2004 Buick Rendezvous Owner Manual M
Seats and Restraint Systems
Front Seats
Rear Seats
Safety Belts
Child Restraints
Air Bag Systems
............................................... 1-3
............................................... 1-8
............................................. 1-22
....................................... 1-47
...................................... 1-72
Restraint System Check
Features and Controls
Keys
Doors and Locks
Windows
........................................................ 2-3
....................................... 2-8
................................................. 2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems
........................... 1-1
............................ 1-82
..................................... 2-1
............................ 2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
Mirrors
OnStar
HomeLink
Storage Areas
Sunroof
Vehicle Personalization
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview
Climate Controls
.................................................... 2-31
®
System
®
Transmitter
...................................... 2-33
............................. 2-35
......................................... 2-39
.................................................. 2-47
............................. 2-48
............................................. 3-1
.......................... 3-4
...................................... 3-28
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
Message Center
....................................... 3-53
........... 2-19
........ 3-41
Driver Information Center (DIC)
Audio System(s)
Driving Your Vehicle
....................................... 3-78
....................................... 4-1
.................. 3-64
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
Towing
Service and Appearance Care
Service
Fuel
Checking Things Under the Hood
All-Wheel Drive
Bulb Replacement
................................................... 4-33
.......................... 5-1
..................................................... 5-3
......................................................... 5-5
............... 5-10
........................................ 5-50
.................................... 5-52
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires
Appearance Care
Vehicle Identification
Electrical System
Capacities and Specifications
Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule
...................................................... 5-59
................................... 5-100
............................... 5-107
.................................... 5-108
................... 5-117
..................................... 6-1
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information
Customer Assistance and Information
Reporting Safety Defects
................................................................ 1
Index
........................... 7-10
..... 4-2
......... 5-57
.............. 7-1
........... 7-2
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK,
the BUICK Emblem, and the name RENDEZVOUS are
registered trademarks 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 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.
Keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if
you ever need it while you are on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in the vehicle.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 10337755 B First Edition
ii
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
on page 4-2.
How to Use This Manual
Many people read the owner manual from beginning to
end when they first receive their new vehicle. If this
is done, it can help you learn about the features
and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work
together in the owner manual to explain things.
©
Copyright General Motors Corporation 12/18/03
All Rights Reserved
Index
A good place to quickly locate information about the
vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an
alphabetical list of what is in the manual, and the
page number where it can be found.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We
use a box and the word CAUTION to tell 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 do not,
you or others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Do Not,”
“Do Not do this” or “Do Not
let this happen.”
iii
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Vehicle Symbols
Also, in this manual you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But
the notice will tell 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.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
iv
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols 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:
• Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
• Features and Controls in Section 2
• Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
• Climate Controls in Section 3
• Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3
• Audio System(s) in Section 3
• Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:
v
✍ NOTES
vi
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Front Seats ......................................................1-3
Manual Passenger Seat ..................................1-3
Four-Way Manual Driver Seat ..........................1-3
Six-Way Power Seats .....................................1-4
Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-5
Heated Seats .................................................1-5
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-6
Head Restraints .............................................1-7
Rear Seats .......................................................1-8
Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-8
Split Bench Seats ...........................................1-8
Captain Chairs .............................................1-13
Stowable Seat ..............................................1-18
Safety Belts ...................................................1-22
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-22
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-26
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-27
Driver Position ..............................................1-28
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-36
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-37
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-38
Center Rear Passenger Position .....................1-42
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults .......................................1-44
Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-46
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-46
1-1
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Child Restraints .............................................1-47
Older Children ..............................................1-47
Infants and Young Children ............................1-50
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-53
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-56
Top Strap ....................................................1-57
Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-58
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-62
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System (Rear) ...............................1-64
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside
Seat Position ............................................1-64
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear
Seat Position ............................................1-67
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position ............................................1-69
1-2
Air Bag Systems ............................................1-72
Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-75
When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ....................1-78
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .....................1-79
How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-79
What Will You See After an Air
Bag Inflates? ............................................1-80
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-82
Restraint System Check ..................................1-82
Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-82
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash ...................................................1-83
Front Seats
Four-Way Manual Driver Seat
Manual Passenger Seat
Pull up on the lever,
located on the front of the
seat, to unlock and
move the seat.
Slide the seat to where you want it and release the
lever. To make sure the seat is locked into place, try to
move the seat back and forth with your body.
Use the lever located on
the front left side of the
seat to adjust the seat
forward or rearward.
Pull up the lever to unlock the seat. Slide the seat to
where you want it and release the lever.
To make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move
the seat back and forth with your body.
1-3
To raise the seat, pull
up on the lever located
on the front right side
of the seat.
Six-Way Power Seats
Your vehicle may have
this feature. If it does, the
six-way power seat
control is located on the
outboard sides of the
driver’s and front
passenger’s seats.
To 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 do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
1-4
• Move the front of the control up or down to adjust
the front portion of the cushion up or down.
• Move the rear of the control up or down to adjust
the rear portion of the cushion up or down.
• Lift up or push down on the whole control to move
the entire seat up or down.
• To move the whole seat forward or rearward, slide
the control forward or rearward.
Manual Lumbar
Heated Seats
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.
Your vehicle may have
heated seats. If it does,
the heated seat switches
are located in the
instrument panel
switchbank.
This feature will quickly heat the seat cushions and
lower back of the driver’s and front passenger’s seat.
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 turned off.
1-5
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust a seatback, pull up on the lever located on
the outboard side of the driver’s or front passenger’s
seats. Release the lever to lock the seatback where you
want it. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it’s
locked into position. Pull up on the lever, and the seat
will go to its original upright position.
1-6
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 not do their
job when you are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can not do its job because it
will not 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 not 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
Adjust your head restraint 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.
The front seat head restraints are adjustable. Slide the
head restraint up or down to adjust it.
The rear seat head restraints in your vehicle may be
adjustable. They work the same as the front seat head
restraints.
1-7
Rear Seats
Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks
Rear Seat Operation
The rear seats in your vehicle have seat operating
features to adjust, fold, remove and reinstall the seats.
By using the seat operating procedures, 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 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.
1-8
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not 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.
To 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
To recline the seatback on
up-level split bench seats,
push forward on the
recliner lever located on
the outboard side of
the seatback.
Up-Level
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.
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.
1-9
Base-Level
4. For base-level split bench seats, pull the lever at
the base of the seat on the outboard side to
release the rear latches from the floor pins and flip
the seat forward.
For up-level split bench seats, continue pushing
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.
1-10
5. To 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 Seat
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not 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.
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.
1-11
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.
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.
1-12
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.
Captain Chairs
If your vehicle has captain’s chairs, the chairs and
seatbacks can be adjusted forward or rearward.
Adjusting the Captain’s Chairs
(Second Row)
To adjust he second row captain’s chairs, use the
adjustment bar located below the front of each seat.
Lift up the lever to slide the seat forward or rearward.
Release the lever. Push and pull on the seat to
make sure it is locked into place.
1-13
Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not 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.
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 fold
forward the same way.
After raising a seatback to an upright position, push and
pull on the seatback to check that it is locked upright.
1-14
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 the nylon strap behind the chair to release the
rear hooks 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.
1-15
Replacing the Captain’s Chairs
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not 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.
1-16
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 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.
1-17
Stowable Seat
The stowable seat is a two passenger bench seat and
comes with the rear convenience center. See Rear
Convenience Center on page 2-44 for more information.
The stowable seat can be removed and replaced or,
with the seatback folded, it can lie flat with the
convenience center.
Folding the Seatback
{CAUTION:
To fold the seatback down,
pull up on the lever located
on the back of the seat.
Push down on the
seatback until it is locked
into place.
If the seatback is not 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.
1-18
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure that it is
locked into place.
To raise the seatback, do one of the following:
• From the rear of the vehicle, pull up on the lever to
release the seatback. Then pull the strap, located
on the right side of the seat, to pull the seatback up.
The seatback has a pocket to stow the strap on
the side of the seatback when not in use, or
• from the passenger’s side door, pull up on the lever
to release the seatback. Then push up on the
seatback to raise the seat.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure that it is
locked into the upright position.
Removing the Stowable Seat
1. Remove the convenience center, if it is in the
vehicle. See Rear Convenience Center on
page 2-44 for more information.
2. Make sure all items are off the stowable seat.
3. If the seatback is down, put the seatback in
its upright position before removing the seat.
See “Folding the Seatback” listed previously.
4. From the front of the bench seat, remove the
two nuts from the brackets, located on the floor
on each side.
5. From behind the bench seat, fold the
seatback down.
6. Remove the rear nuts located on the floor on
each side.
7. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward the
rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out through
the rear of the vehicle. This should be done in one
motion.
8. Put the nuts back onto the screws so the nuts do
not get misplaced.
1-19
Replacing the Stowable Seat
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not 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.
1-20
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.
Do not put the stowable seat in so that it faces rearward.
The stowable seat has to go in before the rear
convenience center. See Rear Convenience Center on
page 2-44 for more information.
The stowable seat has seat position labels, located on
the back of the seat, showing where the seat must go.
The seat must be placed in the proper location for the
legs to attach correctly.
Make sure that the seatback is folded forward before
beginning this procedure.
1. Remove the nuts from the screws.
2. Place the stowable seat on the vehicle floor so that
the brackets are placed over the screws.
3. Reinstall the nuts back onto the screws. Torque to
approximately 18 lb ft (25 Y).
4. Try to raise the seat to make sure that it is
locked down.
5. Raise the seatback to its upright position.
Push and pull on the seatback to make sure that it
is locked into place.
1-21
Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she can not
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.
You can be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passengers’ belts are
fastened properly too.
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.
1-22
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder to buckle up.
See Safety Belt Reminder
Light on page 3-45.
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the
facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter... a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on
wheels.
1-23
Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
1-24
doesn’t stop.
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