BUICK PARK AVENUE 1999 Repair Manual

yellowblue
2-3
The master key is used
for the ignition, as well
as all door locks and
storage compartments.
The valet key is used for the
ignition and the two side
doors only. It will not open
the trunk or glove box. This
is a theft
-deterrent feature.
The valet key should always
be used when valet parking
your vehicle.When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer removes the
bar
-coded key tags from the keys, and gives them to the
first owner.
Each tag has a code on it that tells your dealer or a
qualified locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep the
tags in a safe place. If you lose your keys, you'll be able
to have new ones made easily using the tag. If you
misplace your tag, go to your dealer for the correct key
code if you need a new ignition key.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle has a number of features that can
help prevent theft. But you can have a lot of
trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever lock
your keys inside. You may even have to damage
your vehicle to get in. So be sure you have
extra keys.
ProCarManuals.com

yellowblue
2-4
Door Locks
CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers -- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When a door is
locked, the inside handle won't open it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be so obvious: You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors aren't locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you will be far
better off whenever you drive your vehicle.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use your door key or remote keyless
entry transmitter.
To lock the door from the inside, move the lock control
on the door handle forward.
To unlock the door, move the lock control on the door
handle toward the rear of the vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com

yellowblue
2-5 Central Door Unlocking System
From outside the vehicle, if the driver's door key is held
in the unlock position for more than two seconds, or, if
the key is turned to the unlock position twice within
three seconds, all doors will unlock.
Power Door Locks
With power door locks, you
can lock or unlock all doors
of your vehicle by using
either the driver or front
passenger power door
lock switch.
Door Ajar Reminder (If Equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), and a door is not fully closed, the DIC
will display a DOOR AJAR message. See ªDriver
Information Centerº in the Index.
Memory Door Locks
Close the doors and turn on the ignition. Every time you
move the shift lever out of PARK (P), all of the doors
will lock. And, every time you stop and move the shift
lever into PARK (P), the doors will unlock. If someone
needs to get out while you're not in PARK (P), have that
person use the manual or power lock. When the door is
closed again, it will not lock automatically. Just use the
manual or power lock to lock the door again. If you
need to lock the doors before shifting out of PARK (P),
just use the manual or power lock button to lock
the doors.
ProCarManuals.com

yellowblue
2-6
Customizing Your Memory Door Locks Feature
You can program the memory door locks feature to one
of the following modes:
Mode 0: No automatic door lock or unlock.
Mode 1: All doors automatically lock when shifted out
of PARK (P). No automatic door unlock.
Mode 2: All doors automatically lock when shifted out
of PARK (P). Only the driver's door automatically
unlocks when shifted into PARK (P).
Mode 3: All doors automatically lock when shifted out
of PARK (P). All doors automatically unlock when
shifted into PARK (P).
Vehicles are delivered programmed in Mode 3;
however, each remote keyless entry transmitter can
be programmed to a different mode according to the
user's preference.To change modes:
1. Close all the doors and turn the ignition on. Keep all
doors closed throughout this procedure.
2. Press and hold LOCK on the power door lock switch
on the driver's door through Step 4.
3. Press the LOCK button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter to enter the programming mode.
The memory door lock mode will remain in the
current mode.
4. Press the LOCK button on the transmitter again.
Each time the transmitter's LOCK button is pressed,
the mode will advance by one, going from Mode 3 to
Mode 0 to Mode 1, etc.
For each press of the LOCK button, the door locks
will activate in the same manner they would activate
in the corresponding memory door lock mode. For
example, pressing the LOCK button on the
transmitter to advance to Mode 2 would result in all
doors locking and then, only the driver's door would
unlock. For Mode 0, no locking or unlocking
will occur.
5. Release the power door lock switch and turn the
ignition off. The automatic door locks will remain in
the most recent mode selected.
ProCarManuals.com

yellowblue
2-7
You can also program the memory door locks feature
using the Driver Information Center. See ªDriver
Information Center Personal Choice Programmingº in
the Index.
Delayed Locking
This feature lets the driver delay the actual locking of
the vehicle. When the power door lock switch or the
remote keyless entry LOCK button is pressed with the
key removed from the ignition and the driver's door
open, a chime will sound three times to signal that the
lock delay mode is active. When all doors have been
closed, the doors will lock automatically after five
seconds. If any door is opened before this, the
five
-second timer will reset itself once all the doors have
been closed again.
Pressing the door lock switch or the remote keyless
entry LOCK button a second time within two seconds
will override this feature.The delayed locking feature can be turned on or off for
each remote keyless entry transmitter.
To turn the feature on:
1. Press and hold LOCK on the power door lock switch
on the door throughout this procedure. All the doors
will lock.
2. Press the UNLOCK button on the transmitter to
enter the programming mode. The lock delay is still
off and all doors will remain locked.
3. Press the UNLOCK button on the transmitter again.
Lock delay is now active and all doors will unlock.
4. Release the power door lock switch.
To turn this feature off, repeat the above procedure.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you can also program these features
through the DIC. See ªDriver Information Centerº in
the Index.
ProCarManuals.com

yellowblue
2-8 Rear Door Security Locks
Your vehicle is equipped
with rear door security
locks that help prevent
passengers from opening
the rear doors of your
vehicle from the inside.
Using One of These Locks
1. Open one of the rear doors.
2. Move the lever on the door all the way up to the
ENGAGED position.
3. Close the door.
4. Do the same thing to the other rear door lock.
The rear doors of your vehicle cannot be opened from
the inside when this feature is in use.Opening a Rear Door When the Security Lock is On
1. Unlock the door.
2. Then open the door from the outside.
If you don't cancel the security lock feature, adults or
older children who ride in the rear won't be able to open
the rear door from the inside. You should let adults and
older children know how these security locks work, and
how to cancel the locks.
Canceling the Rear Door Security Lock
1. Unlock the door.
2. Move the lever all the way down.
3. Do the same thing for the other rear door.
The rear door locks will now work normally.
ProCarManuals.com

yellowblue
2-9 Lockout Protection
The power door locks will not work if the key is left in
the ignition and the driver's door is open. You can
override this feature by holding the power door lock
switch on the driver's door for more than three seconds.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside, then get out and close
the door.
Remote Keyless Entry System
With the remote keyless
entry system, you can lock
and unlock your doors or
unlock your trunk from
about 3 feet (1 m) up to
30 feet (9 m) away using
the remote keyless entry
transmitter supplied with
your vehicle.Your remote keyless entry 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.
ProCarManuals.com

yellowblue
2-10
This system has a range of about 3 feet (1 m) up to
30 feet (9 m). At times you may notice a decrease in
range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry
system. If the transmitter does not work or if you have
to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to
work, try this:

Check to determine if battery replacement or
synchronization is necessary. See the instructions
that follow.

Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.

Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or
right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.

If you're still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.Operation
The driver's door will unlock when UNLOCK is
pressed. If pressed again within five seconds, all doors
will unlock. Pressing any button will also illuminate the
interior lamps (see ªIlluminated Entryº in the Index).
All doors will lock when LOCK is pressed.
The trunk will unlock when the trunk button is pressed,
and the ignition is in LOCK or OFF. The trunk button
will also work when the ignition is on, but only while
the transaxle is in PARK (P).
Instant Alarm
When the button with the horn symbol on the remote
keyless entry transmitter is pressed, the horn will sound
and the headlamps and taillamps will flash for up to
30 seconds. This can be turned off by pressing the
instant alarm button again or by turning the ignition on.
With the Content Theft
-Deterrent feature, you may also turn
off the instant alarm by unlocking the vehicle with a key.
ProCarManuals.com

yellowblue
2-11
Personal Choice Features (If Equipped)
Each remote keyless entry transmitter can be
programmed to the driver's preference for memory door
locks, security feedback, delayed locking, memory seats,
perimeter lighting, parallel park assist mirror and
window lockout. See each feature in the Index. You can
also personalize your comfort control temperature, mode
and fan settings. See ªComfort Controls, Personal
Choiceº in the Index.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you can also program these features
through the DIC. See ªDriver Information Centerº in
the Index.Security Feedback
This provides feedback to the driver when the vehicle
receives a command from the remote keyless entry
transmitter. The following modes may be selected:
Mode 0: No feedback when locking or
unlocking vehicle.
Mode 1: No feedback when locking; exterior lamps
flash when unlocking vehicle.
Mode 2: Exterior lamps flash when locking; no
feedback when unlocking vehicle.
Mode 3: Exterior lamps flash when locking and when
unlocking vehicle.
Mode 4: Exterior lamps flash and horn chirps when
locking; no feedback when unlocking vehicle.
Mode 5: Exterior lamps flash and horn chirps when
locking; exterior lamps flash when unlocking vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com

yellowblue
2-12
Vehicles are delivered programmed in Mode 5; however,
each remote keyless entry transmitter can be
programmed to a different mode according to the user's
preference. To change to another mode:
1. Press and hold LOCK on the power door lock switch
on the door throughout the procedure.
2. Press the trunk button on the transmitter. The horn
will chirp and the transmitter will remain in its
current mode.
3. Press the trunk button again. Each time the trunk
button is pressed, the horn will chirp and the
transmitter will advance to the next mode.
4. Release the power door lock switch.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you can also program these features
through the DIC. See ªDriver Information Centerº in
the Index.
Theft
-Deterrent System
The remote keyless entry transmitter will arm the
theft
-deterrent system whenever the doors are closed
and you push the LOCK button when the ignition is off.
It will disarm the system when you push UNLOCK.
Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be
purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any
remaining transmitters with you when you go to your
dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your
vehicle. Each vehicle can have only four transmitters
matched to it.
See your dealer to match additional transmitters to
your vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com