If your belt has never been replaced before, it probably broke because of age. As the rubber ages it gets brittle and is prone to breaking. You will see cracks in the ribs on the inside surface of it. If it is new, then there may be a sticky pulley that is causing the belt to slip over it and creating extra wear.
The 98 would have R134a
Well for more information on Used Buick Park Avenue you can google or yahoo it. That is what I would do first, then I would read what sites they come up with that looks interesting.
A repair manual for the 1998 Buick Park Avenue would have a brakes repair diagram. A popular book is the Haynes Repair Manual.
I would check the serpentine belt and pulleys
the cars are basically identical but the park avenue is better built with other wanted fetures most standered including leather seats buick park avenues throught 1997 thourgh 2005 the park avenue is about 12" longer than the lesabre i would u buy a park avenue any day over the leasbre both are great cars but for the money the buick park avenue is the way to go .
22 inch rims will fit on a 97 Buick Park Avenue , but they will rub. 20 inch rims would be a better option if you don't your rims to rub.
The 1997-2005 Buick Park Avenue's and Park Avenue Ultra's all use the same bumper cover part number. So I think the bumpers themselves would be interchangeable.
What can I do to avoid over heating on my 98 Buicks park avenue ? My water pump is broken.
check crank sensor
Approx. $400-500
FUSE!
Go to a GM dealer's parts department or service department. They would know.