2003 BUICK RANDEZVOUS instrument panel

In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
•Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag inflates, you’ll need some new parts for your
air bag system. If you don’t get them, the air bag
system won’t be there to help you in another crash. A
new system will include air bag modules and possibly
other parts. The service manual for your vehicle
covers the need to replace other parts.
•Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic frontal
sensor, which helps the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also equipped
with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which
records information about the frontal air bag system.
The module records information about the readiness
of the system, when the system commands air bag
inflation and driver’s safety belt usage at deployment.
The module also records speed, engine RPM, brake
and throttle data.
•Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air bag
system won’t work properly. See your dealer for
service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s air bag, or the air
bag covering on the driver’s and right front
passenger’s seatback, the bag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the air bag
module in the steering wheel, both the air bag
module and the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s air bag, or both the air bag module
and seatback for the driver’s and right front
passenger’s side impact air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM

Lockout Protection
The lockout protection feature may prevent you from
locking your key in your vehicle. Pressing the power
door lock switch will lock all doors, then unlock
the driver’s door, if the key is in the ignition when a
door is opened.
If you leave the key in your vehicle but not in the
ignition or if you use the manual door lock, you could
still lock the key in the vehicle. Always remember to take
the key with you.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your key, open your
door and set the locks from the inside. Then get out
and close the door.
Liftgate
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the liftgate
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even
death. If you must drive with the liftgate open
or if electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass through the seal
between the body and the liftgate:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. See“Comfort Controls”
in the Index.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See“Engine Exhaust”in the Index.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM

Liftgate ReleaseYour vehicle may have
either a liftgate release
button, located in the
instrument panel
switchbank, or a release
button located on the inner
side of the liftgate
handle.
To open the liftgate, the transaxle must be in PARK (P)
and all of the doors must be unlocked. To unlock the
doors, use the remote keyless entry transmitter or
the power door locks.
If your vehicle has a remote keyless entry transmitter,
you may unlock and open the liftgate by pressing
the REAR button on the transmitter. Liftgate Handle
Instrument Panel
Switchbank
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2003 - Rendezvous OM

Lighted Visor Vanity Mirrors
Pull down the sun visor. Flip up the cover to expose the
vanity mirror. The lamps will come on when you open
the cover.
Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may have a theft-deterrent alarm system.
A light located on top of
your instrument panel
(near the center of
the vehicle, next to the
windshield) willflash slowly
to let you know that the
system has been armed.
While armed, the doors will not unlock with the power
door lock switch.Once armed, the alarm will go off if someone tries to
enter the vehicle without the optional remote keyless
entry transmitter or the key or tries to turn the ignition on
without using the correct key. The horn will sound and
the headlamps and parking lamps willflash any time the
alarm sounds.
To open the liftgate while
armed, press the liftgate
release button, located on
the instrument panel
switchbank, or press
REAR on the remote
keyless entry transmitter.
Arming with the Power Lock Switch
Your alarm system will arm when you use either power
door lock switch to lock the doors while any door or
the liftgate is open and the key is removed from
the ignition. The security light will startflashing to let
you know the system is armed.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM

Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition, you can turn the key to four
different positions.
A (OFF):This is the only position in which you can
remove the key. This position locks the steering wheel,
ignition and transaxle.Notice:If your key seems stuck in OFF and you
can’t turn it, be sure you are using the correct key;
if so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the key
hard. Turn the key only with your hand. Using a
tool to force it could break the key or the ignition
switch. If none of these works, then your vehicle
needs service.
B (ACCESSORY):This position allows you to use
things like the radio and the windshield wipers while the
engine is off. This position will allow you to turn off
the engine, but still turn the steering wheel. Use
ACCESSORY if you must have your vehicle in motion
while the engine is off, for example, if your vehicle
is being pushed or towed.
C (ON):This is the position that the switch returns to
after you start your engine and release the key.
The switch stays in ON when the engine is running. But
even when the engine is not running, you can use
ON to operate your electrical power accessories, and to
display some instrument panel warning lights.
D (START):This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON for normal driving.
If the engine is not running, ACCESSORY and ON are
positions that allow you to operate your electrical
accessories, such as the radio.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM

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

Press the rear of the switch a second time and release
it to express-open the glass panel. The glass panel
and sunshade will fully open. When the glass panel is
express opening, pressing the switch in either direction
will stop it. If you press and hold the rear of the
switch, the express-open operation will be overridden.
To close the glass panel, press and hold the front of the
switch until the glass panel stops.
Vehicle Personalization
Some of your vehicle’s features can be reset or
customized according to your preference. The features
you can program depend on the options that came
with your vehicle.
If your vehicle has a DIC, seeDIC Vehicle
Personalization on page 3-57to customize your
features.
If you do not have the DIC, the following features
can be customized according to the options that your
vehicle has.
Entering Programming Mode
To program features, your vehicle must be in the
programming mode. Follow these steps:
1. Turn the ignition key to ON. The shift lever must be
in PARK (P).2. Press and hold the trip/reset button, located next to
the odometer for two seconds while the odometer is
in the odometer mode.
3. This message will appear in the message center,
located in the instrument panel cluster, as an
indication that your vehicle is ready to begin
programming.
If you have the remote keyless entry system, you
must press the LOCK button. This lets the
system know which transmitter is being
personalized, since each can be personalized
differently.
You can now program your choices.
To exit the programming mode, follow the steps listed
underExiting Programming Mode on page 2-51. United States
Canada
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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