2007 BUICK LUCERNE brake

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop you. For good braking,
though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it does not come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s
a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will also come on when you set your parking
brake. The light will stay on if your parking brake
does not release fully. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means you
have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the
pedal is harder to push, or the pedal may go closer
to the oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is
still on, have the vehicle towed for service. See
Towing Your Vehicle on page 313.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.United StatesCanada
201

Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come on when your
engine is started and
may stay on for
several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if
the light comes on when you’re driving, stop as
soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then start
the engine again to reset the system. If the light still
stays on, or comes on again while you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes,
but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular
brake system warning light is also on, you don’t
have anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with
your regular brakes. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 201.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come
on briey when you turn the ignition key to RUN.This is normal. If the light doesn’t come on then,
have it xed so it will be ready to warn you if there
is a problem.Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
This warning light
should come on briey
when the engine is
started.
If the warning light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem. If it stays on, or comes on when you are
driving a SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL
message will appear in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). This indicates that there may be a
problem with your traction control system and your
vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is on and the SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL
message appears on the DIC, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
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SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST
This message displays if there is a problem with the
brake system. The brake system warning light and
the anti-lock brake system warning light may also
be displayed on the instrument panel cluster. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 201and
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on page 202
for more information. If this happens, stop as soon
as possible and turn off the vehicle. Restart the
vehicle and check for the message on the DIC
display. If the message is displayed or appears
again when you begin driving, the brake system
needs service. See your dealer as soon as
possible. SeeBrakes on page 367for more
information.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays if the ignition is on to
inform the driver that the brake uid level is low.
Have the brake system serviced by your dealer as
soon as possible. The brake system warning
light also appears on the instrument panel cluster
when this message appears on the DIC. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 201.
SERVICE PARK ASSIST
If your vehicle has this feature, this message
displays if there is a problem with the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system. Do not
use this system to help you park. SeeUltrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) on page 178for more
information. See your dealer for service.
SERVICE POWER STEERING
Your vehicle may have a speed variable assist
steering system. SeeSteering on page 285.
This message displays if a problem is detected with
the speed variable assist steering system. When
this message is displayed, you may notice that the
effort required to steer the vehicle decreases or
feels lighter, but you will still be able to steer the
vehicle.
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Your Driving, the Road, and Your
Vehicle..................................................... 276
Defensive Driving...................................... 276
Drunken Driving........................................ 277
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 280
Braking...................................................... 280
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 281
Braking in Emergencies............................. 283
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 283
StabiliTrak
®System................................... 284
Panic Brake Assist.................................... 285
Steering.................................................... 285
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 288
Passing..................................................... 288
Loss of Control.......................................... 290
Driving at Night......................................... 291Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 293
City Driving............................................... 296
Freeway Driving........................................ 297
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 298
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 299
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 300
Winter Driving........................................... 302
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.......................................... 306
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 307
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 307
Towing........................................................ 313
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 313
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 313
Towing a Trailer........................................ 315
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
275

Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your
vehicle go where you want it to go. They are the
brakes, the steering, and the accelerator. All
three systems have to do their work at the places
where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or
ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide. That means
you can lose control of your vehicle. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 283.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 325.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 201.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds
or more with another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol, drugs, and frustration. But even in
three-fourths of a second, a vehicle moving at
60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That
could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and
others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the
condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
280

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by
heavy braking — rather than keeping pace with
traffic. This is a mistake. The brakes may not have
time to cool between hard stops. The brakes
will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and
allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it
when you brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 325.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), an advanced electronic braking system
that will help prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive
away, ABS will check itself. You may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on, and you may even notice that
your brake pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem
with ABS, this warning
light will stay on.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning
Light on page 202.
281

Let us say the road is wet and you are driving
safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of
you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here is what happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the brakes at each
front wheel and at both rear wheels.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than
any driver could. The computer is programmed
to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving
updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
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Remember: ABS does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or
always decrease stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not have
time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly
slows or stops. Always leave enough room up
ahead to stop, even though you have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may
hear the anti-lock pump or motor operate, and feel
the brake pedal pulsate, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that limits
wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road
conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that the front wheels are spinning too much or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the front brakes and reduces engine
power (by closing the throttle and managing engine
spark) to limit wheel spin.
The traction control system and StabiliTrak
®
warning light will ash when the traction control
system is limiting wheel spin. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) Warning Light on page 202for
more information. You may feel or hear the system
working, but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage.
When road conditions allow you to safely use
it again, you may re-engage the cruise control.
SeeCruise Control on page 167for more
information.
283