ECU BUICK PARK AVENUE 2003 User Guide

With this system, use the LATCH system instead of the
vehicle's safety belts to secure a child restraint.
{CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint isn't attached to
its anchorage points, the restraint won't be
able to protect the child correctly. In a crash,
the child could be seriously injured or killed.
Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint is
properly installed using the anchorage points,
or use the vehicle's safety belts to secure the
restraint. See ªSecuring a Child Restraint
Designed for the LATCH Systemº or ªSecuring
a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Positionº in
the Index for information on how to secure a
child restraint in your vehicle.
Securing a Child Restraint Designed
for the LATCH System
1. Find the anchors for the seating position you want
to use, where the bottom of the seatback meets the
back of the seat cushion.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Attach the anchor points on the child restraint to the
anchors in the vehicle. The child restraint
instructions will show you how.
4. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach the top
strap to the top strap anchor. See
Top Strap on
page 1-37. Tighten the top strap according to
the child restraint instructions.
5. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the top
strap from the top tether anchor and then disconnect the
anchor points.
1-41

Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on page 1-39.
You'll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See
Top Strap on
page 1-37if the child restraint has one. Be sure to
follow the instructions that came with the child restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint when and as
the instructions say.
1. Put the restraint on the seat.
2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle's safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed.
1-42

3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.4. To tighten the belt, pull up on the shoulder belt
while you push down on the child restraint. If
you're using a forward-facing child restraint, you
may ®nd it helpful to use your knee to push down on
the child restraint as you tighten the belt.
5. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's
safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety
belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an
adult or larger child passenger.
1-43

Securing a Child Restraint in a
Center Rear Seat Position
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on page 1-39.
You'll be using the lap belt.
Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the
child restraint. Secure the child restraint when and
as the instructions say.
{CAUTION:
A child in a child restraint in the center front
seat can be badly injured or killed by the right
front passenger's air bag if it in¯ates. Never
secure a child restraint in the center front seat.
It is always better to secure a child restraint in
the rear seat.
You may secure a forward-facing child restraint
in the right front passenger seat, but before you
do, always move the front passenger seat as far
bakck as it will go. It's better to secure the child
restraint in a rear seat.
See
Top Strap on page 1-37if the child restraint
has one.
1-44

1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch
plate and pulling it along the belt.
2. Put the restraint on the seat.
3. Run the vehicle's safety belt through or around the
restraint. The child restraint instructions will show
you how.4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
5. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push
down on the child restraint. If you're using a
forward-facing child restraint, you may ®nd it helpful
to use your knee to push the child restraint as
you tighten the belt.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
1-45

To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's
safety belt. It will be ready to work for an adult or
larger child passenger.
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag.Neverput a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here's why:
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger's air bag in¯ates. This is because
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the in¯ating air bag.
Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in a
rear seat.
Although a rear seat is a safer place, you can secure a
forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat.
You'll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See
Top Strap on
page 1-37if the child restraint has one. Be sure to
follow the instructions that came with the child restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint when and as
the instructions say.
1. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger
air bag, always move the seat as far back as it will
go before securing a forward-facing child restraint.
See
Power Seats on page 1-2.
2. Put the restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle's safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
1-46

6. To tighten the belt, feed the lap belt back into the
retractor while you push down on the child restraint.
You may ®nd it helpful to use your knee to push
down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's
safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety
belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an
adult or larger child passenger.
Air Bag Systems
This part explains the frontal and side impact air bag
systems.
Your vehicle has four air bags ± a frontal air bag for the
driver, another frontal air bag for the right front
passenger, a side impact air bag for the driver, and
another side impact air bag for the right front passenger.
Frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk
of injury from the force of an in¯ating air bag. But these
air bags must in¯ate very quickly to do their job and
comply with federal regulations.
1-48

{CAUTION:
Both frontal and side impact air bags in¯ate
with great force, faster than the blink of an eye.
If you're too close to an in¯ating air bag, as you
would be if you were leaning forward, it could
seriously injure you. Safety belts help keep you
in position for air bag in¯ation before and
during a crash. Always wear your safety belt,
even with frontal air bags. The driver should sit
as far back as possible while still maintaining
control of the vehicle. Front occupants should
not lean on or sleep against the door.
{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to,
any air bag when it in¯ates can be seriously
injured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer the best protection for adults, but
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
not for young children and infants. Neither the
vehicle's safety belt system nor its air bag
system is designed for them. Young children
and infants need the protection that a child
restraint system can provide. Always secure
children properly in your vehicle. To read how,
see the part of this manual called ªOlder
Childrenº or ªInfants and Young Children.º
There is an air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows AIR BAG.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See
Air Bag Readiness Light on page 3-33for more information.
1-50

Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-5
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-9
Door Locks....................................................2-9
Central Door Unlocking System........................2-9
Power Door Locks........................................2-10
Door Ajar Reminder......................................2-10
Delayed Locking...........................................2-10
Programmable Automatic` Door Locks..............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-12
Lockout Protection........................................2-13
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-13
Trunk..........................................................2-13
Windows........................................................2-15
Power Windows............................................2-16
Sun Visors...................................................2-17
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-17
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-17
PASS-Key
žIII ..............................................2-19
PASS-KeyžIII Operation...............................2-19Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-21
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-21
Ignition Positions..........................................2-21
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-22
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-23
Automatic Transaxle Operation.......................2-24
Parking Brake..............................................2-27
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-28
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-30
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-31
Engine Exhaust............................................2-31
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked. . . .2-32
Mirrors...........................................................2-33
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-33
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-33
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Compass.................................................2-33
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-36
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror.....................2-36
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-37
Outside Automatic Dimming Heated Mirror........2-37
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

W(Unlock):The driver's
door will unlock when this
button is pressed. If
the unlock button is
pressed again within ®ve
seconds, all the doors
will unlock.
Q(Lock):All doors will lock when this button is
pressed.
V(Trunk):The trunk will unlock when this 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).
L(Remote Alarm):Your transmitter comes equipped
with a remote alarm. When this button is pressed, the
horn will sound and the exterior lamps will ¯ash for up to
30 seconds. The remote alarm can be turned off by
pressing this button again or by turning the ignition on.With the content theft-deterrent featue, you may also
turn off the remote alarm by unlocking the vehicle with
a key.
Pressing any button will also illuminate the interior
lamps. See ªEntry Lightingº under
Interior Lamps on
page 3-14.
Personalization Features
Each remote keyless entry transmitter can be
programmed to the driver's preference for automatic
door locks, security feedback, delayed locking, memory
seat, perimeter lighting, outside curb view assist
mirror and window lockout. Each of these
personalization features will be explained in this manual.
You can also personalize your climate control
temperature, air delivery mode and fan speed. See
Climate Controls Personalization on page 3-28.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you can also program any of these
features through the DIC. See
Driver Information Center
(DIC) on page 3-43.
Security Feedback
This feature provides feedback 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.
2-6