2004 BUICK RANDEZVOUS wheel

To wash the rear window while the rear wiper is already
on, push the bottom of the switch. Push in the top of
the switch to continue the intermittent wiper cycle after
the washing cycle is completed.
Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where
you can not drive safely at a steady speed.
So, do not use your cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
needless wheel spinning, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise control on
slippery roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-11. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
1. Move the cruise control switch, located on the turn
signal/multifunction lever, to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the SET button at the end of the lever and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
3-11

Notice:If you try to use the HUD image as a
parking aid, you may misjudge the distance and
damage your vehicle. Do not use the HUD image as
a parking aid.
The HUD controls are
located to the left of the
steering wheel on the
instrument panel.
When the HUD is on, the speedometer reading will
always be displayed. The current audio system
information will only be displayed for three seconds after
the radio, tape or CD track status changes. This will
happen whenever one of the radio controls is pressed,
either on the radio or on the audio steering wheel
controls, if equipped.To adjust the HUD so you can see it properly,
do the following:
1. Start your engine and turn the dimmer knob to the
desired HUD image brightness.
The brightness of the HUD image is determined by
the ambient light conditions in the direction your
vehicle is facing and where you have the HUD
dimmer knob set. If you are facing a dark object or a
heavily shaded area, your HUD may anticipate that
you are entering a dark area and may begin to dim.
2. Adjust the driver’s seat. If you change your seat
position, you may have to readjust your HUD.
3. Press the UP or DN buttons until the HUD image is
easy to see and then press the DN button until the
HUD image is as low as possible, but remains
in full view straight ahead near the front bumper.
The HUD image can only be adjusted up and down,
not side-to-side.
4. To turn the image off, turn the dimmer knob
counterclockwise until it stops.
If the sun comes out or it becomes cloudy, you may
need to adjust the HUD brightness again using
the dimmer knob. Polarized sunglasses could make the
HUD image harder to see.
3-23

Here are four things that some owners ask about. All
these things are normal and do not indicate that
anything is wrong with the fuel gage.
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
It takes a little more (or less) fuel to ll up than the
gage reads. For example, the gage reads half full,
but it took more (or less) than half of the tank’s
capacity to ll it.
The gage pointer may move while cornering,
braking or speeding up.
The gage may not indicate empty when the ignition
is turned off.
Message Center
The message center is located at the top of the
instrument panel cluster in between the tachometer
and speedometer. It gives you important safety
and maintenance facts.
Service Traction System Warning
Message
If your vehicle has the traction control system and this
message is displayed when you’re driving, there may be
a problem with your traction control system. Your
vehicle may need service.
When this message is displayed, the traction control
system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
If there’s an engine-related and brake system problem
that is specically related to traction control, the
traction control system will turn off and the warning
message will come on.
If the traction control system warning message comes
on and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.United States
Canada
3-50

Traction Active Message
If your vehicle has the traction control system, the
TRACTION ACTIVE message will appear when the
traction control system is limiting wheel spin. You may
feel or hear the system working, but this is normal.
Slippery road conditions may exist if this message
appears, so adjust your driving accordingly.
The message will stay on for a few seconds after the
traction control system stops limiting wheel spin.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Message
This message will come on when your engine gets
too hot.
If this message comes on, it means that your engine
coolant has overheated. If you have been operating your
vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should
pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the
engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-26. United States
Canada
United StatesCanada
3-51

PASS-Key®III Security Message
If you are ever driving and this message comes on and
stays on, you will be able to restart your engine if
you turn it off.
Your PASS-Key
®III system, however, is not working
properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your
vehicle is not protected by the PASS-Key
®III system at
this time. SeePASS-Key®III on page 2-17for more
information.
All-Wheel Drive Disable Warning
Message
Your vehicle may have this message. If it does, it will
come on when there is a spare tire on the vehicle, or
when the anti-lock brake system warning light comes on,
or when the rear differential uid is overheating. This
message will go out when the differential uid cools.
The all-wheel drive system will be disabled until the
compact spare tire is replaced by a full-size tire. If the
warning message is still on after putting on the full-size
tire, you need to reset the warning message. To reset the
warning message, turn the ignition off and then back on
again. If the message stays on, see your dealer right
away. SeeAll-Wheel Drive (AWD) System on page 4-12
for more information. United States
Canada
United StatesCanada
3-55

Audio Steering Wheel Controls
If your vehicle has this feature, you can control certain
radio functions using the buttons on your steering wheel.
SOURCE:Press this button to play a cassette tape,
CD, or a DVD (if equipped) when listening to the radio.
If a cassette tape, and CD, and/or DVD are loaded,
the system will go to the tape play rst.
MUTE:Press this button to silence the system. Press it
again, or any other radio button, to turn on the sound.
QVOLR(Volume):Press the up or down arrow
to increase or decrease volume.
QSEEKR:Press the up arrow to seek to the next
station and the down arrow to seek to the previous
station. The sound will mute while seeking. When
playing a cassette tape or a CD, press the up arrow to
hear the next selection.
BAND:Press this button to choose FM1, FM2, AM, or
XM1 or XM2 (48 contiguous US states, if equipped).
SCAN:Press this button to scan your radio preset
stations. The radio will scan to the rst preset station
stored on your pushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then
go on to the next preset station. The radio will scan
preset stations that are in the selected band and only to
those with a strong signal. Press this button again to
stop scanning.
DVD Distortion
You may experience video distortion when operating
cellular phones, scanners, CB radios, Global Position
Systems (GPS)*, two-way radios, mobile fax, or
walkie talkies.
It may be necessary to turn off the DVD player when
operating one of these devices in or near the vehicle.
*Excludes the OnStar
®System.
3-129

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Driver Behavior..............................................4-2
Driving Environment........................................4-2
Vehicle Design...............................................4-3
Defensive Driving...........................................4-3
Drunken Driving.............................................4-4
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-7
Braking.........................................................4-7
Traction Control System (TCS).......................4-11
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.......................4-12
Steering......................................................4-13
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-15
Passing.......................................................4-15
Loss of Control.............................................4-17Driving at Night............................................4-18
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-20
City Driving..................................................4-23
Freeway Driving...........................................4-24
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-25
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-26
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-26
Winter Driving..............................................4-28
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow . . .4-32
Towing..........................................................4-33
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-33
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-34
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-36
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-42
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Vehicle Design
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation,
utility vehicles have a signicantly higher rollover
rate than other types of vehicles. Utility vehicles do
have higher ground clearance and a narrower track or
shorter wheelbase than passenger cars, to make
them more capable for off-road driving. Specic design
characteristics like these give the driver a better
view of the road, but also give utility vehicles a higher
center of gravity than other types of vehicles. This
means that you should not expect a utility vehicle to
handle the same way a vehicle with a lower center
of gravity, like a car, would in similar situations.
But driver behavior factors are far more often the cause
of a utility vehicle rollover than are environmental or
vehicle factors. Safe driver behavior and understanding
the environment in which you will be driving can help
avoid a rollover crash in any type of vehicle, including
utility vehicles.
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in your
vehicle: Buckle up. SeeSafety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-22.
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.”
On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means
“always expect the unexpected.”
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be
careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might
do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following
distance. It is the best defensive driving maneuver, in
both city and rural driving. You never know when the
vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.
Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on
the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving
task — such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call,
reading, or reaching for something on the oor — makes
proper defensive driving more difficult and can even
cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to
help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place
to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving
techniques could save your life.
4-3