mirror BUICK PARK AVENUE 2002 User Guide

2-54
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger's side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror's surface is curved so you can see more from the
driver's seat.
CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.
Automatic Dimming/Heated Outside
Rearview Mirror (If Equipped)
If you have this feature, the driver's side outside
rearview mirror will adjust for the glare of headlamps
behind you. This feature is controlled using the on and
off settings on the automatic electrochromic day/night
rearview mirror. See ªAutomatic Electrochromic
Day/Night Rearview Mirrorº earlier in this section.
If you have this feature, the left and right outside mirrors
are also heated when you activate the rear window
defogger. See ªRear Window Defoggerº in the Index.
Both outside mirrors can be folded forward or rearward.
In the rearward position, they will fold flush with the
vehicle. This feature is particularly useful in automatic
car washes.
Storage Compartments
Glove Box
Use the key to lock and unlock the glove box. To
open the glove box, pull the handle upward until the
latch opens.

2-60
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.
Cigarette Lighter
There is a cigarette lighter near the front ashtray. To use
it, push it in all the way and let go. When it's ready, it
will pop back out 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.

2-92
If you unlock the vehicle using your door key instead
of your transmitter, the DIC will not change drivers and
will recall the information from the last transmitter used
or the last driver using one of the MEMORY buttons.
If this happens and you were not the last driver of the
vehicle, simply press your correct driver number on the
appropriate MEMORY button or press the button with
the unlock symbol on your transmitter.
The DIC can be used to program the following personal
choice features available with your vehicle:

Memory Seats

Automatic Door Locks

Security Feedback

Delayed Locking

Perimeter Lighting

Parallel Park Assist Mirror

Window Lockout
See ªPersonal Choice Featuresº in the Index.See the following steps for personal choice
programming instructions.
1. Turn the ignition on and keep the transaxle
in PARK (P).
2. Inform the DIC which driver you are by pressing the
button with the unlock symbol on your transmitter or
the appropriate memory seat control.
3. Press and hold the ENG/MET button for five
seconds. WELCOME TO BUICK OPTION
FEATURE will appear in the display.
The next display will be your driver number and the
message ARMREST BUTTON CHANGES
DRIVER #. Follow the instructions in the display.
You are now in the selection mode and the DIC is
ready to program your personal choices in memory.
The selections you make for the personal choice
features will be saved after the display reads
FEATURE OPTION SELECTION DONE.
Each feature that can be personalized will appear in
the display. Once you have made a selection for a
feature, the DIC will move on to the next personal
choice feature.

2-93
4. Scroll through the following messages and
feature options:

PARALLEL PARK
-- OFF/ON

AUTO DOOR LOCKS
-- OFF/ON

UNLOCK IN PARK
-- OFF/ON

WHICH DOORS
-- ALL/DRIVER

DELAYED LOCKING
-- OFF/ON

LOCK FEEDBACK
-- OFF/ON

LOCK FEEDBACK
-- LIGHTS/
LIGHTS + HORN

UNLOCK FEEDBACK
-- OFF/LIGHTS

PERIMETER LIGHTS
-- OFF/ON

SEAT RECALL
-- OFF/ON

RECALL POSITION
-- MEMORY/EXIT

WINDOW LOCKOUT
-- ALL PASS/REAR
If you would like to exit the selection mode without
moving through each of the personal choice features,
simply press a different button on the DIC or turn off
the ignition. However, personal choices you made may
not be retained.If you happen to move past a selection you would like
to make a personal choice for, press the button with
the unlock symbol on your transmitter or press the
appropriate driver number on the seat control. This will
return you to the beginning of the option feature
programming mode.
A description of each feature programmable through
the DIC follows.
Parallel Park Assist
The parallel park assist mirror, which tilts the passenger
mirror while the vehicle is in REVERSE (R), can be
made active or inactive through the DIC. When
PARALLEL PARK
-OFF-ON appears on the display,
use the ENG/MET button to toggle the arrow between
OFF and ON. When you have made your choice, press
the RESET button to record your selection. For more
information on this feature, see ªMirrorsº in the Index.
Automatic Door Locks
The automatic door lock modes, when shifting in and
out of PARK (P), can be changed through the DIC. You
can change these modes using different selections from
the following DIC displays:

AUTO DOOR LOCKS
-- OFF/ON

UNLOCK IN PARK
-- OFF/ON

2-96
Memory Seat Recall
This feature recalls the position of your seat. When this
feature is active, the memory seat and mirror positions
will be recalled for the identified driver when the remote
keyless entry transmitter is used to enter the vehicle.
You can program this feature to be active by choosing
ON when the SEAT RECALL choice appears, or
inactive by choosing OFF when the SEAT RECALL
choice appears on the DIC.
You can also program this feature to recall your memory
seat position or the exit seat position.

Memory Position: Choose ON when the SEAT
RECALL choice appears, and then choose
MEMORY when the RECALL POSITION
choice appears.

Exit Position: Choose ON when the SEAT
RECALL choice appears, then choose EXIT when
the RECALL POSITION choice appears and your
seat will move to the stored exit position. The seat
will also move when you enter the vehicle after
unlocking it with a remote keyless entry transmitter.
This will allow for easy entry as well.
For more information on this feature, see ªMemory
Seatsº in the Index.Window Lockout
The number of passenger windows locked out by the
WINDOW LOCK button can be programmed through
the DIC.
If you choose ALL PASS, all three passenger window
switches will be inactive when the WINDOW LOCK
button is enabled.
If you choose REAR, only the two rear passenger
window switches will be locked out when the
WINDOW LOCK button is enabled.
To change modes do the following:
1. Move the arrow on the display between ALL PASS
and REAR by pressing the ENG/MET button.
2. Once you have made your selection, press
the RESET button. Your choice will be retained
in memory.
For more information on this feature, see ªWindow
Lockº in the Index.

2-99 Care of the HUD
Clean the inside of the windshield as necessary to
remove any dirt or film that reduces the sharpness or
clarity of the HUD image.
To clean the HUD lens, spray household glass cleaner
on a soft, clean cloth. Gently wipe and dry the HUD
lens. Do not spray cleaner directly on the lens to avoid
cleaner leaking inside the unit.
If You Can't See The HUD Image When the
Ignition is On
If the ignition is on and you can't see the HUD image,
check to see if:

The headlamps are on.

Something is covering the HUD unit.

The HUD dimmer control is adjusted properly.

The HUD image is adjusted to the proper height.

A fuse is blown. See ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in
the Index.
Keep in mind that your windshield is part of the HUD
system. If you ever have to have your windshield
replaced, be sure to get one that is designed for HUD or
your HUD image may look blurred or out of focus.
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
(URPA) (Option)
Ultrasonic rear parking assist can help you to determine
how close an object is to your rear bumper within a
given area, making parking easier.
The URPA display is located inside the vehicle, above
the rear window. It has three color
-coded lights that can
be seen through the rearview mirror.
How the System Works
Ultrasonic rear parking assist comes on automatically
when the shift lever is moved into REVERSE (R) and
the vehicle speed is less than 3 mph (5 km/h). When the
system comes on, the three lights on the display will
illuminate to let you know that the system is working.
URPA senses how close your vehicle is to an object. The
distance is determined by the four rear sensors located
on the bumper. When shifting into REVERSE (R) and
an object is detected, one of the following will occur:

At 5 ft. (1.5 m) an amber light will come on.

At 40 in. (1.0 m) two amber lights will come on.

At 20 in. (0.5 m) two amber lights and a red light
will come on and a continuous chime will sound.

At 1 ft. (0.3 m) the chime will still be going
continuously and all three lights will flash.

3-7
To program a personal choice comfort control setting,
do the following:
1. Choose a climate control setting for the driver and
if desired, for the passenger. See ªDual Automatic
ComforTemp
Climate Controlº and ªPassenger
Climate Controlº earlier in this section.
2. Locate the memory buttons on the driver's door panel.
3. Press a memory button (1 or 2) until you hear two
beeps. The beeps confirm that your selection has
been saved and can now be recalled.
Follow these steps each time you want to change the
stored settings. For more information on the memory
feature, see ªMemory Seat and Mirrorsº in the Index.
Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use VENT in manual mode to direct
outside air through your vehicle. Air will flow through
any of the outlets depending on outside temperatures
and climate control settings.
Your vehicle's flow
-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when it's moving. When the
vehicle is not moving, you can get outside air to flow
through your vehicle by pressing VENT and then using
the AIR FLOW button to select a mode and the FAN
button to select a fan speed.
Change the direction of
airflow by adjusting the
louvered vents.
You have rear passenger
ComforTemp outlets that
you can use to change the
direction of the airflow to
the rear seating area. The
temperature is controlled by
the front passenger.

4-14

Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass
while you're awaiting an opportunity. For one thing,
following too closely reduces your area of vision,
especially if you're following a larger vehicle.
Also, you won't have adequate space if the vehicle
ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.

When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don't
get too close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into the
other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
ªrunning startº that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you to cancel your pass,
you need only slow down and drop back again and
wait for another opportunity.

If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take care that someone isn't trying to
pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)

Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two
-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.

Don't overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.

If you're being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.

4-15
Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steer and
constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not ªoverdrivingº
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If you have the traction control system, remember: It
helps avoid only the acceleration skid.
If you do not have traction control, or if the system is
off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled by
easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
If you have Stabilitrak

, you may see the STABILITY
SYSTEM ACTIVE message on the Driver Information
Center. See ªStability System Active Messageº in
the Index.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow
on the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and
slow down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.

4-16
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to be
impaired
-- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.Here are some tips on night driving.

Drive defensively.

Don't drink and drive.

Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.

Since you can't see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.

Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.

In remote areas, watch for animals.

If you're tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase. A 50
-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light to see the
same thing at night as a 20
-year-old.