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.
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Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your
Buick and how to use your safety belts properly. You
can also learn about some things you should
not do with
air bags and safety belts.
Seats and Seat Controls
This part tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them,
and also about memory seats, reclining seatbacks and
head restraints.
Manual Seat
You may have a manual seat on the passenger side of
your Park Avenue. Move the lever under the front seat
to unlock it. Slide the seat
to where you want it. Then
release the lever and try to move the seat with your
body, to make sure the seat is locked into place.
Power Seat
Front Tilt Control (F): Raise the front of the seat by
pressing on the left side of the switch. Press on the right
side of the switch to lower the front of the seat.
Center Controls (C): Move the seat forward or back by
pressing the control on the front or back. Raise the seat
by pressing the control on the left. Press the control on
the right to lower the seat.
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Remote Keyless Entry Personal Choice
Feature (Option)
If your Park Avenue
is equipped with the
Remote Keyless
Entry System, each
transmitter can be
programmed to move the driver’s seat and
outside mirrors to a set
memory position when
the transmitter’s
UNLOCK button
is pressed.
For programming instructions, see “Personal Choice Features” in the Index.
ieated Front Seats (Option)
If your vehicle has this option, the controls are located
to
the side of the driver and front passenger seats.
Push the switch closest to the front
of the driver’s seat
forward and the driver’s seat will start to warm up.
Push the switch closest to the front
of the front
passenger’s seat forward and
the front passenger seat
will begin to warm up.
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How cu ear Safety Be,,, +erly
Adult
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different rules for
smaller children and babies.
If a child will be riding in
your Buick, see the part of this manual called “Children.”
Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
This part describes the driver’s restraint system.
Lap-S----Ider Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear
it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let
it get twisted.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure
it is secure.
If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt
Extender” at the end of this section.
Make sure
the release button on the buckle is
positioned
so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly
if you ever had to.
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Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
U
Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. Never
put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here’s why:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured if the right front passenger’s
air bag inflates. This
is because the back of a
rear-facing child restraint would be very close to
the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing
child restraint in the rear seat.
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Because your vehicle has a right front passenger air
bag, always move the seat as far back as it will
go
before securing a forward-facing child restraint.
(See “Seats” in the Index.)
Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions say.
Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the chdd’s
face or
neck, put it behind the child restraint.
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I Front Storage Armrest
8. Snap the panel with your garage door opener into
the cover.
If your garage door opener doesn’t work after it is
installed, another pin and hole combination will have to
be tried. If the opener doesn’t turn off after the lever is
released, the pin will have to be filed down. The armrest
between the front seats opens into a storage
area.
To open it, pull up on the lever at the front edge.
Inside are cupholders which can be rotated forward for
use with the cover closed. There is also a removable
coinholder and a storage area for cassette tapes and
compact discs.
Rear Storage Armrest
Your vehicle’s rear seat armrest may open into a storage
area. To open it, pull up
on the lever at the front edge.
Inside are cupholders which can be rotated forward for
use with the cover closed.
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Ventilation Tips
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Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction such as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work better, reducing the chance of
fogging your windows.
When you enter a vehicle with the electronic touch
system in cold weather, select HTR to supply air
through the floor outlets. Then move the FAN lever
to HIGH for a few moments before driving away.
This will blow moist air from the intake outlets
toward the floor, not the windshield. It reduces the
chance of fogging your windows. If you have the
dual automatic comfortemp system, the AUTO
setting will do this for you. Manual operation of the
automatic comfortemp system in the
FLOOR mode
will also supply air through the floor outlets.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects.
This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.
When the engine idles for a long time, the exterior
temperature sensor may cause the system
to blow air
that is too cool. Once the vehicle is moving again,
the system will try to maintain the set temperature
inside your vehicle.
0 When you start your vehicle and the EXT display
flashes (dual automatic comfortemp system only) for
some time, the system may need repair. See your
Buick dealer.
Defogging and Defrosting
On cool but humid days, use FRONT to keep the
windshield and side windows clear and to quickly
remove fog, frost or ice from the windshield.
If you have the the electronic touch system, adjust the
TEMPERATURE lever toward
WARM and the FAN
lever toward HIGH.
If you have the dual automatic cornfortemp system,
while in the AUTO mode, the fan speed will vary.
If a
manual fan speed setting
is selected, the fan speed will
remain at that selection until the engine is turned
off or
another selection has been made. To turn off FRONT,
press
AUTO or AIR FLOW.
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Towing a Trailer
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike and
injure people in
a sudden stop or turn, or in
a crash.
0 Put things in the trunk of your vehicle. In a
trunk, put them as far forward as you can.
Try to spread the weight evenly.
inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops of the seats.
0 Don’t leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.
0 When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
Electronic Level Control
This feature keeps the rear of your vehicle level as the
load changes. It’s automatic
-- you don’t need to
adjust anything.
If you don’t use the corn equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when
you pull a
trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the
brakes may not work well
-- or even at all. You
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
Pull
a trailer only if you have followed all the
steps in this section. Ask your Buick dealer for
advice and information about towing
a trailer
with your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered
by
your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your Buick dealer
for important information about towing
a trailer
with your vehicle.
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