2009 BUICK LUCERNE brake

At Least Once a Year
Starter Switch Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this inspection, the vehicle
could move suddenly. If the vehicle moves, you or
others could be injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough
room around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular
brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-27.
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to
turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle
should start only in P (Park) or N (Neutral). If the
vehicle starts in any other position, contact
your dealer/retailer for service.
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control System Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this inspection, the vehicle
could move suddenly. If the vehicle moves, you or
others could be injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough
room around the vehicle. It should be parked on a
level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. SeeParking Brake
on page 2-27.
Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately if
the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON/RUN,
but do not start the engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the shift lever out
of P (Park) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact your dealer/retailer
for service.
6-10

Ignition Transmission Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition to LOCK/OFF in each shift lever position.
The ignition should turn to LOCK/OFF only
when the shift lever is in P (Park).
The ignition key should come out only in
LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer/retailer if service is required.
Parking Brake and Automatic
Transmission P (Park) Mechanism
Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could
begin to move. You or others could be injured and
property could be damaged. Make sure there is
room in front of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular brake at once
should the vehicle begin to move.Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake,
set the parking brake.
To check the parking brake’s holding ability:
With the engine running and the transmission
in N (Neutral), slowly remove foot pressure from
the regular brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle
is held by the parking brake only.
To check the P (Park) mechanism’s holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to P (Park). Then
release the parking brake followed by the regular
brake.
Contact your dealer/retailer if service is required.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to ush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care
to clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other
debris can collect.
6-11

Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identied below by name, part
number, or specication can be obtained from your
dealer/retailer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilEngine oil which meets GM
Standard GM6094M and displays
the American Petroleum Institute
Certied for Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. To determine the
proper viscosity for your vehicle’s
engine, seeEngine Oil on page 5-17.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only DEX-COOL
®
Coolant. SeeEngine Coolant
(4.6L Engine) on page 5-28or
Engine Coolant (3.9L Engine)
on page 5-32.
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDelco
®Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT-3 brake uid.
Windshield
WasherOptikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Parking Brake
Cable GuidesChassis Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12377985, in
Canada 88901242) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Power Steering
SystemGM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021184,
in Canada 89021186).
Automatic
TransmissionDEXRON
®-VI Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock
CylindersMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241,
in Canada 10953474).
Hood Latch
Assembly,
Secondary
Latch, Pivots,
Spring Anchor,
and Release
PawlLubriplate Lubricant Aerosol
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346293,
in Canada 992723) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Hood and Door
HingesMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241,
in Canada 10953474).
Weatherstrip
ConditioningWeatherstrip Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 3634770,
in Canada 10953518) or
Dielectric Silicone Grease
(GM Part No. U.S. 12345579,
in Canada 992887).
6-12

Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give additional technical service
information needed to knowledgeably service
General Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin
contains instructions to assist in the diagnosis
and service of your vehicle.
Owner Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner manual includes the
Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Without Portfolio: Owner Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available
for current and past model GM vehicles. To request
an order form, specify year and model name of
the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc.
on the World Wide Web at: helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
7-16

Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy
Your GM vehicle has a number of sophisticated
computers that record information about the vehicle’s
performance and how it is driven. For example, your
vehicle uses computer modules to monitor and control
engine and transmission performance, to monitor the
conditions for airbag deployment and deploy airbags in
a crash and, if so equipped, to provide antilock braking
to help the driver control the vehicle. These modules
may store data to help your dealer/retailer technician
service your vehicle. Some modules may also store data
about how you operate the vehicle, such as rate of fuel
consumption or average speed. These modules may also
retain the owner’s personal preferences, such as radio
pre-sets, seat positions, and temperature settings.
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations, such as an airbag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist
in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed.
The EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time,
typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your vehicle were operating
Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts
were buckled/fastened
How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal
How fast the vehicle was traveling
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.
Important:EDR data is recorded by your vehicle
only if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is
recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions
and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash
location) is recorded. However, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type
of personally identifying data routinely acquired during a
crash investigation.
7-17

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-20
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-73
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-100
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-22
Air Conditioning......................................3-21, 3-24
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-37
Readiness Light..........................................3-36
Airbag System................................................1-58
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-73
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-65
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-67
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-72
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-65
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-66
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-63
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-60
Antenna, Backglass.......................................3-106
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-106
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-39Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-98
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-95
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-99
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-96
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-93
Finish Care.................................................5-96
Finish Damage............................................5-99
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-95
Interior Cleaning..........................................5-92
Leather......................................................5-94
Sheet Metal Damage...................................
5-99
Tires..........................................................5-99
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-99
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-96
Weatherstrips..............................................5-95
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-97
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Ashtray(s)......................................................3-21
Audio System.................................................3-75
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-104
Backglass Antenna.....................................3-106
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual...................................................3-93
Radio Reception........................................3-105
Setting the Clock.........................................3-76
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-104
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-106
1

Audio System(s).............................................3-78
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-23
Operation...................................................2-25
B
Backglass Antenna........................................3-106
Battery..........................................................5-44
Electric Power Management..........................3-19
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-17
Inadvertent Power Saver..............................3-19
Run-Down Protection...................................3-20
Bluetooth
®.....................................................3-93
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-6
Brake Fluid....................................................5-40
Brakes..........................................................5-40
System Warning Light..................................3-38
Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-20
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-54
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-54
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-51
License Plate Lamps....................................5-57Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-57
Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps.......................5-56
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps...................................5-54
Buying New Tires...........................................5-74
C
Calibration.....................................1-12, 2-34, 3-54
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-109
Carbon Monoxide...........................2-13, 2-32, 4-15
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-95
CD, MP3 .......................................................3-88
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-57
Center Flex Storage Unit.................................2-57
Center Seat...................................................1-12
Chains, Tire...................................................5-80
Charging System Light....................................3-38
Check
Engine Lamp..............................................3-43
2

J
Jump Starting.................................................5-46
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-60
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-43
Lamps
Cornering...................................................3-17
Courtesy....................................................3-18
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-17
Front Reading.............................................3-18
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver....................3-19
Lane Departure Warning..................................2-44
Lane Departure Warning Light..........................3-41
Lap Belt........................................................1-33
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-27
LATCH System for Child Restraints...................1-45
License Plate Lamps.......................................5-57Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-36
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............3-39
Brake System Warning.................................3-38
Charging System.........................................3-38
Cruise Control.............................................3-47
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning.............3-42
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-47
Highbeam On.............................................3-47
Lane Departure Warning...............................3-41
Oil Pressure...............................................3-46
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-37
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-35
Security.....................................................3-46
StabiliTrak
®Indicator....................................3-41
TCS Warning Light......................................3-40
Tire Pressure..............................................3-43
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning..........3-40
Lighting
Delayed Entry.............................................3-18
Delayed Exit...............................................3-18
Entry.........................................................3-18
Perimeter...................................................3-18
Theater Dimming.........................................3-18
Lights
Exterior Lamps............................................3-15
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-9
7