2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE climate control

If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not in¯ate in a crash, or they
could even in¯ate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the air bag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should ¯ash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it ®xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Battery Warning Light
When you turn the key to
RUN, this light will come
on brie¯y, 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.
3-34

After you press the unlock button on your transmitter
with the ignition in RUN, the DIC will automatically
display the identi®ed driver number. The vehicle
will recall the personal choice settings that were last
made to correspond to your transmitter, including your
radio and climate control settings. See
Climate
Controls Personalization on page 3-28.
If you unlock the vehicle using your door key instead of
your transmitter, the DIC will not change drivers and
will recall the information from the last transmitter used
or the last driver using one of the MEMORY buttons.
If this happens and you were not the last driver of
the vehicle, simply press your correct driver number on
the appropriate MEMORY button or press the unlock
button on your transmitter.
The DIC can be used to program the following personal
choice features available with your vehicle:
·Memory Seat Recall
·Programmable Automatic Door Locks
·Security Feedback
·Delayed Locking
·Perimeter Lighting
·Outside Curb View Assist Mirror
·Window Lock OutSee the following steps for personalization programming
instructions.
1. Turn the ignition on and keep the transaxle in
PARK (P).
2. Inform the DIC which driver you are by pressing the
unlock button on your transmitter or the appropriate
memory seat control.
3. Press and hold the ENG/MET button for ®ve
seconds. WELCOME TO BUICK OPTION
FEATURE will appear in the display.
The next display will be your driver number and the
message ARMREST BUTTON CHANGES
DRIVER #. Follow the instructions in the display.
You are now in the selection mode and the DIC is
ready to program your personal choices in
memory.
The selections you make for the personal choice
features will be saved after the display reads
FEATURE OPTION SELECTION DONE.
Each feature that can be personalized will appear in
the display. Once you have made a selection for
a feature, the DIC will move on to the next personal
choice feature.
3-47

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a speci®ed government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signi®cantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction ± AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on speci®ed government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-65

Chains, Tires..................................................5-68
Checking Coolant............................................5-26
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-14
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-56
Check...........................................................3-37
Engine Light...............................................3-37
Tire Pressure System...................................5-60
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-84
Child Restraints..............................................1-33
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-33
Infants and Young Children...........................1-29
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-39
Older Children.............................................1-27
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-41
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Rear Seat Position...................................1-44
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position...............................1-42
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-46
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-39
Top Strap...................................................1-37
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-36Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-22
Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.....5-83
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-82
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-79
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-81
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-80
Cleaning Leather............................................5-80
Cleaning the Speaker Covers...........................5-81
Cleaning the Top of the
Instrument Panel.........................................5-80
Cleaning Tires................................................5-83
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-80
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades..............5-83
Cleaning........................................................5-79
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-79
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-82
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-84
Weatherstrips..............................................5-81
Climate Control System...................................3-27
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-27
Climate Controls Personalization....................3-28
Dual Automatic............................................3-22
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-26
Steering Wheel Controls...............................3-28
Compact Disc Changer Errors..........................3-65
Compact Disc Messages..................................3-62
3

Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-43
DIC Controls and Displays............................3-43
DIC Vehicle Personalization..........................3-46
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-45
Driver............................................................1-12
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-12
Driving On Grades..........................................4-37
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-25
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-18
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-18
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-35
Driving..........................................................4-15
At Night.....................................................4-15
City...........................................................4-19
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-20
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-22
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-16
Winter........................................................4-24
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-22
E
Electrical System............................................5-86
Add-On Equipment......................................5-86
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-87Electrical System (cont.)
Removing the Rear Seat Cushion..................5-92
Emergency Trunk Release Handle.....................2-14
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-39
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................6-19
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing..................4-38
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-17
Engine Oil Level Check...................................6-19
Engine..........................................................5-20
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-20
Battery.......................................................5-42
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-37
Compartment Overview................................5-12
Coolant Heater............................................2-23
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-37
Coolant......................................................5-24
Cooling System Inspection............................6-24
Exhaust.....................................................2-31
Oil .............................................................5-14
Overheating................................................5-27
Starting......................................................2-22
Supercharger Oil.........................................5-19
Entry Lighting.................................................3-14
Erasing HomeLinkžButtons..............................2-42
Express-Down Window....................................2-16
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-26
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-12
5

P
Parade Dimming.............................................3-15
Park Aid........................................................3-19
Park(P).........................................................2-28
Shifting Into................................................2-28
Shifting Out of............................................2-30
Parking Brake and Automatic Transaxle Park (P)
Mechanism Check.......................................6-22
Parking on Hills..............................................4-37
Parking.........................................................3-19
Assist........................................................3-19
Brake........................................................2-27
Over Things That Burn.................................2-31
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services............ 6-4
Part B - Owner Checks and Services................6-19
Part C - Periodic MaintenanceInspections..........6-23
Part D - Recommended Fluids and Lubricants....6-25
Part E - Maintenance Record...........................6-26
Passenger Compartment Air Filter.....................3-27
Passenger Temperature Control........................3-26
Passing.................................................4-12, 4-36
PASS-Key
žIII Operation..................................2-19
PASS-KeyžIII ................................................2-19
Perimeter Lighting...................................3-15, 3-50
Personal Choice Radio Controls........................3-65
Personalization, Climate Controls......................3-28
Personalization Features.................................... 2-6
Plan Ahead When Possible................................ 7-7
Playing a Cassette Tape..........................3-54, 3-58Playing a Compact Disc..........................3-60, 3-64
Playing the Radio...................................3-52, 3-56
Power Steering...............................................4-10
Power...........................................................3-21
Accessory Outlets........................................3-21
Door Locks.................................................2-10
Lumbar Controls........................................... 1-3
Seat............................................................ 1-2
Steering Fluid.............................................5-38
Windows....................................................2-16
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.........2-11, 3-48
Programming the HomeLink Transmitter.............2-39
Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-10
R
Radiator Pressure Cap....................................5-27
Radios..........................................................3-51
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-69
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-70
Care of Your CDs........................................3-70
Personal Choice Radio Controls....................3-65
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-56
Radio with Cassette.....................................3-52
Setting the Time..........................................3-52
Theft-Deterrent............................................3-66
11

Speedometer..................................................3-32
Starter Switch Check.......................................6-21
Starting Your Engine.......................................2-22
Steering in Emergencies..................................4-11
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection..............................6-23
Steering Tips..................................................4-10
Steering Wheel Climate Controls.......................3-28
Steering Wheel Controls, Audio.........................3-68
Steering........................................................4-10
Storage Areas................................................2-44
Center Console Storage Area........................2-44
Convenience Net.........................................2-45
Garage Door Opener Compartment................2-43
Glove Box..................................................2-42
Rear Seat Armrest.......................................2-45
Rear Storage Area.......................................2-45
Storing the Flat Tire and Tools..........................5-76
Storing the Spare Tire and Tools.......................5-76
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow......................4-28
Sun Visors.....................................................2-17
Sunroof.........................................................2-45
T
Tachometer....................................................3-32
TCS Warning Light..........................................3-36
Testing the Alarm............................................2-18Theater Dimming............................................3-15
Theft-Deterrent, Radio.....................................3-66
Theft-Deterrent System...................................... 2-7
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-17
Content Theft-Deterrent................................2-17
PASS-Key
žIII Operation..............................2-19
PASS-KeyžIII .............................................2-19
Throttle System Inspection...............................6-24
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-5
Tire In¯ation Check.........................................6-19
Tires.............................................................5-59
Buying New Tires........................................5-64
Chains.......................................................5-68
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-69
Check Tire Pressure System.........................5-60
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-77
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-68
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure...............................5-59
Inspection and Rotation................................5-62
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-66
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-66
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-63
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-23
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-39
Top Strap......................................................1-37
Torque Lock...................................................2-30
Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires..................4-35
14