lights BUICK PARK AVENUE 2004 User Guide

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 briey when you start the
engine just to let you know they are 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 is 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 are a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a DIC that works along with
the warning lights and gages. SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 3-47.
3-32

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your vehicle is equipped with one of the following instrument panel clusters. Your instrument panel cluster is
designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. It includes indicator warning lights and gages that
are explained on the following pages. Be sure to read about those that apply to the instrument panel cluster for
your vehicle.
Base Cluster, Uplevel Similar (United States version shown, Canada similar)
3-33

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 unlock
button on your transmitter or press the appropriate
MEMORY button. This will return you to the beginning
of the option feature programming mode.
A description of each feature programmable through the
DIC follows.
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror
The outside curb view 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
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror on page 2-40.
3-53

Security Feedback
By choosing different combinations of these selections,
you can choose the type of transmitter activated
feedback you receive when locking and unlocking your
vehicle with your transmitter. Each time you make a
selection by pressing the ENG/MET button, press
the RESET button to record your choice.
LOCK FEEDBACK – OFF/ON
LOCK FEEDBACK – LIGHTS/LIGHTS + HORN
UNLOCK FEEDBACK – OFF/LIGHTS
If you choose ON for LOCK FEEDBACK you will also
need to choose LIGHTS or LIGHTS + HORN.
You can select the following modes:
If you choose OFF for LOCK FEEDBACK and OFF
for UNLOCK FEEDBACK, you will receive no
security feedback when locking or unlocking your
vehicle.
If you choose OFF for LOCK FEEDBACK and
LIGHTS for UNLOCK FEEDBACK, you will receive
no security feedback when locking your vehicle
and the exterior lamps will ash when unlocking
your vehicle.
If you choose LIGHTS for LOCK FEEDBACK and
OFF for UNLOCK FEEDBACK, your exterior
lamps will ash when locking your vehicle and you
will receive no security feedback when unlocking
your vehicle.
If you choose LIGHTS for LOCK FEEDBACK and
LIGHTS for UNLOCK FEEDBACK, your exterior
lamps will ash when locking and unlocking
your vehicle.
If you choose LIGHTS + HORN for LOCK
FEEDBACK and OFF for UNLOCK FEEDBACK,
your exterior lamps will ash and the horn will chirp
when locking your vehicle and you will receive
no security feedback when unlocking your vehicle.
If you choose LIGHTS + HORN for LOCK
FEEDBACK and LIGHTS for UNLOCK FEEDBACK,
your exterior lamps will ash and the horn will
chirp when locking your vehicle and your exterior
lamps will ash when unlocking your vehicle.
For more information on this feature, see “Security
Feedback” underRemote Keyless Entry System
Operation on page 2-6.
3-55

Perimeter Lighting
When the unlock button on the transmitter is pressed,
the DRL lamps (high-beams at reduced intensity),
parking lamps and back-up lamps will turn on, if it is
dark enough according to the Twilight Sentinel
®.
You can control activation of this feature by choosing
OFF or ON when the PERIMETER LIGHTS choice
is displayed on the DIC. Make your choice by pressing
the ENG/MET button and record your choice by
pressing the RESET button.
If you want to choose PERIMETER LIGHTS ON, you
must also choose LIGHTS for UNLOCK FEEDBACK
while making the security feedback choices.
For more information on this feature, see “Perimeter
Lighting” underExterior Lamps on page 3-12.
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 identied 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, seeMemory Seat
and Mirrors on page 2-51.
3-56

You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even
several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark.
When you are faced with severe glare (as from a
driver who does not lower the high beams, or a
vehicle with misaimed headlamps), slow down a little.
Avoid staring directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your
vehicle clean — inside and out. Glare at night is made
much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of
the glass can build up a lm caused by dust. Dirty glass
makes lights dazzle and ash more than clean glass
would, making the pupils of your eyes contract
repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should
be checked regularly for proper aim, so should your
eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from
night blindness — the inability to see in dim light — and
are not even aware of it.Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road, you can not stop, accelerate or turn as well
because your tire-to-road traction is not as good as on
dry roads. And, if your tires do not have much tread
left, you will get even less traction. It is always wise to
go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while
you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when
your reexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
4-18

Your vehicle has bulb warning lights. When you plug
a trailer lighting system into your vehicle’s lighting
system, its bulb warning lights may not let you know if
one of your lamps goes out. So, when you have a trailer
lighting system plugged in, be sure to check your
vehicle and trailer lamps from time to time to be sure
they are all working. Once you disconnect the trailer
lamps, the bulb warning lights again can tell you if one
of your vehicle lamps is out.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you do not shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift to THIRD (3) and reduce
your speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce
the possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here is
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks behind the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-44

How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle uid to use. SeePart D: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-25.
If the uid level is low, add only enough of the proper
uid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on the
dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough uid at the
dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level.
It does not take much uid, generally less than
one pint (0.5 L).Do not overll.
Notice:We recommend you use only uid labeled
DEXRON
®-III, because uid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by uid other than DEXRON
®-III is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
3. After adding uid, recheck the uid level as
described under “How to Check,” earlier in this
section.
4. When the correct uid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-28.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-25

U
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)...............3-20
Underbody Flushing Service.............................6-22
Underhood Fuse Block...................................5-102
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-78
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-75
United States – Customer Assistance.................. 7-4
Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature
After a Power Loss......................................3-76
Used Replacement Wheels..............................5-77
Using Cleaner on Fabric..................................5-91
Using HomeLink
®...........................................2-46
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-6
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-33
Service Soon Light......................................3-45
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Records....................................................... 7-9
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).............................................5-98
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-98Vehicle Personalization
DIC ...........................................................3-51
Memory Seat and Mirrors.............................2-51
Vehicle Storage..............................................5-43
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-29
Visors...........................................................2-19
W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-32
Warnings
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-50
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-4
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-4
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Washing Your Vehicle......................................5-93
Weatherstrip Lubrication...................................6-20
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-40
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-40
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-15
What Kind of Oil to Use..................................5-19
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-19
What to Use..................................5-26, 5-38, 5-39
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-76
Replacement...............................................5-76
15