parking brake BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2003 Owner's Manual

Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-5
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-6
Doors and Locks.............................................2-8
Door Locks....................................................2-8
Power Door Locks..........................................2-9
Delayed Locking.............................................2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks................2-9
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-10
Lockout Protection........................................2-11
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-11
Liftgate........................................................2-11
Windows........................................................2-13
Power Windows............................................2-14
Sun Visors...................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-15
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-15
PASS-Key
®III ..............................................2-16
PASS-Key®III Operation...............................2-17Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-18
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-18
Ignition Positions..........................................2-19
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-20
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-21
Automatic Transaxle Operation.......................2-22
Parking Brake..............................................2-25
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-26
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-28
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-29
Engine Exhaust............................................2-29
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked.......2-30
Mirrors...........................................................2-31
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-31
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-31
Outside Power Mirror....................................2-31
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror.....................2-32
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-32
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-32
OnStar®System.............................................2-32
Section 2 Features and Controls
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2003 - Rendezvous OM

Automatic Transaxle Operation
Maximum engine speed is limited when you’re in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), to protect driveline
components from improper operation.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P):This gear position locks your front wheels.
It’s the best position to use when you start your
engine because your vehicle can’t move easily.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle
shift lock control system. You have to fullyapply
your regular brakesbeforeyou can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition key is in RUN. As you step on the
brake pedal, while in PARK (P), you may hear a
click from the solenoid of the system. This ensures that
the system is operating properly.If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever–push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then move
the shift lever into the gear you wish. SeeShifting Out
of Park (P) on page 2-28for more information.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brakefirmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t 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 won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, always set
your parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). See“Shifting Into Park (P)”in the
Index. If you’re pulling a trailer, see“Towing a
Trailer”in the Index.
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Parking Brake
The parking brake is
located on the driver’s side
under the instrument
panel.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot and push down on the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-38.To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot while you push down on
the parking brake pedal with your left foot. (To release
the tension on the parking brake cable, you will need to
apply about the same amount of pressure to the
parking brake pedal as you did when you set the parking
brake.) When you remove your foot from the parking
brake pedal, it will pop up to the released position.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-34. That section shows
what to dofirst to keep the trailer from moving.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM

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 brakefirmly 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 won’t
move, even when you’re on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. If you’re pulling a
trailer, see“Towing a Trailer”in the Index.1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake with your left foot.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
•Pull the lever toward you.
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•Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, 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 brakefirmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catchfire.
You or others could be injured. Don’t 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 isfirmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve 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) withoutfirst
pulling it toward you. If you can, it means that the
shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
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Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of
the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transaxle. You mayfind 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. Tofind out how, seeShifting Into Park (P)
on page 2-26.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)beforeyou 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 transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fullyapplyyour regular
brakesbeforeyou can shift from PARK (P), when
the ignition is in ON.
As you step on the brake pedal, while in PARK (P), you
may hear a click from the solenoid of the system.
This ensures that the system is operating properly. See
Automatic Transaxle Operation on page 2-22.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you ever
hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out of
PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehiclefixed as soon as you can.
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Running Your Engine While You
Are Parked
It’s 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 under
“Engine Exhaust.”
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the 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. See
“Winter Driving”in the Index.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brakefirmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re 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 won’t
move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on page 2-26.
If you’re pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-34.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-5
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn .............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-12
Interior Lamps..............................................3-14
Instrument Panel Switchbank..........................3-18
Head-Up Display (HUD).................................3-18
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)............3-21
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-23
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-24
Climate Controls............................................3-24
Climate Control System.................................3-24
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-27
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-29
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-32
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-33
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-34
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-35
Tachometer.................................................3-36
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-37
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-37
Brake System Warning Light
..........................3-38
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
.............3-39Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light......3-39
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-40
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-40
Cruise Control Light......................................3-43
Fuel Gage...................................................3-43
Message Center.............................................3-44
Service Traction System Warning Message......3-44
Traction Active Message................................3-45
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Message..................................................3-45
Charging System Indicator Message................3-46
Low Oil Pressure Message............................3-46
Low Engine Oil Level Message.......................3-47
Change Engine Oil Message..........................3-47
Low Tire Message........................................3-48
Door Ajar Warning Message...........................3-48
Rear Hatch Ajar Warning Message..................3-48
PASS-Key
®III Security Message....................3-49
All-Wheel Drive Disable Warning Message.......3-49
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message...............3-50
Low Fuel Warning Message
...........................3-50
Low Brake Fluid Warning Message
.................3-51
Service Vehicle Soon Message
.......................3-51
Program Mode Message
................................3-52
Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter Battery
Low Warning Message
...............................3-52
Section 3 Instrument Panel
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2003 - Rendezvous OM

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 you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may have 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
driversfind this to be too much trouble and don’t use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
•Step lightly on the brake pedal, or
•move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The control on the left side
of the steering column
operates the exterior
lamps.
The exterior lamp control has three positions:
AUTO (Automatic Headlamp Control/Off):Turning
the control to this position will activate the automatic
headlamps when it is dark enough outside and turn off
all lamps and lights during the day except for the
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
<(Parking Lamps):Turning the control to this
position turns on the parking lamps together with the
following:
•Taillamps
•Instrument Panel Lights
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5(Headlamps):Turning the control to this position
turns on the headlamps together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
Lamps on Reminder
If the driver’s door is opened and you turn the ignition to
OFF while leaving the lamps on, you will hear a
warning chime.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn’t covered. The DRL
system will make your reduced intensity high-beam
headlamps come on in daylight when:
•The ignition is on,
•the exterior lamps control is in AUTO, and
•the shift lever is not in PARK (P).When the DRL are on, only your reduced intensity
high-beam headlamps will be on. Your instrument panel
won’t be lit up.
When it’s dark enough outside, the exterior lamps will
come on automatically. When it’s bright enough outside,
the exterior lamps will go out and the DRL will turn
on. Of course, you may still turn on the headlamps any
time you need to.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Automatic Headlamp System
When the exterior lamps control is turned to AUTO, the
headlamps and parking lamps will come on
automatically when it is dark enough outside.
The lamps will come on automatically if:
•It is dark enough outside,
•the ignition is in ON,
•the parking brake is released, and
•the exterior lamps control is in the AUTO position.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM