1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE Owners Manual

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Your vehicle has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You
have to fully apply your regular brake before you can
shift
from PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
"Automatic Transaxle" in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (PI, ease pressure on
the shift lever -- push the shift 'lever all the way into
PARK (PI as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear
YOU want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't
shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Turn the key to OW. Open and close the driver's
door to turn
off the retained accessory power feature.
Apply
and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can. CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves,
dry grass or other things that
can burn.
.. . .. 3 32 drn-2
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Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide
(CO), which you can’t see or
smell.
It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
0
0
e
Your exhaust system sounds strange
or different.
Your vehicle
gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
YQUS vehicle was damaged when driving
over
high points on the road or over
road debris.
Repairs weren’t
done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
Q Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
blow
out any CQ; and
It’s better not to park with the
engine running. 3118 if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
Idling the engine with the climate control system
off could sallow dangerous exhaust into YOME-
vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon
momxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in @ace can be
a blizzard. (See
“Blizzard”
in the Index.)
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I& can be dangerous to get ut of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (PI with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine mnnhg, the vehicle can BP~QV~ suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure YOW
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re OEI fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (PI.
H701Iow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index.
If YOU are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. Switches
on the driver’s
mest conltrol.each of the
windows while the
ignition is on or retained accessory
power
is active. In addition, each passenger door has a
switch for its own window.
2-33
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The switch for the driver’s window has an express-down
feature. Pull the switch back all the way, release it and
the window will lower automatically.
To stop the
window from lowering, pull the switch again. To
partially open the window, pull the switch back half
way. When the switch is released, the window will stop
moving.
To raise the window, press and hold the
switch
forward.
Press the window lock switch on the driver’s armrest to
disable dl passenger window switches,
or just the rear
passenger switches.
The middle of the switch will light
to indicate thc window lockout is active.
The diver’s window corat.rds will slill be operable. This is
a useful fwture when you have children as passengers.
Press the windcw lock switch a second time to ailow
passengers to use their window controls again. The light
in the center of the switch will go off to indicate that the
feature is disabled.
Vehicles are delivered programed
to Bock out all
passenger windows. If you have the optional DK, you
can choose
to lock out only the rea- windows. See
“Personal Choice Features” or “Driver Information
Center’’ in the Index for programming instructions.
If
you do not have the DIC feature, see your dealer if YOU
choose to have this setting changed to lock out only the
rear windows.
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.
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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 Iever to lock the
wheel
in piace.
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. . . . . . . . . . . . .,.>:<<.:
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes YOGI-:
e Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
Headlamp PIighLow Beam Changer
0 Windshield Wipers and Washer
Cruise Control
Flash-to-Pass
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The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These pcsitions aIbw you
to signal a turn or m. Iarae change.
To signal a mrn, move the lever all the way up
or down. Wnen the turn is hished, the lever will
return automatically.
pane! will flash in the
direction
cf the turn OF lane
change.
Hf your vehicle is
equipped with the Head-Up
will also apex in the
display area to indicate the
directim of the turn or
lane change.
Display (HUD), an mow
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E a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid itr~
accident. If the mows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the €use (see “‘Fuses md Circuit
Breakers” in the Index) and f~r burned-out bulbs.
If you have a trailer towing option with added wiring for
the trailer lamps, the signal indicator will flash even if a
turn signal bulb is burned aut. Check the front and rea
turn signal lamps regularly to make sure they are
workirzg. Note: You do not need to add a
different Basher.
If your turn signal is left on ~CZ more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 h), a chime will sound ai each flash of the turn
signal. To turn df the chime, move the turn signal lever
to the dTposition.
When the high beams are
on, a light the instrdment
panel wiil ~SQ be on. if
This feztuse lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass. It
works even if your headamps xe 3ff.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, but not
so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are off or on low beam, your
high-beam headlamps will turn on. They’ll stay QPI as
long as you hold the Iever toward you and the
high-beam indicator on the dash will come on. Release
the Iever to turn the high-beam headlamps off.
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L~ ,... .e... . i. : . :.:. .:. . . ... . .
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked WIPER.
For a siagle wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST. HoId
it these until the wipers start, them let go. The wipers will
stop after one cycle. If YOU want more cycles, hold the
band on MIST longer.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain OH
snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
closer to LO, the shorter the delay between wipes.
For steady wiping at
low speed, turn the band away
from you to the LO position. For high-speed wiping,
turn the band further, io HI. To stop the wipers, move
the band to OFF.
Remember that damaged wiper biades may prevent you
from seeing well enough to dive safely. TO avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before
using them. Hf they're frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your
blades become damaged, get s,ew blades or
Made inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor. A
circuit breaker wid stcp rhe motor until it cools. CBeu
away snow OF ice to prevent an overload.
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