2005 BUICK RANDEZVOUS checking oil

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...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-19
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-21
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-22
Engine Coolant.............................................5-25
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-28
Engine Overheating.......................................5-28
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-30
Cooling System............................................5-30
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-36Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-37
Brakes........................................................5-38
Battery........................................................5-41
Jump Starting...............................................5-42
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-49
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-49
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-49
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking
Lamps.....................................................5-51
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-51
Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps.......................5-52
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-53
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-53
Tires..............................................................5-55
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................5-56
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-58
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-61
Check Tire Pressure System..........................5-62
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-64
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-65
Buying New Tires.........................................5-66
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-67
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-68
Wheel Replacement......................................5-68
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the lling is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and
other uids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
5-10

A. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-107.
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
C. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-36.
D. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
on page 5-22.
E. Brake Master Cylinder. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-38.
F. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-37.G. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-41.
H. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-28.
I. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-16.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-16.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-21.
L. Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-25.
5-13

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-37.
B. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-107.
C. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-41.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
E. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-28.
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-36.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-16.H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-16.
I. Brake Master Cylinder. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-38.
J. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking
the Fluid Level” underAutomatic Transaxle Fluid
on page 5-22.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-21.
L. Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-25.
5-15

Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and check the level.3400 V6 Engine
3.6L V6 Engine
5-16

C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-112
Captain Chairs, Rear.......................................1-13
Carbon Monoxide...................2-11, 2-29, 4-26, 4-38
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-98
Your Cassette Tape Player..........................3-134
Your CD and DVD Player...........................3-135
Your CDs and DVDs..................................3-135
Cargo Cover..................................................2-43
Cargo Lamp...................................................3-19
Cell Phone Storage Area.................................2-39
Center Rear Passenger Position, Safety Belts.....1-38
Chains, Tire...................................................5-70
Change Engine Oil Message............................3-55
Charging System Indicator Message..................3-53
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-46
Tire Pressure System...................................5-62
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-101
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-48Child Restraints (cont.)
Infants and Young Children...........................1-45
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-58
Older Children.............................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-60
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-62
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside
Seat Position...........................................1-60
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-64
Top Strap...................................................1-53
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-54
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-52
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-27
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-100
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-99
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-95
Finish Care.................................................5-99
Glass Surfaces............................................5-98
Instrument Panel.........................................5-97
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-97
Leather......................................................5-97
3