2003 BUICK RANDEZVOUS ignition

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of
the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transaxle. You mayfind it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called“torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. Tofind out how, seeShifting Into Park (P)
on page 2-26.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)beforeyou release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fullyapplyyour regular
brakesbeforeyou can shift from PARK (P), when
the ignition is in ON.
As you step on the brake pedal, while in PARK (P), you
may hear a click from the solenoid of the system.
This ensures that the system is operating properly. See
Automatic Transaxle Operation on page 2-22.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you ever
hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out of
PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehiclefixed as soon as you can.
2-28
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Replacing the Rear Convenience
Center on Vehicles with the Third Row
Stowable Seat
1. Make sure that all items have been removed from
the rear of the vehicle.
2. Lift the bin into the back of the vehicle. Align the bin
over the rear mounting bolts.
3. Put the nuts back onto the mounting bolts and
tighten.
4. Push and pull on the rear storage system to make
sure that it is locked into place properly.
Sunroof
If your vehicle has a
sunroof, the switch is
located between the sun
visors.
The sunroof switch will only work when the ignition is on
or when the ignition is off and retained accessory
power is active. See“Retained Accessory Power”under
Ignition Positions on page 2-19for more information.
Notice:Do not open the sunroof if the luggage
carrier crossrails are not in the full rear position.
This could cause damage to the sunroof glass panel
and/or the crossrails. See“Roof Rack System”in
the Index for more information.
When vent opening the sunroof, the sunshade must be
opened by hand. Press the rear of the switch to vent
open the glass panel.
2-45
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
2-46
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Headlamp Exit Delay
This feature allows you to customize the headlamps and
parking lamps.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:Off (The headlamps and parking lamps will
turn off at the same time that the ignition is turned
to OFF.)
Mode 2:15-Second Activation (The headlamps and
parking lamps will stay on for 15 seconds when
the ignition is turned to OFF.)
Mode 3:30-Second Activation (The headlamps and
parking lamps will stay on for 30 seconds when
the ignition is turned to OFF.)
Mode 4:60-Second Activation (The headlamps and
parking lamps will stay on for 60 seconds when
the ignition is turned to OFF.)
Your vehicle was originally programmed to Mode 3. The
mode may have been changed since then. To
determine the current mode, or to change the mode, do
the following:1. Follow the instructions forEntering Programming
Mode on page 2-46.
2. Turn the exterior lamp control from the off position
to the parking lamp position.
3. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes indicates the vehicle’s current
programmed mode. If you do not wish to change
the current mode, you can either exit the
programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature
available on your vehicle.
4. Turn the exterior lamp control from the off position
to the parking lamp position to change the current
mode.
5. Turn the exterior lamp control from the off position
to the parking lamp position until you hear the
number of chimes corresponding to the mode
selection you want.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.
2-47
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Automatic Door Lock/Unlock
This feature allows you to lock and unlock your doors
automatically.
Programmable Modes
Mode 2:Automatic Door Locking Only
•Shift out of PARK (P) with the ignition on and the
driver’s door closed; all doors will lock automatically.
•The automatic door unlock feature is turned off.
Mode 3:Automatic Door Locking with shift out
of PARK (P)/Driver’s Door Unlocking with shift into
PARK (P)
•Shift out of PARK (P) with the ignition on and the
driver’s door closed; all doors will lock automatically.
•Shift into PARK (P) with the ignition on; driver’s door
only will unlock automatically.
Mode 4:Automatic Door Locking with shift out of
PARK (P)/All Door Unlocking with shift into PARK (P)
•Shift out of PARK (P) with the ignition on and
the driver’s door closed; all doors will lock
automatically.
•Shift into PARK (P) with the ignition on; all doors
will unlock automatically.Mode 5:Automatic Door Locking with shift out of
PARK (P)/Driver’s Door Unlocking with Key Removal
•Shift out of PARK (P) with the ignition on and
the driver’s door closed; all doors will lock
automatically.
•Remove the key; only the driver’s door will unlock
automatically.
Mode 6:Automatic Door Locking with shift out of
PARK (P)/All Door Unlocking with Key Removal
•Shift out of PARK (P) with the ignition on and the
driver’s door closed; all doors will lock automatically.
•Remove the ignition key; all doors will unlock
automatically.
Your vehicle was originally programmed to Mode 4. The
mode may have been changed since then. To
determine the current mode, or to change the mode, do
the following:
1. Follow the instructions forEntering Programming
Mode on page 2-46.
2. Press the front of the power door lock switch.
3. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes indicates the vehicle’s current
programmed mode. If you do not wish to change
the current mode, you can either exit the
programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature
available on your vehicle.
2-48
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Mode 2:Exterior Lamps Flash Only
•When you use the remote keyless entry transmitter
to lock or unlock your vehicle, your headlamps and
parking lamps willflash briefly to let you know
the command has been received.
Mode 3:Exterior Lamps Flash and Horn Sound
•When you use the remote keyless entry transmitter
to lock your vehicle, your headlamps and parking
lamps willflash briefly on each press and your horn
will sound briefly on the second or any other
press to let you know the command has been
received.
•When you use the remote keyless entry transmitter
to unlock your vehicle, your headlamps and parking
lamps willflash briefly to let you know the
command has been received.
Your vehicle was originally programmed to Mode 3. The
mode may have been changed since then. To
determine the current mode, or to change the mode, do
the following:
1. Follow the instructions forEntering Programming
Mode on page 2-46.
2. Press the LOCK button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter.
3. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes indicates the vehicle’s current
programmed mode. If you do not wish to changethe current mode, you can either exit the
programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature
available on your vehicle.
4. Press LOCK on the remote keyless entry transmitter
to change the current mode until you hear the
number of chimes corresponding to the mode
selection you want.
The mode you selected is now set. You can now exit
the programming mode by following the instructions next
in this section.Exiting Programming Mode
To exit programming mode, do one of the following:
•Press the odometer button, while in odometer mode
for two seconds, or
•turn the ignition key out of ON, or
•do not program any commands for one minute
while in programming mode, or
•shift out of PARK (P). SeeShifting Out of Park (P)
on page 2-28.
The programming mode message will turn off to let you
know that you are no longer in the programming mode.
2-51
2003 - Rendezvous OM

The main components of the instrument panel are the
following:
A. Exterior/Interior Lamps Control
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
C. Hazard Warning Flasher Switch
D. Instrument Panel Cluster
E. Shift Lever
F. Instrument Panel Outlets
G. Audio System
H. Audio Steering Wheel Controls
I. Head-Up Display Switch and Driver Information
Center (DIC) Controls
J. Hood Release
K. Ignition Switch
L. Climate Controls
M. Instrument Panel Switchbank
N. Front Armrest Storage
O. Ashtray/Cigarette Lighter/Accessory Power
Outlet/Cell Phone Storage/Purse Storage/Cupholders
P. Floor Console Fuse Block
Q. Glove BoxHazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
3-5
2003 - Rendezvous OM

Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Many
driversfind this to be too much trouble and don’t use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
•Step lightly on the brake pedal, or
•move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The control on the left side
of the steering column
operates the exterior
lamps.
The exterior lamp control has three positions:
AUTO (Automatic Headlamp Control/Off):Turning
the control to this position will activate the automatic
headlamps when it is dark enough outside and turn off
all lamps and lights during the day except for the
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
<(Parking Lamps):Turning the control to this
position turns on the parking lamps together with the
following:
•Taillamps
•Instrument Panel Lights
3-12
2003 - Rendezvous OM