2003 BUICK RANDEZVOUS engine overheat

The coolant level should be at or above the FULL
COLD mark. If it isn’t, you may have a leak at the
pressure cap or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the cooling
system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an enginefire, and you could be
burned. Get any leakfixed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both fans should be
running. If they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
See“Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode”in the Index for information on driving to a
safe place in an emergency.
Notice:When adding coolant, it is important that
you use only DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL®is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant will require change sooner—at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occursfirst.
Damage caused by the use of coolant other
than DEX-COOL
®is not covered by your new vehicle
warranty.
5-25
2003 - Rendezvous OM

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at or above the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50
mixture ofclean, drinkable waterand DEX-COOL
®
engine coolant at the coolant recovery tank. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-19for more information.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you wouldn’t get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catchfire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or
above the FULL COLD mark, start your vehicle.
5-26
2003 - Rendezvous OM

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
Notice:Your engine has a specific radiator
fill procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause your engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when
the cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise until
itfirst stops. (Don’t press down while turning the
pressure cap.)If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss
means there is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.
5-28
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Driving (cont.)
Defensive..................................................... 4-3
Drunken....................................................... 4-4
Environment................................................. 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-21
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-24
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-18
Winter........................................................4-25
Driving On Grades..........................................4-40
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-26
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-19
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-20
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-38
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-29
Dual Climate Control System............................3-27
DVD
Cleaning the Video Screen..........................3-110
Cleaning Your DVD Player..........................3-109
Distortion..................................................3-107
Rear Seat Entertainment System...................3-93
DVD Messages..............................................3-98
DVD Player....................................................3-96
E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-85
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-86
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-86
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-86Electrical System (cont.)
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-86
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-42
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-15
Battery.......................................................5-36
Change Oil Message...................................3-47
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-40
Compartment Overview................................5-10
Coolant......................................................5-19
Coolant Heater............................................2-21
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-40
Coolant Temperature Warning Message..........3-45
Cooling System Inspection............................6-13
Exhaust.....................................................2-29
Low Oil Level Message................................3-47
Oil .............................................................5-11
Overheating................................................5-22
Starting......................................................2-20
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................. 6-9
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-14
Engine Oil Level Check..................................... 6-9
Engine Specifications......................................5-93
Entering Programming Mode
....................2-46, 3-57
Entertainment System
Cleaning the Video Screen
..........................3-110
Cleaning Your DVD Player
..........................3-109
DVD Distortion
..........................................3-107
Entry Lighting
.................................................3-15
5
2003 - Rendezvous OM

OnStar®System.............................................2-32
OnStar®Virtual Advisor....................................2-33
Operation..............................................3-24, 3-27
Operation Tips................................................3-32
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-32
Outside
Convex Mirror.............................................2-32
Curb View Assist Mirror................................2-32
Heated Mirrors............................................2-32
Power Mirror...............................................2-31
Overhead Console..........................................2-38
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode.....5-22
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
Owner’s Information........................................7-10
P
Park Aid........................................................3-21
Park Lamp Warning Message...........................3-53
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-26
Shifting Out of............................................2-28
Parking
Assist........................................................3-21
Brake........................................................2-25
Over Things That Burn.................................2-29
Parking Brake and Automatic Transaxle Park (P)
Mechanism Check.......................................6-12Parking on Hills..............................................4-40
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services............ 6-4
Part B - Owner Checks and Services.................. 6-9
Part C - Periodic Maintenance Inspections..........6-13
PartD-Recommended Fluids and Lubricants....6-15
PartE-Maintenance Record...........................6-16
Passing.................................................4-14, 4-39
PASS-Key
®III ................................................2-16
PASS-Key®III Operation
..................................2-17
PASS-Key®III Security Message
.......................3-49
Perimeter Lighting
...........................................3-16
Plan Ahead When Possible
................................ 7-7
Playing a Cassette Tape
..................................3-79
Playing a Compact Disc
..................3-70, 3-80, 3-89
Playing a Specific Loaded
Compact Disc
.............................................3-90
Playing the Radio
...........................3-65, 3-72, 3-82
Power
Accessory Outlets
........................................3-23
Door Locks
.................................................. 2-9
Electrical System
.........................................5-86
Six-Way Seats
.............................................. 1-3
Steering Fluid
.............................................5-31
Windows
....................................................2-14
Power Steering
...............................................4-11
Primary Radio Controls
..................................3-105
Program Mode Message
..................................3-52
Programmable Automatic Door Locks
.................. 2-9
11
2003 - Rendezvous OM