mirror BUICK RAINIER 2006 Owner's Guide

After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on
the underbody, chassis, or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a re hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust
system for damage. Also, check the fuel lines and
cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due
to off-road use. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
for additional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired — by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you
and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
4-30

Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways — also called thruways,
parkways, expressways, turnpikes, or
superhighways — are the safest of all roads.
But they have their own special rules.The most important advice on freeway driving is:
Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the
same speed most of the other drivers are driving.
Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic ow.
Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to
the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as
you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin
to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect
to blend with the ow. Try to merge into the gap at
close to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal,
check your mirrors, and glance over your shoulder as
often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the
traffic ow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to
the posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it is slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
4-35

Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inated to
the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as highway hypnosis?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on
the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of
the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
Do not let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle
can leave the road in less than a second, and you
could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead
and to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service, or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
4-37

Driving with a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you have a rear-most window open and
you pull a trailer with your vehicle, carbon
monoxide (CO) could come into your vehicle.
You cannot see or smell CO. It can cause
unconsciousness or death. SeeEngine
Exhaust on page 2-27. To maximize your
safety when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle. Do not use
the climate control setting for maximum air
because it only recirculates the air inside
your vehicle. SeeDual Automatic Climate
Control System on page 3-19.Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connection, lamps,
tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that
the load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
4-59

Loss of Control...............................................4-17
Low Fuel Warning Light...................................3-42
Luggage Carrier..............................................2-47
Lumbar
Power Controls............................................. 1-3
M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-9
At Least Once a Month.................................. 6-9
At Least Once a Year..................................6-10
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-7
Maintenance Record....................................6-15
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-14
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-9
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-12
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using.......................................................... 6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-36
Memory Seat.................................................2-51
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-47Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass....2-35
Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass
and Temperature Display...........................2-37
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar
®
and Compass..........................................2-31
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar®,
Compass and Temperature Display.............2-33
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-29
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®.............2-29
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar®,
Compass, and Temperature Display............2-29
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-40
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror....................2-40
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-40
Outside Power Mirror...................................2-39
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-3
N
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.....................................................3-113
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-17
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-14
8

O
Odometer......................................................3-27
Odometer, Trip...............................................3-27
Off-Road Driving.............................................4-18
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-15
Oil
Engine.......................................................5-15
Pressure Gage............................................3-38
Oil, Engine Oil Life System..............................5-18
Older Children, Restraints................................1-26
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-3
OnStar
®System, see OnStar®Manual...............2-41
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-23
Outside
Convex Mirror.............................................2-40
Curb View Assist Mirror................................2-40
Heated Mirrors............................................2-40
Power Mirror...............................................2-39
Overhead Console..........................................2-47
Owner Checks and Services.............................. 6-9
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
P
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-25
Shifting Out of............................................2-26
Parking
Brake........................................................2-24
Over Things That Burn.................................2-27
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator.....................3-30
Passenger Sensing System..............................1-56
Passing.........................................................4-16
Passlock
®......................................................2-17
Power
Accessory Outlet(s)......................................3-18
Door Locks.................................................. 2-8
Electrical System.........................................5-95
Lumbar Controls........................................... 1-3
Reclining Seatbacks...................................... 1-4
Reduced Engine Light..................................3-40
Retained Accessory (RAP)............................2-18
Seat............................................................ 1-2
Steering Fluid.............................................5-34
Windows....................................................2-14
Pretensioners, Safety Belt................................1-25
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.................. 2-9
9

Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-12
R
Radiator Pressure Cap....................................5-26
Radios..........................................................3-58
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-128
Care of Your CD and DVD Player................3-129
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.......................3-129
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.................................................3-113
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-85
Radio with CD....................................3-60, 3-70
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-99
Rear Seat Audio........................................3-124
Setting the Time..........................................3-59
Theft-Deterrent..........................................3-126
Understanding Reception............................3-127
Rainsense™ Wipers.......................................... 3-9
Reading Lamps..............................................3-17
Rear Axle......................................................5-45
Locking........................................................ 4-8
Rear Climate Control System............................3-24
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-11
Rear Floor Storage Lid....................................2-48
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides......................1-23Rear Seat Audio (RSA)..................................3-124
Rear Seat Entertainment System.....................3-113
Rear Seat Operation......................................... 1-6
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-20
Rear Windshield Washer/Wiper.........................3-10
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
Compass....................................................2-35
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
Compass and Temperature Display................2-37
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
OnStar
®and Compass.................................2-31
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
OnStar
®, Compass and Temperature Display . . . 2-33
Rearview Mirror with OnStar®...........................2-29
Rearview Mirror with OnStar®, Compass,
and Temperature Display..............................2-29
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-29
Reclining Seatbacks, Power............................... 1-4
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-12
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-50
Reduced Engine Power Light............................3-40
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-5
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire..................................................5-74
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-72
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-49
Replacement, Windshield.................................5-50
10