2005 BUICK LACROSSE climate control

Recirculation is not available while in the defrost or
oor/defog modes. Using recirculation for long periods of
time may cause the air inside your vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening, after the air in your
vehicle has cooled, turn the recirculation mode off.
#(Air Conditioning):Press this button to turn the
air conditioning compressor on and off. The indicator
light on the button will come on when the air
conditioning is on.
((Heated Seats):Press this button to turn the driver
or passenger heated seats on and off. SeeHeated
Seats on page 1-5for additional information.
Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity
(moisture) condensing on the cool window glass. This
can be minimized if the climate control system is
used properly. There are two modes to clear fog or frost
from your windshield. Use the oor/defog mode to
clear the windows of fog or moisture and warm
the passengers. Use defrost to remove fog or frost from
the windshield more quickly.
-(Floor/Defog):Press this button to direct the air
between the windshield, oor outlets and side windows.
When you select this mode, the system turns
recirculation off and runs the air conditioning compressorunless the outside temperature is near or below
freezing. Pressing the recirculation button will have no
effect other than turning on the telltale light while in
oor/defog mode.
1(Defrost):Press this button to direct most of the
air to the windshield, with some air directed to the
side windows. In this mode, the system will automatically
turn off the recirculation and run the air conditioning
compressor, unless the outside temperature is near or
below freezing. Pressing the recirculation button will
have no effect other than turning on the telltale
light while in defrost mode.
Do not drive the vehicle until all windows are clear.
Sensors
The solar sensor on the vehicle monitors the solar heat
and the air inside of the vehicle. This information is
used to maintain the selected temperature by initiating
needed adjustments to the temperature, the fan
speed, and the air delivery system. The system may
also supply cooler air to the side of the vehicle facing the
sun. The recirculation mode will also be activated, as
necessary. Do not cover the solar sensor located in the
center of the instrument panel, near the windshield,
or the system will not work properly.
3-27

Steering Wheel Climate Controls
If your vehicle has this
feature, you can control
the temperature inside
your vehicle by using the
controls located on
your steering wheel.
yz(Temperature):Press the up arrow to increase
or the down arrow decrease the temperature inside
your vehicle.
Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on the vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
the warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of the vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briey when you start the
engine just to let you know they are working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly – and even dangerous. So please get to know
the warning lights and gages. They are a big help.
3-30

Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. SeeOverheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode on page 5-26for
information on driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning, but see or hear
no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let the
engine idle.
2. Set the climate controls to the highest heat setting
and fan speed and open the windows as necessary.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning does not come back on, you
can drive normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for three minutes while you are parked. If you still
have the warning,turn off the engine and get everyone
out of the vehicleuntil it cools down. Also, see
“Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode” later in
this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-25

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-63

Fuses Usage
DR/LCK
TRUNKDoor Locks, Trunk
RFA/MOD Remote Keyless Entry
PRK/SWTCH Ignition Key Lock
CLSTR Cluster
STR/WHL/
ILLUMSteering Wheel Controls Illumination
Fuses Usage
ONSTAR/ALDL OnStar®, Data Link
INT/ILLUM Interior Lamps
PWR/SEAT Power Seat
S/ROOF Sunroof
CNSTR Canister Vent
HVAC Climate Control System
HAZRD Turn Signal, Hazard
PRK/LAMP Park Lamps
CHMSL/BKUPCenter-High-Mounted
Stoplamp/Back-up Lamps
PWR/MIR Power Mirrors
CRUISE Cruise Control
RDO/AMP Radio, Amplier
HTD/SEAT Heated Seats
HTD/MIR Heated Mirrors
PWR/WNDW Power Window
Relays Usage
RAP Retained Accessory Power
PRK/LAMP Park Lamp Relay
R/DEFOG Rear Defogger Relay
5-89

Check
Engine Light...............................................3-39
Check Gas Cap Light......................................3-46
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-84
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-37
Infants and Young Children...........................1-33
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-43
Older Children.............................................1-31
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-45
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Front Seat Position...................................1-48
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-48
Top Strap...................................................1-41
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-43
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-40
Chime Level Adjustment.................................3-120
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-83
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-81
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-78
Finish Care.................................................5-82Cleaning (cont.)
Glass Surfaces............................................5-80
Instrument Panel.........................................5-80
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-80
Leather......................................................5-80
Tires..........................................................5-83
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-84
Vinyl..........................................................5-80
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-81
Weatherstrips..............................................5-81
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-82
Climate Control System...................................3-21
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-28
Dual Automatic............................................3-24
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-28
Steering Wheel Controls...............................3-30
Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt.....................1-27
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-77
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-17
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Convenience Net............................................2-41
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-38
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-38
Heater, Engine............................................2-23
Low Warning Light.......................................3-39
Cooling System..............................................5-26
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-16
3

Cruise Control Lever.......................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-43
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-40
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-7
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government............................................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
D
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic
Headlamp System.......................................3-14
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Entry Lighting.....................................3-17
Delayed Exit Lighting.......................................3-17
Delayed Locking.............................................2-11
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Door
Ajar Light...................................................3-45Door (cont.)
Delayed Locking..........................................2-11
Locks........................................................2-10
Power Door Locks.......................................2-11
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-15
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-47
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-47
DIC Vehicle Personalization..........................3-71
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-53
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-15
City...........................................................4-19
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-20
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-22
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-16
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-28
Winter........................................................4-24
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-24
E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-87
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-88
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-87
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-88
4