2002 BUICK RANDEZVOUS brake

2-95
Message Center
The message center is located at the top of the
instrument panel cluster in between the tachometer and
speedometer. It gives you important safety and
maintenance facts.
Charging System Indicator Message
The charging system
battery symbol will come
on in the message center
when you turn on the
ignition as a check to
show you it is working.
It will remain on as long as the engine is not running. It
should go out once the engine is running. If it stays on,
or comes on while you are driving, you may have a
problem with the charging system. It could indicate that
you have problems with a generator drive belt, or
another electrical problem. Have it checked right away.
Driving while this indicator appears in the message
center could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the message on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the
radio and air conditioner.
Service Traction System Warning
Message (Option)
United States Canada
If your vehicle has the traction control system and this
message is displayed when you're driving, there may be
a problem with your traction control system. Your
vehicle may need service.
When this message is displayed, the traction control system
will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
If there's an engine
-related and brake system problem
that is specifically related to traction control, the traction
control system will turn off and the warning message
will come on. If the brake system problem is caused by
the brakes beginning to overheat, the brakes will need to
cool down before the traction control system warning
message will turn off.
If the traction control system warning message comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.

2-101 Low Brake Fluid Warning Message
United States Canada
If your brake fluid is low, the warning message will
come on and stay on until you add brake fluid.
If the warning message is still on after adding fluid, you
need to reset the warning message. To reset the warning
message, turn the ignition to OFF then to ON. If the
message stays on, see your dealer right away.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message
United States Canada
If your washer fluid is low, the warning message will
come on and stay on until you add washer fluid. See
ªWindshield Washer Fluidº in the Index for adding
washer fluid instructions.
If the warning message is still on after adding fluid, you
need to reset the warning message. To reset the warning
message, turn the ignition to OFF then to ON. If the
message stays on, see your dealer right away.

2-102
Service Vehicle Soon Message
United States Canada
This light will come on if your vehicle has certain
non
-emission related problems.
For example, if the entire electrical system fails to send
and receive messages from the vehicle's components,
this message will come on.
These problems may not be obvious and may affect
vehicle performance or durability. Consult a qualified
dealership for necessary repairs to maintain top
vehicle performance.
AWD Disable Warning Message (Option)
United States Canada
You will receive this message when there is a spare tire
on the vehicle, when the anti
-lock brake system warning
light comes on, or when the rear differential fluid is in
an overtemp condition. The message will go out when
the differential fluid cools.
The all
-wheel-drive system will be disabled until the
compact spare tire is replaced by a full
-size tire. If the
warning message is still on after putting on the full
-size
tire, you need to reset the warning message. To reset the
warning message, turn the ignition to OFF then to ON.
If the message stays on, see your dealer right away. See
ªAll
-Wheel Driveº in the Index for more information.

2-105 Low Tire Pressure Message (If Equipped)
United States Canada
The check tire pressure system can alert you to a large
change in the pressure of one tire. After the system has
been properly calibrated, the low tire pressure message
will come on and chime will sound if a pressure
difference (low pressure) is detected in one tire.
The message will stay on until you turn off the ignition
or reset (calibrate) the system. See ªCheck Tire Pressure
Systemº in the Index.
If the anti
-lock brake system warning light comes on,
the check tire pressure system may not be working
properly. See your dealer for service. Also, see
ªAnti
-Lock Brake System Warning Lightº in the Index.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(If Equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), the display is located on the instrument
panel cluster in the tachometer gage. The DIC will show
information about the vehicle and the surroundings.
The DIC is capable of displaying English or French.
See ªDriver Information Center (DIC) Messagesº
later in this section to change the display from English
to metric.

2-122
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.

2-127
When the System Does Not Seem to Work Properly
The light will flash red when shifting into REVERSE (R)
if a trailer was attached to your vehicle, or a bicycle or an
object was on the back of, or hanging out of your liftgate
during your last drive cycle. The light will continue to
flash whenever in REVERSE (R), until your vehicle is
driven forward at least 15 mph (25 km/h) without any
obstructions behind the vehicle.It may also flash red if the ultrasonic sensors are not
kept clean. So be sure to keep your rear bumper free of
mud, dirt, snow, ice and slush or the system may not
work properly. Other conditions that may affect system
performance include things like the vibrations from a
jackhammer or the compression of air brakes on a very
large truck. If after cleaning the rear bumper and then
driving forward at least 15 mph (25 km/h), the display
continues to flash red, see your dealer.
As always, drivers should use care when backing up a
vehicle. Always look behind you, being sure to check
for other vehicles, obstructions and blind spots.
For cleaning instructions, see ªCleaning Your Vehicleº
in the Index.

4-3 Driving Environment
You can also help avoid a rollover or other type of crash
by being prepared for driving in inclement weather, at
night, or during other times where visibility or traction
may be limited (such as on curves, slippery roads or
hilly terrain). Unfamiliar surroundings can also have
hidden hazards. To help you learn more about driving in
different conditions, this section contains information
about city, freeway, and off
-road driving, as well as
other hints for driving in various weather conditions.
Vehicle Design
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation,
utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate
than other types of vehicles. Utility vehicles do have
a higher ground clearance and a narrower track or
shorter wheelbase than passenger cars to make them
more capable for off
-road driving. Specific design
characteristics like these give the driver a better view
of the road, but also give utility vehicles a higher center
of gravity than other types of vehicles. This means that
you shouldn't expect a utility vehicle to handle the
same way a vehicle with a lower center of gravity,
like a car, would in similar situations.But driver behavior factors are far more often the cause
of a utility vehicle rollover than are environmental or
vehicle factors. Safe driver behavior and understanding
the environment in which you'll be driving can help
avoid a rollover crash in any type of vehicle, including
utility vehicles.
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in your
vehicle: Buckle up. See ªSafety Beltsº in the Index.
Defensive driving really means ªbe ready for anything.º
On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means
ªalways expect the unexpected.º
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to
be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they
might do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear
-end collisions are about the most preventable
of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough
following distance. It's the best defensive driving
maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never
know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake
or turn suddenly.

4-7
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice, it's
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle. Also see ªTraction Control Systemº in
the Index.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That's perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That's reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But
that's only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle
moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it's pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.