warning BUICK PARK AVENUE 1998 Owners Manual

I
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle.
If
you do this, it will help you learn about the features
and controls for
your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll
find that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back
of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s in
the manual, and the page number’where you’ll find it.
You will find a number of safety cautions in ~s book.
We use a box and the word
CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
In the caution area, we tell YOU what the hazard is. Then
we tell
you what to do to help avoid or reduce the .
hazard. Please read these cautions. If YOU don’t, you or
others could be
hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it
in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,’’
“Don’t
do this” OH “Don’t
let this happen.”
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Also, in this book YOU will Eind these notices:
In the notice area, we tell you about somefling that can
damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not
be covered by your warranty, and it could be
costly. But the notice will tell you what to di~ to kelp
avoid the damage.
When
you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different
colors
3r in different words.
You’ll also see waxing Babels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION oh: NOTICE.
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This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be
on your vehicle. The pictures will help YOU
locate them.
Warning lights
and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair
or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages coukl also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one
of your vehicle’s hn~tions. As YOU
will see in the details 010. the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when
you start the
engine
just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with
tis section, YOU should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Cages can indicate when there may
be or is a problem
with of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and
warning lights work together to let you how when
there’s a problem
with your vehicle. When one
of the
warning lights comes QII and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what
to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to
d~ repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to how your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a driver information system
that works along with the warning lights and gages. See
“Driver Information System”
in the Index.
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When eke key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on
for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on md stay on
for about 20 seconds, then it
will
flash for about
55 seconds. If the driver’s
belt is already buckled,
neither the chime nor the
light will come on.
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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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see things you need to see when it's dark outsside.
Be
sure to keep the HUD image dim and placed
EQW in YOUF field of view.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Wead-Up Display
(HUD), you can see some of the driver infomation that
appears
your irrstrumerat cluster.
The
infomation may be displayed in English or metric
units and appears as a reflection ir, the windshield. The
HLJD consists of the following information:
8 Speedometer Reading
0 Turn Signal Indicators
8 High-Beam Meadlamp Indicator
@ Check Gages Message The
Z-:UD shows these images when they are
lighted on
tke instrument pamS cluster.
Be sure to continue scanning your displays, controls and
driving environment
Just as you wouid in a vehicle
without XUD. If you sever hook at your instrt.merit
panel, you may got see something imgoI-aana, such as a
warning light.
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A I'iw is Mowr~, Sce "'%;USC:S and Circuit Breakers" in
the Index.
Keep in mind that yorrr wincishield is part of the WUD
system. If you ever have to have your windshield
replaced,
be sure to get one that is designed for WUD OF
your HUD image may look bhrred or out of focus.
Ymr vehicle may be equipped with a Driver
Infolmntionz Center (DIC). The DIC will display
information about how
your vehicle is functioning, as
well as warning messages if a system pr~b'ee~~~
is deteczed.
The fobwing buttons are
on the DIC control panel
which
is located to the left
of the steering column:
0 ODO/TRfB: Use this button to display your total and
trip miles.
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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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Here are some tips for winter driving: hclude
an ice
scraper, a smdl brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing,
a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and a
couple
of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will.
be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you pperly secure
these items
in YOU vehicle.
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