Buick 2004 Rendezvous User manual

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats ............................................... 1-9
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-22
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-47
Air Bag Systems ...................................... 1-72
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-82
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-8
Windows ................................................. 2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-19
Mirrors .................................................... 2-32
OnStar
®
System ...................................... 2-33
HomeLink
®
Transmitter ............................. 2-35
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-39
Sunroof .................................................. 2-48
Vehicle Personalization ............................. 2-49
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-28
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ......... 3-39
Message Center ....................................... 3-50
Driver Information Center (DIC) .................. 3-60
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-73
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-33
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10
All-Wheel Drive ........................................ 5-48
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-55
Tires ...................................................... 5-57
Appearance Care ..................................... 5-99
Vehicle Identification ............................... 5-107
Electrical System .................................... 5-108
Capacities and Specifications ................... 5-115
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information .................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-11
Index ................................................................ 1
2004 Buick Rendezvous Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK, the
BUICK Emblem and the name RENDEZVOUS 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
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.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 10337755 A First Edition ©Copyright General Motors Corporation 05/30/03 All Rights Reserved
Canadian Owners
You can obtain a French copy of this manual from your
dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
About Driving Your Vehicle
As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this
vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or an
accident. See Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
on page 4-2.
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 will find
that pictures and words work together to explain things.
ii

Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in
the manual, and the page number where you will 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.
{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

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice will 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.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
are shown along with the text describing the operation
or information relating to a specific component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator, reference the following
topics:
•Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
•Features and Controls in Section 2
•Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
•Climate Controls in Section 3
•Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3
•Audio System(s) in Section 3
•Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:
v

✍NOTES
vi

Front Seats ......................................................1-3
Manual Passenger Seat ..................................1-3
Four-Way Manual Driver Seat ..........................1-3
Six-Way Power Seats .....................................1-5
Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-5
Heated Seats .................................................1-6
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-6
Head Restraints .............................................1-8
Rear Seats .......................................................1-9
Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-9
Split Bench Seats ...........................................1-9
Captain Chairs .............................................1-14
Stowable Seat ..............................................1-18
Safety Belts ...................................................1-22
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-22
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-26
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-27
Driver Position ..............................................1-28
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-36
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-37
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-38
Center Rear Passenger Position .....................1-42
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults .......................................1-44
Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-46
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-46
Child Restraints .............................................1-47
Older Children ..............................................1-47
Infants and Young Children ............................1-50
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-53
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-56
Top Strap ....................................................1-57
Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-58
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-62
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System .........................................1-64
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside
Seat Position ............................................1-64
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear
Seat Position ............................................1-67
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position ............................................1-69
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Air Bag Systems ............................................1-72
Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-75
When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ....................1-77
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .....................1-78
How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-79
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? ...1-80
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-82
Restraint System Check ..................................1-82
Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-82
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash ...................................................1-83
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-2

Front Seats
Manual Passenger Seat
Pull up on the lever,
located on the front of the
seat, to unlock and
move the seat.
Slide the seat to where you want it and release the
lever. To make sure the seat is locked into place, try to
move the seat back and forth with your body.
Four-Way Manual Driver Seat
Use the lever located on
the front left side of the
seat to adjust the seat
forward or rearward.
Pull up the lever to unlock the seat. Slide the seat to
where you want it and release the lever.
To make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move
the seat back and forth with your body.
1-3

To raise the seat, pull up on
the lever located on the
front right side of the seat.
To lower the seat, push the lever down. Adjust the seat
and release the lever.
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
1-4

Six-Way Power Seats
Your vehicle may have this
feature. If it does, the
six-way power seat control
is located on the outboard
sides of the driver’s and
front passenger’s seats.
•Move the front of the control up or down to adjust the
front portion of the cushion up or down.
•Move the rear of the control up or down to adjust the
rear portion of the cushion up or down.
•Lift up or push down on the whole control to move
the entire seat up or down.
•To move the whole seat forward or rearward, slide
the control forward or rearward.
Manual Lumbar
The knob that controls this
feature is located on the
outboard sides of the
driver’s and front
passenger’s seats.
Turn the knob toward the front of the vehicle to increase
lumbar support. Turn the knob toward the rear of the
vehicle to decrease lumbar support.
1-5

Heated Seats
Your vehicle may have
heated seats. If it does,
the heated seat switches
are located in the
instrument panel
switchbank.
This feature will quickly heat the seat cushions and
lower back of the driver’s and front passenger’s seat.
The left switch is for the driver’s seat and the right switch
is for the front passenger’s seat.
Press the top of the switch to turn the heater on. Press
the bottom of the switch to turn the heater off. The
heated seat switch will turn off when the ignition
is turned to OFF and will resume operation when the
ignition is turned to ON, unless the switch is turned off.
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust a seatback, pull up on the lever located on
the outboard side of the driver’s or front passenger’s
seats. Release the lever to lock the seatback where you
want it. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it’s
locked into position. Pull up on the lever, and the seat
will go to its original upright position.
1-6

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
{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 because it
won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be
in front of you. 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.
1-7

Head Restraints Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is closest to the top of your head. This position
reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
The front seat head restraints are adjustable. Slide the
head restraint up or down to adjust it.
The rear seat head restraints in your vehicle may be
adjustable. They work the same as the front seat head
restraints.
1-8

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
The rear seats in your vehicle have seat operating
features to adjust, fold, remove and reinstall the seats.
By using the seat operating procedures, in the
correct order, you can easily remove the seats from
your vehicle.
When you put the seats back in the vehicle, be sure to
follow the label on the back of the seat for proper location.
Split Bench Seats
If your vehicle has the split bench seat, the seatbacks
can be folded forward or reclined individually and
the sections can be flipped forward or removed
individually.
Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
To recline the seatback on
base-level split bench
seats, lift up on the recliner
lever located on the
outboard side of the
seatback.
Base-Level
1-9

To recline the seatback on
up-level split bench seats,
push forward on the
recliner lever located on
the outboard side of
the seatback.
Move the seatback to the desired position.
It is easier to raise or lower the seatback if you lean
forward and take the weight off the seatback.
The seatbacks on each section also fold forward to put
items behind the seats.
Lift up or push forward on the recliner lever and fold the
seatback forward. The seatback will lock into place
when you push it back to the upright position.
After raising a seatback to an upright position, push and
pull on the seatback to check that it is locked upright.
Removing the Split Bench Seat
Each section of the split bench seat can be flipped
forward or removed individually.
1. Unlatch the shoulder belt from the lap-belt.
2. Make sure that the seatback is in the upright
position.
3. Lift up or push forward on the seatback recliner
lever to fold the seatback forward.
Up-Level
1-10

4. For base-level split bench seats, pull the lever at
the base of the seat on the outboard side to
release the rear latches from the floor pins and flip
the seat forward.
For up-level split bench seats, continue pushing
forward on the recliner lever to release the rear
latches from the floor pins and flip the seat forward.
The seat can stay in this position or it can be
removed from the vehicle by following the next steps.
5. To release the front latches, squeeze the angled
latch release bar toward the straight crossbar.
6. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward the
rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out.
Repeat these steps for the other section of the split
bench seat.
Base-Level
1-11

Replacing the Split Bench Seat
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
{CAUTION:
A seat that isn’t locked into place properly can
move around in a collision or sudden stop.
People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure
to lock the seat into place properly when
installing it.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won’t provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After installing the seat, always check to be
sure that the safety belts are properly routed
and attached, and are not twisted.
Make sure that the seatback is in the folded forward
position and that the safety belts are on the correct
section of the seat.
Don’t put the sections of the bench seat in so that they
face rearward because they won’t latch that way.
The split bench seat sections have seat position labels,
located on the back of each section, showing where
the section must go.
The seat must be placed in the proper location for the
legs to attach correctly.
1-12

1. Squeeze the angled latch release bar toward the
straight crossbar while placing the front hooks of
the bench seat onto the front two floor pins.
2. Make sure that the
bench seat is angled
so that the front
hooks clear the floor
pins. If the front
legs are not attached
correctly, the rear
legs will not attach
to the rear set of
floor pins.
1-13

3. Firmly push the rear hooks onto the rear floor pins
by pushing down on the rear of the seat.
4. Try to raise the seat to check that it is locked down.
5. Lift the seatback recliner lever and raise the
seatback until it locks upright.
6. Push and pull on the seatback to check that it is
locked upright.
7. Attach the lap belt.
Captain Chairs
If your vehicle has captain’s chairs, the chairs and
seatbacks can be adjusted forward or rearward.
Adjusting the Captain’s Chairs
(Second Row)
To adjust he second row captain’s chairs, use the
adjustment bar located below the front of each seat.
Lift up the lever to slide the seat forward or rearward.
Release the lever. Push and pull on the seat to
make sure it is locked into place.
Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
1-14