2007 BUICK LUCERNE tow

REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could damage
the transaxle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out
of snow, ice, or sand without damaging your
transaxle, seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 306.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does
not connect with the wheels. To restart when
you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is
being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is rmly on
the brake pedal, your vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while your engine is running at
high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while the engine is running at
high speed may damage the transaxle. The
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Be sure the engine is not running at high
speeds when shifting your vehicle.
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DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. It
provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle. If
you need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push
your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push
the accelerator all the way down.
You will shift down to the next gear and have
more power.
Downshifting the transaxle in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see “Skidding”
underLoss of Control on page 290.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal
driving. It reduces vehicle speed more than
DRIVE (D) without using your brakes. You might
choose THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D) when
driving on hilly, winding roads, when towing
a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears
and when going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2):This position reduces vehicle speed
even more than THIRD (3) without using your
brakes. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can
help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes off and on.Notice:Driving in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph
(90 km/h) may damage the transaxle. Also,
shifting into SECOND (2) at speeds above
65 mph (105 km/h) can cause damage. Drive in
THIRD (3) or DRIVE (D) instead of SECOND (2).
FIRST (1):This position reduces vehicle speed
even more than SECOND (2) without using your
brakes. You can use it on very steep hills, or in
deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in
FIRST (1) while going forward, the transaxle will
not shift into rst gear until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage the transaxle.
If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes, or parking
brake to hold the vehicle in place.
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Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal
is located to the left of
the regular brake pedal,
near the driver’s door.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot and push the
parking brake pedal down with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
on the instrument panel cluster should come
on. If it does not, you need to have your vehicle
serviced.A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is
set, the ignition is on, and the vehicle speed is
greater than 5 mph (8 km/h). The brake light will
come on and stay on until the parking brake is
released. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 201for more information.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular
brake pedal down with your right foot and push
the parking brake pedal down with your left
foot. When you lift your left foot, the parking
brake pedal will follow it to the released position.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake system
parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully
released and the brake warning light is
off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any
hill, seeTowing a Trailer on page 315.
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Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 315.
Steering Column Shift Lever
If your vehicle has a steering column shift lever,
use the following procedure to shift the vehicle into
PARK (P):
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pulling
the shift lever toward you and moving it up as
far as it will go.
3. With your right foot still holding the brake
pedal down, set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake on page 122for more
information.
4. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
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Console Shift Lever
If your vehicle is equipped with a console shift
lever, use the following procedure to shift
the vehicle into PARK (P):
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pushing
the lever all the way toward the front of your
vehicle and then to the left.
3. With your right foot still holding the brake
pedal down, set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake on page 122for more
information.
4. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle
with the engine running. Your vehicle could
move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully
in PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. And, if you leave the vehicle with the
engine running, it could overheat and even
catch re. You or others could be injured.
Do not leave your vehicle with the engine
running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P)
and your parking brake is rmly set before you
leave it. SeeParking Brake on page 122for more
information.
124

Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust
into your vehicle. See the earlier caution
underEngine Exhaust on page 127.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let
deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your
vehicle even if the climate control fan is
at the highest setting. One place this can
happen is a garage. Exhaust — with
CO — can come in easily. NEVER park
in a garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 302.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave
your vehicle when the engine is running
unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
always set your parking brake and move
the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
will not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 123.
If you are parking on a hill and if you are pulling a
trailer, also seeTowing a Trailer on page 315.
128

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 control at the bottom of
the mirror is the day/night feature that allows
adjustment to the mirror so that the glare of
headlamps from behind is reduced. Push the
control for daytime use; pull it for night use.
Manual Rearview Mirror with
OnStar®
Mirror Operation
Your vehicle may have a manual rearview mirror
with the OnStar®System. You can adjust the mirror
for day or night driving. Press the tab forward for
day driving. Pull the tab back for night driving.
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 135for
more information about the services OnStar®
provides.
Cleaning the Mirror
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or
similar material dampened with glass cleaner.
Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the mirror
housing.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®
Your vehicle may have an automatic-dimming
rearview mirror with the OnStar®system.
There are three additional buttons for the OnStar
®
system. See your dealer for more information
on the system and how to subscribe to OnStar®.
SeeOnStar®System on page 135for more
information about the services OnStar®provides.
O(On/Off):This is the on/off button.
129

Tilt Wheel
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you drive. You can also raise it to the
highest level to give your legs more room when
you exit and enter the vehicle.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel
is located on the left side of the steering column.
To tilt the wheel, hold
the wheel and pull the
lever toward you. Then
move the wheel to a
comfortable position and
release the lever to lock
the wheel in place.
Heated Steering Wheel
Your vehicle may have a heated steering wheel.
The button for this
feature is located on
the left side of the
steering wheel.
Press the button to turn the heated steering wheel
on or off. A light on the button will display when
the feature is turned on.
The steering wheel will take about three minutes
to start heating.
161