tow BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2003 Owner's Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts
.............................................1-19
Child Restraints
.......................................1-45
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-67
Restraint System Check
............................1-76
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-18
Mirrors
....................................................2-31
OnStar
®System
......................................2-32
HomeLink®Transmitter
.............................2-34
Storage Areas
.........................................2-37
Sunroof
..................................................2-45
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-46
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-24
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-33
Message Center
.......................................3-44
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
........................................3-53
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-64Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-31
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under
the Hood
............................................... 5-9
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-41
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-42
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-47
Tires
......................................................5-48
Appearance Care
.....................................5-77
Vehicle Identication
.................................5-85
Electrical System
......................................5-85
Capacities and Specications
.....................5-92
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......5-93
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-8
Index................................................................ 1
2003 Buick Rendezvous Owner ManualM
2003 - Rendezvous Owner Manual

Front Seats......................................................1-2
Manual Passenger Seat..................................1-2
Four-Way Manual Driver Seat..........................1-2
Six-Way Power Seats.....................................1-3
Manual Lumbar..............................................1-4
Heated Seats.................................................1-4
Reclining Seatbacks........................................1-5
Head Restraints.............................................1-6
Rear Seats.......................................................1-7
Rear Seat Operation.......................................1-7
Split Bench Seats...........................................1-7
Captain Chairs.............................................1-12
Stowable Seat..............................................1-16
Safety Belts...................................................1-19
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone................1-19
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts......1-23
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly.................1-24
Driver Position..............................................1-24
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy..................1-32
Right Front Passenger Position.......................1-33
Rear Seat Passengers..................................1-34
Center Rear Passenger Position.....................1-38
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults.......................................1-40
Safety Belt Extender.....................................1-44
Child Restraints.............................................1-45
Older Children..............................................1-45Infants and Young Children............................1-47
Child Restraint Systems.................................1-51
Where to Put the Restraint.............................1-54
Top Strap....................................................1-54
Top Strap Anchor Location.............................1-56
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)...........................1-59
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System....................................1-61
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position
................................1-61
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Rear Seat Position
....................................1-63
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
....................................1-65
Air Bag Systems
............................................1-67
Where Are the Air Bags?
...............................1-70
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?
....................1-72
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?
.....................1-73
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
.....................1-73
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?
.......1-74
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
.........1-76
Restraint System Check
..................................1-76
Checking Your Restraint Systems
...................1-76
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash
. . .1-77
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Manual Lumbar
The knob that controls this
feature is located on the
outboard sides of the
driver’s and front
passenger’s seats.
Turn the knob toward the front of the vehicle to increase
lumbar support. Turn the knob toward the rear of the
vehicle to decrease lumbar support.
Heated Seats
Your vehicle may have
heated seats. If it does,
the heated seat switches
are located in the
instrument panel
switchbank.
This feature will quickly heat the seat cushions and
lower back of the driver’s and front passenger’s seat.
The left switch is for the driver’s seat and the right switch
is for the front passenger’s seat.
Press the top of the switch to turn the heater on. Press
the bottom of the switch to turn the heater off. The
heated seat switch will turn off when the ignition
is turned to OFF and will resume operation when the
ignition is turned to ON, unless the switch is turned off.
1-4
2003 - Rendezvous OM

4. For base-level split bench seats, pull the lever at
the base of the seat on the outboard side to
release the rear latches from thefloor pins andflip
the seat forward.
For up-level split bench seats, continue pushing
forward on the recliner lever to release the
rear latches from thefloor pins andflip the seat
forward.
The seat can stay in this position or it can be
removed from the vehicle by following the next
steps.5. To release the front latches, squeeze the angled
latch release bar toward the straight crossbar.
6. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward the
rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out.
Repeat these steps for the other section of the split
bench seat. Base-Level
1-9
2003 - Rendezvous OM

The seat must be placed in the proper location for the
legs to attach correctly.
1. Squeeze the angled latch release bar toward the
straight crossbar while placing the front hooks of
the bench seat onto the front twofloor pins.2. Make sure that the
bench seat is angled so
that the front hooks
clear thefloor pins.
If the front legs are
not attached correctly,
the rear legs will not
attach to the rear set of
floor pins.
3. Firmly push the rear hooks onto the rearfloor pins
by pushing down on the rear of the seat.
1-11
2003 - Rendezvous OM

4. The seat can then be lifted off the frontfloor pins.
5. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward
the rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out.
Repeat these steps for the other captain’s chair.
Replacing the Captain’s Chairs
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
{CAUTION:
A seat that isn’t locked into place properly can
move around in a collision or sudden stop.
People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure
to lock the seat into place properly when
installing it.
1-14
2003 - Rendezvous OM

2. Push the rear of the seat down to lock the rear
latches onto the rear set offloor pins.
3. Push and pull on the seat to check that it is
properly attached.
Stowable Seat
The stowable seat is a two passenger bench seat and
comes with the rear convenience center. SeeRear
Convenience Center on page 2-42for more information.
The stowable seat can be removed and replaced or,
with the seatback folded, it can lieflat with the
convenience center.
Folding the Seatback
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
To fold the seatback down,
pull up on the lever located
on the back of the seat.
Push down on the
seatback until it is locked
into place.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure that it is
locked into place.
1-16
2003 - Rendezvous OM

To raise the seatback, do one of the following:
•From the rear of the vehicle, pull up on the lever to
release the seatback. Then pull the strap, located
on the right side of the seat, to pull the seatback up.
The seatback has a pocket to stow the strap on
the side of the seatback when not in use, or
•from the passenger’s side door, pull up on the lever
to release the seatback. Then push up on the
seatback to raise the seat.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure that it is
locked into the upright position.
Removing the Stowable Seat
1. Remove the convenience center, if it is in the
vehicle. SeeRear Convenience Center on
page 2-42for more information.
2. Make sure all items are off the stowable seat.
3. If the seatback is down, put the seatback in
its upright position before removing the seat.
See“Folding the Seatback”listed previously.
4. From the front of the bench seat, remove the two
nuts from the brackets, located on thefloor on
each side.5. From behind the bench seat, fold the
seatback down.
6. Remove the rear nuts located on thefloor on
each side.
7. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward the
rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out through
the rear of the vehicle. This should be done in one
motion.
8. Put the nuts back onto the screws so the nuts do
not get misplaced.
Replacing the Stowable Seat
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
1-17
2003 - Rendezvous OM

{CAUTION:
A seat that isn’t locked into place properly can
move around in a collision or sudden stop.
People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure
to lock the seat into place properly when
installing it.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won’t provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After installing the seat, always check to be
sure that the safety belts are properly routed
and attached, and are not twisted.Do not put the stowable seat in so that it faces rearward.
The stowable seat has to go in before the rear
convenience center. SeeRear Convenience Center on
page 2-42for more information.
The stowable seat has seat position labels, located on
the back of the seat, showing where the seat must go.
The seat must be placed in the proper location for the
legs to attach correctly.
Make sure that the seatback is folded forward before
beginning this procedure.
1. Remove the nuts from the screws.
2. Place the stowable seat on the vehiclefloor so that
the brackets are placed over the screws.
3. Reinstall the nuts back onto the screws. Torque to
approximately 18 lb ft (25Y).
4. Try to raise the seat to make sure that it is
locked down.
5. Raise the seatback to its upright position.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure that it
is locked into place.
1-18
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Center Rear Passenger Position
Lap-Shoulder Belt
If your vehicle has a bench seat, someone can sit in the
center position.
When you sit in the center seating position, you have a
lap safety belt, which has no retractor. You also
have a shoulder belt, which has a retractor. In order to
have the protection of the shoulder belt, you must
first connect it to the lap belt.1. Remove the shoulder belt from its stowage
location in the roof and pull it all the way down to
the lap belt.
1-38
2003 - Rendezvous OM