brake fluid BUICK PARK AVENUE 1998 Owners Manual

HE you drive regdarly in steep country, or if you're
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep yoas vehicle in
good shape. Check all fluid
Bevels
and also the brkes, tires, cooling system
and transaxle. These par"cs can work had on
mountain
roads.
8 Know how to go down hills. "he most imp~rtmt
thing to how is this: le: your engine do some of the
slowing ~QWII. Shift to a lower gear whm YOU go
down a steep or long hill.
b
If you ddt shift down, your brakes coddl get so
hot that they wouldn't work wel. YQU would then
have poor braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Shift down to Bet your
engine assist YOW brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
8
a,
Know how to go uphill. Drive in the highest
geX pOSSibke.
Stay in your own lane when driving an two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Don't swing wide GT cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds tha': let
you stay in your own lane.
As yo.^ go over the top of a -hill, be dert. There could be
somettzlng h you- lane, %e a stailed car or m accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that wanz of
specid problems. Examples ae H~ng grades, passing or
no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding
roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate zction.
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Things that bum 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 ~r rubber. YQU OF others
could
be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will bum onto a hot engine.
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Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
1. The transaxle fluid
dipstick top is a round,
red
loop and is next to
............. ............. the brake master
cylinder behind
the
engine block. Pull out
the dipstick and wipe
it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the
lower level. The fluid 'level
must be in the
cross-hatched area.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait thee seconds and 4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push
then pull it back out again. the dipstick back in a11 the way.
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Your brake master cylinder reservoir is here. It is filled
with DOT-3 brake fluid.
There
are only two reasom why the brake fluid level in the
reservob might
go down. The first is that the brake fluid
goes ~QW to an acceptable Bevel during nd brake
Wg wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid level
goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is Bedung out
of the brake system. If it is, you ~h~~ld have YQW brake
system fixed, since a leak means that sooner or later YQIX
brakes won't work wd, or won't work at all.
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So, it isn‘t a good idea to “top oft“ your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak. If YOU add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have loo much
fluid when you get new brake linings. You shouki add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is
done
on the brake hydraulic system.
When your Srake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. A chime will sound if you
try to drive with this warning light on. See “Brake
System Waning Eight” in the Index.
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3
brAe fluid -- such as Delco Supreme II@ (GM
Part No. 12377967). Use new brake fluid from a
sealed container only.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the
mea
around the cap before removing it. This will help
keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
~~ ~~
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system,
your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a
I
1 crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
1
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NOTICE:
Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system
parts. For example, just a few
drops
of minerallbased oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system
parts so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced.
Don’t let someone gut in the
If you spill brake fluid OEI your vehicle’s
painted
surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful
not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Case” in
the Index. wrong
kind of fluid.
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc
brake pads have built-in wear inchcators &at make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except
when
you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
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USAGE
Engine
Oil
Hydraulic Brake
System
Engine 8iI with the American
Petroleurn Institute Certified FCX
Gasoline Engines “St;t;$urst”
SYII-I~Q~ of the proper viscosity. To
determine the prefexed viscosity
for your vehicle’s engine, see
“Engine 02’’ in the Index.
USAGE
Power Steering
System
Key Lock
Cylinders
Superchargsr
Chassis
Lubrication
Chassis Lubricant (GM Bart
No. 12377985 or equivalerzt) or
lubricant meeting requireaents
of NLGL # 2, Category LB or
GC-LB.
GM Power Steering Fluid (GM
Part Nc. 1052884 - H pint,
10500 17 - 1 quart, or equivalent).
DEXRONB-IZ Automatic
Transmission
Fluid.
Multi-Pu ose Lubricant,
Superlube
(GM Part
No. 22346241 or equivalent).
Supercharger Oil (GM Part
No. 12345982). See “Supercharger
Oil” in the Index.
Chassis Lubricant
(GM Part
No. 12377985 or equivalent) or
lubricant meeting requirements
of NLGI # 2, Category LB or
%
GC-LB.
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Ak~ag ...................................... 1-21
How Does it Restrain .......................... 1-25
How it Works ................................ 1-23
Location .................................... 1-23
Readiness Light
......................... 1-22, 2-76
Servicing
................................... 1-26
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-25
What Will You See After it Inflates ............... 1-29
When Should it Inflate ......................... 1-24
Aircleaner .................................... 6-17
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-5
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-73
Air Filter. Passenger Compartment
.................. 3-7
Alarm. Content Theft-Deterrent
................... 2- 16
Alarm. Instant. Keyless Entry
...................... 2-9
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-52
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-60
Antenna. Heated Backlite ........................ 3-36
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-23
Anti-Lock
Brake System Waning Light
................ 2-78. 4-7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Anti-Theft. Radio
.............................. 3-30
Appearancecare
............................... 6-55
Appearance Care Materials ....................... 6-62
Air
Control. Climate
Control System ............. 3-3. 3-4
ArbitrntionPro
gram .............................. 8-7 Armrest.
Storage
.......................... 2.60. 2.61
Ashtrays ...................................... 2-62
Assist Straps
................................... 2-66
Astroroof
..................................... 2-65
Audio Controls. Steering Wheel TQUC~ Control ....... 3-33
Audio Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-34
Audio Systems ................................. 3-10
Personal Choice
.............................. 3-30
Automatic Overdrive
............................ 2-24
Automatic Transaxle
Check
..................................... 7-32
Park Mechanism Check ....................... 7-34
Fluid
...................................... 6-20
Operation ................................... 2-24
Auxiliary Power Outlets
.......................... 2-64
Battery
...................................... 6-32
Jump Starting ................................. 5-3
Replacement. Keyiess Entry
.................... 2-13
Rundown Protection
........................... 2-50
WmingLight ............................... 2-76
BBB
Auto Line ................................. 8-7
Belt. Engine Accessory ..................... 6-74. 6-75
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
Blizzard.
Driving In ............................. 4-28
Warnings
................................ 5-3, 5-4
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Brake Adjustment
.................................. 6-32
Fluid
....................................... 6-29
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-29
Parking
..................................... 2- 27
PedalTravel
................................. 6-32
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-32
System Warning Light
......................... 2-77
Transaxle Shift Interlock
....................... 2-3 1
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check .................. 7-33
Wear
....................................... 6-31
Trailer
...................................... 4-36
Brakes,
Anti-Lock ............................... 4-7
Brahng ........................................ 4-6
Braking in Emergencies
.......................... 4-10
Break-In,
New Vehicle .......................... 2-20
BTSI ......................................... 2- 31
BTSI Check
................................... 7-33
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-33
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-5
Capacities and Specifications ...................... 6-72
Carbon Monoxide
............... 2- 15,2-32,4-29.4-35
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-3 1
Cassette Tape Player ....................... 3- 10. 3. 14
Care
....................................... 3-35
Errors ................................. 3.12. 3.16
CD Changer. Trunk Mounted
...................... 3-27
Cellular Phone Readiness Package
................. 2-64
Center Passenger Position
........................ 1-27
Central
Door Unlocking System .................... 2-5
Certification Label
.............................. 4-3 1
Chains. Safety ................................. 4-35
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-54
Change Engine Oil Soon ......................... 6-16
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-22
Check Engine Light
............................. 2-79
Check Tire Pressure System
....................... 6-47
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-52
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-61
Child Restraints
................................ 1-37
Securing
in a Rear Outside Seat Position ........... 1-43
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position
.......... 1-45
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position
.......... 1-47
TopStrap
................................... 1-42
Where to Put
................................ 1-41
Chrome Wheels. Cleaning
........................ 6-60
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-63
Circuit Breakers
and Fuses ....................... 6-65
Cleaner.
Air ................................... 6-17
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome Wheels
................... 6-60
Exterior LampsLenses
........................ 6-59
Fabric
...................................... 6-56
Glass
....................................... 6-58
Inside of Your Vehicle ......................... 6-55
InstrumentPanel
............................. 6-57
Leather
..................................... 6-57
Outside
of Your Vehicle ........................ 6-59
Speaker Covers
.............................. 6-57
Special Problems
............................. 6-56
Stains
...................................... 6-56
Tires
....................................... 6-60
Vinyl
....................................... 6-57
Wheels
..................................... 6-60
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-58
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InstrumentPanel ............................... 2-70
Cleaning
.................................... 6-57
Cluster
................................ 2.72. 2.73
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-65
Intensity Control ............................. 2-47
Intensity Control
............................... 2-47
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-47
.................................... J ack. Tire 5-23
Jump
Starting ................................... 5-3
Key ~oc~c cylinders Service ..................... 7.40
Key Reminder
Warning .......................... 2-21
Keyless Entry System
. Remote ..................... 2-8
H~SVZUI~AIUIII ................................. 2-9
Personal
Choice Features ....................... 2- 20
Security Feedback ............................ 2- 11
Synchronization .............................. 2- 18
Keys .......................................... 2-2
Labels
Certification
................................. 4-3 1
Certificatioflire ............................. 4-3 1
Service Parts identification ..................... 6-63
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-30
Vehicle Identification Number ................... 6-63
Lamps ........................................ 2-44
Courtesy
.................................... 2-47
Interior
..................................... 2-47
OnReminder
................................ 2-45
Perimeter Lighting
............................ 2-48
TheaterDimming
............................. 2-47
Leaving Your Vehicle ............................. 2-8
Leaving Your Vchiclc with the Engine Running ....... 2-30
Light Sensor. Twilight Sentinel .................... 2-46
Lighter
....................................... 2-63
Lights
Air Flap Readiness ....................... 2-22. 2.76
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2.78. 4.7
Battery Warning
.............................. 2-76
Brake
System Warning ......................... 2-77
CheckEngine
................................ 2-79
Engine Oil
Pressure Light ...................... 2-82
Interior
..................................... 2-47
Safety
Belt Reminder ...................... 1.8. 2.75
Traction Control System Warning
............ 2.78. 4.9
Loading Your Vehicle ........................... 4-30
Locks
Cylinders ................................... 7-32
Door
........................................ 2-4
FueiDoor
.................................... 6-7
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check
.................. 7-34
Key Lock Cylinder Service ..................... 7-32
Lockout Protection
............................. 2-8
Memory Door ................................. 2-5
Power Door .................................. 2-5
Rear
Door Security ............................. 2-7
Trunk Release ................................ 2-14
Window .................................... 2-34
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7-32
Lumbar
Controls ................................ 1-2
Lubricants and Fluids ............................ 7-36
Magnasteer
N ................................ 4. 10
Maintenance.
Normal Replacement Parts ............ 6-74
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