2007 BUICK LACROSSE brake

Unless you have the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), you will want to brake very gently, too. If
you do have ABS, seeAnti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) on page 291. ABS improves your vehicle’s
stability when you make a hard stop on a
slippery road. Whether you have ABS or not, you
will want to begin stopping sooner than you
would on dry pavement. Without ABS, if you feel
your vehicle begin to slide, let up on the brakes
a little. Push the brake pedal down steadily to get
the most traction you can.
Remember, unless you have ABS, if you brake so
hard that your wheels stop rolling, you will just
slide. Brake so your wheels always keep rolling
and you can still steer.
Whatever your braking system, allow greater
following distance on any slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be
ne until you hit a spot that is covered with
ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches
may appear in shaded areas where the
sun cannot reach, such as around clumps of
trees, behind buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass may remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear.If you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake
before you are on it. Try not to brake while
you are actually on the ice, and avoid sudden
steering maneuvers.
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in
a serious situation. You should probably stay
with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you
are near help and you can hike through the
snow. Here are some things to do to summon
help and keep yourself and your passengers safe:
Turn on your hazard ashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police
that you have been stopped by the snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around
you. If you do not have blankets or extra
clothing, make body insulators from
newspapers, burlap bags, rags, oor
mats — anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to
keep warm.
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Dolly Towing
Your vehicle can be towed using a dolly. To tow
your vehicle using a dolly, follow these steps:
1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Put the gear shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Set the parking brake and then remove the
ignition key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position.
5. Release the parking brake.
Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you do not use the correct equipment
and drive properly, you can lose control
when you pull a trailer. For example, if the
trailer is too heavy, the brakes may not
work well — or even at all. You and your
passengers could be seriously injured. You
may also damage your vehicle; the
resulting repairs would not be covered by
your warranty. Pull a trailer only if you have
followed all the steps in this section. Ask
your dealer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with your vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with
the proper trailer towing equipment. To identify
the trailering capacity of your vehicle, read
the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that
appears later in this section. Trailering is different
than just driving the vehicle by itself.
327

Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to
read and follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust
and maintain them properly.
If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, do not try
to tap into your vehicle’s brake system. If you
do, both brake systems won’t work well, or
at all.
Even if your vehicle doesn’t have anti-lock
brakes, don’t tap into your vehicle’s brake
system if the trailer’s brake system will
use more than 0.02 cubic inch (0.3 cc) of uid
from your vehicle’s master cylinder. If it
does, both braking systems won’t work well.
You could even lose your brakes.
Will the trailer brake parts take 3,000 psi
(20 650 kPa) of pressure? If not, the
trailer brake system must not be used with
your vehicle.
If everything checks out this far, then make
the brake uid tap at the upper rear master
cylinder port. But don’t use copper tubing
for this. If you do, it will bend and break off.
Use steel brake tubing.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of
experience. Before setting out for the open road,
get to know the rig. Acquaint yourself with the
feel of handling and braking with the added weight
of the trailer. And always keep in mind that the
vehicle is now a good deal longer and not nearly
as responsive as the vehicle is by itself.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires, and mirror adjustment. If the
trailer has electric brakes, start the vehicle and
trailer moving and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This lets you check the electrical
connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure
that the load is secure, and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are still working.
332

Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbefore
starting down a long hill or steep downgrade. If the
vehicle is not shifted down, the brakes might
have to be used so much that they would get hot
and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce the
vehicle’s speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to
reduce the possibility of engine and transaxle
overheating.
If towing a trailer, you may want to drive in
THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D). Shift to a lower
gear as needed.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured, and
both your vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged.
But if the rig ever has to be parked on a hill, here
is how to do it:
1. Apply the regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the
trailer’s wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release
the regular brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply the
parking brake, and shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
334

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply the regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
Start the engine.
Shift into a gear.
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the
chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
The vehicle will need service more often when it
pulls a trailer. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 462for more information. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle uid; which should not be
overlled; engine oil, drive belt(s), and cooling and
brake systems. Each of these is covered in this
manual, and the Index will help you nd them
quickly. If trailering, it is a good idea to review this
information before starting on a trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
The cooling system may temporarily overheat
during severe operating conditions. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 367.
335

Service........................................................ 340
Accessories and Modications................... 341
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 341
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 342
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 343
Fuel............................................................. 343
Gasoline Octane........................................ 343
Gasoline Specications.............................. 344
California Fuel........................................... 344
Additives................................................... 344
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 345
Filling the Tank......................................... 346
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 348
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 348
Hood Release........................................... 349
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 350
Engine Oil................................................. 353
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 356
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 358
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 360Engine Coolant.......................................... 363
Radiator Pressure Cap.............................. 367
Engine Overheating................................... 367
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 370
Cooling System......................................... 370
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 378
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 380
Brakes...................................................... 381
Battery...................................................... 384
Jump Starting............................................ 385
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 391
Bulb Replacement....................................... 394
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 394
Headlamps and Sidemarker Lamps........... 395
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps....... 397
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps.............. 398
License Plate Lamp................................... 400
Replacement Bulbs................................... 400
Windshield Replacement............................ 401
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
337

Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and
stability control. Some of these accessories may
even cause malfunction or damage not covered
by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer can accessorize your vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories. When you go to
your GM dealer and ask for GM Accessories,
you will know that GM-trained and supported
service technicians will perform the work using
genuine GM Accessories.
California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine exhaust,
many parts and systems (including some inside
the vehicle), many uids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or emit these
chemicals.
341

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while
it is in your vehicle. Static electricity
discharge from the container can ignite the
gasoline vapor. You can be badly burned
and your vehicle damaged if this occurs.
To help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside
a vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup
bed, or on any surface other than the
ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with
the inside of the ll opening before
operating the nozzle. Contact should
be maintained until the lling is
complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine
parts and start a re. These include
liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake uid,
windshield washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others could be
burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
348