft-Deterrent System
The remote keyless entry transmitter will arm the
theft-deterrent system whenever the doors are
closed and you push the
LOCK button when the
ignition is
OFF. It will disarm the system when you
push UNLOCK.
Personal Choice Features (If Equipped)
-Each remote keyless entry 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. You can also
personalize your comfort control temperature, mode and
fan settings. See “Comfort Controls Personal Choice” in
the Index.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you can also program these features
through the DIC. See “Driver Information Center” in
the Index.
2-10
ProCarManuals.com