1996 BUICK PARK AVENUE Owners Manual

4
Air Cleaner
The air cleaner is in the front right section of the
engine compartment.
1. Remove the screws on the air cleaner housing cover.
Before servicing the air cleaner, the Powertrain Control
Module (PCM) cover must be removed. Remove the
two wing nuts to remove the PCM cover.
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2. Remove the air intake hose that snaps over the
throttle body by pulling the hose upward and away from the throttle body. After detaching the hose
from the throttle body, then pull back the entire
rear portion
of the air cleaner by pulling upward
and rearward.
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3. Replace the air filter.
4. Reinstall the rear section of the air cleaner.
5. Reattach the air intake hose.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
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1 Supercharger Oil
Operati--; the engine with the air cleaner off can
cause you or others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air, it stops flame if the engine
backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the engine
backfires, you could be burned. Don’t drive with it off, and be careful working on the engine with
the air cleaner
off.
NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving. Unless you
are
technically qualified
and have the proper
tools, you should let
your dealer or a
qualified service
center perform
this
maintenance.
When to Check
Check oil level every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or every
36 months, whichever occurs first.
What Kind of Oil to Use
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants’’ in the Index
and use only the recommended oil.
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How to Check and Add Oil
Check oil only when the engine is cold. Allow the
engine to cool two to three hours after running.
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I
If you remove the supercharger oil fill plug while
the engine is hot, pressure may cause hot oil to
blow out of the oil fill hole. You may be burned.
Do not remove the plug until the engine cools.
1. Remove the wiring harness shield.
2. Clean the area around the oil fill plug before
removing
it.
3. Remove the oil fill plug using a 3/16 Allen wrench.
4. The oil level is correct when it just reaches the
bottom
of the threads of the inspection hole.
5. Replace the oil plug with the O-ring in place. Torque
to
88 lb-in (10 N-m).
6. Replace wiring harness shield.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more
of these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90 OF (32 O C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the
Index.
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How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have
this done at your hick dealership
Service' Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
1 NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle.
Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be sure to
get an acc ate reading if
you check your
transaxle fluid. UT
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level
if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer. To
get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
180 "F to 200 "F
(82°C to 93°C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about
15 miles
(24
km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(1.0"C). If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), you may have
to drive longer.
Checking the Fluid Level
0
0
0
0
Park your vehicle on a level place.. Keep the
engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the
shift lever
in PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift '
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever
in PARK (P). '
Let the engine run at idle for three to five rhinutes.
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I
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
1. The transaxle fluid
dipstick top is
a
round loop and is
next to the brake
master cylinder
behind the engine
block. Pull out the
dipstick and wipe it
I with a clean rag or
paper towel.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must
be in the cross-hatched area.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
8
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper
fluid 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 fluid at the
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a pint
(0.5 L). Don’t ovel-fill. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that
label is made especially for your automatic transaxle.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11 is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
dipstick hole to
bring it to the proper level.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to remain in your
vehicle for
5 years or 100,000 miles (166 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and how
to add coolant when
it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your Buick will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
9 Give boiling protection up to 265 OF ( 129 O C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
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NOTICE:
When adding coolant it is important that you use
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored, silicate-free)
coolant meeting
GM Specification 6277M.
If silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. What
to Use
Use a mixture of one-half
clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze that meets
GM Specification
6277M, which won’t damage aluminum parts. Use
GM Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer) (GM Part
No. 3634621) with any complete coolant change. If you
use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
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