light BUICK PARK AVENUE 1999 Owner's Manual

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2-43
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal, or

Move the cruise switch to OFF. The CRUISE light
will also go out.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
This knob controls the
following systems:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking Lamps

License Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

Interior Courtesy Lamps
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Pull the headlamp knob out to the first position to turn
on the parking, license and sidemarker lamps. Pull the
knob out further, to the second position, to turn on the
headlamps. Push the knob all the way back in to turn off
the parking and headlamps.
Lamps On Reminder
If you leave the manual headlamp or parking lamp
switch on, remove the key from the ignition and open
the driver's door, you will hear a continuous warning
chime. The chime will turn off when the lamps are
turned off.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel monitors
the exterior light level for the operation of DRL and
twilight sentinel, so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your high
-beam headlamps
come on at reduced brightness in daylight when:

The ignition is on,

The headlamp switch is off and

The transaxle is not in PARK (P).
When DRL are on, only your high
-beam headlamps will
be on. The parking lamps, taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won't be on. Your instrument panel won't
be lit up either.
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When it's dark enough outside, your high-beam
headlamps will change to low
-beam headlamps at full
brightness. The other lamps that turn on with your
headlamps will also turn on. When it's bright enough
outside, the regular lamps will turn off, and your
high
-beam headlamps change to the reduced brightness
of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, shift the
transaxle into PARK (P). The DRL will stay off until
you shift out of PARK (P).
To turn off all exterior lighting at night when you are
parked, turn off the headlamps and move the twilight
sentinel control all the way to the left in the slider
control. When released, the control will return to the
twilight sentinel minimum delay position and the lights
will turn off.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Cornering Lamps
The cornering lamps are designed to come on when you
signal a turn. This will provide more light for cornering
at night.
Twilight Sentinel
Twilight Sentinel turns
your headlamps on and
off by sensing how dark it
is outside.
To operate this feature, slide
the control to any position
to vary the lamp timeout.
If you move the control all the way to MAX, your lamps
will remain on for three minutes after you turn off your
engine. If you move the control almost all the way in the
other direction, so it's just on, the lamps will go off
quickly when you turn off your engine. You can set this
delay time from only a few seconds to three minutes.
Light Sensor
Your twilight sentinel and daytime running lamps work
with the light sensor on top of the instrument panel.
Don't cover it up. If you do, it will read ªdarkº and the
headlamps will come on.
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Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
Instrument panel light brightness can be adjusted
by turning the headlamp knob counterclockwise
and clockwise.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps go on. They
make it easy for you to enter and leave the car. You can
also turn these lamps on by turning the headlamp knob
clockwise all the way past the normal stop.
Illuminated Entry System
When you open either front door or press the UNLOCK
button on the remote keyless entry transmitter, the lamps
inside your vehicle will turn on. These lamps will turn off
after about 40 seconds. These lamps will also turn off if
you start the engine or activate the power door locks.
Delayed Entry Lighting
When you open the door, the interior lamps will come
on. When you close the door with the ignition off, the
interior lamps will stay on for 25 seconds or until the
ignition is turned to an on position. Please note that locking the doors with the power door
lock switch will override the delayed entry lighting
feature and the lamps will turn off right away.
NOTE: Using the remote keyless entry transmitter to
lock the door will not cancel delayed lighting.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to five-second fade out of
the courtesy lamps instead of immediate turn off.
Delayed Exit Lighting
With this feature, the interior lamps will come on for
25 seconds after you remove the key from the ignition.
This will give you time to find the door pull handle or
lock switches.
Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits the dimming of your instrument
panel displays during daylight while your headlamps are
on. This feature operates with the light sensor for the
twilight sentinel and is fully automatic. When the light
sensor reads darkness outside, you will be able to dim
your instrument panel displays once again.
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2-47 Perimeter Lighting
When the UNLOCK button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter is pressed, the daytime running lamps (high
beams at reduced intensity), parking lamps and back
-up
lamps will come on if it is dark enough outside
according to the twilight sentinel.
This feature will only be activated when the security
feedback feature is programmed to be in Modes 1, 3 or 5
on the transmitter. Modes 0, 2 and 4 do not respond with
exterior lights flashing when unlocking the vehicle so
perimeter lighting will not be active.
This feature can be programmed on or off for
each transmitter.
To turn the feature off:
1. Press and hold LOCK on the door lock switch on the
door throughout this procedure. All doors will lock.
2. Press the instant alarm button on the transmitter to enter
the programming mode. Perimeter lighting remains on at
this time and the horn will chirp two times.
3. Press the instant alarm button on the key transmitter
again. Perimeter lighting is disabled and the horn
will chirp one time.
4. Release the door lock switch. The perimeter lighting
feature is now off.To turn the feature on:
1. Press and hold LOCK on the door lock switch on the
door throughout this procedure. All doors will lock.
2. Press the instant alarm button on the key transmitter
to enter the programming mode. Perimeter lighting
remains off at this time and the horn will chirp
one time.
3. Press the instant alarm button on the transmitter
again. Perimeter lighting is now enabled and the
horn will chirp two times.
4. Release the door lock switch. The perimeter lighting
feature is now on.
Perimeter lighting can also be activated through the
optional Driver Information Center (DIC). See
ªPersonal Choice Featuresº or ªDriver Information
Centerº in the Index.
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Mirror Operation
To turn on the automatic dimming feature, press
AUTO. To turn off automatic dimming, press OFF. The
green indicator light will be illuminated when this
feature is active.
Time Delay
The automatic mirror has a time delay feature which
prevents unnecessary switching from the night back to
the day position. This delay prevents rapid changing of
the mirror as you drive under lights and through traffic.
Cleaning the Photocells
Use a cotton swab and glass cleaner to clean the
photocells when necessary.Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
with Compass (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an electrochromic inside
rearview mirror with a compass.
When set in the MIRROR position, this mirror
automatically changes to reduce glare from headlamps
behind you. A time delay feature prevents rapid
changing from the day to night positions while driving
under lights and through traffic.
The mirror also includes an eight
-point compass
display in the upper right corner of the mirror face.
When on, the compass automatically calibrates as the
vehicle is driven.
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When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray glass
cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause the liquid
cleaner to enter the mirror housing. Use a cotton swab and
glass cleaner to clean the photocells when necessary.
Mirror Operation
The right side of the switch located at the bottom of the
mirror turns the electrochromic mirror on and off. To
turn on the automatic dimming feature, press MIRROR.
To turn off automatic dimming, press MIRROR again.
The green indicator light will be illuminated when this
feature is active.Compass Operation
Press the COMPASS switch once to turn the compass on
or off.
When the ignition and the compass feature are on, the
compass will show two character boxes for
approximately two seconds. After two seconds, the
mirror will display the compass heading.
If, after two seconds, the display does not show a
compass heading (ªNº for North, for example), there
may be a strong magnetic field interfering with the
compass. Such interference may be caused by a
magnetic antenna mount, magnetic note pad holder or a
similar magnetic item.
Compass Variance
The mirror is set in zone eight upon leaving the factory.
It will be necessary to adjust the compass to compensate
for compass variance if you live outside zone eight.
Under certain circumstances, as during a long distance
cross
-country trip, it will be necessary to adjust for
compass variance. Compass variance is the difference
between earth's magnetic north and true geographic
north. If not adjusted to account for compass variance,
your compass could give false readings.
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2-60 Rear Seat Pass Through
Your vehicle is equipped with a rear storage armrest
with a pass
-through feature that allows for trunk access.
Pull the rear armrest down, then push down on the trunk
access panel latch to open the panel. To close, push the
access panel until it latches.
Convenience Net
Your vehicle has a convenience net. You'll see it just
inside the back wall of the trunk.
Put small loads, like grocery bags, behind the net. It can
help keep them from falling over during sharp turns or
quick starts and stops.
The net isn't for larger, heavier loads. Store them in the
trunk as far forward as you can.
You can unhook the net so that it will lie flat when
you're not using it.
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Front Ashtray
The front ashtray may be removed for cleaning. To
remove, grasp the sides and pull forward.
Rear Ashtray
The rear ashtrays are located on each rear door panel. To
remove the rear ashtray, open the lid and ease the
ashtray upward until the edge can be grasped to pull the
ashtray up and out.
NOTICE:
Don't put papers or other flammable things
into your ashtrays. Hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite them, causing a
damaging fire.
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2-61 Cigarette Lighter
There are cigarette lighters near the front and rear
ashtrays. To use one, push it in all the way and let go.
When it's ready, it will pop back by itself.
NOTICE:
If you hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating, it won't be able to back away
from the heating element when it's ready. That
can make it overheat, damaging the lighter and
the heating element.
Sun Visors
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirror
Your vehicle has illuminated visor vanity mirrors. When
you open the visor vanity mirror by pulling up, the
lamps turn on.
The brightness of the lamps can be adjusted by sliding
the switch. Your vehicle may also have visor vanity
mirrors for the rear seat passengers.
To block out glare, swing down the visors. The larger
sun visor can be removed from the center mount and
moved to the side, while the auxiliary sun visor remains
to block glare from the front.
The front side of the driver's sun visor also contains a
pocket for map storage.
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Universal Transmitter (If Equipped)
This transmitter allows you
to consolidate the functions
of up to three individual
hand
-held transmitters.
It will operate garage doors and gates, or other devices
controlled by radio frequency such as home/office
lighting systems.The transmitter will learn and transmit the frequencies
of most current transmitters and is powered by your
vehicle's battery and charging system.
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, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of
the device.
Changes and modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
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