brake fluid BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2002 Owner's Manual

2-101 Low Brake Fluid Warning Message
United States Canada
If your brake fluid is low, the warning message will
come on and stay on until you add brake fluid.
If the warning message is still on after adding fluid, you
need to reset the warning message. To reset the warning
message, turn the ignition to OFF then to ON. If the
message stays on, see your dealer right away.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message
United States Canada
If your washer fluid is low, the warning message will
come on and stay on until you add washer fluid. See
ªWindshield Washer Fluidº in the Index for adding
washer fluid instructions.
If the warning message is still on after adding fluid, you
need to reset the warning message. To reset the warning
message, turn the ignition to OFF then to ON. If the
message stays on, see your dealer right away.

2-102
Service Vehicle Soon Message
United States Canada
This light will come on if your vehicle has certain
non
-emission related problems.
For example, if the entire electrical system fails to send
and receive messages from the vehicle's components,
this message will come on.
These problems may not be obvious and may affect
vehicle performance or durability. Consult a qualified
dealership for necessary repairs to maintain top
vehicle performance.
AWD Disable Warning Message (Option)
United States Canada
You will receive this message when there is a spare tire
on the vehicle, when the anti
-lock brake system warning
light comes on, or when the rear differential fluid is in
an overtemp condition. The message will go out when
the differential fluid cools.
The all
-wheel-drive system will be disabled until the
compact spare tire is replaced by a full
-size tire. If the
warning message is still on after putting on the full
-size
tire, you need to reset the warning message. To reset the
warning message, turn the ignition to OFF then to ON.
If the message stays on, see your dealer right away. See
ªAll
-Wheel Driveº in the Index for more information.

2-122
Head-Up Display (HUD) (Option)
CAUTION:
If the HUD image is too bright, or too high in
your field of view, it may take you more time to
see things you need to see when it's dark outside.
Be sure to keep the HUD image dim and placed
low in your field of view.
If your vehicle has this option, it can display the
speedometer reading in English or metric. The current
radio station, CD number and/or track number or tape
may also be displayed and will appear as an image
focused out toward the front of your vehicle.
The HUD is capable of displaying English or French.
See ªDriver Information Center (DIC) Messagesº
earlier in this section to change the display from English
to metric.The Head
-Up Display also displays the following lights
and messages when they appear on the instrument
panel cluster:

Turn Signal Indicators

High
-Beam Indicator

Low
-Fuel Warning Message
See each of these features in the Index for
more information.
The Head
-Up Display also displays a CHECK GAGES
icon. The following messages could appear on the
instrument panel cluster when CHECK GAGES appears:

Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Message

Low Oil Pressure Message

Charging System Indicator Message

Low Brake Fluid Warning Message
See each of these messages in the Index for
more information.

4-26
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.

Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and transaxle. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.

Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
CAUTION:
If you don't shift down, your brakes could get
so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going
down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on a steep
downhill slope.

4-44 When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:

start your engine,

shift into a gear, and

release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don't overfill),
engine oil, belts, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If you're trailering, it's
a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.

6-
6-1
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-3 Fuel
6
-5 Fuels in Foreign Countries
6
-6 Filling Your Tank
6
-8 Filling a Portable Fuel Container
6
-8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-11 Engine Oil
6
-16 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-17 Passenger Compartment Air Filter
(If Equipped)
6
-19 Automatic Transaxle Fluid
6
-23 All-Wheel Drive (Option)
6
-25 Engine Coolant
6
-28 Radiator Pressure Cap
6
-28 Power Steering Fluid
6
-29 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-30 Brakes
6
-34 Battery
6
-35 Bulb Replacement6
-40 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
6
-42 Tires
6
-53 Appearance Care
6
-54 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-56 Care of Safety Belts
6
-56 Cleaning Glass Surfaces
6
-57 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-59 Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome-Plated
Wheels (If Equipped)
6
-60 Underbody Maintenance
6
-60 Chemical Paint Spotting
6
-61 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-62 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-62 Service Parts Identification Label
6
-63 Electrical System
6
-70 Replacement Bulbs
6
-71 Capacities and Specifications
6
-72 Air Conditioning Refrigerant Capacity
6
-72 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

6-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
CAUTION:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:

Dispense gasoline only into
approved containers.

Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.

Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.

Don't smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under the Hood
CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like fuel, oil,
coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and other
fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others could
be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill things
that will burn onto a hot engine.

6-10 Engine Compartment Overview
When you lift the hood, you'll see these items:
A. Underhood Fuse Block
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal
C. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
D. Automatic Transaxle
Fluid DipstickE. Brake Master Cylinder
F. Windshield Washer
Fluid Reservoir
G. Battery
H. Radiator Pressure CapI. Engine Oil Fill Cap
J. Engine Oil Dipstick
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
L. Engine Coolant Reservoir

6-20 How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the dealership
service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading
on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transaxle. Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Too little
fluid could cause the transaxle to overheat. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transaxle fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle
fluid level if you have been driving:

When outside temperatures are above 90F (32C).

At high speed for quite a while.

In heavy traffic
-- especially in hot weather.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at
normal operating temperature, which is 180F
to 200F (82C to 93C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50F
(10C). If it's colder than 50F (10C), you may have
to drive longer.
Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:

Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.

With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).

With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK (P).

Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.

6-21
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
The dipstick is located
toward the back of the
engine compartment, next
to the brake master cylinder.
The dipstick handle is a bright red loop. See ªEngine
Compartment Overview in the Index for more
information on location.
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or
paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the
lower level. The fluid level must be in the
cross
-hatched area.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.