1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE Owners Manual

Windshield Wipers You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain
or
snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
. .I . . . /, ., . closer to LO, the shorter the delay between wipes. ,. .
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked
WIPER.
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST. Hold
it there until the wipers start, then let go. The wipers will
stop after one cycle. If you want more cycles, hold the
band on MIST longer. For
steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away
from you to the
LO position. For high-speed wiping,
turn the band further, to HI. To stop the wipers, move
the band to OFF.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent you
from seeing well enough to drive safely.
To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the
wiper blades before using them. If they’re frozen
to the windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them.
If your blades become damaged, get new blades
or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor.
A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
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Rain Sense Wipers (If Equipped)
This system automatically operates the wipers by
monitoring the amount of moisture on the windshield.
There is a sensor that controls the operation of this
feature mounted toward the passenger’s side windshield
interior, behind the rearview mirror.
The rain sense system is activated by turning the wiper
band to a position within the
DELAY area. You can set
the sensitivity level of the wipers by turning the wiper
band. The closer the wiper band is positioned to
LO, the
more sensitive the wipers are to rain. The closer it is positioned to
OFFMIST, the
less sensitive the wipers
are to rain.
If the wiper band is left in the DELAY area when the
ignition is turned
off, an initial wipe occurs when you
turn the ignition on as a reminder that the rain sense
feature
is active.
The rain sense wipers operate in a delay mode as well as
a continuous speed, depending on the amount of
moisture on the windshield and the sensitivity setting.
The MIST and wash cycles operate as normal and are
not effected by the rain sense function.
NOTICE:
To avoid wiper damage when using an automatic
car wash, turn the wiper band to
OFF to
disengage the rain sense feature.
It is important to note that the rain sense wiping feature
can be overridden at any time by manually turning the
wiper band
to LO or HI speed.
If the windshield on your vehicle ever needs
replacement, make sure that the new windshield
is rain
sense compatible.
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Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever there’s a paddle
with the word
PUSH on it. To spray washer fluid on the
windshield, push the paddle for less than a second. The
wipers will clear the window and then either stop or
return
to your preset speed. For more washer cycles,
push and hold the paddle.
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice
on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
If your vehicle is equipped with a DIC, a
WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID LOW message will
appear on the display when you are low on washer fluid.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can
maintain a speed
of about
25 mph (40 kmh) or more
without keeping your foot
on the accelerator.
This can
really help on long
trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts
off.
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0
0
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at a steady speed.
So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic. Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
~~~ ~~ ~
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
“Traction Control System”
in the Index.) When road
conditions allow you
to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control back
on.
Setting Cruise Control
I A CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control
you’re not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don’t want
to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want
to use it.
1. Move the cruise control
switch to
ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
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3. Push in the SET button
at the end of the lever
and release it. The
CRUISE light
on the
instrument panel will
come on.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Setting the cruise control at a desired speed and then
applying the brake will end the cruise control function.
Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise
control switch from ON to
WA (Resume/Accelerate)
for about half a second to
reset. This returns you to
your desired preset speed.
Remember, if you hold the switch at
WA longer than
half a second, the vehicle will accelerate until you
release the switch or apply the brake.
So unless you
want
to go faster, don’t hold the switch at WA.
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Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator
pedal to
go to a higher
speed. Push the button at
the end of the lever, then
release the button and
the accelerator pedal. You'll now cruise at the
higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from
ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you reach a
desired speed and then
release the switch. To
increase your speed in
very small amounts,
move the switch to
RIA
for less than half a
second and then
release it.
Each time you do this, your vehicle will
go about
1 mph (1.6 kmk) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you have set
the cruise control speed by pushing the SET button.
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Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Push in the button at the end of the lever until
you reach a desired
lower speed then
release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll
go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control
on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal, or
Move the cruise switch to OFF. The CRUISE light
will also go out.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
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Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
0 Interior Courtesy Lamps This knob
controls
these systems:
I I ,_ J I '-1 I I L-
,-
)::Jl)
'- #--
Pull the headlamp knob out to the first indent to turn on
the parking lamps. Pull the knob out further,
to the second
indent to
turn on the headlamps. Push the knob all the way
back in to
turn off the parking and headlamps.
Lamps On Reminder
If you leave the manual headlamp or parking lamp
switch on, remove the key from the ignition and open
the driver's door, you will hear a continuous warning
chime. The chime will turn
off when the lamps are
turned
off.
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