2004 BUICK RANDEZVOUS traction control

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-7
Horn.............................................................3-7
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-8
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Interior Lamps..............................................3-16
Instrument Panel Switchbank..........................3-21
Head-Up Display (HUD).................................3-21
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)..............3-24
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-27
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-28
Climate Controls............................................3-28
Climate Control System.................................3-28
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-32
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-35
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-38
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-39
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-40
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-41
Tachometer.................................................3-42
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-43Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-43
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-44
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-45
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light . . .3-45
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-46
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-46
Fuel Gage...................................................3-49
Message Center.............................................3-50
Service Traction System Warning Message......3-50
Traction Active Message................................3-51
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Message..................................................3-51
Charging System Indicator Message................3-52
Low Oil Pressure Message............................3-52
Change Engine Oil Message..........................3-53
Low Tire Message........................................3-54
Door Ajar Warning Message...........................3-54
Rear Hatch Ajar Warning Message..................3-54
PASS-Key
®III Security Message....................3-55
All-Wheel Drive Disable Warning Message.......3-55
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message...............3-56
Low Fuel Warning Message...........................3-56
Low Brake Fluid Warning Message.................3-57
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

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

Instrument Panel Switchbank
There is an instrument panel switchbank located below
the comfort controls. It contains switches or blanks
that will vary with the options that are on your vehicle.
The switches you may have are:
Rear Window Wiper/Washer. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-8.
Traction Disable. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-11.
Park Aid Disable. SeeUltrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) on page 3-24.
Heated Seats. SeeHeated Seats on page 1-6.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
{CAUTION:
If the HUD image is too bright, or too high in
your eld of view, it may take you more time to
see things you need to see when it is dark
outside. Be sure to keep the HUD image dim
and placed low in your eld of view.
If your vehicle has the HUD, it can display the
speedometer reading in English or metric. The current
audio system information, as well as Rear Seat
Entertainment system information, may also be
displayed and will appear as an image focused out
toward the front of your vehicle.
The HUD is capable of displaying English or French.
SeeDIC Controls and Displays on page 3-62to change
the display from English to metric.
3-21

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
Your vehicle may have an anti-lock brake system
warning light. If it does, the light should come on for a
few seconds when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
anti-lock brake system warning light stays on longer
than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset
the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, the anti-lock brake system needs
service and you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briey when you turn the ignition key to ON. If
the light doesn’t come on then, have it xed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
Your vehicle may have a traction control system warning
light. The traction control system warning light may come
on for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the TRAC OFF
button located in the instrument panel switchbank the
warning light will come on and stay on. To turn the
system back on, press the button again. The warning
light should go off. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-11for more information.
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 light will come on.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service. United States
CanadaUnited StatesCanada
3-45

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

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

Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at
the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it is
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control of
your vehicle. Also seeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 4-11.
Braking
Braking action involvesperception timeand
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That isperception time.Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That isreaction time.
Averagereaction timeis about 3/4 of a second. But that is
only an average. It might be less with one driver and as
long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age,
physical condition, alertness, coordination and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But
even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph
(100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of
distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space
between your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it is pavement
or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of
the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.
4-7