2006 BUICK LACROSSE ignition

Shifting Out of Park (P)
Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock
This vehicle is equipped with an electronic shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to:
Prevent ignition key removal unless the shift
lever is in PARK (P)
Prevent movement of the shift lever out of PARK (P)
unless the ignition is in a position other than OFF.
The shift lock is always functional except in the case
of a an uncharged or low voltage (less than 9 volt)
battery.
If your vehicle has an uncharged battery or a battery
with low voltage, try charging or jump starting the
battery. SeeJump Starting on page 5-42.
Console Shift
If your console shift cannot be moved out of PARK (P)
1. Apply and maintain the regular brakes.
2. Turn the ignition to the RUN position. SeeIgnition
Positions on page 2-23for more information.
3. Let up on the shift lever and make sure the shift
lever is pushed all the way into PARK (P).
4. Then, move the shift into the desired gear.
If you still cannot move the shift lever from PARK (P),
consult your dealer or a professional towing service.
Column Shift
If your park lock cable cannot be moved out of PARK (P)
1. Apply and maintain the regular brakes.
2. Turn the Ignition key to the ACCESSORY or RUN
position. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-23for
more information.
3. Shift out of the PARK (P) position to the
NEUTRAL (N) position.
4. Move the vehicle to a safe location.
If you still cannot move the shift lever from PARK (P),
consult your dealer or a professional towing service.
2-33

Sunroof
The vehicle may have a sunroof. It includes a sliding
glass panel and a sunshade.
The sunroof control is
on the headliner, by
the map lamps.
The sunroof control works only when the ignition is on
or in ACCESSORY, or when Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) is active. SeeRetained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 2-23.To raise the sunroof to the vent position, open the
sunshade by hand, then press the back of the control.
Push and hold the front of the control to close the
sunroof from the vent position.
With the sunroof in the vent position, press and release
the back of the control to express-open the sunroof.
The sunshade will automatically open with the sunroof.
To stop the express-open function, press the back
of the control again.
To close the sunroof, press and hold the front of the
control. To stop the sunroof, release the control.
The sunshade must be closed manually.
The sunroof panel cannot be opened or closed if your
vehicle has an electrical failure.
2-47

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will ash on and off.
The hazard warning
asher button is located
in the center of the
instrument panel.
Your hazard warning ashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key is not in the
ignition switch.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, your turn
signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set them up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on your steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
If equipped, a tilt wheel allows adjustment of the steering
wheel before you drive. The steering wheel can be raised
to the highest level to give the driver’s legs more room
when you enter and exit the vehicle.
The lever that allows you
to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of
the steering column, If
equipped.
To tilt the wheel, pull the lever down. Then move the
wheel to a comfortable position and pull the lever up to
lock the wheel in place.
3-6

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
To signal a turn, move the lever up or down. The lever
returns to its original position when the turn is
completed.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until the lane
change is completed. The lever will return to its original
position when released.
Arrows that ash rapidly when signaling for a turn or lane
change, or that fail to work, may indicate a burned-out
signal bulb or fuse. Other drivers will not see the signal.
SeeFront Turn Signal and Parking Lamps on page 5-53
andTaillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps on page 5-54for turn signal bulb
replacement procedures. Also seeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-93for location of fuses.
A chime will sound if the turn signal is left on for more
than 3/4 mile (1.2 km).
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal/multifunction lever away from you.
When the high beams
are on, a light on the
instrument panel cluster
also will be on if the
ignition is on.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps
momentarily to signal a driver in front of you that
you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
3-8

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Press the SET−button until you reach the lower
speed you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, briey press
the SET−button. Each time you do this, you will
go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle’s
speed. When you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the cruise control speed
you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills depends
upon the speed and load of the vehicle, and the
steepness of the hills. When going up steep hills, you
may have to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle’s speed. When going downhill, you may have to
brake or shift to a lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed
down. Of course, applying the brake takes the vehicle out
of cruise control. Many drivers nd this to be too much
trouble and do not use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
To end a cruise control session, step lightly on the
brake pedal.
Stepping on the brake will end the current cruise control
session only. Press the cruise on/off button to turn off
the system completely.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
3-12

<(Parking Lamps):Turn the control to this position
to turn on the parking lamps together with the
following:
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
2(Headlamps):Turn the control to this position to
turn your headlamps on, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
A warning chime will sound if the driver’s door is
opened when the ignition switch is turned to OFF
or ACCESSORY and the headlamps are on.
-(Foglamps):If your vehicle is equipped with fog
lamps, press this button to turn them on and off. See
Fog Lamps on page 3-15for additional information.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp System
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset. Daytime running lamps
are required to function at all times on all vehicles rst
sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it is not covered.
The DRL system will make the low-beam headlamps
come on at reduced brightness when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is off.
The parking brake is released.
While the DRL are on, only the vehicle’s low-beam
headlamps will be on at reduced brightness. The turn
signal, taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps will not be
on. The instrument panel will not be lit up either.
3-14

When it is dark enough outside, the DRL will turn off
and the vehicle’s headlamps and parking lamps will turn
on. The other lamps that come on with the headlamps
will also come on.
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
If your vehicle is equipped
with fog lamps, press the
fog lamps button 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.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
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