2004 BUICK PARK AVENUE warning light

Engine Overheating
You will nd a warning light about a hot engine, as well as
a coolant temperature gage, on your instrument panel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood.
Stay away from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle until it cools
down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch re.
You or others could be badly burned. Stop
your engine if it overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not
be covered by your warranty.
5-28

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your master cylinder reservoir is lled with DOT-3 brake
uid. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level
in the reservoir might go down. The rst is that the brake
uid goes down to an acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the uid
level goes back up. The other reason is that uid isleaking out of the brake system. If it is, you should have
your brake system xed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes will not work well, or will not
work at all.
So, it is not a good idea to “top off” your brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you add uid
when your linings are worn, then you will have too
much uid when you get new brake linings. You should
add (or remove) brake uid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake uid, it can spill on
the engine. The uid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
uid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake uid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. A chime will sound if you try
to drive with this warning light on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 3-38.
5-40

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come
and go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving
(except when you are pushing on the brake pedal rmly).
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear the
brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque specications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
SeeBrake System Inspection on page 6-24.Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
5-42

When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look properly
inated even when they’re underinated. Check the tire’s
ination pressure when the tires are cold. Cold means
your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours or
driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem.
Press the tire gage rmly onto the valve to get a
pressure measurement. If the cold tire ination pressure
matches the recommended pressure on the Tire and
Loading Information label, no further adjustment is
necessary. If the ination pressure is low, add air until
you reach the recommended amount.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Recheck the
tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
Check Tire Pressure System
If your vehicle has this feature, the check tire pressure
system can alert you to a large change in the
pressure of one tire. The system will not alert you
before you drive that a tire is low or at. You must begin
driving before the system will work properly.
The TIRE PRESSURE LOW message will appear on
the Driver Information Center (DIC) if pressure difference
(low pressure) is detected in one tire. The check tire
pressure system may not alert you if:
More than one tire is low.
The vehicle is moving faster than 65 mph
(105 km/h).
The system is not yet calibrated.
The tire treadwear is uneven.
The compact spare tire is installed.
Tire chains are being used.
The vehicle is being driven on a rough or
frozen road.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light comes on,
the check tire pressure system may not be working
properly. See your dealer for service. Also, see
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on page 3-39.
5-70

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 specied 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 signicantly 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 specied 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.
5-75

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-22
Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature................3-75
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-39
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-5
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-98
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)......3-61, 3-66
Air Bag
Readiness Light..........................................3-36
Air Bag Systems.............................................1-49
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-55
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-58
What Makes an Air Bag Inate?....................1-55
What Will You See After an
Air Bag Inates?......................................1-56
When Should an Air Bag Inate?...................1-54
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-51
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-20
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)......... 7-9
AM ...............................................................3-78
Antenna, Heated Backlite.................................3-80
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)............................ 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-39
Appearance Care............................................5-90
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-93
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-96
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-90
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-93Appearance Care (cont.)
Finish Damage............................................5-96
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-95
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-96
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-96
Weatherstrips..............................................5-93
Ashtrays........................................................3-23
Assist Handles...............................................2-49
Audio System(s).............................................3-57
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-78
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-79
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-80
Care of Your CDs........................................3-80
Heated Backlite Antenna...............................3-80
Personal Choice Radio Controls....................3-75
Radio with Cassette.....................................3-58
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-63
Setting the Time..........................................3-58
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-75
Trunk-Mounted CD Changer..........................3-71
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-78
Automatic Level Control...................................4-38
Automatic Operation........................................3-24
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-23
Operation...................................................2-27
Automatic Transaxle Check..............................6-20
Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock Control
System Check.............................................6-21
Auxiliary Instrument Panel Fuse Block..............5-101
1

B
Backing Up....................................................4-43
Battery..........................................................5-43
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-9
Battery Rundown Protection.............................3-18
Battery Warning Light......................................3-37
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-23
Body Lubrication Service..................................6-20
Brake
Parking......................................................2-29
System Inspection.......................................6-24
System Warning Light..................................3-38
Brake Fluid....................................................5-40
Brake Wear...................................................5-42
Brakes..........................................................5-40
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-23
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-51
Front Turn Signal Lamps..............................5-54
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-51
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-49
Headlamps.................................................5-51
Rear Quarter Panel Turn Signal and
Stoplamps...............................................5-58
Rear Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-Up Lamps.......................................5-54
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-60
Buying New Tires...........................................5-74
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Canada – Customer Assistance.......................... 7-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-7
Capacities and Specications..........................5-108
Carbon Monoxide...................4-26, 4-38, 2-15, 2-34
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-93
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-79
Your CD Player...........................................3-80
Your CDs ...................................................3-80
Care of the HUD............................................3-20
Cassette Tape Messages.........................3-63, 3-68
Cassette Tape Player Service...........................6-19
CD Changer Errors.........................................3-74
CD Changer, Trunk-Mounted............................3-71
CD Messages................................................3-70
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-48
Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts.............1-19
Chains, Tires..................................................5-78
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-41
Tire Pressure System...................................5-70
Checking Coolant............................................5-26
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-14
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-58
2

Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities................................................ 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors.......7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government..............................7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
Customizing Your Automatic Door Locks
Feature......................................................2-13
D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-13
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.................................3-27
Delayed Entry Lighting.....................................3-15
Delayed Exit Lighting.......................................3-15
Delayed Locking.....................................2-11, 3-54
Dinghy Towing................................................4-32
Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature.................3-77
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-3
Dolly Towing..................................................4-32Door
Central Door Unlocking System.....................2-11
Delayed Locking..........................................2-11
Door Ajar Reminder.....................................2-11
Locks........................................................2-10
Power Door Locks.......................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-12
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-14
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-12
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-47
DIC Controls and Displays............................3-47
DIC Vehicle Personalization..........................3-51
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-50
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-17
City...........................................................4-21
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-3
Freeway.....................................................4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-24
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-18
Winter........................................................4-26
Driving On Grades..........................................4-44
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-27
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-20
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-20
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-42
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-24
4