fuel cap BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2002 Owner's Manual

2-92
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:

Reducing vehicle speed.

Avoiding hard accelerations.

Avoiding steep uphill grades.

If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see ªIf
the Light Is On Steadyº following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see ªIf the Light
Is On Steadyº following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. See ªFilling Your Tankº in the Index. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been
left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A
few driving trips with the cap properly installed should
turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not run as efficiently as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. See
ªFilling Your Tankº in the Index. It will take a few
driving trips to turn the light off.

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Fuel Gage
United States Canada
When the indicator nears empty, you still have a little
fuel left, but you should get more soon.
If your fuel is low, the warning message in the message
center will come on. See ªLow Fuel Warning Messageº
later in this section.Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have
left when the ignition is on.
Here are four things that some owners ask about. All
these things are normal and do not indicate that anything
is wrong with the fuel gage.

At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads full.

It takes a little more (or less) fuel to fill up than the
gage reads. For example, the gage reads half full, but
it took more (or less) than half of the tank's capacity
to fill it.

The gage pointer may move while cornering, braking
or speeding up.

The gage may not indicate empty when the ignition
is turned off.

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Head-Up Display (HUD) (Option)
CAUTION:
If the HUD image is too bright, or too high in
your field of view, it may take you more time to
see things you need to see when it's dark outside.
Be sure to keep the HUD image dim and placed
low in your field of view.
If your vehicle has this option, it can display the
speedometer reading in English or metric. The current
radio station, CD number and/or track number or tape
may also be displayed and will appear as an image
focused out toward the front of your vehicle.
The HUD is capable of displaying English or French.
See ªDriver Information Center (DIC) Messagesº
earlier in this section to change the display from English
to metric.The Head
-Up Display also displays the following lights
and messages when they appear on the instrument
panel cluster:

Turn Signal Indicators

High
-Beam Indicator

Low
-Fuel Warning Message
See each of these features in the Index for
more information.
The Head
-Up Display also displays a CHECK GAGES
icon. The following messages could appear on the
instrument panel cluster when CHECK GAGES appears:

Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Message

Low Oil Pressure Message

Charging System Indicator Message

Low Brake Fluid Warning Message
See each of these messages in the Index for
more information.

3-3
(Defog): This setting directs air to the windshield
and through the floor ducts. This mode is particularly
useful during cold or inclement weather because of your
vehicle's larger windshield area.
(Defrost): This setting directs most of the air to the
windshield and side window vents.
Mode Buttons
(Recirculation): Press this button (the light will
glow) to recirculate the air inside of your vehicle and to
limit the amount of outside air and/or odors entering
the vehicle.
Press this button again (the light will go off) to send
outside air into your vehicle. Using this setting while
trying to defrost or defog the windows will help clear
the vents of moisture. When the defog, defrost or lower
setting is selected, the system will automatically go to
outside air mode.
Operating the Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning
(HVAC) system in the recirculation mode may cause
fogging of the vehicle's windows when the weather
is cold and damp. To clear the fog, switch the HVAC
system to either the defog or defrost mode and increase
the fan speed. To avoid refogging of the windows,
operate the HVAC system in the outside air mode.Air Conditioning
On very hot days, your vehicle will cool down more
quickly and economically if you open the windows long
enough to let hot, inside air escape. For all settings,
adjust the temperature knob and fan speed as desired.
To get maximum cooling or a quick cool
-down on
very hot days, press the A/C and recirculation buttons
(the lights will glow) and turn the temperature knob
counterclockwise (toward the blue area). Then, adjust
the mode knob to direct the air to the desired location.
This setting should not be used for long periods of time
because the air may become too cold and dry.
Push the A/C button again (the light will go off) to turn
off the air conditioning.
When the air conditioner compressor is on, you may
sometimes notice slight changes in your vehicle's engine
performance and power. This is normal. The system is
designed to help fuel economy while it maintains the
desired cooling level.
The air conditioner removes moisture from the air, so
you may sometimes notice water dripping from under
your vehicle's engine compartment when it is idling or
after it has been turned off. This is normal.

3-7
Mode Buttons
VENT: This button turns the air conditioning
compressor on and off and changes the mode to
upper. The words A/C OFF are shown in the display.
Recirculation is not permitted when the compressor
is off. The system will try to control the temperature
automatically, but without the compressor.
(Recirculation): Press this button
(the recirculation symbol in the display will be lit) to
recirculate the air inside of your vehicle and to limit the
amount of outside air and/or odors entering the vehicle.
Press this button again (the recirculation symbol will
go off) to send outside air into your vehicle. Using this
setting while trying to defrost or defog the windows will
help clear the vents of moisture. When the defog, defrost
or lower setting is selected, the system will
automatically go to outside air mode.
Operating the Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning
(HVAC) system in the recirculation mode may cause
fogging of the vehicle's windows when the weather
is cold and damp. To clear the fog, switch the HVAC
system to either the defog or defrost mode and increase
the fan speed. To avoid refogging of the windows,
operate the HVAC system in the outside air mode.Air Conditioning
On very hot days, your vehicle will cool down more
quickly and economically if you open the windows long
enough to let hot, inside air escape. For all settings,
adjust the temperature knob and fan speed as desired.
To get maximum cooling or a quick cool
-down on very
hot days, press the recirculation button (the recirculation
symbol in the display will be lit) and turn the
temperature knob to the desired interior temperature.
Then, select the mode to direct the air to the desired
location. This setting should not be used for long
periods of time because the air may become too cold
and dry.
Push the recirculation button again (the recirculation
symbol will go off) to turn off recirculation.
When the air conditioner compressor is on, you may
sometimes notice slight changes in your vehicle's engine
performance and power. This is normal. The system is
designed to help fuel economy while it maintains the
desired cooling level.
The air conditioner removes moisture from the air, so
you may sometimes notice water dripping from under
your vehicle's engine compartment when it is idling or
after it has been turned off. This is normal.

4-32
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle
-- such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as ªdinghy towingº (towing your
vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and ªdolly
towingº (towing your vehicle with two wheels on
the ground and two wheels up on a device known
as a ªdollyº).With the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See ªDinghy
Towingº and ªDolly Towing,º following.
Here are some important things to consider before you
do recreational vehicle towing:

What's the towing capacity of the towing
vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle
manufacturer's recommendations.

How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.

Do you have the proper towing equipment? See your
dealer or trailering professional for additional advice
and equipment recommendations.

Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you would
prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you'll want to
make sure your vehicle is prepared to be towed. See
ªBefore Leaving on a Long Tripº in the Index.

4-34
Loading Your Vehicle
The Certification/Tire label is found on the rear edge of
the driver's door.
The label shows the size of your original tires and the
inflation pressures needed to obtain the gross weight
capacity of your vehicle. This is called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.The Certification/Tire label also tells you the maximum
weights for the front and rear axles, called the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To find out the actual
loads on your front and rear axles, you need to go to a
weigh station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can
help you with this. Be sure to spread out your load
equally on both sides of the centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle or the GAWR
for either the front or rear axle.
CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can
break, and it can change the way your vehicle
handles. These could cause you to lose control
and crash. Also, overloading can shorten the life
of your vehicle.

4-37
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by
your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your dealer for
important information about towing a trailer
with your vehicle. Additional rear axle
maintenance is required for a vehicle used to tow
a trailer. See ªScheduled Maintenance Servicesº
in the Index.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify what the
vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in ªWeight of the Trailerº
that appears later in this section. But trailering is
different than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in handling, durability and
fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That's the reason for this section. In it are many
time
-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load
-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine is
required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat. What's more, the
trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.

6-
6-1
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-3 Fuel
6
-5 Fuels in Foreign Countries
6
-6 Filling Your Tank
6
-8 Filling a Portable Fuel Container
6
-8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-11 Engine Oil
6
-16 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-17 Passenger Compartment Air Filter
(If Equipped)
6
-19 Automatic Transaxle Fluid
6
-23 All-Wheel Drive (Option)
6
-25 Engine Coolant
6
-28 Radiator Pressure Cap
6
-28 Power Steering Fluid
6
-29 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-30 Brakes
6
-34 Battery
6
-35 Bulb Replacement6
-40 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
6
-42 Tires
6
-53 Appearance Care
6
-54 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-56 Care of Safety Belts
6
-56 Cleaning Glass Surfaces
6
-57 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-59 Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome-Plated
Wheels (If Equipped)
6
-60 Underbody Maintenance
6
-60 Chemical Paint Spotting
6
-61 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-62 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-62 Service Parts Identification Label
6
-63 Electrical System
6
-70 Replacement Bulbs
6
-71 Capacities and Specifications
6
-72 Air Conditioning Refrigerant Capacity
6
-72 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

6-6
Filling Your Tank
CAUTION:
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don't smoke if you're near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from gasoline.
The fuel cap is located
on the driver's side of
the vehicle.
While refueling, let the
fuel cap hang by the tether
as shown.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The fuel cap has a spring in it;
if you let go of the cap too soon, it will spring back
to the right.