1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE cruise control

Horn
Nearly the entire surface of the center pad of the
steering wheel is an active horn switch. Press anywhere
on the pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows
you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever toward you. Move the steering wheel to a
comfortable position, then release the lever to lock the
wheel in place.
'hrn SignaVMultifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:
0 Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
0 Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
0 Windshield Wipers and Washer
0 Cruise Control
Flash-to-Pass
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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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Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows
or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the system
working, or you may notice some noise, but this is normal.
Traction Control System (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the front brakes and reduces engine power
to
limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but
this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road conditions allow
you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control” in
the Index.)
TRAC
OFF
When the system is on, this
warning light will come on
to let you know if there’s
a
problem with your traction
control system.
I
See “Traction Control System Warning Light” in the
Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the
traction control system off
if you ever need to. (You
should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice or snow. See “Rocking Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
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Part C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections
Listed below are inspections and services which should
be performed at least twice a year (for instance, each
spring and fall). You should let your
GM dealer’s
service department or other qualified service center do
these jobs. Make sure any necessary repairs are
completed at once.
Proper procedures
to perform these services may be
found in a
GM service manual. See “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection
Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering
system for damaged, loose or missing parts, signs of
wear
or lack of lubrication. Inspect the power steering
lines and hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc. Clean and then inspect the drive
axle boot seals for damage, tears or leakage. Replace
seals
if necessary.
Exhaust System Inspection
Inspect the complete exhaust system. Inspect the body near
the exhaust system.
Look for broken, damaged, missing or out-of-position parts
as well
as open seams, holes, loose
connections or other conditions which could cause a heat
build-up
in the floor pan or could let exhaust fumes into
the vehicle. See “Engine Exhaust”
in the Index.
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they are
cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,
fittings and clamps; replace as needed.
Throttle Linkage Inspection
Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding,
and for damage or missing parts. Replace parts as
needed. Replace any cables that have high effort or
excessive wear.
Do not lubricate accelerator and cruise
control cables.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition. Also inspect drum brake linings
for wear and cracks. Inspect other brake parts, including
drums, wheel cylinders, calipers, parking brake, etc.
Check parking brake adjustment. You may need to have
your brakes inspected more often
if your driving habits
or conditions result in frequent braking.
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