2003 BUICK RANDEZVOUS check engine

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.
Low Oil Pressure Message
Your vehicle is equipped with a low oil pressure warning
message.
Your oil pressure message lets you know when you
may have a problem with your engine oil pressure.
When the engine is running and this message appears,
the engine oil level may be too low. There may also
be another problem causing low oil pressure.
United StatesCanada
3-46
2003 - Rendezvous OM

{CAUTION:
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catchesfire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Low Engine Oil Level Message
If this message comes on, it means your engine is low
on oil.You need to check the oil level right away. Have your
vehicle serviced immediately.
Change Engine Oil Message
If this message comes on and stays on after you started
the engine, have the oil changed.
For additional information on when to change the oil
and resetting the system, seeEngine Oil on page 5-11.
United States
Canada
United StatesCanada
3-47
2003 - Rendezvous OM

AVG ECONOMY (Average Economy):Average fuel
economy is viewed as a long term approximation of your
overall driving conditions. To learn the average fuel
economy from a new starting point, press and hold the
SET button while the average fuel economy is
displayed on the DIC. The average fuel economy will
set to zero.
INST ECONOMY (Instant Economy):Instant fuel
economy varies with your driving conditions, such as
acceleration, braking and the grade of the road
being traveled.
FUEL RANGE:The fuel range is an estimated distance
that your vehicle can travel on the remaining fuel.
The fuel economy used to calculate the range is based
on your driving history since the last reset of the
average speed.
FUEL USED:The fuel used display will show you how
much fuel has been used since the last time it was
reset. To reset the fuel used to zero, press and hold the
SET button while the fuel used is displayed on the
DIC and until the display goes to zero.
AVG SPEED (Average Speed):The average speed
display will show your average speed from when
youfirst started your vehicle. To reset the average
speed, press and hold the SET button while the average
speed is displayed on the DIC and until the speed
resets to your current speed.OIL LIFE LEFT HOLD SET TO RESET:This message
displays the current percentage of the GM Oil Life
System. Be careful not to reset this display other than
when the oil has been changed. See“How to Reset the
System”underEngine Oil on page 5-11for more
information.
TIRE PRESSURE:The check tire pressure system can
alert you to a large change in the pressure of one
tire. You must begin driving before the system will detect
a low tire pressure. SeeCheck Tire Pressure System
on page 5-49.
USE SET TO SELECT ENGLISH METRIC:You can
use this display to select English or metric. Press
the SET button to toggle between English or metric.
The DIC, the odometer, the trip odometer and head-up
display will change.
OFF:No driver information will be displayed in this
mode. If the DIC is left in this mode for more than three
seconds, the display will turn off. Press the MODE
button to start the DIC.
3-56
2003 - Rendezvous OM

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, or
•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 briefly. 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.
Audio System(s)
Notice:Before you add any sound equipment to
your vehicle–like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio–be sure you can
add what you want. If you can, it’s very important to
do it properly. Added sound equipment may
interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine,
Delphi Electronics radio or other systems, and
even damage them. Your vehicle’s systems may
interfere with the operation of sound equipment that
has been added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Your audio system has been designed to operate easily
and to give years of listening pleasure. You will get
the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with
itfirst. Find out what your audio system can do and
how to operate all of its controls to be sure you’re getting
the most out of the advanced engineering that went
into it.
Your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory
Power (RAP). With RAP, you can play your audio
system even after the ignition is turned off. See
“Retained Accessory Power (RAP)”underIgnition
Positions on page 2-19.
3-64
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light on
the instrument panel will come on briey when you
start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself.
You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that
your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.Let’s say the road is wet and you’re driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here’s what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel. United States
Canada
4-8
2003 - Rendezvous OM

At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to
the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as
you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin
to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect
to blend with theow. Try to merge into the gap at close
to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal,
check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as
often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the
trafficow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it’s slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in
your“blind”spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to
move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are
going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh—such as after a day’s
work—don’t plan to make too many miles thatrst
part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’llnd experienced and able service experts
in dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservior full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
4-22
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as“highway
hypnosis”? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel?
Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t
let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave
the road inless than a second,and you could crash and
be injured.What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
4-23
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving inat or rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check alluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and transaxle. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
{CAUTION:
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get
so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going
down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
4-24
2003 - Rendezvous OM