BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2005 Owner's Manual

Dual Automatic Climate Control
System
Your vehicle may have the dual automatic climate
control system. With this system you can control the
heating, cooling, and ventilation for your vehicle.
Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic):When the driver’s temperature
knob is pressed to select AUTO and the temperature is
set, the system will automatically control the inside
temperature, the air delivery and the fan speed. AUTO
will also appear on the display.
To place the entire system in automatic mode, do the
following:
1. Press the driver’s temperature knob to turn the
system on.
2. Adjust the temperature to a comfortable setting.
Choosing the coldest or warmest temperature will
not cause the system to heat or cool any faster.
In cold weather, the system will start at reduced fan
speeds to avoid blowing cold air into your vehicle
until warmer air is available. Then, as the air warms,
it will be delivered through the instrument panel
outlets. The length of time needed for warm up will
depend on the outside temperature and the length
of time that has elapsed since your vehicle was
last driven.
3. Wait for the system to regulate. This may take from
10 to 30 minutes. Then adjust the temperature as
necessary.
4. To turn the system off, press the passenger’s knob.
3-33

Manual Operation
MODE:Press this button to manually change the
direction of airow in your vehicle; keep pressing the
button until the desired mode appears on the display.
To change the current mode, select one of the following:
H(Vent):This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
)(Bi-Level):This mode directs approximately half of
the air to the instrument panel outlets, then directs
the remaining air to the oor outlets and the defroster
and side window outlets. Cooler air is directed to
the upper outlets and warmer air to the oor outlets.
6(Floor):This mode directs most of the air to
the oor outlets. Use this mode to send air to the rear of
the vehicle. Keep the area under the front seats free
of objects that could obstruct airow to the rear of
the vehicle.
The MODE button can also be used to select defog. For
more information, see “Defogging and Defrosting”
later in this section.
9(Fan):Press this button to increase to decrease
the fan speed; keep pressing the up or down arrow until
the desired fan speed appears on the display.
VENT:Press this button to turn the outside air mode on
or off. When this mode is on, outside air will be
circulated throughout your vehicle. VENT can be used
with all modes, but it cannot be used with the
recirculation mode.
@(Recirculation):This mode keeps outside air
from coming in the vehicle. It can be used to prevent
outside air and odors from entering your vehicle or help
heat or cool the air inside your vehicle more quickly.
Press this button to turn the recirculation mode on or off.
When the button is pressed, an indicator light will
come on. The air-conditioning compressor also comes
on. The recirculation mode can be used with vent
and bi-level modes, but it cannot be used with oor,
defog, defrost or outside air modes.
Temperature Control:Use the DRIVER knob to
increase or decrease the air temperature inside your
vehicle. If the front passenger would like the temperature
to be warmer or cooler, use the PASS knob to adjust
the passenger’s temperature.
3-34

Air Conditioning:The air-conditioning compressor will
automatically come on when a temperature cooler
than the interior temperature is chosen using the
temperature knobs.
You may notice a slight change in engine performance
when the air-conditioning compressor shuts off and
turns on again. This is normal. The system is designed
to make adjustments to help with fuel economy while
still maintaining the selected temperature.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps
the system to operate more efficiently.
The air-conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling
or after turning off the engine. This is normal.Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity,
or moisture, condensing on the cool window glass. This
can be minimized if the climate controls system is used
properly. There are two modes to clear fog or frost from
your windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the
windows of fog or moisture and warm the passengers.
Use the defrost mode to remove fog or frost from the
windshield more quickly.
Use the MODE button to select the defog mode.
-(Defog):This mode directs air to the windshield and
the oor outlets. When you select this mode, the system
turns off recirculation and runs the air-conditioning
compressor unless the outside temperature is at or below
freezing. The recirculation mode cannot be selected while
in the defog mode.
Press the defrost button to select defrost.
0(Defrost):Pressing this button directs most of the air
to the windshield and the side window outlets, with some
air directed to the oor outlets. In this mode, the system
will automatically turns off recirculation and run the
air-conditioning compressor, unless the outside
temperature is at or below freezing. Recirculation cannot
be selected while in the defrost mode.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
3-35

Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
<REAR:Press this button to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light in the button
will come on to let you know that the rear window
defogger is activated.
The rear window defogger will turn off approximately
10 minutes after the button is pressed. If turned on
again, the defogger will only run for approximately
ve minutes before turning off. The defogger can also
be turned off by pressing the button again or by turning
off the engine.
If your vehicle has heated outside rearview mirrors, the
mirrors will heat to help clear fog or frost from the
surface of the mirror when the rear window defog button
is pressed.
Notice:Don’t use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs wouldn’t be
covered by your warranty. Do not attach a temporary
vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similar
to the defogger grid.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the louvers located on the air outlets to change the
direction of the airow.
Operation Tips

Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the vehicle that may block
the ow of air into your vehicle.
Use of non-GM approved hood deectors may
adversely affect the performance of the system.
Keep the path under the front seats clear of objects
to help circulate the air inside of your vehicle more
effectively.
3-36

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 also has a message center that works
along with the warning lights and gages. SeeMessage
Center on page 3-51.
3-37

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how
fast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically. The
indicator warning lights and gages are explained on the following pages.
United States up-level shown, United States base-level and Canadian similar
3-38

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven, in either miles (used in the United States)
or kilometers (used in Canada). However, a Canadian
odometer will remain in metric units only.
Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to
the mileage total of the old odometer, then that will
be done. If it cannot, then it is set at zero and a label
must be put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was installed.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may toggle the odometer to
display either miles, available only in the United States,
or kilometers. SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-62.
Trip Odometer
In addition to the standard odometer, the cluster can
also display a trip odometer. The display can be toggled
between the odometer and the trip odometer by
quickly pressing and releasing the trip/reset button
located to the right of the temperature gage. The trip
odometer will continue to keep track of miles or
kilometers driven even if they are not currently
displayed. A Canadian trip odometer will remain in
metric units only. To reset the trip odometer to zero (0),
push and hold the trip/reset button for at least one
and a half seconds, but less than three seconds. The
trip odometer that is showing in the display will be reset.
3-39

Retro-Active Reset
The trip odometer has a feature called retro-active reset.
This feature can be used to set the trip odometer to the
number of miles or kilometers driven since the ignition
was last turned on. This can be used if you forget to reset
your trip odometer at the beginning of a trip. To use the
retro-active reset feature, push and hold the trip/reset
button for at least three seconds. The trip odometer will
then display the number of miles or kilometers driven
since the ignition was last turned on and you began
driving. If you use the retro-active reset feature after you
have started the vehicle, but before you begin moving,
the display will show the number of miles or kilometers
you drove during the last ignition cycle. Once you begin
driving, the trip odometer will accumulate mileage. For
example, if you have driven 5.0 miles (8.0 km) since you
started your vehicle, and then activate the retro-active
reset feature, the display will show 5.0 miles (8.0 km).
As you drive, the display will then increase to
5.1 miles (8.2 km), 5.2 miles (8.4 km), etc.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
3-40

Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will
come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten
their safety belts.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for several seconds. If the
driver’s belt is already
buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will come on.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the airbag symbol. The system
checks the airbag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the airbag sensor, the airbag
modules, the wiring, diagnostic module, and safety
belt pretensioners. For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on page 1-67. For more
information on safety belt pretensioners, seeSafety Belt
Pretensioners on page 1-42.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash for
a few seconds. Then the
light should go out. This
means the system is ready.
3-41

If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your
airbag system or safety belt pretensioners may not work
properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the airbag system
may not be working properly. The airbags in
your vehicle may not inate in a crash, or they
could even inate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system. Your
rearview mirror has a passenger airbag status indicator.
When the ignition key is turned to ON or START, the
passenger airbag status indicator will light ON and OFF,
or the symbol for on and off, for several seconds as a
system check. Then, after several more seconds,
the status indicator will light either ON or OFF, or either
the on or off symbol to let you know the status of the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passenger
airbag status indicator, it means that the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag is enabled (may inate).Passenger Airbag Status Indicator – United States
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator – Canada
3-42