2003 BUICK RANDEZVOUS Owner's Manual

Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly–and even dangerous. So please get to know
your warning lights and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle also has a message center that works
along with the warning lights and gages. SeeMessage
Center on page 3-44.
3-33
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how
fast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.
The indicator warning lights and gages are explained on the following pages.
United States up-level shown, United States base-level and Canadian similar
3-34
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven, in either miles (used in the United States)
or kilometers (used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to
the mileage total of the old odometer, then that will
be done. If it can’t, then it’s set at zero and a label must
be put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was installed.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may toggle the odometer to either
miles (used in the United States) or kilometers (used in
Canada). SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on
page 3-53.
Trip Odometer
In addition to the standard odometer, the cluster can
also display a trip odometer. The display can be toggled
between the odometer and the trip odometer by
quickly pressing and releasing the trip/reset button
located to the right of the temperature gage. The trip
odometer will continue to keep track of miles or
kilometers driven even if they are not currently
displayed. To reset the trip odometer to zero (0), push
and hold the trip/reset button for at least one and a
half seconds, but less than three seconds. The
trip odometer that is showing in the display will be reset.
3-35
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Retro-Active Reset
The trip odometer has a feature called retro-active
reset. This feature can be used to set the trip odometer
to the number of miles or kilometers driven since the
ignition was last turned on. This can be used if you
forget to reset your trip odometer at the beginning of a
trip. To use the retro-active reset feature, push and
hold the trip/reset button for at least three seconds.
The trip odometer will then display the number of miles
or kilometers driven since the ignition was last turned
on and you began driving. (If you use the retro-active
reset feature after you have started the vehicle, but
before you begin moving, the display will show
the number of miles or kilometers you drove during the
last ignition cycle.) Once you begin driving, the trip
odometer will accumulate mileage. For example, if you
have driven 5.0 miles (8.0 km) since you started
your vehicle, and then activate the retro-active reset
feature, the display will show 5.0 miles (8.0 km). As you
drive, the display will then increase to 5.1 miles
(8.2 km), 5.2 miles (8.4 km), etc.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Notice:Do not operate the engine with the
tachometer in the red area, or engine damage may
occur.
3-36
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will
come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten
their safety belts.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for several seconds. If
the driver’s belt is already
buckled, neither the
chime nor the light will
come on.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the air bag sensor, the air
bag modules, the wiring and the diagnostic module. For
more information on the air bag system, seeAir Bag
Systems on page 1-67.This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it willflash for
a few seconds. Then
the light should go out.
This means the system is
ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the air bag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
3-37
2003 - Rendezvous OM

The air bag readiness light shouldflash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have itfixed 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 briefly when you turn the
ignition key to ON. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
fixed 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
floor. 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 3-39andTowing Your
Vehicle on page 4-31.
{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’ve pulled off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.
United States
Canada
3-38
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
Your vehicle may have an anti-lock brake system
warning light. If it does, the light should come on for a
few seconds when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
anti-lock brake system warning light stays on longer
than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset
the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, the anti-lock brake system needs
service and you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. If
the light doesn’t come on then, have itfixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
Your vehicle may have a traction control system
warning light. The traction control system warning light
may come on for the following reasons:
•If you turn the system off by pressing the TRAC
OFF button located in the instrument panel
switchbank the warning light will come on and stay
on. To turn the system back on, press the button
again. The warning light should go off. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-10for more
information.
•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 light will come on. United States
CanadaUnited StatesCanada
3-39
2003 - Rendezvous OM

If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is
too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If
you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-22.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Service Engine Soon Light in the
United States or Check Engine Light in
Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the
life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The SERVICE ENGINE SOON or CHECK
ENGINE light comes on to indicate that there is a
problem and service is required. Malfunctions often will
be indicated by the system before any problem is
apparent. This may prevent more serious damage to United StatesCanada
United StatesCanada
3-40
2003 - Rendezvous OM