2003 BUICK RANDEZVOUS four wheel drive

Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the“driver lost control”accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If
you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll
understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While
you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can
control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly apply the brakes. Both control
systems—steering and braking—have to do their work
where the tires meet the road. Unless you have
four-wheel anti-lock brakes, adding the hard braking can
demand too much of those places. You can lose
control.
The same thing can happen if you’re steering through
a sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those
two control systems—steering and acceleration—canoverwhelm those places where the tires meet the road
and make you lose control. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-10.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on
the brake or accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way
you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds
are based on good weather and road conditions. Under
less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can“drive”through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill andnd
a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You
can avoid these problems by braking—if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room.
That’s the time for evasive action—steering around the
problem.
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Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see“Recreational Vehicle Towing”following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle–such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as“dinghy towing”(towing your
vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and“dolly
towing”(towing your vehicle with two wheels on
the ground and two wheels up on a device know as a
“dolly”).
With the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See“Dinghy
Towing”and“Dolly Towing,”following.
Here are some important things to consider before you
do recreational vehicle towing:
What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment recommendations.
Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you
would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’ll
want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be
towed. SeeBefore Leaving on a Long Trip on
page 4-22.
Dinghy Towing
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with all of its
wheels on the ground. If you have a two-wheel-drive
vehicle, it can be towed with two of its wheels on
the ground. See“Dolly Towing”following. If you have an
all-wheel-drive vehicle, it cannot be towed with any of
its wheels on the ground. It can be towed with car carrier
equipment.
Notice:Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, or even with only two of
its wheels on the ground, will damage drivetrain
components. Don’t tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle if
any of its wheels will be on the ground.
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Dolly Towing
If you have a two-wheel-drive vehicle, it can be towed
with two of its wheels on the ground. To dolly tow
your vehicle, do the following:
1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Put the vehicle in PARK (P).
3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with a clamping device designed for towing.
5. Release the parking brake.
If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, it cannot be
towed with any of its wheels on the ground. It can be
towed with car carrier equipment.
Notice:Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, or even with only two of
its wheels on the ground, will damage drivetrain
components. Don’t tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle if
any of its wheels will be on the ground.
Loading Your Vehicle
The Certication/Tire Label is found on the rear edge of
the driver’s door.
The label shows the size of your original tires and the
ination pressures needed to obtain the gross weight
capacity of your vehicle. This is called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
The Certication/Tire Label also tells you the maximum
weights for the front and rear axles, called the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). Tond out the actual loads
on your front and rear axles, you need to go to a
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Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedalfirmly).
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes won’t work well. That could
lead to an accident. When you hear the brake
wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes arefirst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
SeeBrake System Inspection on page 6-14.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your
vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality GM
brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system–for example, when your brake linings
wear down and you need new ones put in–be sure
you get new approved GM replacement parts. If
you don’t, your brakes may no longer work properly.
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Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used
or how far it’s been driven. It could fail suddenly
and cause a crash. If you have to replace a
wheel, use a new GM original equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has P215/70R16 size tires, don’t
use tire chains, there’s not enough clearance.
Tire chains used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can cause damage
to the brakes, suspension or other vehicle
parts. The area damaged by the tire chains
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
could cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and you or others may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for use on your
vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove the
device if it’s contacting your vehicle, and don’t
spin your wheels.
If you dofind traction devices that willfit,
install them on the front tires for
front-wheel-drive vehicles. If your vehicle has
all-wheel drive, install traction devices on
either the front tires or all four tires, but never
on the rear tires only.
Notice:If your vehicle has a tire size smaller than
P215/705R16 size tires, use tire chains only where
legal and only when you must. Use only SAE Class
″S″type chains that are the proper size for your tires.
Install them on the front tires, or for all-wheel-drive
vehicles, the front or all four (but never rear only)
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Seat
Head Restraints............................................ 1-6
Seat Recall....................................................3-62
Seats
Captain Chairs............................................1-12
Four-Way Manual Driver Seat......................... 1-2
Heated Seats............................................... 1-4
Manual Lumbar............................................. 1-4
Manual Passenger......................................... 1-2
Memory .....................................................2-52
Rear Seat Operation...................................... 1-7
Reclining Seatbacks...................................... 1-5
Six-Way Power Seats.................................... 1-3
Split Bench Seats......................................... 1-7
Stowable Seat............................................1-16
Secondary Latch System.................................5-65
Securing a Child Restraint
Center Rear Seat Position............................1-63
Designed for the LATCH System...................1-61
Rear Outside Seat Position...........................1-61
Right Front Seat Position..............................1-65
Security Message, PASS-Key
®III ......................3-49
Service
........................................................... 5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle
..................................................... 5-4
Doing Your Own Work
................................... 5-3
Engine Soon Light
.......................................3-40
Publications Ordering Information
..................... 7-9
Traction System Warning Message
.................3-44
Vehicle Soon Message
.................................3-51Service Bulletins............................................... 7-9
Service Engine Soon Light in the United States
or Check Engine Light in Canada..................3-40
Service Manuals............................................... 7-9
Setting Preset PTYs (RDS Only).......................3-86
Setting Preset Stations....................3-66, 3-73, 3-84
Setting the Time.............................................3-65
Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)..........3-67, 3-73, 3-84
Sheet Metal Damage.......................................5-82
Shifting Into Park (P).......................................2-26
Shifting Out of Park (P)...................................2-28
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster...........................1-26
Skidding........................................................4-15
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips.......................4-20
Spare Tire Check............................................6-10
Special Fabric Cleaning Problems.....................5-79
Specifications, Capacities.................................5-92
Speedometer..................................................3-35
Split Bench Seats............................................. 1-7
Starter Switch Check.......................................6-11
Starting Your Engine.......................................2-20
Steering........................................................4-11
Steering in Emergencies..................................4-12
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection..............................6-13
Steering Tips
..................................................4-12
Steering Wheel Controls, Audio
.......................3-107
Stereo RCA Jacks
..........................................3-95
Storage Areas
Cell Phone Storage Area
..............................2-38
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