Buick Rendezvous 2002 User Manual

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK, and the BUICK Emblem are registered trademarks and the name RENDEZVOUS is a trademark of General Motors Corporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Buick Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual.

Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it.

We support voluntary technician certification.

For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual:

Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous

procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez votre concessionaire ou au:

Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207

About Driving Your Vehicle

As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or an accident. See “Your Driving, the Road and Your Vehicle” in the Index.

How to Use this Manual

Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly.

Safety Warnings and Symbols

You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.

CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.

In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or others could be hurt.

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You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Don’t,” “Don’t do this” or “Don’t let this happen.”

Vehicle Damage Warnings

Also, in this book you will find these notices:

NOTICE:

These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle.

In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly . But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage.

When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words.

You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

Vehicle Symbols

Your vehicle may be equipped with components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gage or indicator.

If you need help figuring out a specific name of a component, gage or indicator reference the following topics in the Index:

“Engine Compartment Overview”

“Instrument Panel”

“Comfort Controls”

“Audio Systems” Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index. Here are some examples of symbols you may find on

your vehicle:

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Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.

-2 Seats and Seat Controls

-8 Rear Seats

-21 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

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-25 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About

Safety Belts

-26 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

-26 Driver Position

-35 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

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-36 Right Front Passenger Position

-37 Air Bag Systems

-- and the Answers

-45 Center Passenger Position

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-48 Rear Seat Passengers

-52 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for

Children and Small Adults

-56 Children

-59 Restraint Systems for Children

-77 Older Children

-79 Safety Belt Extender

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-80 Checking Your Restraint Systems

-80 Replacing Restraint System Parts After

a Crash

Seats and Seat Controls

This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them, take them out, put them back in, fold and unfold them.

Driver’s Four-Way Manual Seat

T o move the seat forward or rearward, pull up on the lever, located on the front left of the seat, to unlock it.

Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever. T o make sure that the seat is locked into place, try to

move the seat with your body.

T o raise the seat, pull up on the lever located on the front right side of the seat. T o lower the seat, push the lever down. Adjust the seat and release the lever.

CAUTION:

You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

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Manual Front Passenger Seats

Six-Way Power Seat (Option)

T o move the seat forward or rearward, pull up on the lever, located on the front of the seat, to unlock it.

Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever. T o make sure that the seat is locked into place, try to

move the seat with your body.

The six-way power seat controls are located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat or on the outboard sides of both the driver’s and front passenger’s seats.

Move the front of the control in the direction of the arrows to adjust the front portion of the cushion up or down.

Move the rear of the control in the direction of the arrows to adjust the rear portion of the cushion up or down.

Lift up or push down on both outer arrows at the same time to move the entire seat up or down.

T o move the whole seat forward or rearward, slide the control in the direction of the center arrows.

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Manual Lumbar

Memory Seat (Option)

The knob that controls this feature is located on the outboard sides of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats.

Turn the knob toward the front of the vehicle to increase lumbar support. Turn the knob toward the rear of the vehicle to decrease lumbar support.

If your vehicle has this feature, the controls are located on the driver’s door panel and are used to program and recall the driver’s seat position and outside rearview mirror position.

Adjust the driver’s seat and the outside rearview mirrors to the position you would like for driving. Then press and hold memory button 1 for more than three seconds. A double beep will sound when the memory seat and mirrors are set.

T o set the seat and outside rearview mirrors for a second driver, follow the previous steps, but press button 2 instead.

T o recall your memory positions, your vehicle must be in PARK (P). Push and release the memory button (1 or 2) corresponding to the desired driving position. The seat and the outside rearview mirrors will move to the position previously stored for the identified driver. You will hear one beep.

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You can also store an exit position for each driver. The exit position is programmed by moving the seat to the desired exit position and then holding the exit symbol button for more than three seconds. The exit position set will be for the most recently selected driving position (1 or 2). A double beep will sound when the memory is set.

T o use exit, your vehicle must be in PARK (P). Push and release the exit symbol button and the seat will move to the exit position stored for the most recently selected driver . You will hear one beep.

T o stop recall movement of the seat at any time, press one of the three memory buttons or one of the power seat controls located on the outboard side of the driver’s seat.

If your vehicle is equipped with a Driver Information Center (DIC), you can use it to program certain functions of the memory seats. See “Driver Information Center (DIC) Vehicle Customization” in the Index.

Heated Front Seats (Option)

The heated seat switches are located in the center console switchbank.

This feature will quickly heat the lower cushions and lower back of the driver’s and front passenger’s seat for added comfort. The left switch is for the driver’s seat and the right switch is for the front passenger’s seat.

Press the top of the switch to turn the heater on. Press the bottom of the switch to turn the heater off. The heated seat switch will turn off when the ignition is turned to OFF and will resume operation when the ignition is turned to ON, unless the switch is manually turned off.

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Reclining Front Seatbacks

T o adjust the seatback, pull up on the recliner lever located on the outboard sides of both the driver’s and passenger’s seat. It is easier to recline the seat if you lean forward, taking your weight off the seatback.

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But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job when you’re reclined like this.

The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.

Head Restraints

Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

On some models, the head restraints tilt forward and rearward also.

The rear seat head restraints in your vehicle may be adjustable. They work the same as the front seat head restraints, except they do not tilt forward or rearward.

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Rear Seats

The rear seats in your vehicle have seat operating features to adjust, fold, remove and reinstall the seats. By using the seat operating features, in the correct order, you can easily remove the seats from your vehicle.

When you put the seats back in the vehicle, be sure to follow the label on the back of the seat for proper location.

Split Bench Seats (If Equipped)

If your vehicle has the split bench seat, the seatbacks can be folded forward or reclined individually and the sections can be flipped forward or removed individually.

Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks

CAUTION:

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

The seatbacks on each section of the split bench seat can be reclined or folded forward.

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T o recline the seatback on base

-level split bench seats,

lift up on the recliner lever located on the outboard side of the seatback.

Base

-Level

T o recline the seatback on up

-level split bench seats,

push forward on the recliner lever located on the outboard side of the seatback.

-Level

Use the recliner lever to move the seatback to the desired position.

It is easier to raise or lower the seatback if you lean forward and take the weight off the seatback.

The seatbacks on each section also fold forward to put items behind the seats.

Lift up or push forward on the recliner lever and fold the seatback forward. The seatback will lock into place when you push it back to the upright position.

After raising a seatback to an upright position, push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked upright.

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Removing the Split Bench Seat

Each section of the split bench seat can be flipped forward or removed individually.

1. Unlatch the shoulder belt from the lap-belt.

2. Make sure that the seatback is in the upright position.

3. Lift up or push forward on the seatback recliner lever to fold the seatback forward.

Base-Level

4. For base base of the seat on the outboard side to release the rear latches from the floor pins and flip the seat forward.

For up forward on the recliner lever to release the rear latches from the floor pins and flip the seat forward.

The seat can stay in this position or it can be removed from the vehicle by following the next steps.

-level split bench seats, pull the lever at the

-level split bench seats, continue pushing

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5. T o release the front latches, squeeze the angled latch release bar toward the straight crossbar.

6. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward the rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out.

Repeat these steps for the other section of the split bench seat.

Replacing the Split Bench Sections

CAUTION:

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

CAUTION:

A seat that isn’t locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.

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CAUTION:

A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted won’t provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After installing the seat, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.

Make sure that the seatback is in the folded forward position and that the safety belts are on the correct section of the seat.

Don’t put the sections of the bench seat in so that they face rearward because they won’t latch that way.

The split bench seat sections have seat position labels, located on the back of each section, showing where the section must go.

The seat must be placed in the proper location for the legs to attach correctly.

1. Squeeze the angled latch release bar toward the straight crossbar while placing the front hooks of the bench seat onto the front two floor pins.

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2. Make sure that the bench seat is angled so that the front hooks clear the floor pins. If the front legs are not attached correctly, the rear legs will not attach to the rear set of floor pins.

3. Firmly push the rear hooks onto the rear floor pins by pushing down on the rear of the seat.

4. Try to raise the seat to check that it is locked down.

5. Lift the seatback recliner lever and raise the seatback until it locks upright.

6. Push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked upright.

7. Attach the lap belt.

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Captain’s Chairs (If Equipped)

CAUTION:

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

If your vehicle has the captain’s chairs, the seatbacks can be reclined or folded forward.

To recline the seatback, lift up on the recliner lever located on the outboard side of the seatback. Use the recliner lever to move the seatback to the desired position.

It is easier to raise or lower the seatback if you lean forward and take the weight off the seatback.

The seatbacks on the second row captain’s chairs also fold forward.

Lift up on the recliner lever and fold the seatback forward. The seatback will lock into place when you push it back to the upright position.

After raising a seatback to an upright position, push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked upright.

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Removing the Captain’s Chairs

1. Make sure that the seatback is in the upright position.

2. Lift the seatback recliner lever to fold the seatback forward.

3. Pull up on the lever, located at the base on the outboard side of the seat, to release the rear latches from the floor pins.

4. The seat can then be lifted off the front floor pins.

5. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward the rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out.

Repeat these steps for the other captain’s chair.

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Replacing the Captain’s Chairs

CAUTION:

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

CAUTION:

A seat that isn’t locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.

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Make sure that the seatback is in the folded forward position and that the safety belts are on the correct side of the chair.

Don’t put the chairs in so that they face rearward because they won’t latch that way.

The captain’s chairs have seat position labels, located on the back of each section, showing where the section must go.

The seat must be placed in the proper location for the legs to attach correctly.

1. Hook the front latches over the front floor pins. 2. Push the rear of the seat down to lock the rear latches onto the rear set of floor pins.

3. Push and pull on the seat to check that it is properly attached.

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Stowable Seat (Option)

The optional stowable seat is a two passenger bench seat and comes with the rear convenience center. See “Rear Convenience Center” in the Index for more information. The stowable seat can be removed and replaced or, with the seatback folded, it can lie flush with the convenience center.

Folding the Seatback

T o fold down the seatback, pull up on the lever located on the back of the seat and push the seatback down until it is locked into place.

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