2004 BUICK RAINIER Owner's Manual

Owner’s Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner’s manual will include
the Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual,
and Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Service Publications are available for current and
past model GM vehicles. To request an order form,
please specify year and model name of the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc.
on the World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P. O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
7-13

✍NOTES
7-14

A
Accessory Inator...........................................5-76
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-19
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.........4-53
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-40
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-102
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-22
Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)............................3-60, 3-72, 3-87
After Off-Road Driving.....................................4-29
Air Bag
Readiness Light..........................................3-30
Air Bag Systems.............................................1-45
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-52
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-55
What Makes an Air Bag Inate?....................1-52
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inates?......1-53
When Should an Air Bag Inate?...................1-51
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-49
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-23
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)....7-10
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-51All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.........................2-26
All-Wheel-Drive Service Light............................3-41
AM .............................................................3-114
Antenna, Fixed Mast......................................3-116
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System........................................3-116
Anti-lock Brake System..................................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-34
Appearance Care............................................5-92
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-96
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-99
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-93
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-96
Finish Damage............................................5-99
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-99
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-99
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-100
Weatherstrips..............................................5-96
Approaching a Hill..........................................4-21
Ashtrays........................................................3-19
Audio Output................................................3-108
Audio System(s).............................................3-56
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-113
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-114
Care of Your CD and DVD Player................3-116
1

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.......................3-115
Chime Level Adjustment.............................3-116
Fixed Mast Antenna...................................3-116
Navigation/Radio System..............................3-99
Audio Systems
Radio Personalization.................................3-112
Audio System(s)
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-68
Radio with CD............................................3-57
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-84
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)...............................3-111
Setting the Time..........................................3-56
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-112
Understanding Radio Reception...................3-114
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-116
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-15
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-24
Operation...................................................2-24
B
Backglass Wiper Blade Replacement.................5-58
Backing Up....................................................4-60
Battery..........................................................5-44BATTERY NOT CHARGING.............................3-53
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-7
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-18
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-36
Before You Drive............................................3-99
Before You Go Off-Roading..............................4-16
Brake
Parking......................................................2-26
System Warning Light..................................3-32
Brake Adjustment............................................5-43
Brake Fluid....................................................5-41
Brake Pedal, Throttle.......................................2-22
Brake Pedal Travel.........................................5-43
Brake Wear...................................................5-43
Brakes..........................................................5-41
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-19
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-54
Headlamps.................................................5-54
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-55
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps..................5-54
Buying New Tires...........................................5-71
2

C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canada – Customer Assistance.......................... 7-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-8
Capacities and Specications..........................5-113
Carbon Monoxide...................4-40, 4-53, 2-14, 2-29
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-96
Your Cassette Tape Player..........................3-114
Your CD and DVD Player...........................3-116
Your CDs and DVDs..................................3-115
Cargo Cover..................................................2-44
Cargo Tie Downs............................................2-44
Cassette Tape Messages.................................3-80
CD Adapter Kits.............................................3-80
CD Messages................................3-68, 3-83, 3-98
Chains, Tires..................................................5-75
Charging System Light....................................3-31
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-35
Gages Warning Light...................................3-41
Check Engine Light.........................................3-35
CHECK WASHER FLUID.................................3-54
Checking Brake Fluid......................................5-42
Checking Coolant............................................5-28Checking Engine Oil........................................5-18
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-12
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-55
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-99
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-32
Infants and Young Children...........................1-28
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-38
Older Children.............................................1-26
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-40
Securing a Child Restraint in
a Rear Outside Seat Position.....................1-40
Securing a Child Restraint in
the Center Seat Position...........................1-42
Securing a Child Restraint in
the Right Front Seat Position.....................1-43
Top Strap...................................................1-36
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-37
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-35
Chime Level Adjustment.................................3-116
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-19
Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-93
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-96
3

Cleaning (cont.)
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-99
Video Screen............................................3-116
Weatherstrips..............................................5-96
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-98
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-97
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-93
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-95
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-95
Cleaning Leather............................................5-95
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-95
Cleaning the Windshield, Backglass
and Wiper Blades........................................5-98
Cleaning Tires................................................5-98
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-95
Climate Control System
Climate Controls Personalization....................3-26
Dual Automatic............................................3-20
Rear..........................................................3-25
Compass Calibration.......................................2-32
Compass Operation.........................................2-31
Compass Variance..........................................2-32
Content Theft-Deferrent....................................2-17
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-6
Convenience Net............................................2-43Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-34
Heater, Engine............................................2-23
Cooling System..............................................5-32
Cruise Control................................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-40
CURB VIEW ACTIVATED.................................3-55
Current and Past Model Order Forms................7-13
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-8
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities................................................ 7-6
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-12
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government..............................7-12
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-11
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-12
4

D
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).........................3-16
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.................................3-23
Delayed Locking.............................................2-10
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-3
Dome Lamp Override......................................3-17
Dome Lamps.................................................3-18
Door
Delayed Locking..........................................2-10
Locks.......................................................... 2-8
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-10
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-13
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-13
DRIVER DOOR AJAR.....................................3-54
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-43
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-43
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-52
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-29
City...........................................................4-34
Defensive..................................................... 4-2Driving (cont.)
Drunken....................................................... 4-3
Freeway.....................................................4-35
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-38
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-31
Winter........................................................4-40
Driving Across an Incline..................................4-25
Driving Downhill..............................................4-24
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice....................4-27
Driving in Water..............................................4-28
Driving On Grades..........................................4-61
Driving on Off-Road Hills.................................4-20
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-41
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-33
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-33
Driving Uphill..................................................4-22
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-59
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-20
DVD
Cleaning the Video Screen..........................3-116
Distortion..................................................3-114
Rear Seat Entertainment System...................3-99
DVD Player..................................................3-100
5

E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-102
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-103
Headlamps...............................................5-102
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-102
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-102
Electronically Controlled Air Suspension System....4-52
Emergency Release for Opening Liftgate............2-14
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-38
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-23
Battery.......................................................5-44
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-39
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-35
Coolant......................................................5-27
Coolant Heater............................................2-23
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-34
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-15
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-14
Exhaust.....................................................2-29
Fan Noise..................................................5-38
Oil .............................................................5-18
Overheating................................................5-29Engine (cont.)
Reduced Power Light...................................3-40
Starting......................................................2-21
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.....................5-103
ENGINE COOLANT HOT/ENGINE
OVERHEATED............................................3-53
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-21
Entertainment System
Cleaning the Video Screen..........................3-116
DVD Distortion..........................................3-114
Entry Lighting.................................................3-18
Environmental Concerns..................................4-18
Erasing HomeLink
®Buttons..............................2-39
Event Data Records (EDR)..............................7-10
Exit Lighting...................................................3-18
Express Down Window....................................2-16
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-25
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-23
Finding a Program Type (PTY)
Station (RDS and XM™)..............3-61, 3-72, 3-88
6