2000 BUICK PARK AVENUE battery

2-16
Content Theft-Deterrent System
Your vehicle is equipped
with a content
theft
-deterrent alarm
system. With this system,
the SECURITY light will
flash as you open the door
(if your ignition is off).
This light reminds you to activate the theft
-deterrent
system. Here's how to do it:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or the
remote keyless entry transmitter. The SECURITY
light should come on and stay on.
3. Close all doors. The SECURITY light should go off
after approximately 30 seconds. The alarm is not
armed until the SECURITY light goes off.
If a door is opened without the key or the remote keyless
entry transmitter, the alarm will go off. Your vehicle's
lamps will flash and the horn will sound for 30 seconds.
The lamps and horn will then turn off to save
battery power.Remember, the theft
-deterrent system won't activate if
you lock the doors with a key or use the manual door
lock. It activates only if you use a power door lock
switch with the door open, or with the remote keyless
entry transmitter. You should also remember that you
can start your vehicle with the correct ignition key if the
alarm has been set off.
Here's how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:

If you don't want to activate the theft
-deterrent
system, the vehicle should be locked with the door
key after the doors are closed.

Always unlock a door with a key, or use the remote
keyless entry transmitter. Unlocking a door any other
way will set off the alarm.
If you set off the alarm by accident, unlock any door
with your key. You can also turn off the alarm by
pressing the button with the unlock symbol on the
remote keyless entry transmitter. The alarm won't stop if
you try to unlock a door any other way.

2-22
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive
heat can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn't start right away, hold your key in
START for about three to five seconds at a time until
your engine starts. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try to help avoid draining your battery or
damaging your starter.
3. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for five or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
After waiting about 15 seconds, repeat the normal
starting procedure.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or 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 you ever have to have your vehicle towed,
see the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
In very cold weather, 0
F (-18
C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.

2-48 Battery Rundown Protection
This feature shuts off all lamps that are left on for more
than 10 minutes when the ignition is off. This will keep
your battery from running down.
Mirrors
Inside Manual Day/Night Rearview Mirror
When you are sitting in a comfortable driving position,
adjust the mirror so you can see clearly behind your
vehicle. Grip the mirror in the center to move it up or
down and side to side. The day/night adjustment allows
you to adjust the mirror to avoid glare from the lamps
behind you. Pull the tab forward for daytime use;
push it back for night use.
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an automatic electrochromic
day/night rearview mirror.
When this feature is turned on, the mirror automatically
changes to reduce glare from headlamps behind you.
A photocell on the mirror senses when it is becoming
dark outside. Another photocell built into the mirror face
senses when headlamps are behind you.
At night, when the glare is too high, the mirror will
gradually darken to reduce glare (this change may take a
few seconds). The mirror will return to its clear daytime
state when the glare is reduced.

2-62
The sunroof switch can be operated in four directions to
control sunroof movement. To open the glass panel and
sunshade, press the switch rearward and release. The
sunroof will open automatically to the full
-open
position. To stop the panel in a partially
-open position,
press the switch again at the desired point. To continue
to open fully, press the switch rearward again and
release. The sunshade can also be opened manually.
To close the glass panel, press and hold the switch
forward. The sunshade must be manually closed.
Once the sunroof is closed, it can be opened to a vent
position. Push the switch upward to vent. To close, pull
the switch downward. The sunshade must be opened and
closed manually for vent operation.
HomeLink
Transmitter
(If Equipped)
This transmitter allows you
to consolidate the functions
of up to three individual
hand
-held transmitters.
It will operate garage doors and gates, or other devices
controlled by radio frequency such as home/office
lighting systems.
The transmitter will learn and transmit the frequencies
of most current transmitters and is powered by your
vehicle's battery and charging system.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this
device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.

2-73 Battery Warning Light
When you turn the key to
RUN, this light will come
on briefly, to show the
battery charging system
is working.
When the light goes off and stays off, the charging
system is working.
If the light stays on, a chime will sound indicating you
need service, and you should take your vehicle to the
dealer at once. To save your battery until you get there,
turn off all accessories and turn off your climate
control system.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on
when you turn the key to
RUN. If it doesn't come on
then, have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn you if
there's a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See ªTowing Your Vehicleº
in the Index.)

2-79
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know in order to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
SERVICE ENGINE SOON light is on or not
working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on
-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is designed
to evaluate critical emission control systems during
normal driving. This may take several days of routine
driving. If you have done this and your vehicle still does
not pass the inspection for lack of OBD system
readiness, see your dealer or qualified service center to
prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
This light tells you if there
could be a problem with
your vehicle's engine
oil pressure.
The oil pressure light can come on briefly when you
turn your key to RUN. It goes off once you turn the key
to START. That's just a check to be sure the light works.
This is normal and doesn't show a problem. If it doesn't
come on and then go off, be sure to have it fixed so it
will be there to warn you if there is a problem.
When this light comes on and stays on, and a chime
sounds, it means oil isn't going through the engine
properly. The oil could be low, or there might be some
other oil problem. See your dealer for service.

2-85

ODO/TRIP: Use this button to display your total and
trip miles.

FUEL INFO: Press this button to display fuel
information such as fuel used, fuel range and
fuel economy.

GAGE INFO: Use this button to display oil pressure,
oil life, coolant temperature, tire pressure and
battery information.

RESET: This button, used along with other buttons,
will reset system functions.

ENG/MET: Use this button to change the display
between English and metric units.
DIC Controls and Displays
There are two lines in the DIC display. The bottom line
on the display area is left blank when the DIC displays
the driver number identified when entering the vehicle.
You can have your dealer program your name to
appear on this display line. See your dealer for
more information.When you turn the ignition on, the DIC will display
your DRIVER NUMBER. The system will then perform
a status check and display any messages if a problem
is detected.
If there are no problems detected, the display will return
to the mode selected by that driver the last time the
ignition was turned off.
If a problem is detected, a diagnostic message will
appear in the display. The following pages will show the
messages you may see on the DIC display.
The message center is continuously updated with the
vehicle's performance status.
ODO/TRIP
When this button is pressed, the display will show the
total mileage, and TRIP 1 or TRIP 2 miles. TRIP 1 and
TRIP 2 will display the miles traveled since the last
reset. To reset the trip odometer, press the ODO/TRIP
button until the trip miles are shown in the DIC display,
then press the RESET button. The trip odometer will
now accumulate miles until the next reset.

2-86
FUEL INFO
Fuel Used: Press the FUEL INFO button until the display
shows FUEL USED. This display will show you how
much fuel has been used since the last reset. To learn how
much fuel is used from a new starting point, press the
RESET button while the fuel used is displayed in the DIC.
Fuel Range: Press the FUEL INFO button until the
display shows FUEL RANGE. The fuel range will
calculate the remaining distance you can drive 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.
Instantaneous Fuel Economy: Press the FUEL INFO
button until the display shows FUEL ECONOMY INST.
Instantaneous fuel economy varies with your driving
conditions, such as acceleration, braking and the grade
of the road being traveled. The RESET button does not
function in this mode.
Average Fuel Economy: Press the FUEL INFO button
until the display shows FUEL ECONOMY AVERAGE.
Average fuel economy is viewed as a long term
approximation of your overall driving conditions. To
learn the average fuel economy from a new starting
point, press the RESET button while the average fuel
economy is displayed in the DIC.GAGE INFO
Coolant Temperature: Press the GAGE INFO button
until COOLANT TEMP appears in the display. If there
are no problems detected with the temperature,
COOLANT 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 ªEngine
Overheatingº in the Index.
Tire Pressure: Press the GAGE INFO button until TIRE
PRESSURE appears in the display. TIRE PRESSURE
NORMAL is displayed when the Check Tire Pressure
System believes your vehicle's tire pressures are normal.
If a potential tire pressure problem is detected, the display
will show TIRE PRESSURE LOW.
Battery Volts: Press the GAGE INFO button until the
display shows BATTERY STATE. If the voltage is
normal the display will show BATTERY STATE
NORMAL. If the voltage drops below 10.5 volts, the
display will show BATTERY STATE 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.