2005 BUICK RAINIER octane

Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
Gasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality will
cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed.
You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling
when you put the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation
on acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the
light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
your dealer can check the vehicle. Your dealer has
the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to x any
mechanical or electrical problems that may have
developed.Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help your
vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the check
engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle
still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD
system readiness, your GM dealer can prepare the
vehicle for inspection.
3-37

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-19
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-20
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-22
Engine Coolant.............................................5-24
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-27
Engine Overheating.......................................5-27
Cooling System............................................5-29
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-34
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-35
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-36Brakes........................................................5-37
Battery........................................................5-40
Jump Starting...............................................5-41
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-46
Rear Axle.......................................................5-46
Front Axle......................................................5-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-48
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-48
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-49
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps...................5-49
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-51
Tires..............................................................5-53
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................5-54
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-57
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-59
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-60
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-62
Buying New Tires.........................................5-62
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-63
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-64
Wheel Replacement......................................5-65
Tire Chains..................................................5-66
Accessory Inator.........................................5-67
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airow around it. This may cause wind
noise and affect windshield washer performance. Check
with your dealer before adding equipment to the
outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the
proper maintenance of your vehicle.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of
87 or higher. If the octane is less than 87, you may get a
heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use
a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine. A
little pinging noise when you accelerate or drive uphill is
considered normal. This does not indicate a problem
exists or that a higher-octane fuel is necessary. If you are
using 87 octane or higher-octane fuel and hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
It is recommended that gasoline meet specications
which were developed by automobile manufacturers
around the world and contained in the World-Wide Fuel
Charter which is available from the Alliance of Automobile
Manufacturers at www.autoalliance.org/fuel_charter.htm.
Gasoline meeting these specications could provide
improved driveability and emission control system
performance compared to other gasoline.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California Emission
Standards (see the underhood emission control label), it
is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specications. If this fuel is not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may
turn on and your vehicle may fail a smog-check test. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-35. If this
occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the condition is caused
by the type of fuel used, repairs may not be covered
by your warranty.
5-5

Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work properly. In
most cases, you should not have to add anything to your
fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the minimum
amount of additive required to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations. General Motors
recommends that you buy gasolines that are advertised
to help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean. If your
vehicle experiences problems due to dirty injectors or
valves, try a different brand of gasoline. Also, your GM
dealer has additives that will help correct and prevent
most deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area to contribute to clean air. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines, particularly if
they comply with the specications described earlier.Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT. General
Motors does not recommend the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce the life of spark
plugs and the performance of the emission control
system may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp
may turn on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for service.
5-6

This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will nd these limits on the tire and
loading information label. SeeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 4-43.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
are driven off-road in the recommended manner.
SeeOperating Your All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle Off
Paved Roads on page 4-15.
use the recommended fuel. SeeGasoline Octane
on page 5-5.
The services inScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4
should be performed when indicated. SeeAdditional
Required Services on page 6-6andMaintenance
Footnotes on page 6-7for further information.
{CAUTION:
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can
be dangerous. In trying to do some jobs, you
can be seriously injured. Do your own
maintenance work only if you have the
required know-how and the proper tools and
equipment for the job. If you have any doubt,
see your GM Goodwrench
®dealer to have a
qualied technician do the work.
Some maintenance services can be complex. So,
unless you are technically qualied and have the
necessary equipment, you should have your GM
Goodwrench
®dealer do these jobs.
When you go to your GM Goodwrench
®dealer for your
service needs, you will know that GM-trained and
supported service technicians will perform the work
using genuine GM parts.
If you want to purchase service information, seeService
Publications Ordering Information on page 7-11.
Owner Checks and Services on page 6-9tells you what
should be checked, when to check it and what you can
easily do to help keep your vehicle in good condition.
6-3

E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-92
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-93
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-93
Headlamps.................................................5-92
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-92
Rear Underseat Fuse Block..........................5-99
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-92
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-20
Battery.......................................................5-40
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-39
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-35
Coolant......................................................5-24
Coolant Heater............................................2-21
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-34
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-28
Fan Noise..................................................5-34
Oil .............................................................5-16
Overheating................................................5-27
Reduced Power Light...................................3-40
Starting......................................................2-20
Entry Lighting.................................................3-17
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
Exit Lighting...................................................3-17
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-25
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-20
Finish Damage...............................................5-89
Fixed Mast Antenna.......................................3-124
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-68
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-69
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-80
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-22
Power Steering...........................................5-35
Windshield Washer......................................5-36
Fog Lamps....................................................3-16
Front Axle......................................................5-47
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Check Gas Cap Light...................................3-42
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-42
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-42
5

Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-93
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-93
Rear Underseat Fuse Block..........................5-99
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-92
G
Gage
Check Gages Warning Light..........................3-41
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-34
Fuel..........................................................3-42
Oil Pressure...............................................3-38
Speedometer..............................................3-27
Tachometer.................................................3-27
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-32
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-42
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-5
Gate Ajar Light...............................................3-41
Glove Box.....................................................2-46
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-5Headlamps....................................................3-14
Automatic Headlamp System.........................3-15
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-48
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-14
Electrical System.........................................5-92
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-48
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-49
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
Heated Seats................................................... 1-3
Heater...........................................................3-19
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-40
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-35
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-36
HomeLink
®Transmitter....................................2-42
HomeLink®Transmitter, Programming................2-43
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-10
Horn............................................................... 3-6
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-12
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-19
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-28
Ination -- Tire Pressure..................................5-59
6