2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE Owner's Manual

Rear Reading Lamps
To turn on a rear reading lamp, press the button above
that rear door. To turn off the reading lamp, press
the button again.
Trunk Lamp
When you open the trunk to its full open position, a
lamp will come on inside the trunk. This lamp will
automatically turn off when the trunk is closed.
Glove Box Lamp
When you open the glove box, a lamp will come on
inside the glove box. This will automatically turn off when
the glove box is closed.
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.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
{CAUTION:
If the HUD image is too bright, or too high in
your ®eld of view, it may take you more time to
see things you need to see when it's dark
outside. Be sure to keep the HUD image dim
and placed low in your ®eld of view.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Head-Up Display
(HUD), you can see some of the driver information that
appears on your instrument panel cluster.
The information may be displayed in English or metric
units and appears as a re¯ection in the windshield.
The HUD consists of the following information:
·Speedometer Reading
·Turn Signal Indicators
·High-Beam Headlamp Indicator
·CHECK GAGES Message
3-17

The HUD shows these images when they are lighted on
the instrument panel cluster.
Be sure to continue scanning your displays, controls
and driving environment just as you would in a vehicle
without HUD. If you never look at your instrument
panel, you may not see something important, such as a
warning light.
Notice:Although the HUD image appears to be
near the front of the vehicle, do not use it as
a parking aid. The HUD was not designed for that
purpose. If you try to use it as such, you may
misjudge the distance and damage your vehicle.
The HUD controls are
located in the overhead
console.
1. Start your engine and slide the HUD dimmer switch
all the way up.
The brightness of the HUD image is determined by
whether the headlamps are on or off, and where
you have the HUD dimmer switch set.
2. Adjust the seat to a comfortable driving position.
Keep pressing the top arrow on the image height
adjuster to raise the image as far as possible.
3-18

3. Keep pressing the bottom arrow on the image
height adjuster to move the image as low as
possible, while still keeping it in full view.
4. Slide the dimmer switch downward until the HUD
image is no brighter than necessary.
To turn the HUD display off, slide the dimmer switch all
the way down.
If the sun comes out, the sky becomes cloudy, or if you
turn your headlamps on, you may need to adjust the
HUD brightness using the dimmer switch. Polarized
sunglasses could make the HUD image harder to see.
To change the display from English to metric units,
push the ENG/MET button located to the left of
the steering column.
Care of the HUD
Clean the inside of the windshield as necessary to
remove any dirt or ®lm that reduces the sharpness or
clarity of the HUD image.
To clean the HUD lens, spray household glass cleaner
on a soft, clean cloth. Gently wipe and dry the HUD
lens. Do not spray cleaner directly on the lens to avoid
cleaner leaking inside the unit.
If You Can't See The HUD Image When
the Ignition is On
If the ignition is on and you can't see the HUD image,
check to see if:
·The headlamps are on.
·Something is covering the HUD unit.
·The HUD dimmer control is adjusted properly.
·The HUD image is adjusted to the proper height.
·A fuse is blown. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 5-87
.
Keep in mind that your windshield is part of the HUD
system. If you ever have to have your windshield
replaced, be sure to get one that is designed for HUD
or your HUD image may look blurred or out of focus.
Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA)
If your vehicle has this feature, ultrasonic rear parking
assist can help you to determine how close an object is
to your rear bumper within a given area, making
parking easier.
3-19

The URPA display is located inside the vehicle, above
the rear window. It has three color-coded lights that can
be seen through the rearview mirror.
{CAUTION:
Even with the Ultrasonic Rear Park Assist
system, the driver must check carefully before
backing up. The system does not operate
above typical backing speeds of 3 mph
(5 km/h) while parking. And, the system
doesn't detect objects that are more than
5 feet (1.5 meters) behind the vehicle.
So, unless you check carefully behind you
before and when you back up, you could strike
children, pedestrians, bicyclists or pets behind
you, and they could be injured or killed.
Whether or not you are using Rear Park Assist,
always check carefully behind your vehicle
before you back up and then watch closely as
you do.
How the System Works
Ultrasonic rear parking assist comes on automatically
when the shift lever is moved into REVERSE (R) and the
vehicle speed is less than 3 mph (5 km/h). When the
system comes on, the three lights on the display
will illuminate to let you know that the system is working.
URPA senses how close your vehicle is to an object.
The distance is determined by the four rear sensors
located on the bumper. When shifting into REVERSE (R)
and an object is detected, one of the following will
occur:
·At 5 ft. (1.5 m) an amber light will come on.
·At 40 in. (1.0 m) two amber lights will come on.
·At 20 in. (0.5 m) two amber lights and a red light will
come on and a continuous chime will sound.
·At 1 ft. (0.3 m) the chime will still be going
continuously and all three lights will ¯ash.
A chime will sound the ®rst time an object is detected, if
the object is between 20 inches (0.5 m) and 5 feet
(1.5 m) away.
URPA can detect objects 3 inches (7.6 cm) and wider,
and at least 10 inches (2.5 cm) tall, but cannot detect
objects that are above trunk level. In order for the rear
sensors to recognize an object, it must be within
operating range.
3-20

If the URPA system is not functioning properly, the
display will ¯ash red, indicating that there is a problem.
The light will also ¯ash red when you are driving if a
trailer is attached to your vehicle, or if you have a bicycle
or an object hanging out of your trunk. The light will
continue to ¯ash until the trailer or the object is removed
and your vehicle is driven forward at at least 15 mph
(25 km/h). It may also ¯ash red if the ultrasonic sensors
are not kept clean. For cleaning instructions, see
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle on page 5-82.
So be sure to keep your rear bumper free of mud, dirt,
snow, ice and slush or the system may not work
properly. If after cleaning the rear bumper and then
driving at at least 15 mph (25 km/h), the display
continues to ¯ash red, see your dealer. It may also ¯ash
red if your vehicle is moving in REVERSE (R) at a
speed greater than 3 mph (5 km/h). Other conditions
that may affect system performance include things like,
the vibrations from a jackhammer or the compression
of airbrakes on a very large truck.
As always, drivers should use care when backing up a
vehicle. Always look behind you, being sure to check
for other vehicles, obstructions and blind spots.
Accessory Power Outlets
The accessory power outlets can be used to plug in
electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone or
CB radio.Your vehicle has two power outlets located in the rear
storage area of the front center console. See
Center
Console Storage Area on page 2-44for more
information on location.
Your vehicle may have a small cap that must be pulled
down to access the accessory power outlet. If it
does, when not using the outlet be sure to cover it with
the protective cap.
The accessory power outlets will only operate while the
ignition key is in RUN and for 10 minutes after turning
the ignition off. If you would like to operate an accessory
for an extended period of time, contact your dealer for
more information.
Notice:When using an accessory power outlet,
maximum electrical load must not exceed 15 amps.
Always turn off any electrical equipment when
not in use. Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain your battery.
Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible to
the accessory power outlet and could result in blown
vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a problem
see your dealer for additional information on accessory
power outlets.
Notice:Adding some electrical equipment to your
vehicle can damage it or keep other things from
working as they should. This wouldn't be covered by
your warranty. Check with your dealer before
adding electrical equipment, and never use anything
that exceeds the amperage rating.
3-21

When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow the
proper installation instructions included with the
equipment.
Notice:Power outlets are designed for accessory
plugs only. Do not hang any type of accessory
or accessory bracket from the plug. Improper use of
the power outlet can cause damage not covered
by your warranty.
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
The front ashtray may be removed for cleaning. To
remove, grasp the sides and pull forward.
The rear ashtrays are located on each rear door panel.
To remove the rear ashtray, open the lid and ease
the ashtray upward until the edge can be grasped to pull
the ashtray up and out.
Notice:Don't put papers or other ¯ammable items
into your ashtrays. Hot cigarettes or other smoking
materials could ignite them, causing a damaging ®re.
There is a cigarette lighter near the front ashtray. To
use it, push it in all the way and let go. When it's ready,
it will pop back out by itself.
Notice:Don't hold a cigarette lighter in with your
hand while it is heating. If you do, it won't be able to
back away from the heating element when it's
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
Climate Controls
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
3-22

Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic):Press the AUTO button for
automatic control of the inside temperature, the air
delivery mode and the fan speed.
1. Press the AUTO button.
2. Adjust the temperature to 75É F (24É C).
Choosing the coldest or warmest temperature
setting will not cause the system to heat or cool any
faster. If you set the system at the warmest
temperature setting, the system will remain in
manual mode at that temperature and it will not go
into automatic mode.
In cold weather, the system will start at reduced fan
speeds to avoid blowing cold air into your vehicle
until warmer air is available. The system will
start out blowing air at the ¯oor but may change
modes automatically as the vehicle warms up
to maintain the chosen temperature setting. The
length of time needed for warm up will depend on
the outside temperature and the length of time
that has elapsed since your vehicle was last driven.
3. Wait for the system to regulate. This may take from
10 to 30 minutes. Then adjust the temperature, if
necessary.
Do not cover the solar sensor located in the center of
the instrument panel, near the windshield. For more
information on the solar sensor, see ªSensorsº later in
this section.
Manual Operation
Pressing the FAN or AIR FLOW buttons cancels
automatic operation and places the system in manual
mode. Press the AUTO button to return to automatic
operation.
TEMP (Temperature):To manually adjust the
temperature inside the vehicle, push the TEMP arrow.
Push the TEMP up arrow for warmer temperature
settings and the TEMP down arrow for cooler
temperature settings. The setting will be shown on the
display. The display will return to the outside
temperature after a few seconds.
9FAN:Pressing the FAN button will display and hold
the current fan speed while in manual mode. If you
want the fan to run at a lower speed, push the down
arrow on the FAN button. If you want to increase the fan
speed, push the up arrow on the FAN button. The fan
indicators will also be shown on the display.
If the air¯ow seems low when the fan is at the highest
setting, the passenger compartment air ®lter may
need to be replaced. For more information, see
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-27.
AIR FLOW:Pressing the AIR FLOW button will display
and hold the current setting while in manual mode.
Use the up and down arrows on the AIR FLOW button
to cycle through the available modes.
3-23

WINDSHIELD-FLOOR:This mode directs most of the
air¯ow to the windshield with some air¯ow to the
outboard outlets (for the side windows) and the ¯oor
outlets.
MID:This mode directs air¯ow through the instrument
panel outlets.
FLOOR-MID:This mode directs air¯ow through both
the ¯oor and the instrument panel outlets. There is also
a small amount of air directed to the windshield and
the outboard outlets (for the side windows).
FLOOR:This mode directs most of the air¯ow to the
¯oor outlets with some directed to the outboard
outlets (for the side windows) and the windshield.
OFF:Press the OFF button once to turn off the
passenger climate control, if it has been activated.
Pressing the OFF button a second time will turn off the
main system. The outside temperature will be shown
on the display when the system is off.
VENT:Pressing the VENT button allows outside air to
¯ow through your vehicle without the air conditioning
compressor working. To turn off the VENT selection,
push the VENT button again.
Selecting the VENT and AUTO buttons at the same
time allows the system to control the air¯ow
automatically without using the air conditioning
compressor or the recirculation mode.RECIRC (Recirculation):Press this button to limit the
amount of outside air coming into the vehicle. It can
be used to prevent outside air and odors from entering
your vehicle or to help heat or cool the air inside
your vehicle more quickly. Press this button to turn the
recirculation mode on or off. When the button is
pressed, an indicator light will come on. The recirculation
mode cannot be used with the FRONT defrost or
VENT mode.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot air escape;
then close them. This helps to reduce the time it takes
for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps the system
to operate more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days, press the AUTO
button and the system will automatically enter
recirculation mode and the temperature will be at the full
cold position for maximum cooling.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
may cause the air inside of your vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening, after the air in
your vehicle has cooled, turn the recirculation mode off.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from
the air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling or
after turning off the engine. This is normal.
3-24