warning light BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2004 Owner's Guide

City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You will want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals.Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip into
an unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross
most large cities. You will save time and energy.
SeeFreeway Driving on page 4-24.
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic
light is there because the corner is busy enough
to need it. When a light turns green, and just before
you start to move, check both ways for vehicles
that have not cleared the intersection or may
be running the red light.
4-23

You may see highway signs on mountains that
warn of special problems. Examples are long
grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks
area or winding roads. Be alert to these and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your vehicle.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a
supply of windshield washer uid, a rag, some winter
outer clothing, a small shovel, a ashlight, a red
cloth and a couple of reective warning triangles. And, if
you will be driving under severe conditions, include a
small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of
burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure these items in your vehicle.
4-28

Your brake master cylinder reservoir is lled with DOT-3
brake uid. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for the location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level in
the reservoir might go down. The rst is that the
brake uid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the uid level goes back up. The other reason is
that uid is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you
should have your brake system xed since a leak
means that sooner or later your brakes will not work
well, or will not work at all.
So, it is not a good idea to “top off” your brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you add uid
when your linings are worn, then you will have too
much uid when you get new brake linings. You should
add (or remove) brake uid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake uid, it can spill on
the engine. The uid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
uid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake uid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-44. United States
Canada
5-39

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal rmly).
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear the
brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque specications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
5-41

If the anti-lock brake system warning light comes on,
the check tire pressure system may not be working
properly. See your dealer for service. Also, see
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on page 3-45.
The check tire pressure system detects differences in tire
rotation speeds that are caused by changes in tire
pressure. The system can alert you about a low tire – but
it does not replace normal tire maintenance. SeeTires on
page 5-57.
When the LOW TIRE PRESSURE HOLD SET TO
RESET message appears on the Driver Information
Center and the LOW TIRE PRESSURE message comes
on the message center, you should stop as soon as
you can and check all your tires for damage. If a tire is
at, seeIf a Tire Goes Flat on page 5-76. Also check
the tire pressure in all four tires as soon as you can. See
Ination - Tire Pressure on page 5-64.Any time you adjust a tire’s pressure or have one or more
tires repaired or replaced, you’ll need to reset, or
calibrate, the check tire pressure system. You’ll also need
to reset the system whenever you rotate the tires, buy
new tires and install or remove the compact spare.
Do not reset the check tire pressure system without rst
correcting the cause of the problem and checking
and adjusting the pressure in all four tires. If you reset
the system when the tire pressures are incorrect,
the check tire pressure system will not work properly
and may not alert you when a tire is low or high.
To reset the system, do the following:
1. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON.
2. Press the MODE button until the DIC reads LOW
TIRE PRESSURE HOLD SET TO RESET.
3. Press and hold the SET button until you hear a
chime, and TIRE PRESSURE RESET is displayed.
5-66

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-71

Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time.
Check the ination pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi (420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare on your vehicle, you
should stop as soon as possible and make sure
your spare tire is correctly inated. The compact spare
is made to perform well at speeds up to 65 mph
(105 km/h) for distances up to 3,000 miles (5 000 km),
so you can nish your trip and have your full-size
tire repaired or replaced where you want. Of course, it’s
best to replace your spare with a full-size tire as
soon as you can. Your spare will last longer and be in
good shape in case you need it again.
Notice:When the compact spare is installed, don’t
take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
with guide rails. The compact spare can get caught
on the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won’t t. Keep your spare tire
and its wheel together.Notice:Tire chains won’t t your compact spare.
Using them can damage your vehicle and can
damage the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on
your compact spare.
All-Wheel Drive
After installing a compact spare tire on a vehicle with
all-wheel drive you will need to drive with light to
moderate acceleration, for 10 seconds, in a straight line.
This action will allow the vehicle to detect the compact
spare tire and disable the all-wheel drive system.
The AWD DISABLE message will come on the
instrument panel cluster indicating that the all-wheel
drive system is off. You may detect a slight pull during
this time, but this is normal.
Notice:You may damage your vehicle’s all-wheel
drive system if your vehicle is driven for an
extended period with a compact spare tire installed
and the all-wheel drive system in operation. See
“All-Wheel Drive System” and “AWD Disable
Warning Message” in the Index for more
information.
5-98

A
About Driving Your Vehicle................................. 4-2
Accessory Inator...........................................5-74
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-27
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-38
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-108
Adjusting the Captain’s Chairs
(Second Row).............................................1-14
Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)..........................3-77, 3-88, 3-101
Air Bag
Readiness Light..........................................3-43
Air Bag Systems.............................................1-72
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-79
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-82
What Makes an Air Bag Inate?....................1-78
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inates?......1-80
When Should an Air Bag Inate?...................1-77
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-75
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-19
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic
Module (SDM).............................................7-10
All-Wheel Drive......................................5-48, 5-98
All-Wheel Drive Disable Warning Message..........3-55
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System.........................4-12
AM .............................................................3-130Antenna, Integrated Windshield.......................3-132
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . 3-132
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)............................ 4-8
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light...............3-45
Appearance Care............................................5-99
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-102
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-106
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-99
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle............5-103
Finish Damage..........................................5-105
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-105
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-105
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-106
Weatherstrips............................................5-102
Arming with the Power Lock Switch...................2-16
Arming with the Remote Keyless Entry
Transmitter.................................................2-16
Ashtrays........................................................3-28
Audio Speakers............................................3-115
Audio System(s).............................................3-73
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-129
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-130
Care of Your CD and DVD Player................3-131
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.......................3-131
Integrated Windshield Antenna.....................3-132
Navigation/Radio System.............................3-112
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-85
Radio with CD............................................3-74
1

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-98
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)...............................3-126
Setting the Time..........................................3-73
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-128
Understanding Radio Reception...................3-130
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-132
Auto Door Lock/Unlock....................................3-67
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-15
Automatic Level Control...................................4-42
Automatic Operation........................................3-35
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-21
Operation...................................................2-23
B
Backing Up....................................................4-48
Battery..........................................................5-42
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-7
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-20
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-25
Before You Drive...........................................3-113
Bench Seat, Split............................................. 1-9
Brake
Low Fluid Warning Message.........................3-57
Parking......................................................2-26
System Warning Light..................................3-44
Brake Fluid....................................................5-38Brake Wear...................................................5-41
Brakes..........................................................5-38
Braking........................................................... 4-7
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-10
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-19
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-50
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking
Lamps....................................................5-52
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-50
Headlamps.................................................5-50
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-54
Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps.......................5-53
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-52
Buying New Tires...........................................5-70
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Canada – Customer Assistance.......................... 7-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-7
Canceling the Rear Door Security Locks............2-11
Capacities and Specications..........................5-115
Captain Chairs, Rear.......................................1-14
Carbon Monoxide...................4-28, 4-42, 2-11, 2-30
Care of
Safety Belts..............................................5-102
Your Cassette Tape Player..........................3-130
Your CD and DVD Player...........................3-131
2

Cleaning Tires..............................................5-105
Cleaning Vinyl..............................................5-101
Climate Control System...................................3-28
Dual..........................................................3-32
Dual Automatic............................................3-35
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-38
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-98
Compass Variance..........................................3-60
Content Theft-Deferrent....................................2-15
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-7
Convenience Center, Rear...............................2-44
Convenience Net............................................2-44
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-46
Engine Temperature Warning Message...........3-51
Heater, Engine............................................2-22
Cooling System..............................................5-29
Cruise Control................................................3-11
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-39
Current and Past Model Order Forms................7-13
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-8
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone
(TTY) Users.............................................. 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-5
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons
with Disabilities.......................................... 7-6Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government............................................7-11
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-12
D
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).........................3-15
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-3
Defogging and Defrosting.................3-30, 3-34, 3-37
Delayed Lighting.............................................3-18
Delayed Locking.......................................2-9, 3-68
Dinghy Towing................................................4-34
Disarming with the Remote Keyless Entry
Transmitter.................................................2-16
Disarming with Your Key..................................2-16
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-3
Dolly Towing..................................................4-35
Door
Ajar Warning Message.................................3-54
Delayed Locking........................................... 2-9
Locks.......................................................... 2-8
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-9
4