warning light BUICK RAINIER 2004 Owner's Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-5
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-7
Child Restraints
.......................................1-26
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-45
Restraint System Check
............................1-55
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-15
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-19
Mirrors
....................................................2-31
OnStar
®System
......................................2-35
HomeLink®Transmitter
.............................2-36
Storage Areas
.........................................2-40
Sunroof
..................................................2-45
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-45
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-27
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-43
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-56Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-45
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-12
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-51
Rear Axle
...............................................5-51
Front Axle
...............................................5-53
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-54
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-56
Tires
......................................................5-59
Appearance Care
.....................................5-92
Vehicle Identication
...............................5-101
Electrical System
....................................5-102
Capacities and Specications
...................5-113
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-11
Index.................................................................1
2004 Buick Rainier Owner ManualM

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will nd 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 specic component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need help guring out a specic 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

All-Wheel Drive
Your vehicle may have this feature. There is no lever or
switch to engage or disengage the front axle. It is fully
automatic and adjusts as needed for road conditions.
Your vehicle has an active transfer case allowing
two-wheel-drive operation on dry roads. The transfer
case will shift automatically into all-wheel drive on
slippery surfaces. You may feel an extra shift when
the all-wheel drive engages.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your foot and pull up on the parking brake
lever located on the center console. If the ignition
is on, the brake system warning light will come on.To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can
press in the button at the end of the lever. Hold the button
in as you move the parking brake lever all the way down.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and you must park on a hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-53. That section
shows what to do rst to keep the trailer from moving.
2-26

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-7
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Interior Lamps..............................................3-17
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-19
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-19
Climate Controls............................................3-20
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-20
Rear Climate Control System.........................3-25
Climate Controls Personalization.....................3-26
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-27
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-28
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-29
Tachometer.................................................3-29
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-30
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-30Charging System Light..................................3-31
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-32
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-32
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light...........................................3-34
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-34
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-35
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-38
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-39
Security Light...............................................3-40
Cruise Control Light......................................3-40
Reduced Engine Power Light.........................3-40
Service All-Wheel Drive Light.........................3-41
Check Gages Warning Light...........................3-41
Gate Ajar Light.............................................3-41
Fuel Gage...................................................3-42
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-42
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-43
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-43
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-52
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention
to your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some warning
lights come on briey when you start the engine just to let
you know they’re working. If you are familiar with this
section, you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when there’s
a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays
on when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly–and even dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights and gages.
They’re a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a Driver Information
Center (DIC) that works along with the warning lights
and gages. SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-43.
3-27

Voltmeter Gage
When your engine is not
running, but the ignition is
on (in RUN), this gage
shows your battery’s state
of charge in DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. Readings between
the low and high warning zones indicate the normal
operating range.
Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is left idling for an extended
period. This condition is normal since the charging
system is not able to provide full power at engine idle.As engine speeds are increased, this condition should
correct itself as higher engine speeds allow the charging
system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time with the reading
in either warning zone. If you must drive, turn off
all unnecessary accessories.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.
Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem. A chime
may also sound when the light comes on.
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
3-32

If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-45.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service.
United States
Canada
3-33

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and may stay on
for several seconds.
That’s normal. A chime
may also sound when
the light comes on.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes
and there’s a problem with your regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-32earlier
in this section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briey when you turn the ignition key to RUN.
If the light doesn’t come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, the engine
coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-29.
United StatesCanada
3-34

This light may also come on if there is a problem with
the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) system. If this
happens, take the vehicle in for service as soon
as possible.
Service All-Wheel Drive Light
This light should come on
briey when you turn on
the ignition, as a check to
show you it is working.
The service all-wheel drive light comes on to indicate
that there may be a problem with the drive system and
service is required. Malfunctions can be indicated by
the system before any problem is apparent, which may
prevent serious damage to the vehicle. This system
is also designed to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing a malfunction.
Check Gages Warning Light
The check gages light will
come on briey when you
are starting the engine.
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your coolant temperature and engine oil pressure
gages to see if they are in the warning zones.
Gate Ajar Light
If this light comes on,
your liftgate or liftglass
is not completely shut.
Close the liftgate or liftglass. Never drive with the liftgate
or liftglass even partially open.
3-41

Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on, the fuel gage tells you about
how much fuel you have remaining.Here are four things that some owners ask about.
None of these show a problem with your fuel gage:
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to ll up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took
a little more or less than half the tank’s capacity
to ll the tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed up.
The gage doesn’t go back to empty when you turn
off the ignition.
Low Fuel Warning Light
The light next to the fuel gage will come on briey when
you are starting the engine.
This light comes on when the fuel tank is low on fuel. To
turn it off, add fuel to the fuel tank. SeeFuel on page 5-4. United States
Canada
3-42