check oil BUICK PARK AVENUE 1997 Owners Manual

Oil Pressure Light
OIL
This light tells you if there
could be a problem with
your engine oil pressure.
There are three ways the oil pressure light can come on
briefly, which are normal and don’t show a problem.
They are:
The light comes on when you turn your key to RUN.
It goes off once you turn the key to START. That’s
just a check to be sure the light works. If
it doesn’t,
be sure to have
it fixed so it will be there to warn you
if something goes wrong.
If you’re “idling” at a stop sign, the light may blink
on and then off.
If you make a hard stop, the light may come on
for a moment.
When this light comes on and stays on, and a chime
sounds, it means oil isn’t
going through your engine
properly. You could
be low on oil, or you might have
some other oil problem. See your dealer for service.
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is
low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and
is not covered by
your warranty.
2-80
ProCarManuals.com

To clean the HUD lens, spray household glass cleaner
on a soft, clean cloth. Gently wipe
and dry the HUD
lens. Do not spray cleaner directly on the lens to avoid
cleaner leaking inside the unit.
If the ignition is on and you can’t see the HUD image,
check to see
if
The headlamps are on.
Something is covering the HUD unit.
The HUD dimmer control is adjusted properly.
The HUD image is adjusted to the proper height.
A fuse is blown. See “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in
the Index.
Keep in mind that your windshield is part of the HUD
system. If you ever have to have your windshield
replaced, be sure to get one that is designed for HUD or
your HUD image may look blurred or out of focus.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(If Equipped)
Your Park Avenue may be equipped with a Driver
Information Center (DIC). The DIC will display
information about how your vehicle is functioning,
as well as warning messages if a system problem
is detected. The
following buttons
are
on the DIC control panel
which
is located to the left
of the steering column:
ODOKRIP: Use this button to display your total and
trip miles.
FUEL INFO: Press this button to display fuel
information such as, fuel used, fuel range and fuel
economy.
GAGE INFO: Use this button to display oil pressure,
oil life, coolant temperature, tire pressure and battery
information.
RESET: This button, used along with other buttons,
will reset system functions.
ENGMET: Use this button to change the display
between English and metric units.
ProCarManuals.com

Coolant Temperature: Press the GAGES button until
COOLANT TEMP appears in the display. If there are no
problems detected with the temperature, COOLANT
TEMP NORMAL will appear
in the display. If the
temperature is too high, COOLANT TEMP HOT will
appear in the display. If you see the COOLANT TEMP
HOT message, your engine is overheated. You should
pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off your
engine as soon as possible. This manual explains what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
Battery Volts: Press the GAGES button until the
display shows BATTERY STATE.
If the voltage is
normal the display will show BATTERY STATE
NORMAL.
If the voltage drops below 10.5 volts, the
display will show BATTERY STATE LOW. If the
voltage is above
16 volts, the display will show
BATTERY STATE HIGH. If the display shows the high
or low message, you need to have your battery checked.
Oil Life Index: Press the GAGES button until OIL
LIFE INDEX appears in the display. The OIL LIFE
INDEX NORMAL display will show an estimate of
the oil’s remaining useful life. When the oil life index
is less than
lo%, the display will show OIL LIFE INDEX CHANGE
OIL. When you have the oil
changed according to the maintenance schedule (see
“Maintenance Schedule” in the Index), you will have
to reset the oil life index. To do this, press and hold the
RESET button for more than five seconds while the oil
life index is being displayed on the DIC. The oil life
will change to
100%.
Tire Pressure Status: Press the GAGES button
until TIRE PRESSURE appears in the display.
TIRE
PRESSURE NORMAL is displayed when the Check
Tire Pressure System believes your vehicle’s tire
pressures are normal. If a potential tire pressure
problem is detected, the display will show TIRE
PRESSURE LOW: CHECK TIRES.
If you see the
TIRE PRESSURE LOW: CHECK TIRES message, you
should stop as soon as you can and check all your tires
for damage. (If a tire is flat, see “If a Tire Goes Flat”
in
the Index.) Also check the tire pressure in all four tires
as soon as you can. See “Inflation
- Tire Pressure” and
“Check Tire Pressure System”
in the Index.
There are times when you will have to reset (calibrate)
the Check Tire Pressure System. See “Check Tire
Pressure System” in the Index.
2-87
ProCarManuals.com

Warnings and Messages
Other messages or warnings may appear in the DIC
display such as:
WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID LOW
0 ENG COOLANT LOW - CHECK LEVEL
ENGINE OIL LOW - CHECK LEVEL
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
CHECK TIRE PRESSURES
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVE
DOOR AJAR
TRUNK AJAR
Pressing any
of the DIC buttons will remove the above
messages or warnings from the DIC display.
Driver Information Center
Personal Choice Programming
The DIC can be used to program personal choice
features available with your vehicle, such as memory
seats, memory door locks, security feedback, delayed
locking and perimeter lighting. See “Personal Choice
Features” in the Index.
The DIC is used to program the personal choices of
two drivers. The driver’s are recognized by DRIVER
#1
and DRIVER #2. You will let the DIC know which
driver you are by using your Remote Keyless Entry
transmitter or by pressing the appropriate memory
seat control button located on the driver’s door. The
remote transmitter was pre-programmed to belong
to
DRIVER #1 or DRIVER #2.
The last driver number remembered by the DIC will show
on the display each time the UNLOCK button on the same
transmitter is pressed, and the ignition is turned on.
When you press UNLOCK on your transmitter, the DIC
will automatically change driver numbers and the
vehicle will recall the personal choice settings that were
last made to correspond to your transmitter.
ProCarManuals.com

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you
are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in. Is
your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Buick dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-23
ProCarManuals.com

Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down to
THIRD (3) and
reduce your speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce
the possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
PARK (P) yet.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that
are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belts, cooling system and brake adjustment.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’\
s
a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
ProCarManuals.com

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Buick. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6-2
6-3
6-9
6-12
6- 17
6-20
6-2
1
6-24
6-28
6-29
6-30
6-34
6-34
6-46
6-47 Service
Fuel Checking Things Under the
Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner Supercharger Oil
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant Radiator Pressure Cap
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires 6-56
6-57
6-6
1
6-64
6-64
6-65
6-66
6-67
6-73
6-75 6-76
6-77
6-77
6-78
6-78 Appearance
Care
Cleaning the Inside
of Your Buick
Cleaning the Outside of Your Buick
Underbody Maintenance
Chemical Paint Spotting
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Electrical System
Removing the Rear Seat Cushion
Replacement Bulbs Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Engine Specifications Vehicle Dimensions
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
ProCarManuals.com

To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel
system, allowing your emission control system to
function properly. Therefore, you should not have to add
anything to the fuel. In addition, gasolines containing
oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines may be available in your area to
help clean the air. General Motors recommends that you
use these gasolines if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
I NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text
on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just
tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN).
General Motors International Product Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
ProCarManuals.com

Checking Things Under the Hood Hood Release
A CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
A CAUTION: I I
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not
to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
To open the hood, pull the
handle inside the vehicle. It
is located on the lower left
side
of the instrument panel.
6-9
ProCarManuals.com

Your Park Avenue Ultra has a 3800 Supercharged
engine. Buick chose supercharging rather than
turbocharging because Buick emphasizes smooth,
refined power.
The supercharger
is a device which is designed to pump
more air into the engine than it would normally use.
This air mixed with fuel creates increased engine power.
Since the supercharger is a pump and is driven from an
engine accessory drive belt, increased pressure is
available at all driving conditions.
The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) works with a
vacuum control to regulate the increased pressure
required during specific driving conditions. When this increased pressure or boost is not desired, such as during
idling and light throttle cruising, the excess air that the
supercharger is pumping is routed through a bypass. All
of these controls working together provide high
performance character and fuel efficiency in the
3800
V6 Supercharged Buick engine.
The power steering pump and reservoir are mounted on
the rear (driver’s side) of the engine block. See
“Maintenance Schedule” in the Index for when you
should check the fluid.
Engine Oil
3 \
c
.
If you have the Driver Information Center, an ENGINE
OIL LOW-CHECK LEVEL message will appear when
the engine oil is approximately
1 quart (IL) low. If the
message is displayed, check the dipstick level and add
oil as needed.
6-12
ProCarManuals.com