Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
.............................................1-10
Child Restraints
.......................................1-30
Airbag System
.........................................1-56
Restraint System Check
............................1-71
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
......................................2-10
Windows
.................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-22
Mirrors
....................................................2-36
OnStar
®System
......................................2-38
Universal Home Remote System
................2-40
Storage Areas
.........................................2-44
Sunroof
..................................................2-47
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-22
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-31
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-50
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-84Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-36
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-48
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-51
Windshield Replacement
...........................5-56
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-56
Tires
......................................................5-57
Appearance Care
.....................................5-84
Vehicle Identi cation
.................................5-92
Electrical System
......................................5-93
Capacities and Speci cations
.....................5-98
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-14
Index................................................................ 1
2006 Buick LaCrosse Owner ManualM
Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-4
Doors and Locks............................................2-10
Door Locks..................................................2-10
Power Door Locks........................................2-11
Delayed Locking...........................................2-11
Automatic Door Lock.....................................2-12
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-12
Lockout Protection........................................2-13
Trunk..........................................................2-13
Windows........................................................2-16
Power Windows............................................2-17
Sun Visors...................................................2-18
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-18
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-18
PASS-Key
®III ..............................................2-20
PASS-Key®III Operation...............................2-21
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle...............................................2-22
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-22
Ignition Positions..........................................2-23
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-23
Starting the Engine.......................................2-24
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-25
Automatic Transaxle Operation.......................2-26Parking Brake..............................................2-30
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-31
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-33
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-34
Engine Exhaust............................................2-34
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-35
Mirrors...........................................................2-36
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-36
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®..............2-36
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-36
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®............................................2-37
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-37
Outside Power Heated Mirrors........................2-38
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-38
OnStar
®System.............................................2-38
Universal Home Remote System......................2-40
Universal Home Remote System Operation......2-41
Storage Areas................................................2-44
Glove Box...................................................2-44
Cupholder(s)................................................2-45
Center Console Storage Area.........................2-46
Convenience Net..........................................2-46
Sunroof.........................................................2-47
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
While sitting in a comfortable driving position, adjust the
mirror so you can see clearly behind your vehicle. Grip
the mirror in the center to move it up or down and side to
side. The day/night control at the bottom of the mirror lets
you adjust the mirror to avoid glare from the lamps behind
you. Turn the control to the right for nighttime conditions
and to the center for daytime conditions.
Manual Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
®
The vehicle may have a mirror with Onstar®. While sitting
in a comfortable driving position, adjust the mirror so you
can see clearly behind your vehicle. Grip the mirror in the
center to move it up and down and side to side.
The mirror has a day/night control located at the bottom.
Turn the control to the right for the night position to
reduce glare from other vehicles’ headlamps. Turn the
control to the front for the day position.There are also three OnStar
®buttons located at the
bottom of the mirror. See your dealer for more
information on the system and how to subscribe to
OnStar
®. SeeOnStar®System on page 2-38for more
information about the services OnStar®provides.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
While sitting in a comfortable driving position, adjust
the mirror so you can see clearly behind your vehicle.
Grip the mirror in the center to move it up or down
and side to side.
The vehicle may have an automatic dimming rearview
mirror that darkens gradually to reduce the glare of
headlamps from behind. Push the button in the center
of the mirror to turn this feature on or off.
One photocell on the front of the mirror senses when it
is becoming dark outside. Another photocell, facing
rearward, senses headlamps behind you.
To keep the photocells operating well, occasionally
clean them with a cotton swab and glass cleaner.
2-36
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®
While sitting in a comfortable driving position, adjust
the mirror so you can see clearly behind your vehicle.
Grip the mirror in the center to move it up or down
and side to side.
The vehicle may have an automatic dimming rearview
mirror with the OnStar
®System.
The automatic dimming feature is turned on or off by
pressing the left button, located on the lower part of the
mirror, for up to three seconds. When turned on, this
mirror functions like the automatic dimming rearview
mirror described previously. SeeAutomatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror on page 2-36.
There are also three OnStar
®buttons located at the
bottom of the mirror. See your dealer for more
information on the system and how to subscribe
to OnStar
®. SeeOnStar®System on page 2-38for
more information about the services OnStar®provides.
Outside Power Mirrors
The controls for the
outside power mirrors,
are located on the driver’s
door armrest.
Move the selector switch located below the four-way
control pad to the left or right to choose either the driver’s
side or passenger’s side mirror. To adjust a mirror, use
the arrows located on the four-way control pad to move
the mirror in the desired direction. Adjust each outside
mirror so that a little of the vehicle and the area behind it
can be seen while sitting in a comfortable driving position.
Keep the selector switch in the center position when not
adjusting either outside mirror.
2-37
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 brie y 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
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety,
you will want to slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your
best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a lower
gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues — such as enough water, ice, or packed snow on
the road to make a mirrored surface — and slow down
when you have any doubt.
If you have the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
remember: It helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do
not have ABS, then in a braking skid, where the wheels
are no longer rolling, release enough pressure on the
brakes to get the wheels rolling again. This restores
steering control. Push the brake pedal down steadily
when you have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels
are rolling, you will have steering control.Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired — by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare
from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you
and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so much road
ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
4-16
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as highway hypnosis?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on
the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of
the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
Do not let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle
can leave the road in less than a second, and you
could crash and be injured.What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service, or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
4-23
Fuses Usage
STR/WHL/
ILLUMSteering Wheel Controls Illumination
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, Ampli er
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
Underhood Fuse Block
Some fuses and relays are located in the underhood
fuse block on the passenger’s side of the vehicle in
the engine compartment. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for more information on location.
Mini-Fuses Usage
1 Left High Beam
2 Right High Beam
3 Left Low Beam
4 Right Low Beam
5-95