climate control BUICK PARK AVENUE 2003 User Guide

When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow the
proper installation instructions included with the
equipment.
Notice:Power outlets are designed for accessory
plugs only. Do not hang any type of accessory
or accessory bracket from the plug. Improper use of
the power outlet can cause damage not covered
by your warranty.
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
The front ashtray may be removed for cleaning. To
remove, grasp the sides and pull forward.
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 ¯ammable items
into your ashtrays. Hot cigarettes or other smoking
materials could ignite them, causing a damaging ®re.
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:Don't hold a cigarette lighter in with your
hand while it is heating. If you do, 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.
Climate Controls
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
3-22

WINDSHIELD-FLOOR:This mode directs most of the
air¯ow to the windshield with some air¯ow to the
outboard outlets (for the side windows) and the ¯oor
outlets.
MID:This mode directs air¯ow through the instrument
panel outlets.
FLOOR-MID:This mode directs air¯ow through both
the ¯oor and the instrument panel outlets. There is also
a small amount of air directed to the windshield and
the outboard outlets (for the side windows).
FLOOR:This mode directs most of the air¯ow to the
¯oor outlets with some directed to the outboard
outlets (for the side windows) and the windshield.
OFF:Press the OFF button once to turn off the
passenger climate control, if it has been activated.
Pressing the OFF button a second time will turn off the
main system. The outside temperature will be shown
on the display when the system is off.
VENT:Pressing the VENT button allows outside air to
¯ow through your vehicle without the air conditioning
compressor working. To turn off the VENT selection,
push the VENT button again.
Selecting the VENT and AUTO buttons at the same
time allows the system to control the air¯ow
automatically without using the air conditioning
compressor or the recirculation mode.RECIRC (Recirculation):Press this button to limit the
amount of outside air coming into the vehicle. It can
be used to prevent outside air and odors from entering
your vehicle or to help heat or cool the air inside
your vehicle more quickly. Press this button to turn the
recirculation mode on or off. When the button is
pressed, an indicator light will come on. The recirculation
mode cannot be used with the FRONT defrost or
VENT mode.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot air escape;
then close them. This helps to reduce the time it takes
for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps the system
to operate more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days, press the AUTO
button and the system will automatically enter
recirculation mode and the temperature will be at the full
cold position for maximum cooling.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
may cause the air inside of your vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening, after the air in
your vehicle has cooled, turn the recirculation mode off.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from
the air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling or
after turning off the engine. This is normal.
3-24

Sensors
The solar sensor on your vehicle monitors the solar
radiation and the air inside of your vehicle, then uses the
information to maintain the selected temperature by
initiating needed adjustments to the temperature, the fan
speed and the air delivery system. The system may
also supply cooler air to the side of the vehicle facing the
sun. The recirculation mode will also be activated, as
necessary. Do not cover the solar sensor located in the
center of the instrument panel, near the windshield,
or the system will not work properly.
Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity
(moisture) condensing on the cool window glass. This
can be minimized if the climate control system is
used properly.
1FRONT:Press the FRONT button to defrost the
windshield by directing air¯ow toward the windshield and
outboard outlets (for the side windows). To turn off
FRONT, press the AUTO or AIR FLOW buttons.
If the AIR FLOW up button is pressed while in the
FRONT defrost mode, the system will direct the
air toward the instrument panel outlets. If the AIR FLOW
down button is pressed while in the FRONT defrost
mode, the system will direct the air toward the ¯oor, and
the FRONT defrost mode will cancel. Do not drive the
vehicle until all the windows are clear.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window.
=REAR:Press this button to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. Be sure to clear as much snow from
the rear window as possible.
At speeds above 30 mph (48 km/h), the defogger will
operate continuously until you press the REAR
button again. After 10 minutes of driving below 30 mph
(48 km/h), the defogger will turn off automatically. If
you need additional warming time, push the button
again. The system will then operate for ®ve minutes
before going off by itself.
If your vehicle has heated outside rearview mirrors, the
mirrors will heat to help clear fog or frost from the
surface of the mirror when the rear window defogger
button is pressed.
Notice:Don't use a razor blade or something else
sharp on the inside of the rear window. If you
do, you could cut or damage the defogger and the
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license, tape, a
decal or anything similar to the defogger grid.
3-25

Passenger Temperature Control
If your vehicle has the optional separate passenger's
temperature control, then the driver and the right
front passenger can select separate temperature
settings. This feature allows the front passenger to
select a temperature that is 5É F (3É C) warmer or cooler
than the driver's selected temperature.
The lever for this feature is located on the right side of
the instrument panel.Slide the lever toward WARM for warmer air or toward
COOL for cooler air. Press OFF on the main climate
control system once to turn off the passenger's
temperature control.
When this lever is moved, the current inside temperature
will appear on the display for a few seconds, then the
outside temperature will appear.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the thumbwheel
located in the middle of the
front outlets to change
the direction of the air¯ow
and to open and close
the outlets.
3-26

The ®lter should be replaced as part of routine
scheduled maintenance. SeePart A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services on page 6-4for replacement
intervals. See your dealer for details on changing the
®lter.
Once you remove your ®lter, if you choose not to
replace it, it will not damage your vehicle. However, the
air will no longer be ®ltered.
Steering Wheel Climate Controls
If your vehicle has this
feature, you can control
the temperature function
by using the switch located
on your steering wheel.
wTEMPx(Temperature):Press the up or down
arrow on this switch to increase or decrease the
temperature.
Climate Controls Personalization
If your vehicle is equipped with this feature, up to two
drivers are able to store and recall climate control
settings for the temperature, the fan speed and the
direction of the air¯ow.
Memory buttons 1 and 2 are located on the driver's
door panel and correspond to the numbers 1 or 2 found
on the back of each remote keyless entry transmitter.
To store settings, do the following:
1. Select the desired temperature, fan speed and
air¯ow mode. If desired, a separate temperature
setting may also be selected for the front seat
passenger. For information on how to do this, see
Dual Automatic Climate Control System on
page 3-22.
2. Locate memory buttons 1 and 2 on the driver's door
panel.
3. Press the memory button on the door panel that
corresponds to the number on the back of the
transmitter you are programming, until you hear two
beeps. The beeps con®rm that your selection has
been saved and can now be recalled. For more
information on the memory feature, see
Memory
Seat and Mirrors on page 2-46.
Follow these steps each time you want to change the
stored settings.
3-28

To recall the climate control settings last stored on your
transmitter, press the unlock button on your remote
keyless entry transmitter and put the ignition in
ACCESSORY or RUN. The settings will be recalled.
Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on brie¯y when you start the
engine just to let you know they're working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there's a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual's advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly ±
and even dangerous. So please get to know your
warning lights and gages. They're a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a DIC that works along with
the warning lights and gages. See
Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 3-43.
3-29

If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not in¯ate in a crash, or they
could even in¯ate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the air bag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should ¯ash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it ®xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Battery Warning Light
When you turn the key to
RUN, this light will come
on brie¯y, to show the
battery charging system is
working.
When the light goes off and stays off, the charging
system is working.
If the light stays on, a chime will sound indicating you
need service, and you should take your vehicle to
the dealer at once. To save your battery until you get
there, turn off all accessories and turn off your climate
control system.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need
both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
3-34

After you press the unlock button on your transmitter
with the ignition in RUN, the DIC will automatically
display the identi®ed driver number. The vehicle
will recall the personal choice settings that were last
made to correspond to your transmitter, including your
radio and climate control settings. See
Climate
Controls Personalization on page 3-28.
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 unlock
button on your transmitter.
The DIC can be used to program the following personal
choice features available with your vehicle:
·Memory Seat Recall
·Programmable Automatic Door Locks
·Security Feedback
·Delayed Locking
·Perimeter Lighting
·Outside Curb View Assist Mirror
·Window Lock OutSee the following steps for personalization 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
unlock button on your transmitter or the appropriate
memory seat control.
3. Press and hold the ENG/MET button for ®ve
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.
3-47

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a speci®ed government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signi®cantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction ± AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on speci®ed government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-65

Chains, Tires..................................................5-68
Checking Coolant............................................5-26
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-14
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-56
Check...........................................................3-37
Engine Light...............................................3-37
Tire Pressure System...................................5-60
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-84
Child Restraints..............................................1-33
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-33
Infants and Young Children...........................1-29
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-39
Older Children.............................................1-27
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-41
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Rear Seat Position...................................1-44
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position...............................1-42
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-46
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-39
Top Strap...................................................1-37
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-36Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-22
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.....5-83
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-82
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-79
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-81
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-80
Cleaning Leather............................................5-80
Cleaning the Speaker Covers...........................5-81
Cleaning the Top of the
Instrument Panel.........................................5-80
Cleaning Tires................................................5-83
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-80
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades..............5-83
Cleaning........................................................5-79
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-79
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-82
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-84
Weatherstrips..............................................5-81
Climate Control System...................................3-27
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-27
Climate Controls Personalization....................3-28
Dual Automatic............................................3-22
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-26
Steering Wheel Controls...............................3-28
Compact Disc Changer Errors..........................3-65
Compact Disc Messages..................................3-62
3