1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE Owners Manual

0 For stubborn stains, use a mild solution of 10%
isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and
90% water.
0 Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
Soiled leather should be cleaned immediately. If dirt
is allowed to work into finish,
it can harm the
leather.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections
in the windshield
and even make
it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Cleaning Speaker Covers
Vacuum around a speaker cover gently, so that the
speaker won’t be damaged. If something gets on one of
them, follow the steps earlier under “Using
Solvent-Type Cleaner on Fabric.” Use as little solvent as
you can.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part
No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals on the inside rear
window, since they may have to be scraped off later. If
abrasive cleaners are used on the inside
of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across the
defogger grid.
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Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or
if the wiper blade chatters when running, wax
or other material may be on the blade or windshield.
Clean
the outside of the windshield with GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami Powder@ (GM Part No.
10500 1 I ). The windshield is clean if beads do not form
when you rinse
it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth
soaked
in full strength windshield washer solvent. Then
rinse the blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked
on a regular basis and
replaced when worn.
Cleaning the Outside of Your Buick
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s finish is to keep
it clean by washing it often with lukewarm or cold
water.
Don’t
wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Don‘t use strong soaps or chemical detergents. Use
liquid hand, dish or car washing (mild detergent) soaps.
Don’t use cleaning agents that contain acid or abrasives.
All cleaning agents should be flushed promptly and not
allowed to dry on the surface, or they could stain. Dry
the finish
with a soft, clean chamois or a 100% cotton
towel to avoid surface scratches and water spotting,
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter your
vehicle.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your Buick may
be necessary to remove residue from the paint finish.
You can get GM approved cleaning products from your
dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Materials’’
in the
Index.)
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Your Buick has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish. The
clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat paint
finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing
on a basecoatlclearcoat paint finish may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
Aluminum Wheels (If So Equipped)
Your aluminum wheels have a protective coating similar
to the painted surface of your car. Don’t use strong
soaps, chemicals, chrome polish, abrasive cleaners or
abrasive cleaning brushes on them because you could
damage this coating. After rinsing thoroughly, a wax
may be applied.
1 NOTICE:
If you have aluminum wheels, don’t use an
automatic vehicle wash that has hard silicon
carbide cleaning brushes. These brushes can
take off the protective coating.
White Sidewall Tires
Your Buick dealer has a GM White Sidewail %e
Cleaner. You can use a stiff brush with the cleaner.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and
not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every six
months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent
application may be required. (See “Recommended
Fluids
& Lubricants” in the Index.)
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
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Foreign Material
Calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting agents,
road oil and tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemica
industrial chimneys, and other foreign matter can
damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on
pa
surfaces. Use cleaners that are marked safe for pa
surfaces to remove foreign matter.
~~
Finish Damage
.Is from
.inted inted
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches
in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these are not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor
pan, and
exhaust system even though they have corrosion
protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody
with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect. Dirt packed
in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody vehicle washing system
can do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage
can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into
the paint surface.
Although no defect
in the paint job causes this, Buick
will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever comes first.
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Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials
* Not recommended for pigskin suede leather.
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Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
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ENGINE A94 7 ASSEMBLY
CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT
This is the legal identifier for your Buick. It appears on
a plate in the front corner
of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side.
You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and
the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code.
This code will help you identify your engine,
specifications, and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on the spare tire cover. It’s very
helpful if you ever need to order parts. On this label is:
your VIN,
the model designation,
paint information, and
a list of all production options and special
equipment.
Be sure that this label
is not removed from the vehicle.
Add-on Electrical Equipment
NOTICE:
Don’t add anything electrical to your Buick
unless you check with your dealer first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment can keep other components from working
as they
should.
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Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your Buick, see “Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Buick” in the Index.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your car are protected from short
circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers and
fusible thermal links in the wiring itself.
The fuse panel is located under the instrument panel,
next to the parking brake.
L
Remove the cover to access the fuses. To put the cover
on, insert the tabs into the lower part of the fuse panel
and snap it in place.
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Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure
you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical size
and rating.
There are additional fuses located behind the right sound
insulator panel on the passenger side. If these require
service, see your Buick dealer.
Maxifuse/Relay Center
To check the fuses in this underhood fuse center, turn
the two knobs
1/4 turn counterclockwise and remove the
cover. There is a chart inside the cover that explains the
features and controls governed by each fuse and relay.
The PASS-Key
II@ fuse is located in the right side relay
center.
Headlights
The headlight wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in
the underhood fuse center. An electrical overload will
cause the lights to go on and off, or in some cases to
remain off. If this happens, have your headlight wiring
checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and a fuse. If
the motor overheats due to heavy
snow, etc., the wiper will
stop until the motor cools. If
the overload is caused by some electrical problem and
not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the current
load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and closes,
protecting the circuit until the problem
is fixed or goes
away.
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