transmission BUICK RAINIER 2007 User Guide

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of
the vehicle may put too much force on the parking
pawl in the transmission. You may nd it difficult to
pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called
“torque lock.” To prevent torque lock, set the
parking brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly
before you leave the driver’s seat. To nd out how,
seeShifting Into Park (P) on page 119.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever
out of PARK (P) before you release the parking
brake.If torque lock does occur, you may need to
have another vehicle push yours a little uphill to
take some of the pressure from the parking pawl in
the transmission, so you can pull the shift lever
out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
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 is in RUN. SeeAutomatic
Transmission Operation on page 114.
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Be sure that people and objects are clear of
the garage door or gate operator you are
programming. When programming a garage door,
it is advised to park outside of the garage.
It is recommended that a new battery be installed in
your hand-held transmitter for quicker and more
accurate transmission of the radio-frequency signal.
Programming Universal Home Remote
Follow these steps to program up to three channels:
1. Press and hold down the two outside
Universal Home Remote buttons, releasing
only when the Universal Home Remote
indicator light begins to ash, after
20 seconds. Do not hold down the buttons for
longer than 30 seconds and do not repeat
this step to program a second and/or
third hand-held transmitter to the remaining
two Universal Home Remote buttons.2. Position the end of your hand-held transmitter
about 1 to 3 inches (3 to 8 cm) away from the
Universal Home Remote buttons while
keeping the indicator light in view.
3. Simultaneously press and hold both the
desired Universal Home Remote button
and the hand-held transmitter button. Do not
release the buttons until Step 4 has been
completed.
Some entry gates and garage door openers
may require you to substitute Step 3 with
the procedure noted in “Gate Operator and
Canadian Programming” later in this section.
4. The indicator light will ash slowly at rst and
then rapidly after Universal Home Remote
successfully receives the frequency signal
from the hand-held transmitter. Release both
buttons.
141

Gate Operator and Canadian
Programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require transmitter
signals to time out or quit after several seconds
of transmission. This may not be long enough
for Universal Home Remote to pick up the signal
during programming. Similarly, some U.S. gate
operators are manufactured to time out in
the same manner.
If you live in Canada, or you are having difficulty
programming a gate operator or garage door
opener by using the “Programming Universal
Home Remote” procedures, regardless of where
you live, replace Step 3 under “Programming
Universal Home Remote” with the following:
Continue to press and hold the Universal Home
Remote button while you press and release every
two seconds (cycle) the hand-held transmitter
button until the frequency signal has been
successfully accepted by the Universal Home
Remote. The Universal Home Remote indicator
light will ash slowly at rst and then rapidly.
Proceed with Step 4 under “Programming
Universal Home Remote” to complete.
Using Universal Home Remote
Press and hold the appropriate Universal Home
Remote button for at least half of a second.
The indicator light will come on while the signal is
being transmitted.
Erasing Universal Home Remote
Buttons
To erase programming from the three Universal
Home Remote buttons do the following:
1. Press and hold down the two outside buttons
until the indicator light begins to ash, after
20 seconds. Do not hold the two outside
buttons for longer than 30 seconds.
2. Release both buttons.
The Universal Home Remote is now in the training
(learning) mode and can be programmed at any
time beginning with Step 2 under “Programming
Universal Home Remote” shown earlier in
this section.
Individual buttons cannot be erased, but they
can be reprogrammed. See “Reprogramming a
Single Universal Home Remote Button” following
this section.
143

Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your
vehicle will slow down to the cruise control speed
set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control works on hills
depends upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hills. When going up steep hills, you may
want to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain
your speed. When going downhill, you may
have to brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your
speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers nd
this to be too much trouble and do not use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Move the cruise switch to off, or
Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the
ignition, the cruise control set speed memory
is erased.
Headlamps
The exterior lamps
knob is located on your
instrument panel to
the left of the steering
wheel.
c(Off):Turn the knob to this symbol and
release it to turn off the Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) and the Automatic Headlamps (AHS).
An indicator illuminates when the position
is selected. This position is not available for
vehicles rst sold in Canada.
162

The DRL system makes the headlamps come on
at reduced brightness when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps knob is in automatic
headlamp mode.
The light sensor detects daytime light.
The transmission is not in PARK (P).
When the DRL are on, only the headlamps will be
on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps
will not be on. The instrument panel will not be lit
up either.
When it begins to get dark, the headlamps
automatically switch from DRL to the regular
headlamps.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, the Automatic
Headlamp System turns on the headlamps when
the vehicle is started and after the transaxle
has been shifted out of the PARK (P) position.
The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker, and parking
lamps will come on. The instrument panel lights
and radio lights will also turn on at normal
brightness. Once on, the system remains on
during these conditions even if the vehicle
is shifted back into PARK (P).
The vehicle has a light sensor on the top of the
instrument panel. Make sure it is not covered
or the system may come on whenever the
ignition is on and the vehicle is shifted out of
the PARK (P) position.
The system could also turn on the lamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather or a tunnel. This is normal.
164

There is a delay in the transition between the
daytime and nighttime operation of the Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL) and the automatic headlamp
systems, so that driving under bridges or bright
overhead street lights does not affect the system.
The DRL and automatic headlamp system are only
affected when the light sensor sees a change in
lighting lasting longer than the delay.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the
automatic headlamp system comes on after the
transmission is shifted out of PARK (P). Once you
leave the garage, it will take about one minute
for the automatic headlamp system to change to
DRL if it is light outside. During that delay, the
instrument panel cluster might not be as bright as
usual. Make sure the instrument panel brightness
control is in the full bright position.
If the vehicle is running and the automatic
headlamp system is already on, it can be turned
off by turning and releasing the headlamp
control at the off position. The automatic headlamp
system stays off until you turn and release the
headlamp control at the off position again.
SeeHeadlamps on page 162.Fog Lamps
Use the fog lamps for better vision in foggy or
misty conditions. The ignition must be in RUN for
the fog lamps to work.
The fog lamp button
is located on the
instrument panel to
the right of the exterior
lamps knob.
Press the button to turn the fog lamps on.
Press the button again to turn them off. A light
glows near the button while the fog lamps are on.
Fog lamps turn off whenever the high-beam
headlamps are on.
Some localities have laws that require the
headlamps to be on along with the fog lamps.
165

Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle has a
computer which
monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition,
and emission control
systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions are at acceptable
levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce
a cleaner environment. The check engine light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often will be
indicated by the system before any problem is
apparent. This may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This system is also designed to
assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.Notice:If you keep driving your vehicle with
this light on, after awhile, your emission
controls may not work as well, your fuel
economy may not be as good, and your engine
may not run as smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that may not be covered by
your warranty.
Notice:Modications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of your vehicle or the replacement of the
original tires with other than those of the same
Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect
your vehicle’s emission controls and may
cause this light to come on. Modications to
these systems could lead to costly repairs not
covered by your warranty. This may also
result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 356.
190

SERVICE TIRE MONITOR
This message displays if a part on the Tire
Pressure Monitor (TPM) system is not working
properly. If you drive your vehicle while any of the
four sensors are missing or inoperable, the
warning comes on in about 20 minutes. A sensor
would be missing, for example, if you put
different wheels on your vehicle without
transferring the sensors. If the warning comes on
and stays on, there may be a problem with the
TPM. See your dealer.
STABILITRAK ACTIVE
This message displays anytime the StabiliTrak®
system activates to maintain vehicle stability.
Any combination of engine speed management,
brake traction control, and stability control displays
this message.
STABILITRAK NOT READY
This message may display if driving conditions
delay StabiliTrak®system initialization. This
is normal. Once the system initializes, this
message will no longer be displayed on the DIC.
STABILITRAK OFF
This message displays when you press the
StabiliTrak®button for more than ve seconds or
when stability control has been automatically
disabled. The StabiliTrak
®button is located on the
transmission shift handle. To limit wheel spin
and realize the full benets of the stability
enhancement system, you should normally leave
StabiliTrak
®on. However, you should turn
StabiliTrak®off if your vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, ice, or snow and you want to rock your
vehicle to attempt to free it, or if you are driving in
extreme off-road conditions and require more
wheel spin. SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 329. To turn the
StabiliTrak
®system back on, press the
StabiliTrak®button again.
The message may display if the brake system
warning light is on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 186.
The message turns off as soon as the conditions
that caused the message to be displayed are
no longer present.
207

TIGHTEN FUEL CAP
This message may display and a chime may sound
if the vehicle’s fuel cap is not tightened properly.
Fully reinstall the fuel cap. SeeFilling the Tank on
page 361. The diagnostic system can determine if
the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or missing fuel cap allows fuel to evaporate
into the atmosphere. This message remains on until
it is acknowledged and cleared from the DIC display
by pressing any of the DIC buttons or the trip stem.
The DIC message is also cancelled if the ignition is
turned off.
The DIC message and the Service Engine Soon
light may come on again during a second trip if the
fuel cap is still not tightened properly. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 190for more
information.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
This message displays when you momentarily
press the StabiliTrak®button located on the
transmission shift handle. In this mode, stability
control and the brake-traction control are
functional. Engine speed management will be
modied and the driven wheels can spin more
freely. For more details on this mode, see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 289.
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message displays and a chime sounds if a
turn signal is left on for 3/4 of a mile (1.2 km).
Move the turn signal/multifunction lever to the off
position. Press any of the DIC buttons, or the
trip stem, to acknowledge this message and clear
it from the DIC display.
DIC Vehicle Customization
Your vehicle may have customization capabilities
that allow you to program some features to
one setting based on your preference. All of the
customizable options listed may not be available
on your vehicle. Only the options available display
on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
208

When you rst start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, the system performs several diagnostic
checks to insure there are no problems. You may
hear or feel the system working. This is normal and
does not mean there is a problem with your vehicle.
If driving conditions delay system initialization, the
STABILITRAK NOT READY message may be
displayed. If this is the case, your vehicle does not
need servicing.
For more information on the stability messages,
seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 202.
When the StabiliTrak
®
system is both on and
actively controlling
the stability of the
vehicle, the StabiliTrak
®
light will blink for the
duration of the event.
You may also feel or hear the system working.
This is normal.The StabiliTrak
®disable
button is located on
the transmission
shift handle.
The StabiliTrak
®system has three modes of
operation: STABILITRAK ON, TRACTION
CONTROL OFF, and STABILITRAK OFF.
STABILITRAK ON — The vehicle will default to
STABILITRAK ON every time the driver starts the
vehicle. The StabiliTrak
®light will be off and no
DIC messages will be displayed.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF — The driver can
modify the engine speed management system by
momentarily pressing the StabiliTrak
®button
on the transmission shift handle. The StabiliTrak®
light will come on and TRACTION CONTROL
OFF will be displayed. For vehicles without a
DIC, the StabiliTrak
®indicator light will come on.
Momentarily pressing the StabiliTrak®button
again will return the system to the STABILITRAK
ON mode.
290