tow BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2004 Owner's Guide

Instrument Panel Switchbank
There is an instrument panel switchbank located below
the comfort controls. It contains switches or blanks
that will vary with the options that are on your vehicle.
The switches you may have are:
Rear Window Wiper/Washer. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-8.
Traction Disable. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-11.
Park Aid Disable. SeeUltrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) on page 3-24.
Heated Seats. SeeHeated Seats on page 1-6.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
{CAUTION:
If the HUD image is too bright, or too high in
your eld of view, it may take you more time to
see things you need to see when it is dark
outside. Be sure to keep the HUD image dim
and placed low in your eld of view.
If your vehicle has the HUD, it can display the
speedometer reading in English or metric. The current
audio system information, as well as Rear Seat
Entertainment system information, 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.
SeeDIC Controls and Displays on page 3-62to change
the display from English to metric.
3-21

The air bag readiness light should ash for a few seconds
when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the light doesn’t
come on then, have it xed so it will be ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need
both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to ON. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light on page 3-45andTowing Your
Vehicle on page 4-33.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service.
United States
Canada
3-44

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 ashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, 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 “If
the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still
ashing, follow the previous steps, and see your dealer
for service as soon as possible.
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. SeeFilling Your Tank on page 5-7. The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off orimproperly 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.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
Gasoline Octane on page 5-4. Poor fuel quality will
cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed.
You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling
when you put the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation
on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the
light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
your dealer can check the vehicle. Your dealer has the
proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to x any
mechanical or electrical problems that may have
developed.
3-48

Tilt Mirror
The tilt mirror feature can be programmed to one of the
following modes:
ON:The passengers side outside rearview mirror will
tilt down towards the curb when the vehicle is shifted to
REVERSE (R) and returns to its previous position
when the vehicle is shifted out of REVERSE (R).
OFF:The mirror will not tilt.
To determine the mode to which your vehicle is
programmed or to program your vehicle to a different
mode, do the following:
1. Follow the instructions for “Entering Programming
Mode” listed previously.
2. Press the MODE button until TILT appears
on the DIC.
3. Press the SET button until the arrow is before ON
or OFF.
The mode you selected is now set. You can exit
programming mode by following the instructions next
in this section.
Exiting Programming Mode
To exit programming mode, do one of the following:
Shift out of PARK (P).
Turn the ignition key out of ON.
Do not program any commands for one minute
while in the programming mode.
The programming mode message will turn off to let you
know that you are no longer in the programming mode.
Once you have reached the end of the personalization
features, PERSONALIZATION SELECTION DONE will
appear briey. Then PRESS SET TO EXIT MODE TO
CONTINUE will appear. Pressing SET will exit you out of
the DIC. Pressing MODE will take you to the beginning of
personalization.
3-72

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO:To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, push and release AUDIO until
BAL appears on the display. Then turn the AUDIO knob
to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers.
A bar graph with indicators will show how the sound
is balanced.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release AUDIO until FADE appears
on the display. Then turn the AUDIO knob to move
the sound toward the front or the rear speakers. A bar
graph with indicators will show how the sound is
balanced.
To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select
BAL or FADE. Then push and hold AUDIO for more
than two seconds until you hear a beep. The indicator
will be centered on the display.
To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position, end out of audio mode by
waiting ve seconds without making any changes. Then
press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds
until you hear a beep. ALL CENTERED will appear on
the display.
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™)
To select and nd a desired PTY perform the following:
1. Press P-TYP to activate program type select
mode. The PTY symbol will appear on the display.
2. Turn the AUDIO knob to select a PTY.
3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press either
SEEK arrow to select the PTY and take you to
the PTY’s rst station.
4. If you want to go to another station within that PTY
and P-TYPE is displayed, press either SEEK arrow
once. If the PTY is not displayed, press either
SEEK arrow twice to display the PTY and then to
go to another station.
5. Press P-TYP to exit program type select mode.
If PTY times out and is no longer on the display,
go back to Step 1.
If both PTY and TRAF are on, the radio will search for
stations with the selected PTY and traffic
announcements.
3-77

Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
AUDIO:Push and release this knob until BASS, MID,
or TREBLE appears on the display. Then turn the
AUDIO knob to increase or to decrease. If a station is
weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble.
To adjust bass, midrange, or treble to the middle
position, select BASS, MID, or TREBLE. Then push and
hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear
a beep. BASS and a zero, MID and a zero, or TREBLE
and a zero will appear on the display.
To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position, end out of audio mode by
waiting ve seconds without making any changes. Then
push and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds
until you hear a beep. ALL CENTERED will appear on
the display.
EQ (Equalizer):Press this button to select customized
bass, midrange, and treble equalization settings.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO:To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, push and release AUDIO until
BAL appears on the display. Then turn the AUDIO knob
to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers.
A bar graph with indicators will show how the sound
is balanced.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release AUDIO until FADE appears
on the display. Then turn the AUDIO knob to move
the sound toward the front or the rear speakers. A bar
graph with indicators will show how the sound is
balanced.
To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select
BAL or FADE. Then push and hold AUDIO for more
than two seconds until you hear a beep. The indicator
will be centered on the display.
To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position, end out of audio mode by
waiting ve seconds without making any changes. Then
press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds
until you hear a beep. ALL CENTERED will appear on
the display.
3-88

AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization):Press this button
to select customized bass, midrange, and treble
equalization settings designed for country, jazz, talk,
pop, rock, and classical.
To return to the manual mode (CUSTOM), press the
AUTO EQ button until CUSTOM appears on the display.
Then you will be able to manually adjust the bass,
midrange, and treble using the AUDIO knob.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO:To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, push the AUDIO knob until BAL
appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the
sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and rear speakers,
push and hold the AUDIO knob until FAD appears on
the display. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the
front or the rear speakers.
To adjust the balance and the fade to the middle
position, select balance or fade and push and hold the
AUDIO knob. The radio will beep once and will
adjust the display level to the middle position.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone or
speaker controls are displayed. The radio will produce
one beep and CENTERED will appear on the display.
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™)
To select and nd a desired PTY perform the following:
1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate program
type select mode. P-TYPE and the last selected
PTY will appear on the display.
2. Turn the P-TYPE knob to select a PTY.
3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press either
SEEK arrow to select the PTY and take you to
the PTY’s rst station.
4. If you want to go to another station within that PTY
and the PTY is displayed, press either SEEK arrow
once. If the PTY is not displayed, press either
SEEK arrow twice to display the PTY and then to
go to another station.
5. Press P-TYPE to exit program type select mode.
If PTY times out and is no longer on the display,
go back to Step 1.
If both P-TYPE and TRAF are on, the radio will search
for stations with the selected PTY and traffic
announcements.
3-101

Video Screen
The video screen is located in the overhead console.
To use the video screen, do the following:
1. Push forward on the release button and the screen
will fold down.
2. Push the screen away from you and adjust its
position as desired.
When the video screen is not in use, push it up into its
stowed and latched position.
The DVD player and display will continue to operate
when the video screen is in either the up or down
positions.
The video screen contain the transmitters for the
cordless headphones and the receiver for the remote
control. If the screen is in the closed position, the signals
will not be available for the operation of the headphones
or the remote control.
Notice:Avoid directly touching the video screen,
as damage may occur. See “Tips and Trouble” later
for more information.
DVD Player
The DVD player is located in the overhead console.
The DVD player can be controlled by the buttons on the
DVD player, and/or by the buttons on the remote
control. See “Remote Control” later in this section for
more information.
The DVD player is only compatible with DVDs of the
appropriate region code for the country that the vehicle
was sold in. On some DVD jackets, you will see the
region displayed. Standard audio CDs can also
be played by the DVD player. The video screen will
default to off when an audio CD is played.
If an error message appears on the video screen, see
“DVD Messages” later in this section.
3-116

Problem Recommended Action
The fast forward, reverse,
previous and next
functions do not work.Some commands that do
one thing for DVDs will
not always work or
perform the same function
for audio, CDs or games.
These functions may also
be disabled when the
DVD is playing the
copyright information or
previews.
My disc is stuck in the
player. The eject button
does not work.Press the eject button on
the DVD player. Turn the
power off, then on again,
then press the eject
button on the DVD player.
Do not attempt to force or
remove the disc from the
player. If the problem
persists, return to your
dealer for further
assistance.
I lost the remote control
and/or the headphones.Contact your dealer for
assistance.
What is the best way to
clean the screen?Wipe the video screen
with a soft cloth that is
slightly damp with water.Problem Recommended Action
Sometimes the cordless
headphone audio cuts out
or buzzes for a moment,
then it comes back.This could be caused by
interference from cell
towers or by using your
cellular telephone or other
radio transmitter device in
the vehicle.
DVD System inoperable. In severe or extreme
temperatures your DVD
system might not be
operable. Temperatures
below−4°F (−20°C) or
above 140°F (60°C) could
damage your DVD
system. Operate your
DVD system under normal
or comfortable cabin
temperature ranges.
The cordless headphones
have audio distortion.Verify that the
headphones are facing to
the front of the vehicle
(left and right sides are
indicated on the
headphones to ensure
that the signal is received
properly.
In auxiliary mode, the
picture moves or scrolls.Check the signal coming
from the auxiliary device
and make sure that the
connection and the signal
are good.
3-125

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Driver Behavior..............................................4-2
Driving Environment........................................4-2
Vehicle Design...............................................4-3
Defensive Driving...........................................4-3
Drunken Driving.............................................4-4
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-7
Braking.........................................................4-7
Traction Control System (TCS).......................4-11
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.......................4-12
Steering......................................................4-13
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-15
Passing.......................................................4-15
Loss of Control.............................................4-17Driving at Night............................................4-18
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-20
City Driving..................................................4-23
Freeway Driving...........................................4-24
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-25
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-26
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-26
Winter Driving..............................................4-28
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow . . .4-32
Towing..........................................................4-33
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-33
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-34
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-36
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-42
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1