traction control BUICK PARK AVENUE 1998 Owners Manual

I
If your vehicle is ia cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
"Traction Control System" in the Index.) When road
conditions zilow YOS to safely use it again, you may turn
the cmise control back QS.
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... ..:.. .......... ... .-.z,-.-. . :.:.:".:"-. .................. 5.'. .*.:--. .. :.:.:.:.x.:.>:...:. ..................... 3 .........
2. Get to the speed you want.
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With the anti-lock brake
system, the
Iight(s) will
come on when you start
your engine and may stay
on for several seconds.
1 That’s BzorfnaI.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when YOU turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed SO it will be
ready
to wm you if there is a problem.
OFF
This warnirag light should
come on briefly 2s you start
the engine. If the warning
iight doesn’t corne on then,
have it fixed so it will be
ready
to warn you if there’s
a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
may be a problem with your traction control system and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
The traction control system wming light may come on
for the foIlowing reasons:
dr;ivi3g accordingly.
If yos turn the system off by pressing the button
located on the end of the shift lever, the warning
light will come on and stay on. To turn the system
back on, press the button again. The warning light
should go off. (See “Traction Control System” in the
Index
for more kf~m;ation.)
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Oil Life Monitor (Index): Psess the GAGES button
until OIL LIFE INDEX appears in the display. The OIL
LEE INDEX NORMAL display will show an estimate
of the oil’s remaining useful Me. When the oil life index
is less
than IO%, 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 We monitor.
To do this, press and hold the
RESET’
button for more than five seconds while the oil
life index
is being displayed on the DPC. The oil life will
change to
100%.
Tire Psessure Status: Press the GAGES button until
‘FWE IPWSSUWE appears in the display. TWE
PRESSUWE NORMAL is displayed when the Check
Tire Pressure System believes your ve~cle’s tire
pressures are normal. If a potential tire pressure problem
is detected, the display will show gIRE PRESSURE
LOW CHECK TIRES. If you see the azRE
PRESSURE LOW: CHECK TIRES message, you
should
st~p 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. mere
are
times when you will have to reset (calibrate)
the
Check Tire Pressure System. See “Check Tire
Pressure System” in
the Index.
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Other messages or warnings may appear in the DE
display such as:
0 WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID LOW
ENG COOLANT LOW - CHECK LEVEL
ENGINE OIL LOW - CHECK LEVEL
0 CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
0 TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVE
0 DOOR AJAR
0 TRUNKAJAR
Pressing any of the DIC control buttons will remove the
above messages or warnings
from the DIC display.
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Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the the you need
to get your foot up to the br&e pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too dose to the vehicle in
front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
If that vehicle suddenly slows or stcps. Always leave
enough
room up ahead tu stop, even though yorr have
anti-lock brakes.
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
5mly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel a
slight brake pedal gulsation or notice some noise, but
this is normal.
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YQW vehicle may have a traction control system thzat
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one
or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the front brakes and reduces engine power
to limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is nomal.
__ . ... a
See ‘‘T~-acti~m Contra1 System Warning Eight” ii: the
Irzdex. WEen this warning light is on, the system will mt
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving zccsrdingly.
The traction COII~FO~ system arr;2smaticaily comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially in siippery road conditio~s, y3u shouEd
always leave the system on. But you can turn- the
traction control system off‘ if you ever need to. (YQQ
should turn the system off if pur vehicBe ever gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice or snow. See “Rockr~g Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
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To turn the system off, press the button l~cated at the
end of the shift lever.
The traction control system warning light will come on
and stay on. If the system is limiting wheel spin when
you press the button, the warning light will come
on -- but the system won’t turn off right away.
It will wait until there’s no longer a current need to hit
wheel spin.
Ym can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
?.he button again. The traction control system warning
Bi& xkcPetM go off.
Your vehicle may be equipped with GM Magnasteer ” ,
a steering system that continuousIy adjusts the effort you
feel when steering at all vehicle speeds. It provides ease
when parking yet a firm, solid feel at highway speeds.
You- steering can be adjusted for an easier or more firm
setting. See your dealer for information
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It‘s important to take curves at ;r reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires agzjinst the roaC surface makes it
possible fcr the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia wiHl keep
the vehicle going in
the same direction. If you‘ve ever
tried
to steer a vehicle on wet ice, YQK‘IB understacd this.
The
trzctionr YOU can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires md the road surface, the angle at
which Gie curve
is banked, and your speed. Mile you’re
in ip curve, speed is the one fxtor you can control.
Suppose ycu’re steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
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A cornering skid is best handled by easing your EQOT OE
the accelerator pedal.
If you have the traction control system, remember: It
helps avoid only the acceleration skid.
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However, if there is snow OF ice between yorar tires and
the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll
have a lot less traction cr “grip” and will need to be
very careful.
..........
..-- ... .. ‘ _._ , .....
What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold
snow or ice can be slick 2nd hard to drive on. 3ut wet
ice can be even more trouble because
it may oEer the
least traction of all. You can get wet ice when it’s about
freezing
(,32”F; OOC) and freezing rain begins to fail.
Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt 2nd sand crews
can get there.
Whatever the condition
-- smooth ice, packed, blowing
or hose snow -- drive with caution.
If you have traction control, keep the systcrn on. It will
improve your ability
to accelerate when driving on a
slippery road. Even though your vehicle has a traction
controi system,
you’ll want to slow down and adjust
your driving to the road conditions. Sec ‘‘Trrrctionr
Control
System” in the Index.
If you don’t have the traction control system, accelerate
gently.
Try not to break thc FragiEt: Fraction. If you
acceierate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish
the surface under the tires even more.
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''I+he brcadwear grade is a comparative rating based Q~Z
t tze wcx rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions
on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one md a
Mf (I U2) times as well on the government course
:H tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
tErrc to variations in driving habits, service practices
and differences in road characteristics and climate.
'The traction grades, from highest
to !owest, are A, 3,
and C, and they represent the tire's ability to stop ora
wet pavement as measured mder controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of asphalt
2nd concrete. A tire marked &: may have poor
traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based
on
braking (straight alead) traction tests and does not
ifgcllude cornering (turning) traction. heat
and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled csndidsns on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive ternperaFure can lead to sudden fire faifwe.
The grade C corresponds to a level of pedomance
which ail passenger cx tires must meet e~nder the
Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Stmda-d No. i09. Grades
B asci A represent higher levels of perhmance an the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
The wheels OR your vehicle were aligned and balanced
careEulIy at the factory to give you the longest tire life
acd best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment
and wheel balancing are not
needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling GR~ way OF the other, the akignment
may need
to be reset. If YOU notice your vehicle
vibrating
when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need
to be rebalaaaced.
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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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