Buick PARK AVENUE 1999 Owner Manual
The 1999 Buick Park Avenue Owner’s Manual
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1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
2-1 Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
4-1 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
5-1 Problems on the Road
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
6-1 Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.
7-1 Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
8-1 Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8
9-1 Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
-9.
i
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK,
the BUICK Emblem and the name PARK AVENUE are
registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors of Canada Limited” for Buick Motor
Division whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new
owner can use it.
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We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez
votre concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1577 Meyerside Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 25685483 A First Edition All Rights Reserved
E
Copyright General Motors Corporation 1998
ii
How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If
you do this, it will help you learn about the features
and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll
find that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s in
the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
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CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then
we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or
others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,”
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t
let this happen.”
iii
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Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tell you about something that can
damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be
costly . But the notice will tell you what to do to help
avoid the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different
colors or in different words.
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
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Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
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For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
CAUTION
POSSIBLE
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BATTERY
ACID COULD
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR
FLAME
COULD
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
AIR BAG
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
MASTER
LIGHTING
SWITCH
TURN
SIGNALS
PARKING
LAMPS
HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER
DAYTIME
RUNNING
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
WASHER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
REAR
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMP
BATTERY
CHARGING
SYSTEM
BRAKE
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
HORN
SPEAKER
FUEL
v
✍
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NOTES
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Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also
learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.
1
-2 Seats and Seat Controls
1
-8 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
-12 Here Are Questions Many People Ask
1
About Safety Belts
-13 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1
1
-13 Driver Position
1
-20 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
-21 Right Front Passenger Position
1
1
-21 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
-27 Center Passenger Position
1
-- and the Answers
-28 Rear Seat Passengers
1
1
-32 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults
1-34 Children
-37 Child Restraints
1
1
-49 Larger Children
1
-52 Safety Belt Extender
-52 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1
1
-52 Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash
1-
1-1
Seats and Seat Controls
This part tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them,
and also about memory seats, reclining seatbacks and
head restraints.
Power Seats
D
Raise or lower the front of the seat cushion by
holding the front part of the horizontal control up
or down.
D
Raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion by
holding the rear part of the horizontal control up
or down.
D
Raise or lower the entire seat cushion by holding the
whole horizontal control up or down.
D
Move the seat forward or back by pushing the
horizontal control to the front or back.
D
Push the vertical control forward to bring the seat to
a more upright position. Push it rearward to recline
the seatback.
D
Raise or lower the shoulder belt and head rest by
pushing the vertical control to the top or bottom.
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4-Way Power Lumbar Control (Option)
If you have this option, the
driver’s and passenger’s
seatback lumbar support
can be adjusted four ways
by moving the single
switch located on the
side of the seat.
T o increase or decrease support, hold the switch forward
or rearward. T o move the lumbar up or down, hold the
switch upward or downward.
Memory Seat and Mirrors (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this
feature, the controls on the
driver’s door panel are used
to program and recall
previous settings.
You can use this memory function to save your seat
cushion positions (minus the head restraint), optional
lumbar, mirror adjustment, window lockout, HVAC and
radio settings. Save your seat positions in memory by
using the following procedure:
1. You must first program the SEAT RECALL feature
to be active when the SEAT RECALL choice
appears on the DIC. See “Memory Seat Recall” in
the Index for programming instructions.
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2. Adjust the driver’s seat and lumbar position (if
equipped) to a safe and comfortable driving position.
Adjust both outside mirrors to suit you. See “Outside
Mirrors” in the Index.
3. Press one of the two MEMORY buttons
corresponding with your driver number, for longer
than three seconds. You will hear two beeps to
confirm that the mirror and seat positions have been
entered into memory.
4. Press UNLOCK on the transmitter within
five seconds.
When your vehicle is in PARK (P), push and release the
memory button you just stored. The seat and mirrors
will move to the set position. You will hear one beep.
T o set the seat and mirror positions for a second
driver, follow the previous steps, but use the other
MEMOR Y button.
If you press the wrong MEMORY button, or if there is a
third driver, use the seat adjuster.
The EXIT button allows for easy exit from the vehicle.
Press and release the EXIT button while in PARK (P)
and the seat will move all the way back. You will hear a
beep when the EXIT button is pressed.
You can also set unique exit positions by moving the
seat to the desired position, and then pressing and
holding the EXIT button for longer than three seconds.
You will hear two beeps to confirm the position has
been set. The exit position will be set for the previously
identified driver.
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If the ignition is not in RUN, automatic seat and mirror
movement will occur if the UNLOCK button on the
remote keyless entry transmitter is pressed. Automatic
seat and mirror movement is programmed through the
Driver Information Center (DIC) so that the driver can
select whether the seat moves to the programmed
driving position, the programmed exit position, or does
not move at all. For memory seat and mirror recall
programming instructions, see “DIC Personal Choice
Programming” in the Index.
Heated Seats (Option)
The heated seat controls are
located next to the climate
controls on the instrument
panel. Press this button to
turn on the heating element
in the seat.
When the heated seat control is first pressed, the
HI setting is activated. Press the button again for the
LO setting. The third press of the button turns the
feature off.
The LO setting warms the seatback and cushion until the
seat nears body temperature. The HI setting heats the
seat to a slightly higher temperature.
A telltale light in the control reminds you that the
heating system is in use. When the ignition is turned off,
the heating element is also turned off.
1-5
Reclining Front Seatbacks
The vertical control described previously in this section
reclines the front seatbacks.
But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
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CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle
up, your safety belts can’t do their job when
you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do its job. In a crash you
could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the
belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.
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Head Restraints
Use this switch to move a front head restraint up or
down. Lift up on the switch to move the head restraint
up. Press down on the switch to move the head restraint
down. The top of the head restraint should be closest to
the top of your ears. This position helps reduce the
chance of a neck injury in a crash. When you move a
front seat head restraint up or down, the shoulder belt
height changes. On some models, the head restraints tilt
forward and rearward also.
Some rear seats have adjustable head restraints. Slide an
adjustable head restraint up or down so that the top of
the restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This
position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
On some models, the rear seat head restraints tilt
forward and rearward also.
There are four different positions for the front seat head
restraints and three different positions for the rear seat
head restraints. Adjust either head restraint by grasping
the top of the restraint and moving it forward the way
you want it to go until you hear a click. It will then be
locked into that position until you need to move it again.
Pulling it forward past the last position will allow the
headrest to return to its full rear position.
1-7
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells you some things you should not do
with safety belts.
And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS), or air bag system.
CAUTION:
Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear
a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse. You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured or killed. In the same crash, you might
not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts
are fastened properly too.
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CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to
ride in any area of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure
everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a reminder
to buckle up. (See “Safety
Belt Reminder Light” in
the Index.)
In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.
1-8
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You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes
walk away. Without belts they could have been badly
hurt or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter ... a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
T ake the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat
on wheels.
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Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn’t stop.
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The person keeps going until stopped by something.
In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...
or the instrument panel ...
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or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why
safety belts make such good sense.
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Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts
Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an
Q:
accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?
-- and the Answers
A: You could be -- whether you’re wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you’re upside down. And your chance of
being conscious during and after an accident, so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be
in most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only; so they work with
safety belts
system ever offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that has air
bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That’s true not only in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
-- not instead of them. Every air bag
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Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an
accident
your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver
doesn’t protect you from things beyond your
control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km)
of home. And the greatest number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than
40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
-- even one that isn’t your fault -- you and
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Adults
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different
rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will
be riding in your vehicle, see the part of this
manual called “Children.” Follow those rules
for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
Driver Position
This part describes the driver’s restraint system.
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Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear
it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
The lap
across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If
the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt
Extender” at the end of this section.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
1-14
The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies
force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely
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to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt
would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the
body are best able to take belt restraining forces.
The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or crash, or
if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
When you move a front seat head restraint, the shoulder
belt height changes. See “Head Restraints” in the Index.
1-15
Q: What’s wrong with this?
A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly
as much protection this way.
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CAUTION:
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is
too loose. In a crash, you would move forward
too much, which could increase injury. The
shoulder belt should fit against your body.
1-16
Q: What’s wrong with this?
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
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CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if your belt is
buckled in the wrong place like this. In a
crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen.
The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.
Always buckle your belt into the buckle
nearest you.
1-17
Q: What’s wrong with this?
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be worn over the shoulder at all times.
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CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if you wear the
shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your
body would move too far forward, which would
increase the chance of head and neck injury.
Also, the belt would apply too much force to the
ribs, which aren’t as strong as shoulder bones.
You could also severely injure internal organs
like your liver or spleen.
1-18
Q: What’s wrong with this?
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
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CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In
a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width of the
belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted,
make it straight so it can work properly, or ask
your dealer to fix it.
1-19
T o unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
The belt should go back out of the way.
Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the
way . If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the
belt and your vehicle.
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Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and
the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below
the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
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The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more
likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
Right Front Passenger Position
T o learn how to wear the right front passenger’s
safety belt properly, see “Driver Position” earlier in
this section.
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same
way as the driver’s safety belt
you ever pull the lap portion of the belt out all the way,
you will engage the child restraint locking feature. If
this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and
start again.
If your vehicle has a center passenger position, be sure
to use the correct buckle when buckling your
lap
-shoulder belt. If you find that the latch plate will not
go fully into the buckle, see if you are using the buckle
for the center passenger position.
-- except for one thing. If
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
This part explains the Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) or air bag system.
Your vehicle has “Next Generation” frontal air bags
one air bag for the driver and another air bag for the
right front passenger.
Next Generation frontal air bags are designed to help
reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating
air bag. But even these air bags must inflate very
quickly if they are to do their job and comply with
federal regulations.
Here are the most important things to know about the air
bag system:
--
CAUTION:
You can be severely injured or killed in a crash
if you aren’t wearing your safety belt
you have air bags. Wearing your safety belt
during a crash helps reduce your chance of
hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected
from it. Air bags are “supplemental restraints” to
the safety belts. All air bags
Generation air bags
safety belts, but don’t replace them.
-- are designed to work with
-- even Next
CAUTION: (Continued)
-- even if
1-21
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CAUTION: (Continued)
Air bags are designed to work only in moderate to
severe crashes where the front of your vehicle hits
something. They aren’t designed to inflate at all in
rollover, rear, side or low
And, for unrestrained occupants, Next Generation
air bags may provide less protection in frontal
crashes than more forceful air bags have provided
in the past. Everyone in your vehicle should wear a
safety belt properly
bag for that person.
-speed frontal crashes.
-- whether or not there’s an air
CAUTION:
Air bags inflate with great force, faster than the
blink of an eye. If you’re too close to an inflating
air bag, as you would be if you were leaning
forward, it could seriously injure you. This is true
even with Next Generation frontal air bags. Safety
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
belts help keep you in position before and during a
crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with
Next Generation air bags. The driver should sit as
far back as possible while still maintaining control
of the vehicle.
CAUTION:
Children who are up against, or very close to, any
air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. This is true even though your vehicle
has Next Generation frontal air bags. Air bags
plus lap
for adults, but not for young children and
infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system
nor its air bag system is designed for them.
-shoulder belts offer the best protection
CAUTION: (Continued)
1-22
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CAUTION: (Continued)
Young children and infants need the protection
that a child restraint system can provide. Always
secure children properly in your vehicle. To read
how, see the part of this manual called “Children”
and see the caution labels on the sunvisors and the
right front passenger’s safety belt.
There is an air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows AIR BAG.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See “Air Bag Readiness Light” in the Index
for more information.
How the Air Bag System Works
Where are the air bags?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
1-23
The right front passenger’s air bag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger’s side.
CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an air
bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into that person. The path
of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t
put anything between an occupant and an air
bag, and don’t attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering.
When should an air bag inflate?
An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe
frontal or near
the impact speed is above the system’s designed “threshold
level.” If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn’t
move or deform, the threshold level is about 9 to 15 mph
(14 to 24 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however,
with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat
above or below this range. If your vehicle strikes
something that will move or deform, such as a parked car,
the threshold level will be higher. The air bag is not
designed to inflate in rollovers, side impacts or rear
impacts, because inflation would not help the occupant.
-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate only if
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