2005 BUICK LACROSSE tow

Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light tells you that
your engine is very hot.
This light will come on when you rst start the vehicle
as a check to let you know that the light is working. It will
go out after a few seconds. If the light does not come
on, the bulb may be burned out. See your GM dealer to
have it corrected.
If the light does not go out or if the light comes on and
stays on while you are driving, your vehicle may
have a problem with the cooling system. You should
stop the vehicle and turn off the engine as soon
as possible to avoid damage to the engine. A warning
chime will sound when this light is on, also.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-24.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
The vehicle has a gage
that shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves towards the H, the engine is
too hot.
This reading indicates the same thing as the warning
light. It means that the engine coolant has overheated. If
the vehicle has been operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the vehicle, and turn off
the engine as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 5-24.
3-38

This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is
not running. If the light does not come on, have it
repaired. This light will also come on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing— A misre condition has been
detected. A misre increases vehicle emissions
and may damage the emission control system on
your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Light On Steady— An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Diagnosis and service may be required.
If the Light is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed
Avoiding hard accelerations
Avoiding steep uphill grades
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possibleIf the light stops ashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart
the engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still
ashing, follow the previous steps, and see your dealer
for service as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. SeeFilling the Tank on page 5-8. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light off.
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Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
e
(Bass/Treble):Push and release this knob until
BAS or TRE appears on the display. Turn this knob to
increase or to decrease. The display will show the
bass or the treble level. If a station is weak or noisy,
decrease the treble.
To adjust the bass and the treble to the middle position,
push and hold the tone knob. The radio will produce
one beep.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the tone knob when no tone or
speaker control is displayed. CEN will appear on the
display and you will hear a beep.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
e
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance between
the right and the left speakers, push and release
this knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the
knob to move the sound toward the right or the
left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the speaker knob until FAD
appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the
sound toward the front or the rear speakers.To adjust the balance and the fade to the middle
position, push the speaker knob, then push it again and
hold it until you hear one beep.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the speaker knob when no tone
or speaker control is displayed. CEN will appear on
the display and you will hear a beep.
Radio Messages
CAL (Calibration):The audio system has been
calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL
appears on the display it means that the radio has not
been congured properly for your vehicle and it must be
returned to your GM dealer for service.
LOC (Locked):This message is displayed when the
THEFTLOCK
®system has locked up. Take your vehicle
to your GM dealer for service.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
corrected, contact your GM dealer.
3-81

Setting Preset Stations
Up to 30 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM,
six XM1 and six XM2 (if equipped)), can be programmed
on the six numbered pushbuttons, by performing the
following steps:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1
or XM2.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press EQ to select the equalization.
5. Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever that
numbered pushbutton is pressed, the station
that was set will return and the equalization that
was selected will be stored for that pushbutton.
6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
e
(Bass/Treble):Push and release this knob until
BASS or TREBLE appears on the display. Turn
this knob to increase or to decrease. The display will
show the bass or the treble level. If a station is weak or
noisy, decrease the treble.To adjust the bass and the treble to the middle position,
push and hold the tone knob. The radio will produce
one beep.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the tone knob when no tone or
speaker control is displayed. ALL CENTERED will
appear on the display and you will hear a beep.
EQ (Equalization):Press this button to select
customized equalization settings designed for
country/western, jazz, talk, pop, rock, classical,
and custom.
To return the bass and treble to the manual mode, push
and release the tone knob until BASS or TREBLE
appears on the display.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
e
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance between
the right and the left speakers, push and release
this knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the
knob to move the sound toward the right or the
left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the speaker knob until FAD
appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the
sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
3-86

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
e
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance between
the right and the left speakers, push and release
this knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the
knob to move the sound toward the right or the
left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the speaker knob until FAD
appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the
sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
To adjust the balance and the fade to the middle
position, push the speaker knob, then push it again and
hold it until you hear one beep.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the speaker knob when no tone
or speaker control is displayed. ALL CENTERED will
appear on the display and you will hear a beep.
Finding a Category (CAT) Station
(XM™ Satellite Radio Service Only)
To select and nd a desired category perform the
following:
1. Press the CAT button to activate category
select mode. The current category will appear on
the display.
2. Turn the tune knob to select a category.
3. Once the desired category is displayed, press
either SEEK arrow to take you to the categories
rst station.
4. To go to another station within that category and
the category is displayed, press either SEEK
arrow again. If CAT times out and is no longer on
the display, go back to Step 1.
5. Press CAT to exit category select mode or wait for
CAT to time out.
If the radio cannot nd the desired category, NOT
FOUND will appear on the display and the radio will
return to the last station you were listening to.
3-95

Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
e
(Bass/Treble):Push and release this knob until
BASS or TREB appears on the display. Turn this knob
to increase or to decrease. The display will show
the bass or the treble level. If a station is weak or noisy,
decrease the treble.
To adjust the bass and the treble to the middle position,
push and hold the tone knob. The radio will produce
one beep.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the tone knob when no tone or
speaker control is displayed. ALL CENTERED will
appear on the display and you will hear a beep.
EQ (Equalization):Press this button to select
customized equalization settings designed for
country/western, jazz, talk, pop, rock, classical,
and custom.
To return the bass and treble to the manual mode, push
and release the tone knob until BASS or TREBLE
appears on the display.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
e
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance between
the right and the left speakers, push and release
this knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the
knob to move the sound toward the right or the
left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the speaker knob until
FADE appears on the display. Turn the knob to move
the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
To adjust the balance and the fade to the middle
position, push the speaker knob, then push it again and
hold it until you hear one beep.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the speaker knob when no tone
or speaker control is displayed. CEN will appear on
the display and you will hear a beep.
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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

If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you do not want to
spin your wheels too fast. The method known as rocking
can help you get out when you are stuck, but you
must use caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they
can explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle
can overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment re or other damage. When you
are stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible.
Do not spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h)
as shown on the speedometer.Notice:Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of
your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle back
and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. See
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-28.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
seeTire Chains on page 5-66.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That
will clear the area around your front wheels. If your
vehicle has traction control, you should turn your traction
control system off. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-8. Then shift back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator
pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transaxle is in gear. By slowly spinning
your wheels in the forward and reverse directions,
you will cause a rocking motion that may free your
vehicle. If that does not get you out after a few tries, you
may need to be towed out. If you do need to be
towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-34.
4-28