2004 BUICK RAINIER Owner's Manual

Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-53.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your foot and
set the parking brake.2. Move the shift lever
into PARK (P)
like this:
Press and hold in the
button on the lever.
Push the lever all the
way toward the front
of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the key, your vehicle is
in PARK (P).
2-27

Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch re.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running,
be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your parking
brake is rmly set before you leave it. After you’ve moved
the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular brake pedal
down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever away
from PARK (P) without rst pressing the button on the
console shift lever. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may nd 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.
To nd out how, seeShifting Into Park (P) on page 2-27.
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 transmission,
so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply the regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in RUN. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-24.
2-28

Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass or other
things that can burn.
Engine Exhaust
{CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you can not see
or smell. It can cause unconsciousness and
death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange
or different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over
road debris.
Repairs were not done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had
been modied improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down
to blow out any CO; and
Have your vehicle xed immediately.
2-29

Running Your Engine While You
Are Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-29.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 4-40.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always
set your parking brake and move the shift
lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will
not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on page 2-27.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
on page 4-53.
2-30

Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®and Compass
Your vehicle has an automatic-dimming rearview mirror
with a compass and the OnStar®system.
There are three additional buttons for the OnStar
®
system. See your dealer for more information on the
system and how to subscribe to OnStar®. SeeOnStar®
System on page 2-35for more information about the
services OnStar®provides.
Mirror Operation
When turned on, this mirror automatically dims to the
proper level to minimize glare from any headlamps
behind you after dark.
O(On/Off): This is the on/off button for the automatic
dimming feature and compass. Press the far left button,
located below the the mirror face, for up to three
seconds to turn the feature on and off. A light on the
mirror will be lit while the feature is turned on.
Compass Operation
Press the on/off button once to turn the compass
on or off.
There is a compass display in the window in the upper
right corner of the mirror face. The compass displays
a maximum of two characters. For example, “NE” is
displayed for north-east.
2-31

Compass Calibration
Press and hold the on/off button down for nine seconds
to activate the compass calibration mode. CAL will
be displayed in the compass window on the mirror.
The compass can be calibrated by driving the vehicle
in circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the display
reads a direction.
Compass Variance
Compass variance is the difference between earth’s
magnetic north and true geographic north. The mirror is
set to zone eight upon leaving the factory. It will be
necessary to adjust the compass to compensate for
compass variance if you live outside zone eight. Under
certain circumstances, such as during a long distance
cross-country trip, it will be necessary to adjust for
compass variance. If not adjusted to account for compass
variance, your compass could give false readings.
To adjust for compass variance, do the following:
1. Find your current location and variance zone
number on the map.2. Press and hold the on/off button for six seconds.
Release the button when ZONE is displayed.
The number shown is the current zone number.
3. Scroll through the zone numbers that appear in
the compass/temperature window on the mirror
by pressing the on/off button. Once you nd your
zone number, release the button. After about
four seconds, the mirror will return to the compass
display, and the new zone number will be set.
2-32

Outside Power Mirror
The control is located
on the driver’s door.
1. Turn the knob toward the mirror you desire
to adjust.
2. Move the control in the direction you want the
mirror to go.
3. Adjust the mirror in all four directions. Adjust it
so you can see some of the side of your vehicle
and the area behind your vehicle.
4. After you are satised with the position of the mirror,
turn the control to the center position or turn it to the
other mirror to adjust that mirror.If you reach the mirror’s end of the travel position in
any direction, the mirror will enter a ratcheting mode.
This action is harmless. It is a warning that the
mirror can go no further. To stop this action, back the
mirror up by moving the control in the opposite direction.
When the control is turned to the center position,
the mirror can not be moved with the control knob.
Fold the mirror in manually before entering a car
wash. To do this, pull the mirror in toward the vehicle.
Push the mirror back out when nished.
2-33

Outside Convex Mirror
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 or left lane,
you could hit a vehicle. Check your inside
mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
Outside Heated Mirrors
Your vehicle may have this feature.
When you operate the rear window defogger, a defogger
also warms the heated driver’s and passenger’s
outside rearview mirrors to help clear them of ice,
snow and condensation.
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror
with Curb View Assist
The driver’s and/or passenger’s outside mirror will
adjust to a preset tilt position while the vehicle is in
REVERSE (R) gear. Curb view assist may be useful
when you are parallel parking. The mirror(s) will return
to normal position when the vehicle is shifted out of
REVERSE (R) gear. Automatic mirror movement
in either direction will follow a short delay.
To change the tilt position, adjust the mirror while the
vehicle is in REVERSE (R) gear with the engine running,
the parking brake engaged and the brake pedal
pressed. The new position will be saved into memory
once the vehicle is shifted out of REVERSE (R).
You may be able to enable/disable this feature
through the Driver Information Center (DIC). See “Mirror
Curb View Assist” underDIC Operation and Displays
on page 3-43.
2-34