2004 BUICK RAINIER wheel

Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your gear
shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks the rear wheels.
It’s the best position to use when you start the engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is 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). SeeShifting Into Park (P)
on page 2-27. If you are pulling a trailer,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-53.Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. 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 key is in RUN. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever, press the
button on the shift lever and push the shift lever all
the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake
application. Move the shift lever into the gear you wish.
SeeShifting Out of Park (P) on page 2-28.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, seeIf
You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-44.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, the engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
2-24

All-Wheel Drive
Your vehicle may have this feature. There is no lever or
switch to engage or disengage the front axle. It is fully
automatic and adjusts as needed for road conditions.
Your vehicle has an active transfer case allowing
two-wheel-drive operation on dry roads. The transfer
case will shift automatically into all-wheel drive on
slippery surfaces. You may feel an extra shift when
the all-wheel drive engages.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your foot and pull up on the parking brake
lever located on the center console. If the ignition
is on, the brake system warning light will come on.To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can
press in the button at the end of the lever. Hold the button
in as you move the parking brake lever all the way down.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and you must park on a hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-53. That section
shows what to do rst to keep the trailer from moving.
2-26

Luxury and Leisure Plan

All Directions and Connections Plan services
Personal Concierge
OnStar®Personal Calling
With OnStar®Personal Calling, you have a safer way to
stay connected while driving. It’s a hands-free wireless
phone that’s integrated into your vehicle. You can place
calls nationwide using voice-activated dialing with no
contracts and no additional roaming charges. To nd
out more about OnStar
®Personal Calling, refer to
the OnStar®owner’s guide in your vehicle’s glove box,
or call OnStar®at 1-888-4-ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827).
OnStar®Virtual Advisor
With OnStar®Virtual Advisor you can listen to your
favorite news, entertainment and information topics,
such as traffic and weather reports, stock quotes
and sports scores. You listen to your e-mail through
your vehicle’s speakers, and reply with your hands
on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
HomeLink®Transmitter
HomeLink®, a combined universal transmitter and
receiver, provides a way to replace up to three
hand−held transmitters used to activate devices such
as gate operators, garage door openers, entry door
locks, security systems and home lighting. Additional
HomeLink
®information can be found on the internet
at www.homelink.com or by calling 1-800-355-3515.
If your vehicle is equipped with the HomeLink
®
Transmitter, it complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
2-36

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-7
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Interior Lamps..............................................3-17
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-19
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-19
Climate Controls............................................3-20
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-20
Rear Climate Control System.........................3-25
Climate Controls Personalization.....................3-26
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-27
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-28
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-29
Tachometer.................................................3-29
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-30
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-30Charging System Light..................................3-31
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-32
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-32
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light...........................................3-34
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-34
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-35
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-38
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-39
Security Light...............................................3-40
Cruise Control Light......................................3-40
Reduced Engine Power Light.........................3-40
Service All-Wheel Drive Light.........................3-41
Check Gages Warning Light...........................3-41
Gate Ajar Light.............................................3-41
Fuel Gage...................................................3-42
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-42
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-43
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-43
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-52
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Audio System(s).............................................3-56
Setting the Time...........................................3-56
Radio with CD..............................................3-57
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-68
Radio with Six-Disc CD.................................3-84
Navigation/Radio System...............................3-99
Rear Seat Entertainment System....................3-99
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)................................3-111
Radio Personalization..................................3-112
Theft-Deterrent Feature
(RDS Radios)..........................................3-112Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-113
DVD Distortion............................................3-114
Radio Reception.........................................3-114
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-114
Care of Your CDs and DVDs........................3-115
Care of Your CD and DVD Player.................3-116
Cleaning the Video Screen...........................3-116
Fixed Mast Antenna....................................3-116
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System
(48 Contiguous US States)........................3-116
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-116
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

The main components of your instrument panel
are the following:
A. Exterior Lamp Controls.
SeeExterior Lamps on page 3-14.
B. Air Outlets. See “Outlet Adjustment”
underDual Automatic Climate
Control System on page 3-20.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.
SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction Lever
on page 3-7.
D. OnStar and Audio Steering Wheel Controls.
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 3-113.
E. Instrument Panel Cluster.
SeeInstrument Panel Cluster
on page 3-28.
F. Audio Steering Wheel Controls.
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls
on page 3-113.
G. Ignition Switch.
SeeIgnition Positions
on page 2-20.
H. Audio System.
SeeAudio System(s)
on page 3-56.I. Climate Controls.
SeeDual Automatic Climate
Control System on page 3-20.
J. Hood Release.
SeeHood Release on page 5-12.
K. Driver Information Center (DIC)
Steering Wheel Controls.
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-43.
L. Rear Window Washer/Wiper.
See “Rear Window Washer/Wiper”
underTurn Signal/Multifunction Lever
on page 3-7.
M. Lighter.
SeeAshtrays and Cigarette
Lighter on page 3-19.
N. Accessory Power Outlet.
SeeAccessory Power Outlets
on page 3-19.
O. Rear Window Defogger.
See “Rear Window Defogger” under
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 3-20.
P. Glove Box.
SeeGlove Box on page 2-40.
3-5

Horn
To sound the horn, press the horn symbols on the
steering wheel pad.
Tilt Wheel
You should adjust the
steering wheel before
you drive. The tilt lever
is located to the left of
the steering column,
under the turn signal
lever.
You can raise it to the highest level to give your legs
more room when you enter and exit the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever toward you. Move the steering wheel to a
comfortable level, then release the lever to lock the
wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
G:Turn and Lane Change Signals
2:Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
Flash-to-Pass Feature
N:Windshield Wipers
J:Windshield Washer
I:Cruise Control (If Equipped)
3-7

Windshield Washer
L
(Windshield Washer):To spray washer uid on
the windshield, press the windshield washer paddle.
The wipers will clear the window and then either stop
or return to your preset speed.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Rear Window Washer/Wiper
This control is located
to the right of the
steering wheel on the
instrument panel.To turn the rear wiper on, turn the control to either 1, 2,
or 3. For delayed wiping, turn the control to 1 or 2.
For steady wiping, turn the control to 3. To turn the
wiper off, turn the control to 0.
To wash the rear window, press the washer symbol
located in the center of the control.
The rear window washer uses the same uid bottle as
the windshield washer. However, the rear window
washer will run out of uid before the windshield washer.
If you can wash your windshield but not your rear
window, check the uid level.
Cruise Control
The cruise controls are
located on the end of the
turn signal/multifunction
lever.
3-10