2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE oil change

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-4
Other Warning Devices...................................3-4
Horn.............................................................3-5
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-5
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-5
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-12
Interior Lamps..............................................3-14
Head-Up Display (HUD).................................3-17
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)............3-19
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-21
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-22
Climate Controls............................................3-22
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-22
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-26
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-27
Steering Wheel Climate Controls.....................3-28
Climate Controls Personalization.....................3-28
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-29
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-30
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-32
Tachometer.................................................3-32
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-33
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-33
Battery Warning Light....................................3-34
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-34Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-36
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light . . .3-36
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-37
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-37
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-40
Security Light...............................................3-41
Cruise Control Light......................................3-41
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-41
Fuel Gage...................................................3-42
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-43
DIC Controls and Displays.............................3-43
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-45
DIC Vehicle Personalization............................3-46
Audio System(s).............................................3-51
Setting the Time...........................................3-52
Radio with Cassette......................................3-52
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-56
Trunk-Mounted CD Changer...........................3-62
Personal Choice Radio Controls......................3-65
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-66
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-68
Understanding Radio Reception......................3-68
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-69
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-70
Care of Your CD Player................................3-70
Heated Backlite Antenna................................3-70
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Driver Information Center (DIC)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Driver Information
Center (DIC). The DIC will display information about
how your vehicle is functioning, as well as warning
messages if a system problem is detected.
The following buttons are
on the DIC control panel
located to the left of
the steering column:
ODO/TRIP (Odometer/Trip):Use this button to display
your total and trip miles.
FUEL INFO (Information):Press this button to display
fuel information such as fuel used, fuel range and
fuel economy.GAGE INFO (Information):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 (English/Metric):Use this button to change
the display between English and metric units.
DIC Controls and Displays
When you turn the ignition on, the DIC will display your
driver number. You can have your dealer program
your name to appear on this display line. See your
dealer for more information.
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.
3-43

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.
Oil Pressure:Press the GAGE INFO 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.
Oil Life System:Press the GAGE INFO button until
OIL LIFE INDEX appears in the display. The OIL
LIFE INDEX NORMAL display will show an estimate of
the oil's remaining useful life. When the oil life index
is less than 10% the display will show OIL LIFE INDEX
CHANGE OIL. When you have the oil changed, you
will have to reset the GM Oil Life System. To reset the
Oil Life System, see
Engine Oil on page 5-14.
DIC Warnings and Messages
Other warning messages may appear in the DIC
display. For Canadian drivers, in addition to the DIC
message your DIC will display EXP with a number after
it which re¯ects the following messages:
EXP
(Export ID) Warning Message
23 DOOR AJAR
24 TRUNK AJAR
25 WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID LOW
36 ENGINE OIL LOW Ð CHECK LEVEL
54 SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM
55 STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE
82 CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
91TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
ACTIVE
140 TIRE PRESSURE LOW
The EXP codes are used to make translation from
English to other languages easier.
Pressing any of the DIC control buttons will remove
the messages or warnings from the DIC display.
3-45

If you choose to perform
the engine oil change
service yourself, be sure
the oil you use has
the starburst symbol on
the front of the oil
container. If you have your
oil changed for you, be
sure the oil put into
your engine is American
Petroleum Institute certi®ed
for gasoline engines.
You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your
vehicle, as shown in the viscosity chart.
SAE 10W-30 is the viscosity grade recommended for
your vehicle. However, you can use SAE 5W-30 if
it's going to be colder than 60ÉF (16ÉC) before your next
oil change. When it's very cold, colder than 0ÉF
(-18ÉC) you should use an SAE 5W-30 oil. These
numbers on an oil container show its viscosity, or
thickness. Do not use other viscosity grade oils, such as
SAE 10W-40 or SAE 20W-50 under any conditions.
5-16

Notice:Use only engine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certi®ed For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use the recommended
oil can result in engine damage not covered by
your warranty.
GM Goodwrench
žoil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below-20ÉF (-29ÉC) it is
recommended that you use either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an SAE 0W-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Don't add anything to your oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol are all you will need for
good performance and engine protection.
When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles
Without the GM Oil Life System)
If any one of these is true for you, use the short trip/city
maintenance schedule:
·Most trips are less than 5 miles (8 km). This is
particularly important when outside temperatures
are below freezing.
·Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
·You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top
of your vehicle.
·The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine oil to
break down sooner. If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your oil and ®lter
every 3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months Ð whichever
occurs ®rst.
If none of them is true, use the long trip/highway
maintenance schedule. Change the oil and ®lter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months Ð whichever
occurs ®rst. Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine
under highway conditions will cause engine oil to
break down slower.
When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles
With the GM Oil Life System)
If so equipped, your vehicle has a computer system that
lets you know when to change the engine oil and
®lter. This is based on engine revolutions and engine
temperature, and not on mileage. Based on driving
conditions, the mileage at which an oil change will be
indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to
work properly, you must reset the system every time
the oil is changed.
5-17

When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message
will come on. Change your oil as soon as possible within
the next two times you stop for fuel. It is possible that,
if you are driving under the best conditions, the oil
life system may not indicate that an oil change is
necessary for over a year. However, your engine oil and
®lter must be changed at least once a year and at
this time the system must be reset. Your dealer has
GM-trained service people who will perform this
work using genuine GM parts and reset the system. It is
also important to check your oil regularly and keep it
at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your
last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Oil Life System
The GM Oil Life System calculates when to change
your engine oil and ®lter based on vehicle use. Anytime
your oil is changed, reset the system so it can
calculate when the next oil change is required. If a
situation occurs where you change your oil prior to a
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message being
turned on, reset the system.Always reset the engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To reset the Oil Life
System, do the following:
1. Display OIL LIFE INDEX on the DIC.
2. Press and hold the DIC RESET button for
more than ®ve seconds. The oil life will change
to 100%.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Don't let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good
hand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing or
rags containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer's
warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
®lter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it
in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or into
streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by
taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have a
problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask
your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center
for help.
5-18

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine air cleaner/®lter.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/®lter every 15,000 miles (25
000 km) and replace every 30,000 miles (50 000 km). If
you are driving in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect the
®lter at each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/®lter remove the ®lter from the
vehicle and lightly shake the ®lter to release loose
dust and dirt. If the ®lter remains ªcakedº with dirt, a new
®lter is required.
To inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/®lter, do the
following:
1. Remove the wing nuts on the engine air
cleaner/®lter housing cover.
5-20

{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/®lter
off can cause you or others to be burned. The
air cleaner not only cleans the air, it helps to
stop ¯ame if the engine back®res. If it is not
there and the engine back®res, you could be
burned. Do not drive with it off, and be
careful working on the engine with the air
cleaner/®lter off.
Notice:If the air cleaner/®lter is off, a back®re can
cause a damaging engine ®re. And, dirt can
easily get into your engine, which will damage it.
Always have the air cleaner/®lter in place when
you're driving.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transaxle ¯uid
level is when the engine oil is changed.Change both the ¯uid and ®lter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
·In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or higher.
·In hilly or mountainous terrain.
·When doing frequent trailer towing.
·Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the ¯uid and ®lter at 100,000 miles
(166 000 km).
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at the dealership service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
Notice:Too much or too little ¯uid can damage
your transaxle. Too much can mean that some of the
¯uid could come out and fall on hot engine or
exhaust system parts, starting a ®re. Too little ¯uid
could cause the transaxle to overheat. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle ¯uid.
5-22