engine BUICK RAINIER 2007 User Guide

{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded
outlet could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a re. You
could be seriously injured. Plug the cord
into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not
reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug
and store the cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine parts. If you do
not, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater
plugged in? The answer depends on the outside
temperature, the kind of oil you have, and some
other things. Instead of trying to list everything here,
we ask that you contact your dealer in the area
where you will be parking your vehicle. The dealer
can give you the best advice for that particular area.
Active Fuel Management™
Your vehicle’s V8 engine may have Active Fuel
Management™. This system allows the engine to
operate on either all or half of its cylinders,
depending on your driving conditions.
When less power is required, such as cruising at a
constant vehicle speed, the system will operate
in the half cylinder mode, allowing your vehicle to
achieve better fuel economy. When greater
power demands are required, such as accelerating
from a stop, passing, or merging onto a freeway,
the system will maintain full-cylinder operation.
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Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your gear
shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks the rear wheels.
It is the best position to use when you start the
engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake rmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not
move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, always set your parking brake
and move the shift lever to PARK (P).
SeeShifting Into Park (P) on page 119.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a
Trailer on page 339.
114

Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an
automatic transmission shift lock control system.
You have to fully apply the regular brakes rst and
then press the shift lever button before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is
in RUN. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the shift lever and push the shift
lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain
brake application. Then press the shift lever button
and move the shift lever into another gear. See
Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 120.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Shift to REVERSE (R) only
after your vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of
snow, ice, or sand without damaging your
transmission, seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 329.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To restart when
you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is rmly on
the brake pedal, your vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while your engine is running at
high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) with the engine running at high
speed may damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Be sure the engine is not running at high
speed when shifting your vehicle.
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Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly set.
Your vehicle can roll. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 339.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pressing
the button on the shift lever and pushing the
lever all the way toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the key, your
vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle
with the engine running. Your vehicle
could move suddenly if the shift lever is
not fully in PARK (P) with the parking
brake rmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch re. You or
others could be injured. Do not leave your
vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and
your parking brake is rmly set before you leave it.
After you have moved the shift lever into PARK (P),
hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without rst pressing the button on the console shift
lever. If you can, it means that the shift lever was
not fully locked into PARK (P).
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Engine Exhaust
{CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the
gas carbon monoxide (CO), which you
cannot see or smell. It can cause
unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange
or different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a
collision.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Your vehicle was damaged when
driving over high points on the road
or over road debris.
Repairs were not done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system has
been modied improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows
down to blow out any CO; and
Have your vehicle xed immediately.
122

Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust
into your vehicle. See the earlier caution
underEngine Exhaust on page 122.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let
deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your
vehicle even if the climate control fan is at
the highest setting. One place this can
happen is a garage. Exhaust — with
CO — can come in easily. NEVER park in
a garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 325.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave
your vehicle when the engine is running
unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
always set your parking brake and move
the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
will not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 119.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 339.
123

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage............ 189
Tire Pressure Light.................................... 189
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........................ 190
Oil Pressure Gage..................................... 193
Security Light............................................ 194
Cruise Control Light.................................. 194
Reduced Engine Power Light.................... 195
Highbeam On Light................................... 195
Service All-Wheel Drive Light.................... 196
Check Gages Warning Light...................... 196
Gate Ajar Light.......................................... 196
Fuel Gage................................................. 197
Low Fuel Warning Light............................ 197
Check Gas Cap Light................................ 197
Driver Information Center (DIC).................. 198
DIC Operation and Displays...................... 199
DIC Warnings and Messages.................... 202
DIC Vehicle Customization........................ 208Audio System(s)......................................... 215
Setting the Time........................................ 217
Radio with CD (Base)............................... 217
Radio with CD (MP3)................................ 228
Radio with Six-Disc CD............................. 238
Using an MP3........................................... 251
XM Radio Messages................................. 257
Navigation/Radio System........................... 260
Rear Seat Entertainment System............... 260
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)............................. 275
Theft-Deterrent Feature............................. 276
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.................. 277
Radio Reception........................................ 278
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.................... 279
Care of the CD and DVD Player............... 279
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................. 279
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System....... 280
Chime Level Adjustment............................ 280
Section 3 Instrument Panel
150

A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following loads are on: headlamps, high beams,
fog lamps, rear window defogger, climate
control fan at high speed, heated seats, engine
cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s
output and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It
can increase engine idle speed to generate more
power, whenever needed. It can temporarily
reduce the power demands of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels,
without being noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action, this action may
be noticeable to the driver. If so, a Driver
Information Center (DIC) message might be
displayed, such as Battery Saver Active or Battery
Voltage Low. If this message is displayed, it is
recommended that the driver reduce the electrical
loads as much as possible. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 202.Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome, courtesy, and
vanity lamps if they are left on for more than
20 minutes when the ignition is off. This will keep
the battery from running down.
If the battery run-down protection shuts off the
interior lamps, it may be necessary to do one of
the following to return to normal operation:
Shut off all lamps and close all doors.
Turn the ignition key to RUN.
This feature will also turn off the parking lamps
and headlamps under most circumstances, if they
are left on. If you would like to turn them back
on, turn the exterior lamps knob.
Accessory Power Outlet(s)
With the accessory power outlets, you can plug in
auxiliary electrical equipment such as a cellular
telephone or CB radio.
Your vehicle has three accessory power outlets.
There are two outlets located below the climate
controls and one outlet is on the rear of the center
oor console.
168

Climate Controls
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System
With this system you can control the heating,
cooling and ventilation for your vehicle. When your
vehicle is rst started and the climate control
system is on, or if the climate control system has
been turned on, the display will show the
driver’s temperature setting for ve seconds.
Then it will show the outside temperature.
Outside Air Temperature Display
A new outside temperature reading will be
displayed if the vehicle has been off for more than
three hours. If the vehicle has been off for less
than three hours, the old temperature reading may
be displayed because underhood heat is
affecting the true outside temperature.
Since underhood heat can also affect the outside
temperature while the engine is running, it
may take several minutes of driving before the
display updates to the actual outside temperature.
9(Off):Press this button to turn off the entire
climate control system. Outside air will still
enter the vehicle, and will be directed to the oor.
Press the AUTO button, the mode button, the
fan arrows, or either temperature knob to turn the
system on.
C(Mode):Press this button to manually select
the air delivery mode to the oor, instrument panel,
or windshield outlets. The system will stay in the
selected mode until the mode button is pressed
again or the AUTO button is pressed.
170

@(Recirculation):Press this button to turn
recirculation mode on or off. When this button is
pressed, an indicator light in the button will
also come on to let you know that it is activated.
Recirculation mode is used to recirculate the
air inside of your vehicle. Use this mode to help
prevent outside odors and/or dust from entering
your vehicle or to help cool the air inside of
your vehicle more quickly. Recirculation mode can
be used with vent and bi-level modes, but it
cannot be used with oor, defog or defrost modes.
You may also notice that the air conditioning
compressor will run while in recirculation mode.
This is normal and will help to prevent fogging.
If the weather is cold and damp, the system may
cause the windows to fog while using recirculation
mode. If the windows do start to fog, select
defog or defrost mode and increase fan speed.
Recirculation mode, if selected, will be cleared
when the engine is turned off.#A/C (Air Conditioning):Press this button to
manually turn the air conditioning system on or off.
When the system is on, the system will
automatically begin to cool and dehumidify the air
inside of your vehicle. The air conditioning
symbol will appear on the display when the air
conditioning is on and will turn off when the
air conditioning is off.
If you select turn the air conditioning off while in
front defrost or defog mode, the air conditioning
symbol will turn off, however, the A/C compressor
will remain on to help de-humidify the air inside
the vehicle. If one of the other modes is selected
the compressor will then turn the A/C off until it
is selected again or the AUTO button is pressed.
To avoid fogging the inside glass on rainy and
humid days at temperature above freezing,
press the air-conditioning button to run the air
conditioning compressor. Also, it is best to avoid
the use of recirculation mode except when
maximum air conditioning performance is needed
or for short times to avoid exterior odors.
You may notice a slight change in engine
performance when the air-conditioning compressor
shuts off and turns on again. This is normal.
173