fuel cap BUICK PARK AVENUE 2003 Owner's Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-6
Child Restraints
.......................................1-27
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-48
Restraint System Check
............................1-56
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-9
Windows
.................................................2-15
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-21
Mirrors
....................................................2-33
OnStar
žSystem
......................................2-37
HomeLinkžTransmitter
.............................2-39
Storage Areas
.........................................2-42
Sunroof
..................................................2-45
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-46
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
......................................3-22
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-29
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-43
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-51Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-29
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-47
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-58
Tires
......................................................5-59
Appearance Care
.....................................5-78
Vehicle Identi®cation
.................................5-86
Electrical System
......................................5-86
Capacities and Speci®cations
.....................5-96
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......5-97
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-8
Index................................................................ 1
2003 Buick Park Avenue Owner ManualM

Notice:Modi®cations made to the engine,
transaxle, exhaust, intake or fuel system of your
vehicle or the replacement of the original tires with
other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle's emission
controls and may cause this light to come on.
Modi®cations to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by your warranty. This may
also result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is
not running. If the light doesn't come on, have it
repaired. This light will also come on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
·Light FlashingÐ A mis®re condition has been
detected. A mis®re increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be required.
·Light On SteadyÐ An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Diagnosis and service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
·Reducing vehicle speed.
·Avoiding hard accelerations.
·Avoiding steep uphill grades.
·If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops ¯ashing and remains on steady, see ªIf
the Light Is On Steadyº following.
If the light continues to ¯ash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle.Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart
the engine. If the light remains on steady, see ªIf
the Light Is On Steadyº following. If the light is still
¯ashing, follow the previous steps, and see your dealer
for service as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. See
Filling Your Tank on page 5-7. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light off.
3-38

Fuel Gage
The fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in your
tank. It works only when the ignition is on. When
the indicator moves to the edge of the low fuel warning
band, the low fuel warning light will come on and a
chime will sound. You still have a little fuel left, but you
need to get more fuel right away.Here are some things that some owners ask about.
None of these show a problem with your fuel gage:
·At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
·It takes more (or less) fuel to ®ll up than the gage
indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated half full, but it took more (or less) than
half the tank's capacity to ®ll it.
·The gage moves up a little when you turn a corner,
speed up or make a hard stop.
·The gage doesn't go back to empty when you turn
off the ignition.
United States
Canada
3-42

The other label is the Certi®cation Label, found on the
rear edge of the driver's door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or
rear axle.And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread
it out. Don't carry more than 176 lbs (80 kg) in
your trunk.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can
break, and it can change the way your vehicle
handles. These could cause you to lose
control and crash. Also, overloading can
shorten the life of your vehicle.
Notice:Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that fail because of overloading.
4-31

If you put things inside your vehicle ± like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything else ± they will go as fast
as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn
quickly, or if there is a crash, they'll keep going.
{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or
in a crash.
·Put things in the trunk of your vehicle. In a
trunk, put them as far forward as you can.
Try to spread the weight evenly.
·Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that some of them
are above the tops of the seats.
·Don't leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.
·When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Automatic Level Control
This feature keeps the rear of your vehicle level as the
load changes. It's automatic ± you don't need to
adjust anything.
Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you do not use the correct equipment and
drive properly, you can lose control when you
pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well Ð or even
at all. You and your passengers could be
seriously injured. You may also damage your
vehicle; the resulting repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Pull a trailer only if
you have followed all the steps in this section.
Ask your dealer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with your vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the
proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what
the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in ªWeight of the Trailerº that
appears later in this section. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and
it has to be used properly.
4-32

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under
the Hood....................................................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-14
Supercharger Oil..........................................5-19
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-20
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-22
Engine Coolant.............................................5-24
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-27
Engine Overheating.......................................5-27
Cooling System............................................5-30
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-38Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-38
Brakes........................................................5-40
Battery........................................................5-42
Jump Starting...............................................5-43
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-49
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-49
Headlamps..................................................5-50
Front Turn Signal Lamps...............................5-52
Rear Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-Up Lamps........................................5-52
Rear Quarter Panel Turn Signal and
Stoplamps................................................5-56
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-57
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-58
Tires..............................................................5-59
In¯ation Ð Tire Pressure...............................5-59
Check Tire Pressure System..........................5-60
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-62
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-63
Buying New Tires.........................................5-64
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-66
Wheel Replacement......................................5-66
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling Your Tank
{CAUTION:
Fuel vapor is highly ¯ammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Do not smoke if you are near fuel or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, ¯ames and smoking
materials away from fuel.
The tethered fuel cap is located behind a hinged fuel
door on the driver's side of the vehicle.The release button for the
fuel door is located to the
left of the steering
column.
There is also a manual
fuel door release. It is
located in the top of the
trunk compartment, on the
driver's side of the
vehicle.
Pull the tab to release the fuel door.
5-7

While refueling, hang the tethered fuel cap from the
hook on the fuel door.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The fuel cap has a spring in it; if
you let the cap go too soon, it will spring back to
the right.
{CAUTION:
If you get fuel on yourself and then something
ignites it, you could be badly burned. Fuel can
spray out on you if you open the fuel cap too
quickly. This spray can happen if your tank is
nearly full, and is more likely in hot weather.
Open the fuel cap slowly and wait for any
ªhissº noise to stop. Then unscrew the cap all
the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
Cleaning the Outside
of Your Vehicle on page 5-82.
When you put the fuel cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make
sure you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly
installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-37.
5-8

Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get
the right type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you
get the wrong type, it may not ®t properly. This may
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light and
may damage your fuel tank and emissions system.
See ªMalfunction Indicator Lampº in the Index.
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ®ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
·Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
·
Do not ®ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.
·Bring the ®ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ®ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the ®lling is complete.
·Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
5-9

Engine Oil
If the DIC message, ENGINE OIL LOW Ð CHECK
LEVEL appears on the instrument cluster, it means you
need to check your engine oil level right away. For
more information, see
Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-43.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It's a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick is
located behind the engine
cooling fans and in
front of the engine oil ®ll
cap. The top of the dipstick
is a round, yellow loop.
See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for more information
on location.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
5-14