1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE engine coolant

NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics
in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts OF accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If yon ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the past of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
In very cold weather, 0 OF (- I 8 O C) or colder, the engine
coolant
heater can he8p. You’ll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine wm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
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Plugging t.he cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into
a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away from
moving engine parts. If you don’t, it could
be damaged.
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Wow long shodd YOU keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying t~ list everything here, we ask that you contact
your
dealer in the area where you’ll be parking pur
vehicle. The dealer cm give you the best advice for that
particdar area.
Y0mr automatic transaxle has a shift lever located on the
steering column.
There we several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (PI: This Bocks your front wheels. It’s the best
position t~ we when YOU start your engine because pl~r
vehicle can’t move easily.
CAUTION:
I& is dangerous to get out of your vehick if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) 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 have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. TQ be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set
y0w parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
See ‘“Shifting Hnt~ PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
2-24
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Fuel Range: Press the FUEL button until the display
shows
FUEL RANGE. The fuel range will calculate the
remaining distance you can chive without refueling. This
calculation is based on the average fuel economy for the
last 25 miles (40.25 km) driven, and the fuel remaining
in the fuel
tank. The RESET button does not function in
this mode.
Fuel Used: Press the mTEk button until the display
shows
IFCTIEL USED. This display will show you how
much fuel has been used since the last reset.
TQ learn
how much fuel is used from a new starting point, press
the RESET button while the fbel used is displayed
-h
the DIC.
Oil Pressure: Press the GAGES button until OIL
PRESSURE appears in the display. If there are no
problems detected with the oil pressure, the display
will
show OIL PRESSURE NORMAL. If a low oil pressure
condition is detected, the display
will show OIL
PRESSURE LOW. If you see the OIL PRESSURE
LOW message, you could be low on oil or your oil is
not going through the engine properly. See your dealer
for service.
Coolant Temperature: Press the GAGES button until
COOLANT TEMB appears in the display. If there are no
problems detected with the temperature, C~C&4NI’
TEMP NORMAL will appear in the display. If the
temperature is too
high, COOLANT TEMP HOT will
appear in the display. If you see the COOLANT TEMP
HOT message, your engine is overheated. You should
pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off your
engine as soon as possible.
This manual explains what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
Battery Volts: Press the GAGES button until the
display shows BATTERY STAm.
If the voltage is
normal the display will show BATTERY STATE
NORMAE. If the voltage drops below 10.5 volts, the
display will show
BATTERY STAm LOW. If the
voltage
is above 16 volts, the display will show
BATTERY STATE
HIGH. If the display shows the high
or low message, you need
to have your battery checked.
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Oil Life Monitor (Index): Psess the GAGES button
until OIL LIFE INDEX appears in the display. The OIL
LEE INDEX NORMAL display will show an estimate
of the oil’s remaining useful Me. When the oil life index
is less
than IO%, the display will show OIL LIFE
INDEX CHANGE OIL. When you have the oil changed
according
to the maintenance schedule (see
“Maintenance Schedule” in the Index), you will have to
reset the oil We monitor.
To do this, press and hold the
RESET’
button for more than five seconds while the oil
life index
is being displayed on the DPC. The oil life will
change to
100%.
Tire Psessure Status: Press the GAGES button until
‘FWE IPWSSUWE appears in the display. TWE
PRESSUWE NORMAL is displayed when the Check
Tire Pressure System believes your ve~cle’s tire
pressures are normal. If a potential tire pressure problem
is detected, the display will show gIRE PRESSURE
LOW CHECK TIRES. If you see the azRE
PRESSURE LOW: CHECK TIRES message, you
should
st~p as soon as you can and check all your tires
for damage. (If a tire is flat, see ‘‘If a Tire Goes Flat” in
the Index.)
Also check the tire pressure in all four tires
as
soon as you can. See “Inflation - Tire Pressure” and
“Check Tire Pressure System” in the Index. mere
are
times when you will have to reset (calibrate)
the
Check Tire Pressure System. See “Check Tire
Pressure System” in
the Index.
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Other messages or warnings may appear in the DE
display such as:
0 WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID LOW
ENG COOLANT LOW - CHECK LEVEL
ENGINE OIL LOW - CHECK LEVEL
0 CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
0 TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVE
0 DOOR AJAR
0 TRUNKAJAR
Pressing any of the DIC control buttons will remove the
above messages or warnings
from the DIC display.
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in cold weather, the system will delay turning t5 re f anon
high, to avoid blowing cold air. The Iength of the delay
depends on the engine coolant temperature and the
outside temperature.
Pushing the FAN, AIR FLOW or
FRONT buttons will override this delay, turn off the
AUTO setting and change the fan speed.
You may also manually adjust the air delivery or
fan speed.
AIR FLOW This button is used to change the direction
of the airflow. The airflow choices available are
WINDSHIELD-FIBOR. If the systen is set for AUTO,
pressing the AIR FLOW button will display the current
airflow direction, the comfort setting and the fan
speed.
Press the AIR FLOW up or down button again to
change the direction of the airflow.
FLOOR, FLOOR-MID, MID and
OFF: If the passenger comfort CQII~~O~ is tuned on, It
can be turned off by pressing the OW button once.
Pressing the
OFF button a second time wiil turn off the
main system. Turning off the main system causes the fan
to turn off and the airflow to be directed to the FLOOR.
The system will still try to keep the interior of the
vehicle at
the previous chosen comfsrt settifig. The
outside temperature
will show on the display when the
system is off.
The ventilation system always allows fresh air t~ flow
through your vehicle when the vehicle is moving even
with
the system in the OFF mode.
VENT: The VENT button aEIows outside air to flow
through your vehicle without the air conditioning
compressor
working. Selecting VENT and the AUTO
button at the same time allows the system to contsoi
automatically without
the use of the ais: conditioning
compressor or the use of the MCIRC mode. To turn off
the VENT selection, push the VENT button again.
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When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what
you’ll see:
A. Radiator Pressure Cap
B. Electric Engine Fans
C. Coolant Recovery Tank
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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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Start the engine and let it mn until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting h~t. Watch QU~ fop the
engine cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may
be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of he proper DEX-COOP coolant mixture
ahrough the filler neck until the level reaches the
base
of the filler neck.
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