2005 BUICK LACROSSE brake

Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light will come
on when your engine is
started and may stay on
for several seconds. That
is normal.
If the ABS warning light comes on and stays on, there
may be a problem with the anti-lock portion of the brake
system. If the brake system warning light is not on,
you still have brakes, but you do not have anti-lock
brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-36.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. If the
light comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system. If the light still stays
on, or comes on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes, but you do
not have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you do not have anti-lock brakes
and there is a problem with your regular brakes. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-36.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
If the TC (traction control)
warning light comes on
and stays on, there may be
a problem with the
traction control system
and, if equipped, the
StabiliTrak
®system.
The TC (traction control) warning light will come on
briey when you turn the ignition to RUN. If it does not
come on then, have it xed so it will be ready to
warn you if there is a problem.
The light will also come on if you turn the traction
control system off using the TC (traction control) on/off
button located near the shift lever.
If the TC (traction control) warning light stays on or
comes on while you are driving, pull off the road as soon
as possible and stop carefully. Try resetting the
system by turning the ignition off then back on. If the
light still stays on or comes back on again while you are
driving, your vehicle needs service. Have the traction
control system and, if equipped, the StabiliTrak
®system
inspected as soon as possible. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-8andStabiliTrak
®System on
page 4-9for more information.
3-37

KEY IN IGNITION
This message will display and a chime will sound
continuously when the driver’s door is open and the key
is in the ignition and in the accessory or off position.
This message cannot be acknowledged.
This message will disappear and the chiming will stop
when the key is removed from the ignition.
LEFT FRONT TURN LAMP OUT
This message will display when the left front turn signal
bulb needs to be replaced. SeeFront Turn Signal
and Parking Lamps on page 5-47.
This message will display while the ignition is in RUN.
Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge this
message and to clear it from the screen.
This message will continue to display for two seconds if
it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It will also re-display for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition still
exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
LEFT REAR TURN LAMP OUT
This message will display when the left rear turn signal
bulb needs to be replaced. SeeTaillamps, Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps on
page 5-48.
This message will display while the ignition is in RUN.
Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge this
message and to clear it from the screen.
This message will continue to display for two seconds if
it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It will also re-display for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition still
exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
LOW BRAKE FLUID
This message will display when the brake uid level is
low. Fill the brake master cylinder to the proper
level. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the brake master cylinder reservoir.
Also, seeBrakes on page 5-35for proper uid level.
3-59

The brake system warning light will also appear on the
instrument panel cluster when this message appears
on the DIC. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-36.
This message will display and a chime will sound only
while the ignition is in RUN. Press any of the DIC
buttons to acknowledge this message and to clear it
from the screen.
This message will continue to display for two seconds if
it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It will also re-display for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition still
exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
LOW FUEL
This message will display when your vehicle is low on
fuel. You should rell the tank as soon as possible. See
Fuel Gage on page 3-46andFilling the Tank on
page 5-8for more information.
The message will display and a chime will sound while
the ignition is in RUN. Press any of the DIC buttons
to acknowledge this message and to clear it from
the screen.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
LOW OIL LEVEL
This message will display when the vehicle’s engine oil
is low. Fill the oil to the proper level as soon as
possible. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for the engine oil ll location. Also, see
Engine Oil on page 5-15for information on the kind of
oil to use and the proper oil level.
The message will display and a chime will sound while
the ignition is in RUN. Press any of the DIC buttons
to acknowledge this message and to clear it from
the screen.
This message will continue to display for two seconds if
it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It will also re-display for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition still
exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
3-60

PARKING BRAKE ON
This message will display to alert the driver when the
vehicle’s parking brake is on, the ignition is in RUN, and
the vehicle speed is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h).
Release the parking brake before driving. SeeParking
Brake on page 2-27for more information.
The brake light will also appear on the instrument panel
cluster when this message appears on the DIC. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-36.
A chime will sound continuously while this message is
displayed if driving above 5 mph (8 km/h). Press
any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge this message
and to clear it from the screen.
This message will continue to display for two seconds if
it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It will also re-display for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition still
exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
PARK LAMPS ON
This message will display to alert the driver when the
headlamps or parking lamps are on while the ignition is
off and the driver’s door is opened. SeeExterior
Lamps on page 3-13for more information.
A chime will sound continuously while this message is
displayed. Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge
this message and to clear it from the screen.
PASSENGER’S DOOR AJAR
This message will display when the front passenger’s
door is not closed properly. When this message
appears, you should make sure that the front
passenger’s door is closed completely.
This message will display while the ignition is in RUN. A
chime will sound when the ignition is shifted out of
PARK (P). Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge
this message and to clear it from the screen.
This message will continue to display for two seconds if
it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It will also re-display for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition still
exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
3-62

RIGHT FRONT TURN LAMP OUT
This message will display when the right front turn
signal bulb needs to be replaced. SeeFront Turn Signal
and Parking Lamps on page 5-47.
This message will display while the ignition is in RUN.
Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge this
message and to clear it from the screen.
This message will continue to display for two seconds if
it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It will also re-display for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition still
exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
RIGHT REAR TURN LAMP OUT
This message will display when the right rear turn signal
bulb needs to be replaced. SeeTaillamps, Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps on
page 5-48.
This message will display while the ignition is in RUN.
Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge this
message and to clear it from the screen.This message will continue to display for two seconds if
it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It will also re-display for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition still
exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
SERVICE ABS SYSTEM
If the vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
this message will display when the system is not
functioning properly. Have the brake system serviced by
your GM dealer as soon as possible.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will also
appear on the instrument panel cluster when this
message appears on the DIC. SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light on page 3-37.
This message will only display while the ignition is in
RUN. Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge this
message and to clear it from the screen.
This message will continue to display for two seconds if
it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It will also re-display for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition still
exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
3-65

SERVICE BRAKE APPLY SENSOR
This message will come on when the brake apply
sensor is not functioning properly. The vehicle still has
brakes when this warning message displays, but you
should have the vehicle serviced by your GM dealer as
soon as possible.
This message will display only while the ignition is in
RUN. A chime will sound for two seconds while this
message is displayed. Press any of the DIC buttons
to acknowledge this message and to clear it from
the screen.
This message will continue to display if it has not been
acknowledged when the engine is turned off. It will
also re-display for two seconds if the message has been
acknowledged, but the condition still exists when the
engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message will display when a problem with the
brake system has been detected. Have your vehicle
serviced by your GM dealer as soon as possible.
The brake system warning light will also appear on the
instrument panel cluster when this message appears
on the DIC. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-36.This message will only display while the ignition is in
RUN. Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge this
message and to clear it from the screen.
This message will continue to display for two seconds if
it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It will also re-display for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition still
exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
SERVICE PARK LAMPS
This message will display when there is a problem with
the park lamps. Check to see if the park lamp fuse
is blown and replace the fuse if necessary. SeeFuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-88andInstrument
Panel Fuse Block on page 5-88for more information. If
changing the fuse does not correct the problem, see
your GM dealer.
This message will only display while the ignition is in
RUN. Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge this
message and to clear it from the screen.
This message will continue to display for two seconds if
it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It will also re-display for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition still
exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message will re-appear
when the engine is turned on.
3-66

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-5
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-6
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-8
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-8
StabiliTrak
®System........................................4-9
Steering......................................................4-10
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-12
Passing.......................................................4-12
Loss of Control.............................................4-13
Driving at Night............................................4-15
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-16City Driving..................................................4-19
Freeway Driving...........................................4-20
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-21
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-21
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-22
Winter Driving..............................................4-24
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-28
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-28
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-29
Towing..........................................................4-34
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-34
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-34
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-35
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in your
vehicle: Buckle up. SeeSafety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-10.
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.”
On city streets, rural roads, or freeways, it means
“always expect the unexpected.”
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to
be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what
they might do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following
distance. It is the best defensive driving maneuver, in
both city and rural driving. You never know when the
vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.
Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on
the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving
task — such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call,
reading, or reaching for something on the oor — makesproper defensive driving more difficult and can even
cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to
help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place
to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving
techniques could save your life.Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a national tragedy. It is the number one contributor
to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive
a vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
Vision
Attentiveness
Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol, with more than
300,000 people injured.
4-2