2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE lock

Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
¯uid level if you have been driving:
·When outside temperatures are above 90ÉF (32ÉC).
·At high speed for quite a while.
·In heavy traffic ± especially in hot weather.
·While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the ¯uid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 180ÉF to 200ÉF
(82ÉC to 93ÉC).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50ÉF
(10ÉC). If it's colder than 50ÉF (10ÉC), you may have to
drive longer.
Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
·Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.
·With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK P).
·With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK (P).
·Let the engine run at idle for three to ®ve minutes.Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
The transaxle ¯uid dipstick
top is a round, red loop
and is located next to the
brake master cylinder
reservoir behind the engine
block. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12
for more
information on location.
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
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{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator
pressure cap Ð even a little Ð they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever have
to turn the pressure cap.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when
the cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until
it ®rst stops. (Don't press down while turning the
pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss
means there is still some pressure left.
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2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
3. Remove the 3800 Series II V6 engine cover shield
to access the bleed valve.3.1. Clean the area around the engine oil ®ll tube
and cap before removing. Twist the oil ®ll
tube, with cap attached, counterclockwise
and remove it.
3.2. If you have the supercharged engine,
remove the nut in the center of the cover
shield.
3.3. Lift the engine cover shield at the front, slide
the catch tab out of the engine bracket and
remove the cover shield.
3.4. Put the oil ®ll tube, with cap attached, in the
valve cover oil ®ll hole until you're ready to
replace the cover shield.
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4. After the engine cools,
open the coolant air
bleed valve. There
is one bleed valve. It is
located on the
thermostat housing.5. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOLž
coolant mixture, up to the base of the ®ller
neck. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-24for more
information about the proper coolant mixture.
If you see a stream of coolant coming from an air
bleed valve, close the valve. Otherwise, close
the valve after the radiator is ®lled.
6. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the engine
and the compartment.
7. Replace the 3800 Series II V6 engine cover shield.
7.1. Remove the oil ®ll tube, with cap attached,
from the valve cover.
7.2. Insert the catch tab on the cover shield
under the bracket on the engine.
7.3. Place the hole in the cover shield over the
hole in the valve cover. Install oil ®ll tube and
cap by twisting clockwise.
7.4. If you have the supercharged engine, install
the nut in the center of the cover shield.
8. Then ®ll the coolant recovery tank to the FULL
COLD mark.
9. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator pressure cap off.
5-36

Headlamps
Each headlamp is attached by thumb screws.1. Remove the thumb screws by turning them
counterclockwise.
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2. Pull the headlamp assembly away from the vehicle.
3. Remove the bulb
socket by turning it
one-quarter turn
counterclockwise, while
pressing it ®rmly.
Then pull it out. You
can use a tool to
remove the bulb socket
if you are unable to
do it by hand.4. Remove the wire connector from the bulb by lifting
the lock tab and pulling it away from the plastic base.
5. Replace the old bulb with a new bulb. Make sure
not to touch the new bulb element with your ®ngers,
as the oils on your hands will reduce bulb life.
6. Reverse Steps 1 through 4 to reassemble the
headlamp assembly.
When reassembling, make sure to align the pin at the
outboard edge of the headlamp assembly to the
plastic retainer at the outboard edge of the vehicle.
5-51

Front Turn Signal Lamps
1. Once the headlamp assembly has been removed,
reach down from the top of the vehicle, and while
pressing the lock tab on the socket, turn the socket
one-quarter turn counterclockwise and pull it out.
2. Remove the old bulb
by pulling it straight out
of the socket.
3. Replace the bulb and turn the bulb assembly back
into place.
Rear Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-Up Lamps
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6. Pull the taillamp assembly away from the trunk lid.
The bulbs are located on the back side of the
assembly.7. Turn the bulb socket
one-quarter turn
counterclockwise and
pull it out. You can
use a tool to remove
the bulb socket if
you are unable to do it
by hand.
8. Once the socket has
been removed, pull the
bulb straight out to
remove it from
the socket.
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