light BUICK PARK AVENUE 1999 User Guide

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2-16 Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it's best to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your ignition key?

If possible, park in a busy, well lit area.

Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
trunk or glove box. Be sure to close and lock the
storage area.

Close all windows.

Move the trunk release lockout switch to LK (Lock).

Lock the glove box.

Lock all doors except the driver's.

Give the valet key to the valet. Then take the master
key and remote keyless entry transmitter with you.
Content Theft-Deterrent System
Your vehicle is equipped
with a Content
Theft
-Deterrent alarm
system. With this system,
the SECURITY light will
flash as you open the door
(if your ignition is off).
This light reminds you to activate the theft
-deterrent
system. Here's how to do it:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or the
remote keyless entry transmitter. The SECURITY
light should come on and stay on.
3. Close all doors. The SECURITY light should go off
after approximately 30 seconds. The alarm is not
armed until the SECURITY light goes off.
If a door is opened without the key or the remote
keyless entry transmitter, the alarm will go off. Your
vehicle's lamps will flash and the horn will sound for
30 seconds. The lamps and horn will then turn off to
save battery power.
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2-17
Remember, the theft-deterrent system won't activate if
you lock the doors with a key or use the manual door
lock. It activates only if you use a power door lock
switch with the door open, or with the remote keyless
entry transmitter. You should also remember that you
can start your vehicle with the correct ignition key if the
alarm has been set off.
Here's how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:

If you don't want to activate the theft
-deterrent
system, the vehicle should be locked with the door
key after the doors are closed.

Always unlock a door with a key, or use the remote
keyless entry transmitter. Unlocking a door any other
way will set off the alarm.
If you set off the alarm by accident, unlock any door
with your key. You can also turn off the alarm by
pressing UNLOCK on the remote keyless entry
transmitter. The alarm won't stop if you try to unlock a
door any other way.
Testing the Alarm
The alarm can be tested by following these steps:
1. From inside the vehicle, roll down the driver's
window and open the driver's door.
2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the
power door lock switch while the door is open, or
with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
3. Get out of the car, close the door and wait for the
SECURITY light to go out.
4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the door
with the manual door lock and open the door. This
should set off the alarm.
If the alarm does not sound when it should, but the
vehicle's lamps flash, check to see if the horn works.
The horn fuse may be blown. To replace the fuse, see
ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index.
If the alarm does not sound or the vehicle's lamps do not
flash, the vehicle should be serviced by an authorized
service center.
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2-18
PASS-Key
III
Your vehicle is equipped
with the PASS
-Key III
(Personalized Automotive
Security System)
theft
-deterrent system.
PASS
-Key III is a passive
theft
-deterrent system. This
means you don't have to do
anything different to arm or
disarm the system. It works
when you insert or remove
the key from the ignition.
Your PASS
-Key III system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry 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
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.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
PASS
-Key III uses a radio frequency transponder in the
key that matches a decoder in your vehicle.
When the PASS
-Key III system senses that someone is
using the wrong key, it shuts down the vehicle's starter
and fuel systems. The starter will not work and fuel will
stop being delivered to the engine. Anyone using a
trial
-and-error method to start the vehicle will be
discouraged because of the high number of electrical
key codes.
When trying to start the vehicle if the engine does not
start and the SECURITY light comes on, the key may
have a damaged transponder. Turn the ignition off and
try again.
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2-19
If the engine still does not start, and the key appears to
be undamaged, try another ignition key. At this time,
you may also want to check the fuse (see ªFuses and
Circuit Breakersº in the Index). If the engine still does
not start with the other key, your vehicle needs service.
If your vehicle does start, the first key may be faulty.
See your dealer or a locksmith who can service the
PASS
-Key III to have a new key made.
It is possible for the PASS
-Key III decoder to learn the
transponder value of a new or replacement key. Up to
ten additional keys may be programmed for the vehicle.
This procedure is for learning additional keys only. If all
the currently programmed keys are lost or do not
operate, you must see your dealer or a locksmith who
can service PASS
-Key III to have keys made and
programmed to the system.
See your dealer or a locksmith who can service
PASS
-Key III to get a new key blank that is a cut
exactly as a current black colored driver's key that
operates the system. Do not use a gray colored valet key
for this procedure.To program the new key:
1. Insert the current driver's key (black in color) in the
ignition and start the engine. If the engine will not
start see your dealer for service.
2. After the engine has started, turn the key to OFF, and
remove the key.
3. Insert the key to be programmed and turn it to RUN
within ten seconds of removing the previous key.
4. The SECURITY light will turn off once the key has
been programmed. It may not be apparent that the
SECURITY light went on due to how quickly the
key is programmed.
5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 if additional keys are to
be programmed.
If you are ever driving and the SECURITY light comes
on and stays on, you will be able to restart your engine if
you turn it off. Your PASS-Key III system, however, is
not working properly and must be serviced by your
dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by the PASS
-Key
III system at this time.
If you lose or damage a PASS
-Key III key, see your
dealer or a locksmith who can service PASS
-Key III to
have a new key made.
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2-21
ACCESSORY (A): In this position you can operate
your electrical power accessories. Press in the ignition
switch as you turn the top of it toward you.
LOCK (B): This is the only position from which
you can remove the key. This position locks your
ignition, steering wheel and transaxle. It's a
theft
-deterrent feature.OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It doesn't lock the steering
wheel like LOCK and it doesn't send any electrical
power to the accessories. The instrument panel cluster
will remain powered in OFF to illuminate the gear shift
indicator. The cluster will also activate the parking
brake light when the parking brake is set. Use OFF if
you must have your vehicle in motion while the engine
is not running.
RUN (D): This is the position that the switch returns to
after you start your engine and release the switch. This
is the position for driving. Even when the engine is not
running, you can use RUN to operate your electrical
power accessories and to display some instrument panel
warning lights.
START (E): This position starts your engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to RUN for normal driving.
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Parking Brake
This vehicle has a PUSH
TO RELEASE parking
brake pedal. To set the
parking brake, hold the
regular brake pedal down
with your right foot. Push
down the parking brake
pedal with your left foot.
Whether the ignition key is in RUN or OFF, the brake
system warning light stays on while the parking brake
is set.
The parking brake uses the brakes on the rear wheels.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down and push the parking brake pedal with your
left foot. This will release the parking brake pedal.
When you lift your left foot, the parking brake pedal
will follow it to the release position.If you try to drive approximately 20 feet (6.1 m)
with the parking brake on, the brake light stays on
and a continuous chime sounds until you release the
parking brake.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That part shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
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Express-Down Window
The switch for the driver's window has an express
-down
feature. Pull the switch back all the way, release it and the
window will lower automatically. To stop the window
from lowering, pull the switch again. To partially open the
window, pull the switch back half way. When the switch is
released, the window will stop moving. To raise the
window, press and hold the switch forward.
Window Lock
Press the window lock switch on the driver's armrest to
disable all passenger window switches, or just the rear
passenger switches. The middle of the switch will light
to indicate the window lockout is active.
The driver's window controls will still be operable. This is
a useful feature when you have children as passengers.
Press the window lock switch a second time to allow
passengers to use their window controls again. The light
in the center of the switch will go off to indicate that the
feature is disabled.
Vehicles are delivered programmed to lock out all
passenger windows. If you have the optional DIC, you can
choose to lock out only the rear windows. See ªPersonal
Choice Featuresº or ªDriver Information Centerº in the
Index for programming instructions. If you do not have theDIC feature, see your dealer if you choose to have this
setting changed to lock out only the rear windows.
Horn
Nearly the entire surface of the center pad of the
steering wheel is an active horn switch. Press on the pad
near the horn symbols to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows
you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull
the lever toward you. Move the steering wheel to a
comfortable position, then release the lever to lock the
wheel in place.
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An arrow on the
instrument panel will flash
in the direction of the turn
or lane change.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Head
-Up Display
(HUD), an arrow will also appear in the display area to
indicate the direction of the turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows flash
at twice the normal rate, this may indicate that a signal
bulb may be burned out and other drivers won't see your
turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit
Breakersº in the Index) and for burned
-out bulbs.If you have a trailer towing option with added wiring
for the trailer lamps, the signal indicator will flash even
if a turn signal bulb is burned out. Check the front
and rear turn signal lamps regularly to make sure
they are working. Note: You do not need to add a
different flasher.
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn
signal. To turn off the chime, move the turn signal lever
to the off position.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high or
high to low, pull the turn signal lever toward you, then
release it.
When the high beams
are on, a light on the
instrument panel will also
be on. If your vehicle is
equipped with HUD, this
light will also appear in the
display area.
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2-38 Flash-To-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass. It
works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, but not
so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are off or on low beam, your
high
-beam headlamps will turn on. They'll stay on as
long as you hold the lever toward you and the
high
-beam indicator on the dash will come on. Release
the lever to turn the high
-beam headlamps off.
Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked WIPER.
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST. Hold
it there until the wipers start, then let go. The wipers will
stop after one cycle. If you want more cycles, hold the
band on MIST longer.
Use the delay position to set the wiper speed for a long or
short delay between wipes. This can be very useful in light
rain or snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
closer to LO, the shorter the delay between wipes.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away
from you to the LO position. For high
-speed wiping,
turn the band further, to HI. To stop the wipers, turn the
band to OFF.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent
you from seeing well enough to drive safely. To
avoid damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the
wiper blades before using them. If they're frozen to
the windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If
your blades become damaged, get new blades or
blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
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If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
ªTraction Control Systemº in the Index.) When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use it.
1. Move the cruise control
switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push in the SET button at the end of the turn signal
lever and release it. The CRUISE light on the
instrument panel will come on.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
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