The 1996 Buick Park Avenue Owner’s Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems ............................................................. 1-1
Features and Controls .................................................................. 2-1
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... 3-1
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains “SRS” system.
This section explains how to start and operate your Buick.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or
overheated engine, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick’ running properly
and looking good.
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 6-1
Maintenanceschedule .................................................................. 7-1
Customer Assistance Information ........................................................ 8-1
This section tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service publications. It also
gives you information
on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8-7.
Index ........................................................................\
........ 9-1
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want
to read.
i
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1. Air Outlet
2. Headlamps Switch
3. Parking Lamps Switch
4. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
5. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
6. Instrument Cluster/Gages
7. Hazard Warning Flasher Switch
8. Audio System
9. Passenger’s Side SRS (Air Bag)
10. Glove Box
11. Climate Control System
12. Ashtray and Cigarette Lighter
13. Ignition Switch
14. Driver’s Side
SRS (Air Bag)
15. Traction Control Switch
16. Fuel Button
17.
Trunk Release
18. Hood Release
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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section you’ll find out how to operate the comfort
control systems and audio systems offered with your
Buick.
Be sure to read about the particular system
supplied with your vehicle.
Comfort Controls
This section tells you how to operate your comfort
controls. Your comfort control system uses
ozone-friendly
R- 134a refrigerant.
With these systems, you can control the heating,
cooling and ventilation in your Buick.
Your vehicle
also has
a flow-through ventilation system described
later in this section.
Electronic Touch Climate Control
If your Buick has this climate control system, the
following information tells you how it works.
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Audio Systems
Your Delco@ audio system has been designed to operate
easily and give years
of listening pleasure. You will get
the most enjoyment out of
it if you acquaint yourself
with it first. Find out what your Delco system can do
and how to operate all its controls, to be sure you’re
getting the most out of the advanced engineering that
went into it.
Setting the Clock
Press and hold HRS until the correct hour appears. Press
and hold
MIN until the correct minute appears.
You may set the clock with the ignition
off if you
press
RECALL first and follow the same procedure
described above.
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player
Playing the Radio
VOLUME: Turn this knob to turn the system on and
off. Turn it clockwise to increase the volume. Turn it
counterclockwise to decrease the volume.
RECALL: Press the upper knob briefly to recall the
station being played or to display the clock.
To change
what
is normally shown on the display (station or time),
press the knob until you see the display you want, then
hold the knob until the display flashes.
If you press the
3-12
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PREV (1): Press this button to go to the start of the
current track if more than eight seconds have played.
If
you hold the button or press it more than once, the
player will continue moving back through the disc.
The sound will be muted while seeking.
NEXT (2): Press this button to go to the next track.
If you hold the button or press
it more than once, the
player will continue moving forward through the disc.
The sound will be muted while seeking.
The
SEEK down and up arrows will also find the
previous and next selections on the disc.
44 (3): Press and hold this button to return to a passage
quickly. You will hear sound.
.. (4): Press and hold this button to advance to a
passage quickly. You will hear sound.
RAND (6): Press this button to hear the tracks in
random, rather than sequential, order.
AM-FM: Press this button to play the radio when a disc
is in the player.
If you turn
off the ignition or radio with a disc in the
player, it will stay in the player. When you turn
on the
ignition or system, the disc will start playing where
it
stopped, if it was the last-selected audio source.
SOURCE: Press this knob to change to the disc
function when the radio is on. When a disc is inserted,
the disc will play until you press
AM-FM. Then the
disc will stop playing and the radio will play. Press
SOURCE again to play a disc again. CD PLAY will
show on the display.
EJECT Press this button to remove the disc. The radio
will play.
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PREV (1): Press this button to go to the start of the
current track, if more than eight seconds have played.
If you hold the button or press it more than once, the
player will continue moving back through the disc.
The sound will be muted while seeking.
NEXT (2): Press this button to go to the next track.
If you hold the button or press it more than once, the
player will continue moving forward through the disc.
The sound will be muted while seeking.
The
SEEK down and up arrows will also find the
previous and next selections on the disc.
44 (3): Press and hold this button to return to a passage
quickly. You will hear sound.
.. (4): Press and hold this button to advance to a
passage quickly. You will hear sound.
RAND (6): Press this button to hear the tracks in
random, rather than sequential, order.
AM-FM: Press this button to play the radio when a disc
is in the player.
If you turn
off the ignition or radio with a disc in the
player, it will stay in the player. When you turn on the
ignition or system, the disc will start playing where
it
stopped, if it was the last-selected audio source.
SOURCE: Press this button to change to the disc
function when the radio is on. When a disc is inserted,
the disc will play until you press
AM-FM. Then the
disc will stop playing and the radio will play. Press
SOURCE again to play a disc again. CD PLAY will
show on the display.
EJECT Press this button to remove the disc. The radio
will play.
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Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts in them,
as your Buick does when it is new. When
you replace parts of your braking system
-- for example,
when your brake linings wear down
and you have to
have new ones put in
-- be sure you get new genuine
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may
no longer work properly. For example, if someone
puts in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle,
the balance between your front and rear brakes can
change
-- for the worse. The braking performance
you’ve come to expect can change in many other ways
if someone puts
in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Every new Buick has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom
battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, take off the black, negative
(-) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See “Jump Starting” in the Index
for tips on working around
a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature” in the Index.
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Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which
should be performed at the intervals specified to help
ensure the safety, dependability and emission control
performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones,
as shown
in
Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
perform these underhood checks at each
fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See “Engine Oil” in the Index for
further details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add the proper
coolant mix if necessary. See “Engine Coolant” in the
Index for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the
windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if
necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in the Index
for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures. See
“Tires” in the Index for further details.
Cassette Deck Service
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
50 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems” in the Index
for further details.
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