2005 BUICK LACROSSE Owner's Manual

When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps will go
off and the DRL will come on.
To idle the vehicle with the DRL off, turn the exterior
lamp control off and then do one of the following:
Turn the exterior lamp control to the parking
lamp position.
Turn the exterior lamp control to the
headlamp position.
Turn the exterior lamp control from AUTO to off and
back to AUTO.
This feature is not available for vehicles rst sold
in Canada.
To turn off the automatic headlamp feature when it is
dark outside, move the exterior lamp control to the
parking lamp position. The parking lamps will remain
illuminated and the headlamps will turn off. The
fog lamps will also go on if they were on previously.
As with any vehicle, the regular headlamp system
should be turned on when needed.
Fog Lamps
Press the fog lamps
button, located in the
center of the exterior lamps
control on the left side of
the steering column, to turn
the fog lamps on or off.
While the high-beam headlamps are on, the fog lamps
are off.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the parking lamps or headlamps have been left on
after the ignition has been turned to off, the exterior
lamps will turn off after approximately 10 minutes. This
protects the battery from being drained.
If the lamps need to be left on for more than
10 minutes, use the exterior lamp control to turn the
lamps back on.
3-15

Interior Lamps
Your interior lamps control
is located next to the
exterior lamps control
and to the left of the
steering wheel on the
instrument panel.
9(Off):Turn the control to this position to disable
courtesy lamps, entry lighting, delayed entry lighting, and
delayed exit lighting.
1(Door):Turn the control to this position to turn the
interior lamps on when any door is open and when
the ignition key is removed from the ignition.
+(On):Turn the control to this position to turn the
interior lamps on.
The interior lamps can be controlled, or automatically
turned on or off under certain conditions. They are
explained in the following text.
Instrument Panel Brightness
The instrument panel lights can be brightened or
dimmed by pressing the center knob of the interior lamp
controls until it pops out. Turn the knob clockwise to
brighten the lights or counterclockwise to dim them.
Courtesy Lamps
Courtesy lamps come on to make it easier to enter and
exit the vehicle. These lamps will come on when the
interior lamp control is in the door position and any door
is opened.
Entry Lighting
The courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a set
time whenever the interior lamp control is in the door
position and the UNLOCK button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter is pressed.
The lamps will stay on while a door is opened and then
turn off automatically about 25 seconds after it is
closed. If the UNLOCK button is pressed and a door is
not opened, the lamps will turn off after about
25 seconds.
3-16

Entry lighting includes a feature called theater dimming.
With theater dimming, the lamps do not turn off at
the end of the delay time. Instead, they slowly dim after
the delay time and then turn off.
The courtesy lamps turn off when the ignition key is
turned to RUN or START. They will come on again when
a door is opened.
Delayed Entry Lighting
Delayed entry lighting lights the vehicle’s interior for a
period of time after all the doors have been closed.
After all the doors have been closed, the delayed entry
lighting feature will continue to work until one of the
following occurs:
The ignition is in run.
The doors are locked.
Twenty-ve seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period will be canceled and the interior
lamps will remain on.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to ve-second fade out of
the courtesy lamps instead of immediate turn off.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature can be programmed either on or off using
the Driver Information Center. SeeDIC Vehicle
Personalization on page 3-71under INT LIGHTS KEYS
REMOVED. When activated, this feature illuminates
the interior for a period of time after the ignition key is
removed from the ignition.
The ignition must be off and the interior lamp control
must be in the door position for delayed exit lighting to
work. When the ignition key is removed, interior
illumination will activate and remain on until one of the
following occurs:
The ignition is in run.
The power door locks are activated.
Twenty-ve seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period will be canceled and the interior
lamps will remain on.
3-17

Perimeter Lighting
Perimeter lighting provides a period of exterior vehicle
lighting. Perimeter lighting activates when the key
is removed from the ignition or the vehicle is unlocked
using the remote keyless entry transmitter. The
amount of time the exterior lamps will remain on can be
programmed using the Driver Information Center
(DIC). See “EXIT LIGHT DELAY” underDIC Vehicle
Personalization on page 3-71for additional information.
Overhead Console Reading
Lamps
Your vehicle may have reading lamps located on the
overhead console. Press the lens to turn them on
and off.
Rear Assist Handle Reading Lamps
Your vehicle may have reading lamps located near
the rear assist handles. Press the lens to turn them on
and off.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This helps prevent the vehicle’s battery from draining in
case the interior courtesy lamps, reading lamps,
trunk lamp, underhood lamp, glove box lamps, or sun
visor vanity lamps, if equipped, are accidently left on. If
any of these lamps are left on while the ignition is
off, they will automatically turn off after 10 minutes. The
lamps will not come back on again until one of the
following occurs:
The ignition is turned on.
The interior lamps control is turned off, then to
door or on.
Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA)
Your vehicle may be equipped with Ultrasonic Rear
Parking Assist (URPA). URPA is designed to help you
park while in REVERSE (R) and operates only at speeds
less than 3 mph (5 km/h). URPA can help you avoid
colliding with objects such as parked vehicles. The
system can detect objects 5 feet (1.5 m) behind your
vehicle and tell you how close those objects are to your
rear bumper.
3-18

The URPA display is located inside the vehicle,
above the rear window. It has three color-coded lights
that can be seen through the rearview mirror or by
turning around.
{CAUTION:
Even with the Ultrasonic Rear Park Assist
system, the driver must check carefully
before backing up. The system does not
operate above typical backing speeds of
3 mph (5 km/h) while parking. And, the system
does not detect objects that are more than
5 feet (1.5 meters) behind the vehicle.
So, unless you check carefully behind you
before and when you back up, you could strike
children, pedestrians, bicyclists or pets behind
you, and they could be injured or killed.
Whether or not you are using rear park assist,
always check carefully behind your vehicle
before you back up and then watch closely as
you do.
How the System Works
URPA comes on automatically when the shift lever is
moved into REVERSE (R). When the system comes on,
the three lights on the display will briey illuminate to
let you know that the system is working. If your vehicle is
moving in REVERSE (R) at a speed greater than
3 mph (5 km/h), the red light will ash to remind you the
system does not work at this speed.
The rst time an object is detected while in
REVERSE (R), a chime will sound and the following will
occur in sequence, depending on the distance from
the object:
At 5 feet (1.5 m) a chime will sound and one amber
light will be lit.
At 40 inches (1.0 m) both amber lights will be lit.
At 20 inches (0.5 m) a continuous chime will sound
and all three lights (amber/amber/red) will be lit.
At 1 foot (0.3 m) a continuous chime will sound and
all three lights (amber/amber/red) will ash.
URPA can detect objects 3 inches (7.6 cm) and wider,
and at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) tall, but it cannot detect
objects that are above trunk level. In order for the
rear sensors to recognize an object, it must be within
operating range.
3-19

If the URPA system is not functioning properly, the
display will ash red, indicating that there is a problem.
The light will also ash red while driving if a trailer is
attached to your vehicle, or a bicycle or object is on the
back of, or hanging out of your trunk. The light will
continue to ash until the trailer or the object is
removed and your vehicle is driven forward at least
15 mph (25 km/h).
It may also ash red if the ultrasonic sensors are not
kept clean. So be sure to keep your rear bumper free of
mud, dirt, snow, ice and slush or materials such as
paint or the system may not work properly. If after
cleaning the rear bumper and driving forward at least
15 mph (25 km/h), the display continues to ash red, see
your GM dealer. For cleaning instructions, seeWashing
Your Vehicle on page 5-81.
It may also ash red if your vehicle is moving in
REVERSE (R) at a speed greater than 3 mph (5 km/h).
Other conditions that may affect system performance
include things like the vibrations from a jackhammer or
the compression of airbrakes on a very large truck.
As always, drivers should use care when backing up a
vehicle. Always look behind you, being sure to check
for other vehicles, obstructions and blind spots.Accessory Power Outlets
The accessory power outlets enable power electrical
equipment such as a cellular telephone or a CB radio to
be used inside the vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with 12-volt outlets. One outlet
is located on the center console below the climate
controls. There may be another outlet located inside the
center storage console or in the ip and fold console.
Open the cover to use the outlet. Be sure to close
the cover when the outlet is not in use.
Notice:Adding any electrical equipment to your
vehicle may damage it or keep other components
from working as they should. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Check with your
dealer before adding electrical equipment.
Certain power accessory plugs may not be compatible
to the power accessory outlet and could result in
blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a
problem, see your dealer.
3-20

Notice:Improper use of the power outlet can cause
damage not covered by your warranty. Do not
hang any type of accessory or accessory bracket
from the plug because the power outlets are
designed for accessory power plugs only.
Notice:Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain the battery. Always turn
off electrical equipment when not in use and do
not plug in equipment that exceeds the maximum
amperage rating.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow
the proper installation instructions included with
the equipment.Climate Controls
Climate Control System
With this system you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation for your vehicle.
Operation
OFF:Turn the left knob to this position to turn the
climate control system off.
3-21

9(Fan):Turn the knob by this symbol, located on the
left side of the climate control panel, clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.
During the highest fan speed selections, the fan
speed will be temporarily reduced between the transition
to a new mode. The fan will resume the original
speed when the transition to the new mode is complete.
Temperature Control:Turn the center knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside your vehicle.
Use the right knob to select from the following modes:
H(Vent):This mode directs outside air to the
instrument panel outlets. If driving in city traffic, and the
vehicle is stopped and idling, or the weather is hot,
switch from this mode to the recirculation mode.
To prevent the air inside the vehicle from becoming
stale, be sure to return to the vent mode periodically.
)(Bi-Level):This mode directs half of the air to the
instrument panel outlets, and the remaining air to
the oor outlets. Some air may be directed toward the
windshield. Slightly cooler air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets and warmer air is directed to
the oor outlets.
6(Floor):This mode directs most of the air to the
oor outlets with some air directed toward the side
window outlets and a little air directed to the windshield.
In this mode, the system will automatically use outside
air. The air conditioning compressor will be engaged
unless the outside temperature is 40°F (4°C) or below.
Recirculation cannot be selected when in this mode.
You can also select modes by using the
following buttons:
h(Recirculate):Press this button to recirculate
cabin air through the vehicle. It can be used to prevent
outside air and odors from entering your vehicle or
to help heat or cool the air inside your vehicle more
quickly. An indicator light below the button will come on
in this mode. Operation in this mode during periods
of high humidity and cool outside temperatures
may result in increased window fogging. If window
fogging is experienced, select the defrost mode.
3-22