2009 BUICK LACROSSE traction control

TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE
This message displays when the traction system
is on. Slippery road conditions may exist if this message
is displayed, so adjust your driving accordingly. See
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-7orEnhanced
Traction System (ETS) on page 4-8for more information.
This message only displays while the ignition is in
ON/RUN and will not disappear until driving conditions
change and the system is no longer active.
This message cannot be acknowledged or cleared from
the screen.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the traction system turns
off. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-7
orEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-8
for more information.
This message only displays while the ignition is in
ON/RUN and disappears after two seconds.Any of the following conditions may cause the system to
turn off:
The system is turned off by pressing the traction
control button located on the center of the instrument
panel. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 4-7orEnhanced Traction System (ETS)
on page 4-8.
The battery is low.
There is a system failure. See your dealer/retailer for
service.
TRUNK AJAR
This message displays when the trunk is not closed
completely. Make sure that the trunk is closed
completely. SeeTrunk on page 2-12.
This message displays while the ignition is in ON/RUN.
A chime sounds when the gear position is shifted out of
P (Park). Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge
this message and to clear it from the screen.
This message continues to display for two seconds
if it has not been acknowledged when the engine
is turned off. It also re-displays for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the condition
still exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message re-appears
when the engine is turned on.
3-73

Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle............4-2
Driving for Better Fuel Economy.......................4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunk Driving.................................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-3
Braking.........................................................4-4
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................4-5
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-5
StabiliTrak
®System........................................4-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-7
Enhanced Traction System (ETS).....................4-8
Steering......................................................4-10
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-11
Passing.......................................................4-12
Loss of Control.............................................4-12Driving at Night............................................4-13
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-14
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-15
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-15
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-16
Winter Driving..............................................4-17
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.............................................4-19
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-20
Loading the Vehicle......................................4-20
Towing..........................................................4-26
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-26
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-26
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-28
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Your Driving, the Road, and
the Vehicle
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here are some
driving tips to get the best fuel economy possible.
Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
Avoid idling the engine for long periods of time.
When road and weather conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control, if equipped.
Always follow posted speed limits or drive more
slowly when conditions require.
Keep vehicle tires properly inated.
Combine several trips into a single trip.
Replace the vehicle’s tires with the same TPC Spec
number molded into the tire’s sidewall near the size.
Follow recommended scheduled maintenance.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The rst step in driving defensively is to
wear your safety belt — SeeSafety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-8.
{CAUTION:
Assume that other road users (pedestrians,
bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they
might do and be ready. In addition:
Allow enough following distance between you
and the driver in front of you.
Focus on the task of driving.
Driver distraction can cause collisions resulting in
injury or possible death. These simple defensive
driving techniques could save your life.
4-2

Drunk Driving
{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your
reexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol.
You can have a serious — or even fatal — collision
if you drive after drinking. Do not drink and drive or
ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home
in a cab; or if you are with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a global tragedy.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a
vehicle: judgment, muscular coordination, vision, and
attentiveness.
Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
17,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol, with about
250,000 people injured.For persons under 21, it is against the law in
every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good
medical, psychological, and developmental reasons
for these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and
then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means
that when anyone who has been drinking — driver
or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance of
being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the
person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control the vehicle
while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator.
At times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to
ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. Meaning, you can lose control of
the vehicle. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 4-7,Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on
page 4-8, andStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 5-3.
4-3

StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle may be equipped with a vehicle stability
enhancement system called StabiliTrak. It is an
advanced computer controlled system that assists with
directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving
conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the computer senses a
discrepancy between the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one of the vehicle’s
brakes to assist the driver with keeping the vehicle on
the intended path.
When the system activates, STABILITY CONTROL
ACTIVE comes on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-56.
The system may be heard or felt while it is working.
This is normal. Continue to steer the vehicle in the
intended direction.The Traction Control
warning light comes on the
instrument panel cluster
when a problem is
detected with StabiliTrak.
If there is a problem detected with StabiliTrak, a
SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM or STABILITY
CONTROL OFF message will be displayed on the DIC.
When this message is displayed, the system is not
operational. Driving should be adjusted accordingly.
If cruise control is being used when StabiliTrak activates,
the cruise control automatically disengages. The
cruise control can be reengaged when road conditions
allow. SeeCruise Control on page 3-10for more
information.
4-6

For vehicles with the 5.3L V8 engine, StabiliTrak can be
turned off by pressing and holding the traction control
button, located above the radio, for approximately
ve seconds. A STABILITY CONTROL OFF message
will be displayed on the DIC when StabiliTrak is
turned off. StabiliTrak will remain off until the traction
control button is pressed once to turn it back on, or until
the engine is restarted.
Traction Control System (TCS)
The vehicle may have a Traction Control System (TCS)
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it
senses that one or both of the front wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system works the front brakes and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin. It may also upshift
the transmission to limit wheel spin. The system may be
heard or felt while it is working, but this is normal.
The TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE message on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) will be displayed
when the system is limiting wheel spin.
If cruise control is being used when TCS begins to limit
wheel spin, the cruise control automatically disengages.
The cruise control can be re-engaged when road
conditions allow. SeeCruise Control on page 3-10.
TCS operates in all transmission shift lever positions.
But the system can upshift the transmission only as high
as the shift lever position that was chosen, so use the
lower gears only when necessary. SeeAutomatic
Transmission Operation on page 2-26.
4-7

This light, along with the
TRACTION CONTROL
OFF message, will display
briey on the DIC when
TCS is not on.
If there is a problem with the system, the SERVICE
TRACTION SYSTEM message will also come on in the
DIC. When this warning light is on, the system will
not limit wheel spin. Adjust driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, TCS should always be left on. But the
system can be turned off if needed. TCS should be
turned off if the vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud or
snow and rocking the vehicle is required. SeeRocking
Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-20andIf Your
Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on
page 4-19.
To turn TCS on or off, press the TCS button located
above the radio.When TCS is turned off, the TCS warning light will
come on along with the TRACTION CONTROL OFF
message on the DIC. It will turn off when TCS is turned
back on. If TCS is limiting wheel spin when the TCS
button is pressed, the TCS warning light will come
on and TCS will turn off right away.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
the vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-3for more information.
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
The vehicle may have an Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only if
it senses that one or both of the front wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system reduces engine power and may
also upshift the transmission to limit wheel spin.
The system may be heard or felt while it is working, but
this is normal.
The TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE message on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) will be displayed
when the system is limiting wheel spin.
4-8

If cruise control is being used when ETS begins to limit
wheel spin, the cruise control automatically disengages.
The cruise control can be reengaged when road
conditions allow. SeeCruise Control on page 3-10for
more information.
ETS operates in all transmission shift lever positions. But
the system can upshift the transmission only as high as
the chosen shift lever position, so use the lower gears
only when necessary. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-26for more information.
This warning light, along
with the TRACTION
CONTROL OFF message,
will display briey on the
DIC when ETS is not on.
If there is a problem with the system, the SERVICE
TRACTION SYSTEM message will also come on in the
DIC. When this warning light is on, the system will
not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, ETS should always be left on. But the
system can be turned off if needed. ETS should be
turned off if the vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud or
snow and rocking the vehicle is required. SeeIf Your
Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on
page 4-19.
To turn ETS on or off,
press the Traction Control
button located above
the radio.
When ETS is turned off, the ETS warning light will come
on along with the TRACTION CONTROL OFF message
on the DIC. It will turn off when ETS is turned back on. If
ETS is limiting wheel spin when the traction control button
is pressed, the ETS warning light comes on and ETS will
turn off right away.
4-9