1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE Owners Manual

j NOTICE:
Spinning your wheeEs can destroy parts sf your
vehicle as well as the tires. If YOU spin the wheels
&OO fast while shifting your transaxle back and
forth, you can destroy your tramaxle.
~ ~ ~~~~
FOP information about using tire chains on ycur vehicle,
see “Tire
Chains” in the Index.
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6-2
6- 3
4-9
6-12
4-17
6- 19
4-20
6-23
5-27
6-28
6-29
4-32
6-33
6-45
6-46
Service
Fuel
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Supercharger
Oil
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
Engine Coolant
Radiator Bressure Cap
VVindskieTd Washes Fluid
Br&es
3 attery
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires Appearance
Care
Cleaning the Inside QE Y(.w VehicEe
Cleaning
the Outside of Your Vehicle
Underbody Maintenance
Chemical
Paint Spotting
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle icientifkation Number (VIN)
Electrical System
Removing the Rear Seat Cushion
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Re€rigerants
Engine Specifications
Vehicle Dimensions
Normal Maintenance Replacement 'Parts
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Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to
be happy with it. We hope you’II go to your dealer €or
all your service needs. You’ll get genuine GM parts and
GM-trained
and supported service people.
We hope you’ll want to keep your GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Genuine
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Vehicle” in the Index.
You should keep a record with a111 parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date
of any service work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in the Index.
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Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect
the airdaow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your dealer before adding equipment to the outside
of
your vehicle. The
8th digit sf your vehicle
identification number
(Vm) shows the code lettee for your engine. You will
find the VIN at the top left of your instmment panel.
(See “Vehicle Identifkation Number’’ in the Endex.)
If you have the 3800 engine (VIN Code use regula
unleaded gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher. If you’re
using fuel rated
at the recommended octane or higher
and
you hear heavy knocking, your engine needs
service. But don’t
worry if YOU hear a little pinging
noise when you’re accelerating or driving
up a hill.
That’s normal, and YOU don’t have to buy a higher
octane fuel
to get rid of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant
knock
that means you have a problem.
If you have the 3800 Supercharged engine (VHN
Code I), use premium unleaded gasoline rated at
91 octane or higher. With the 3800 Supercharged
engine, in
an emergency, you may be able to use a
lower QC~XE -- as low as 87 -- if heavy knocking does
not occur. If you are using 91 cx higher octane unleaded
gasoline and
YOU hear heavy knocking, your engine
needs service.
6-3
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!F your vehicle Is certified to meet California Emission
Sbmdirrds (indicated the underhood emission control
idxl), it is designed to ogerate on heEs that meet
C”a1Efornia specificztions. If such fuels are not available
states
adopting California e:raissions standads, your
i~hicfe will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
fktPeral specifications, but emission control system
;?crt’om.srmmce may be afiected. The maTfunctian indicator
Fmrp OR your instrument panel may turn on and/or your
v&kk may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs, return
to ywr nlrtEnorlzed Buick dealer Ear diagnosis to
To provide ckaner air, a11 gasdines in the United States
are now required to c~ntain ~ddifves that will help
?revent
deposits from forming in you erz.gine and fuel
system, allowing your emission control system to
function properly. Therefore,
you shdd sot have to add
anything to the fuel,. In addition, gasdines containir,g
oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines may be available in your area to
help clean the air. General Motors recommends that you
use these gasolines if they comply with the
specifications described
edier.
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Fuels iB Foreign c@n&+@s
If yon plan on driving in another country outside the
United States
or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never ease Headed gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text on &el. Costly repairs
caused
by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your
wappanty.
To check on fuel availability, ask ann auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going ad give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution
Corporation
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa,
Ontario LIH 8P7
The cap is behind a hinged door on the driver’s side of
your vehicle.
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