1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE warning

To turn the system off, press the button l~cated at the
end of the shift lever.
The traction control system warning light will come on
and stay on. If the system is limiting wheel spin when
you press the button, the warning light will come
on -- but the system won’t turn off right away.
It will wait until there’s no longer a current need to hit
wheel spin.
Ym can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
?.he button again. The traction control system warning
Bi& xkcPetM go off.
Your vehicle may be equipped with GM Magnasteer ” ,
a steering system that continuousIy adjusts the effort you
feel when steering at all vehicle speeds. It provides ease
when parking yet a firm, solid feel at highway speeds.
You- steering can be adjusted for an easier or more firm
setting. See your dealer for information
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Here are some tips for winter driving: hclude
an ice
scraper, a smdl brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing,
a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and a
couple
of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will.
be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you pperly secure
these items
in YOU vehicle.
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Mere YOLI’HH find what to do about some problems that can occur the road.
5-2
5-2
5-3
5-7
5- 12
Hazard Warning Flashers
Other Warning Devices
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
sump Starting
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h..,, - . '
YQW hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position yow key is in, and even if the key isn't in.
To turn off the flashers, press down on the button again.
When the hazard warning flashers are CUI, your turn
signals won't work.
your vehicle.
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E you get the overheat wming but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometines
the engine can get a BittIe too hot when you:
@B Climb a long hill on a hot day.
8 Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle
for long periods in tra€€ic.
9 Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with sign of stem,
try this for a mimte or so:
I. Turn off your air conditioner.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest Fan
speed and opera the window as necessary.
otherwise, shift
to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (a)
or THmD (3 1.
3. If you're Ira a tra€fic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
If you 1'10 longer have the overheat wmimg, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
IO minutes. If the warning doesn't come back on,
you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there's still no sign of steam, YOU can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you're parked, to see if
the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning,
turn c$ftthe engine and get everyone out of the
a,chicke until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
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CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water,
OF some other
liquid like alcohol,
can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system
is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too hot but you wouldn’t
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could
be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
___~ __~ ~~ ___ __ __
In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the
engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended cooisant and the proper
coolant mixture.
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If none of them is true, use the %ong triphighway
maintenance schedule. Change the oil and filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months -- whichever
occurs
ht. Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed
engine
under highway conditions causes engine oil
to $re& down dower.
If any one of these is true for you, use the short tripkity
maintenance schedule:
8
Most trips are less than 5 to 13 miles (8 to I 6 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures
are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive id1ir.g (such as frequent
$riving
in stop-and-go traffic).
Most
trips are though dusty areas.
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
your vehicle.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other
commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine
oil to
break down
sooner. Hf any me of these is true for your
vehicle, then
YOU need to change your si1 and filter
every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever
occurs
kt. (See Engine Oil Life Monitor (Index) in
the Index.
1
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
ekmer,ts that may
be unhealthy for your skin and csdd
even cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on your skin
for very iong. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hznd cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about
the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be a real t-heat to the environment. If you
change
your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing
oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever dispose of
oil by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it
to a place that coilects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer,
a service station or a local recycling
center for kelp.
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Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transaxle fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids
md Eubricmts” in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid
to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
I. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the
dipstick hole
to bring it to the proper level.
It doesn’t
take much fluid, generally less than one
pint
(0.5 L). Don’t ove@Zl.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level ips
4. When the correct fluid level is obt.ained, push the
described
under “How to Check.”
dipstick back in
dl the way.
The cooling s stem in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 MI0 h) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL“ extended life coolant,
The following explains
your coding system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If YOU have a
problem with engine overheating, see “Engine
Overheating”
in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL’
coolant will:
J
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 OF 129 ” C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
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