climate control BUICK PARK AVENUE 2004 User Guide

Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible to
the accessory power outlet and could result in blown
vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a problem
see your dealer for additional information on accessory
power outlets.
Notice:Adding any electrical equipment to your
vehicle may damage it or keep other components
from working as they should. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Check with your
dealer before adding electrical equipment.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow
the proper installation instructions included with
the equipment.
Notice:Improper use of the power outlet can cause
damage not covered by your warranty. Do not
hang any type of accessory or accessory bracket
from the plug because the power outlets are
designed for accessory power plugs only.Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
The front ashtray is located under the climate control
panel on the center console. Press on the door to
release the ashtray. To close, press on the door again.
To empty the ashtray, remove it from the center
console by gripping the edges and pulling straight out.
To reinstall, push the tray back into place.
The rear ashtrays are located on each rear door panel.
To remove a rear ashtray, open the lid and ease the
ashtray upward until the edge can be grasped to pull the
ashtray up and out.
Notice:If you put papers or other ammable items
in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other smoking
materials could ignite them and possibly damage
your vehicle. Never put ammable items in the
ashtray.
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:Holding a cigarette lighter in while it is
heating will not allow the lighter to back away from
the heating element when it is hot. Damage from
overheating may occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold a
cigarette lighter in while it is heating.
3-23

Climate Controls
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic):Press the AUTO button for
automatic control of the inside temperature, the air
delivery mode and the fan speed.1. Press the AUTO button.
2. Adjust the temperature to 75° F (24° C).
Choosing the coldest or warmest temperature
setting will not cause the system to heat or cool
any faster. If you set the system at the warmest
temperature setting, the system will remain in
manual mode at that temperature and it will not go
into automatic mode.
In cold weather, the system will start at reduced fan
speeds to avoid blowing cold air into your vehicle
until warmer air is available. The system will start out
blowing air at the oor but may change modes
automatically as the vehicle warms up to maintain
the chosen temperature setting. The length of time
needed for warm up will depend on the outside
temperature and the length of time that has elapsed
since your vehicle was last driven.
3. Wait for the system to regulate. This may take from
10 to 30 minutes. Then adjust the temperature,
if necessary.
Do not cover the solar sensor located in the center of
the instrument panel, near the windshield. For more
information on the solar sensor, see “Sensors” later in
this section.
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Manual Operation
Pressing the FAN or AIR FLOW buttons cancels
automatic operation and places the system in manual
mode. Press the AUTO button to return to automatic
operation.
TEMP (Temperature):To manually adjust the
temperature inside the vehicle, push the TEMP arrow.
Push the TEMP up arrow for warmer temperature
settings and the TEMP down arrow for cooler
temperature settings. The setting will be shown on the
display. The display will return to the outside temperature
after a few seconds.
9FAN:Pressing the FAN button will display and hold
the current fan speed while in manual mode. If you want
the fan to run at a lower speed, push the down arrow on
the FAN button. If you want to increase the fan speed,
push the up arrow on the FAN button. The fan indicators
will also be shown on the display.
If the airow seems low when the fan is at the highest
setting, the passenger compartment air lter may need
to be replaced. For more information, seePassenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 3-30.AIR FLOW:Pressing the AIR FLOW button will display
and hold the current setting while in manual mode.
Use the up and down arrows on the AIR FLOW button
to cycle through the available modes.
WINDSHIELD-FLOOR:This mode directs most of
the airow to the windshield with some airow to
the outboard outlets (for the side windows) and the
oor outlets.
MID:This mode directs airow through the
instrument panel outlets.
FLOOR-MID:This mode directs airow 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 airow 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.
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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 airow 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:Using a razor blade or sharp object to
clear the inside rear window may damage the rear
window defogger. Repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Do not clear the inside of the
rear window with sharp objects.
3-27

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 5° F (3° 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.
3-28

Passenger Compartment Air Filter
Passenger compartment air, both outside air and
recirculated air, is routed through a passenger
compartment lter, which is part of a three piece lter
system. The lter removes certain particles from the air,
including pollen and dust particles. Reductions in
airow, which may occur more quickly in dusty areas,
indicate that the lter needs to be replaced early.
The particle lter is located inside of the air control
module. The air control module is located behind
an access panel near the accelerator pedal.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.
3-30

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 airow.
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
airow mode. If desired, a separate temperature
setting may also be selected for the front seat
passenger. For information on how to do this,
seeDual Automatic Climate Control System on
page 3-24.
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 conrm that your selection has
been saved and can now be recalled. For more
information on the memory feature, seeMemory
Seat and Mirrors on page 2-51.
Follow these steps each time you want to change the
stored settings.
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.
3-31

{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 inate in a crash, or they
could even inate 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 briey, 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.
3-37

When the STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE message is on,
you should continue to steer in the direction you want
to go. The system is designed to help you in bad
weather or other difficult driving situations by making the
most of whatever road conditions will permit. If the
STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE message comes on, you
will know that something has caused your vehicle to
start to spin, so you should consider slowing down.
Tire Pressure Status – 140:If you see the TIRE
PRESSURE LOW message, you should stop as soon
as you can and check all your tires for damage. If a tire
is at, seeIf a Tire Goes Flat on page 5-79. Also check
the tire pressure in all four tires as soon as you can.
SeeInation - Tire Pressure on page 5-69andCheck
Tire Pressure System on page 5-70.
There are times when you will have to reset (calibrate)
the Check Tire Pressure System. SeeCheck Tire
Pressure System on page 5-70.DIC Vehicle Personalization
The DIC is used to program personal choices for up to
two drivers. The drivers are recognized as DRIVER #1
and DRIVER #2. The DIC will identify a person as
UNKNOWN DRIVER if neither DRIVER #1 nor
DRIVER #2 is identied by the system. You will let the
DIC know which driver you are by using your remote
keyless entry transmitter or by pressing one of the
MEMORY buttons located on the driver’s door. Each
remote keyless entry transmitter was pre-programmed to
belong to DRIVER #1 or DRIVER #2 and is numbered
on the back. Each transmitter may be programmed
differently.
After you press the unlock button on your transmitter
with the ignition in RUN, the DIC will display the
identied 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. SeeClimate Controls
Personalization on page 3-31.
3-51

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 specied 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 signicantly 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 specied 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.
5-75