Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts
.............................................1-19
Child Restraints
.......................................1-45
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-67
Restraint System Check
............................1-76
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-18
Mirrors
....................................................2-31
OnStar
®System
......................................2-32
HomeLink®Transmitter
.............................2-34
Storage Areas
.........................................2-37
Sunroof
..................................................2-45
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-46
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-24
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-33
Message Center
.......................................3-44
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
........................................3-53
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-64Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-31
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under
the Hood
............................................... 5-9
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-41
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-42
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-47
Tires
......................................................5-48
Appearance Care
.....................................5-77
Vehicle Identi cation
.................................5-85
Electrical System
......................................5-85
Capacities and Speci cations
.....................5-92
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......5-93
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-8
Index................................................................ 1
2003 Buick Rendezvous Owner ManualM
2003 - Rendezvous Owner Manual
Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-5
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-6
Doors and Locks.............................................2-8
Door Locks....................................................2-8
Power Door Locks..........................................2-9
Delayed Locking.............................................2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks................2-9
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-10
Lockout Protection........................................2-11
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-11
Liftgate........................................................2-11
Windows........................................................2-13
Power Windows............................................2-14
Sun Visors...................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-15
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-15
PASS-Key
®III ..............................................2-16
PASS-Key®III Operation...............................2-17Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-18
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-18
Ignition Positions..........................................2-19
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-20
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-21
Automatic Transaxle Operation.......................2-22
Parking Brake..............................................2-25
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-26
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-28
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-29
Engine Exhaust............................................2-29
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked.......2-30
Mirrors...........................................................2-31
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-31
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-31
Outside Power Mirror....................................2-31
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror.....................2-32
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-32
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-32
OnStar®System.............................................2-32
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1
2003 - Rendezvous OM
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
To reduce glare from headlamps behind you, pull the
lever toward you (to the night position). To return
the mirror to the day position, push the lever away
from you.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
Your vehicle may have an automatic dimming rearview
mirror. Push the button in the center of the mirror to
turn this feature on or off. The mirror will darken
gradually to reduce glare from headlamps behind you.
This may take a few moments. The mirror will also
lighten whenever you shift to REVERSE (R).The mirror’s two outer buttons operate the lights on the
bottom sides of the mirror.
One photocell on the front of the mirror senses when it
is becoming dark outside. Another photocell, facing
rearward, senses headlamps behind you. To keep the
photocells operating well, occasionally clean them with a
cotton swab and glass cleaner.
Outside Power Mirror
The power mirror controls
are located on the driver’s
door armrest.
To choose either the left or right outside mirror, press
the selector switch. Press any of the four arrows located
on the control pad to move the mirrors in the desired
direction.
Adjust each mirror so you can see the side of your
vehicle and the area behind your vehicle.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror
If your vehicle has this feature, the passenger’s outside
rearview mirror will tilt towards the curb when the
vehicle is shifted into REVERSE (R) and return to its
previous position when the vehicle is shifted out
of REVERSE (R). SeeDIC Vehicle Personalization on
page 3-57for information on how to turn this feature
on and off.
Outside Convex Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more from the
driver’s seat.
{CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.
Outside Heated Mirrors
If your vehicle has this feature, the outside rearview
mirrors are heated when you activate the rear window
defogger. See“Rear Window Defogger”under
Climate Control System on page 3-24.
OnStar®System
OnStar®uses global positioning system (GPS) satellite
technology, wireless communications, and call centers
to provide you with a wide range of safety, security,
information and convenience services. An OnStar
®
subscription plan is included in the price of your vehicle.
You can upgrade or extend your OnStar®services to
meet your needs.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM
Memory Seat
If your vehicle has this
feature, the controls are
located on the driver’s door
panel and are used to
store and recall the driver’s
seat position and outside
rearview mirror position.
To store a seat position, do the following:
1. Adjust the driver’s seat and the outside rearview
mirrors to the position you would like for driving.
2. Press and hold memory button 1 for more than
three seconds.
A double beep will sound when the memory seat and
mirror position have been stored.
To store the seat and outside rearview mirror positions
for a second driver, follow the previous steps, but
press button 2 instead.
To recall your stored positions, your vehicle must be in
PARK (P). Push and release the memory button
(1 or 2) corresponding to the desired driving position.The seat and the outside rearview mirrors will move to
the position previously stored for the identified driver.
You will hear one beep.
To store an exit position for each driver, do the following:
1. Move the seat to the desired exit position.
2. Hold the button with the exit symbol, located below
the memory buttons, for more than three seconds.
The exit position stored will be for the most recently
selected driving position (1 or 2). A double beep
will sound when the exit position is stored.
To use the exit feature, your vehicle must be in
PARK (P). Push and release the button with the exit
symbol and the seat will move to the exit position stored
for the most recently selected driver. You will hear
one beep.
To stop recall movement of the seat at any time, press
one of the three memory buttons or one of the power
seat controls located on the outboard side of the
driver’s seat.
If your vehicle is equipped with a Driver Information
Center (DIC), you can use it to program certain functions
of the memory seats. SeeDIC Vehicle Personalization
on page 3-57.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM
After 25 seconds, the headlamps and parking lamps will
turn off.
The lamps will turn off before the 25 seconds if:
•The ignition is turned to ON, or
•the exterior lamp control is turned out of the AUTO
position.
To program the perimeter lighting feature, seeRemote
Lock and Unlock Confirmation on page 2-50. If your
vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information Center
(DIC), you can program this feature on or off. See
“Remote Lock Feedback”underDIC Vehicle
Personalization on page 3-57.
Front Reading Lamps
There are two reading lamps located on the rearview
mirror.
To turn either reading lamp on or off, press the button
located next to each lamp.
These lamps will come on each time you open the
doors, if the interior lamp control is in the ON or DOOR
position.
Rear Reading Lamps
There are two reading lamps with coat hooks above the
rear doors.
To turn on or off either reading lamp, press the lens of
the lamp.
Cargo Lamp
The cargo lamp is located in the rear of the vehicle,
above the liftgate opening. It comes on automatically
each time you open the doors, if the interior lamp control
is in the DOOR position.
There are two reading lamps located on the cargo lamp.
To turn either reading lamp on or off, press the button
located next to the lamp.
Battery Run-Down Protection
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery, in case you accidentally leave the
interior or exterior lamps on. If the interior lamps are
left on while the ignition is in OFF, they will automatically
turn off after 10 minutes. If the exterior lamps are left
on while the ignition is in OFF with all doors and
the liftgate closed, they will automatically turn off after
10 minutes.
If your vehicle has less than 14 miles (24 km) on the
odometer, the battery saver will turn off the lamps after
only three minutes.
If the interior lamps are turned off as a result of the
battery saver feature, they may be turned back on by
turning the interior lamp control to OFF and then back to
ON. The battery saver will not turn the interior lamps
off automatically after doing this. They will have to
be turned off manually.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM
0(Defrost):Pressing this button directs most of the
air to the windshield and the side window outlets,
with some air directed to thefloor outlets. In this mode,
the system will automatically turns off recirculation
and run the air-conditioning compressor, unless
the outside temperature is at or below freezing.
Recirculation cannot be selected while in the
defrost mode.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
will come on to let you know that the rear window
defogger is activated.
The rear window defogger will turn off approximately
10 minutes after the button is pressed. If turned on
again, the defogger will only run for approximatelyfive
minutes before turning off. The defogger can also
be turned off by pressing the button again or by turning
off the engine.
If your vehicle has heated outside rearview mirrors, the
mirrors will heat to help clear fog or frost from the
surface of the mirror when the rear window defog button
is pressed.Notice:Don’t use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs wouldn’tbe
covered by your warranty. Do not attach a temporary
vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similar
to the defogger grid.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the knob located in the center of the outlet, to
change the direction of the airflow.
Operation Tips
•Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the air
inlets on the hood that may block theflow of air
into your vehicle.
•Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors may
adversely affect the performance of the system.
•Keep the path under the front seats clear of objects
to help circulate the air inside your vehicle more
effectively.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM
OFF:No memory seat position will be recalled when
you press the UNLOCK button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
To determine the mode to which your vehicle is
programmed or to program your vehicle to a different
mode, do the following:
1. Follow the instructions for“Entering Programming
Mode”listed previously.
2. Press the MODE button until SEAT RECALL
appears on the DIC.
3. Press the SET button until the arrow is before ON
or OFF.
If the seat recall feature has been programmed to ON,
the seat recall feature can also be programmed to
one of the following modes:
MEMORY:The position recalled will be the memory
driving position.
EXIT:The position recalled will be the previously
programmed exit position.
To determine the mode to which your vehicle is
programmed or to program your vehicle to a different
mode, do the following:
1. Follow the instructions for“Entering Programming
Mode”listed previously.
2. Follow the instructions for programming SEAT
RECALL to ON listed previously.3. Press the MODE button until RECALL POSITION
appears on the DIC.
4. Press the SET button until the arrow is before
MEMORY or EXIT.
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.
Tilt Mirror
The tilt mirror feature can be programmed to one of the
following modes:
ON:The passengers side outside rearview mirror will
tilt down towards the curb when the vehicle is shifted to
REVERSE (R) and returns to its previous position
when the vehicle is shifted out of REVERSE (R).
OFF:The mirror will not tilt.
To determine the mode to which your vehicle is
programmed or to program your vehicle to a different
mode, do the following:
1. Follow the instructions for“Entering Programming
Mode”listed previously.
2. Press the MODE button until TILT appears on
the DIC.
3. Press the SET button until the arrow is before ON
or OFF.
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2003 - Rendezvous OM