2010 BUICK LACROSSE key battery

8-18 Driving and Operating
Ignition Positions (Key
Access)
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
Notice:Using a tool to force the
key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct
key, make sure it is all the way in,
and turn it only with your hand.
If the key cannot be turned by
hand, see your dealer/retailer. To shift out of P (Park), turn the
ignition to ON/RUN and apply the
brake pedal.
A (LOCK/OFF):
This is the only
position from which the key can be
removed. This locks the ignition and
automatic transmission.
The shift lever must be in P (Park)
to turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK/OFF position.
The ignition switch can bind in the
LOCK/OFF position with the wheels
turned off center. If this happens,
move the steering wheel from right
to left while turning the key to ACC/
ACCESSORY. If this does not work,
then the vehicle needs service.
B (ACC/ACCESSORY) : This
position provides power to some of
the electrical accessories. It unlocks
the ignition. The transmission is
also unlocked in this position on
automatic transmission vehicles.
To move the key from ACC/
ACCESSORY to LOCK/OFF, the
shift lever must be in P (Park). C (ON/RUN):
The ignition switch
stays in this position when the
engine is running. This position can
be used to operate the electrical
accessories, including the
ventilation fan and 12 volt power
outlet, as well as to display some
warning and indicator lights.
The battery could be drained if the
key is left in the ACC/ACCESSORY
or ON/RUN position with the engine
off. The vehicle might not restart if
the battery is allowed to drain for an
extended period of time.
D (START) : This position starts
the engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON/RUN for normal
driving.
A warning tone sounds when the
driver door is opened when the
ignition is still in ACC/ACCESSORY
and the key is in the ignition.

Driving and Operating 8-19
Ignition Positions
(Keyless Access)
The vehicle has an electronic
keyless ignition with push-button
start.
Pressing the button cycles it through
three positions, ACC/ACCESSORY,
ON/RUN/START and OFF.
The transmitter must be in the
vehicle for the system to operate.
If the push-button start is not
working, the vehicle may be near a
strong radio antenna signal causing
interference to the keyless accesssystem. See
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Key
Access)
on page 1‑3or Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation (Keyless Access)
on
page 1‑5for more information.
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be in ACC/ACCESSORY or
ON/RUN and the brake pedal must
be applied.
OFF: When this button is pressed
with the engine running, the engine
will be turned off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
on page 8‑20for
more information.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the
message SHIFT TO PARK in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 4‑25for more information. When the vehicle is shifted into
P (Park), the ignition system will
switch to OFF.
ACC/ACCESSORY:
This position
allows you to use some electrical
accessories when the engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing the
button one time without the brake
pedal applied, will place the ignition
system in ACC/ACCESSORY.
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after
five minutes to prevent battery
run down.
ON/RUN/START: This position is
for driving and starting. With the
ignition off, and the brake pedal
applied, pressing the button once
will place the ignition system in ON/
RUN/START. Once engine cranking
begins, release the button. Engine
cranking will continue until the
engine starts. See Starting the
Engine
on page 8‑20for more
information. The ignition will then
remain in ON/RUN.

8-20 Driving and Operating
To place the ignition in ON/RUN/
START from OFF without starting
the engine, press the button two
times without your foot on the brake
pedal.
The battery could be drained if you
leave the ignition in the ON/RUN/
START position with the engine off.
You may not be able to start the
vehicle if the battery is allowed to
drain for an extended period of time.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories can be
used for up to 10 minutes after the
engine is turned off:
.Audio System
.Power Windows
.Sunroof (if equipped)
.Auxiliary Power OutletPower to the audio system will
continue to operate for up to
10 minutes or until the driver door is
opened.
Power to the power windows and
sunroof will continue to operate for
up to 10 minutes or until any door is
opened.
All these features will work when the
key is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY.
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Notice:
Do not try to shift to
P (Park) if the vehicle is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when the vehicle is stopped. Notice:
The engine is designed to
work with the electronics in the
vehicle. If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates.
Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer/retailer. If you do not, the
engine might not perform
properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Starting Procedure (Key Access)
1. With your foot off the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to
START. When the engine starts,
let go of the ignition.
The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the
engine and transmission gently
to allow the oil to warm up and
lubricate all moving parts.

Driving and Operating 8-21
The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in
starting the engine and protects
components. If the ignition key is
turned to the START position,
and then released when the
engine begins cranking, the
engine will continue cranking for
a few seconds or until the
vehicle starts. If the engine does
not start and the key is held in
START for many seconds,
cranking will be stopped after
15 seconds to prevent cranking
motor damage. To prevent gear
damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine
is already running. Engine
cranking can be stopped by
turning the ignition switch to
ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF.
Notice: Cranking the engine for
long periods of time, by returning
the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after
5-10 seconds, especially in very
cold weather (below −18°C or
0°F), it could be flooded with too
much gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you hold the key in START,
or press the START button, for
up to a maximum of 15 seconds.
Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool down.
When the engine starts, let go of
the key or button, and the
accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do
the same thing. This clears the
extra gasoline from the engine.
Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Starting Procedure (Keyless
Access)
1. If the vehicle has the keyless access system, the transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Put your
foot on the brake pedal and
push the START button. When
the engine begins cranking, let
go of the button.
The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the
engine and transmission gently
to allow the oil to warm up and
lubricate all moving parts.
If the transmitter is not in the
vehicle or something is
interfering with the transmitter,
the Driver Information Center
(DIC) will display NO REMOTE
DETECTED. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
on
page 4‑25for more information.

8-22 Driving and Operating
If the battery in the keyless
access transmitter needs
replacing, the DIC displays
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY. The vehicle can
still be driven. See Starting the
Vehicle with a Low Transmitter
Battery inRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Key
Access)
on page 1‑3or
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Keyless
Access)
on page 1‑5for more
information.
The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in
starting the engine and protects
components. If the START
button is pressed, and then
released when the engine
begins cranking, the engine will
continue cranking for a few
seconds or until the vehicle
starts. If the engine does not
start and the button is pressed
for many seconds, cranking will
be stopped after 15 seconds to prevent cranking motor damage.
To prevent gear damage, this
system also prevents cranking if
the engine is already running.
Engine cranking can be stopped
by pressing the START button a
second time.
Notice: Cranking the engine for
long periods of time, by returning
the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after
5-10 seconds, especially in very
cold weather (below −18°C or
0°F), it could be flooded with too
much gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you hold the key in START,
or press the START button, for
up to a maximum of 15 seconds.
Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to allow the cranking motor to cool down.
When the engine starts, let go of
the key or button, and the
accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do
the same thing. This clears the
extra gasoline from the engine.
Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Engine Heater
The engine coolant heater,
if available, can help in cold weather
conditions at or below
−18°C (0°F)
for easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
Plug in the coolant heater at least
four hours before starting the
vehicle. An internal thermostat in
the plug-end of the cord will prevent
engine coolant heater operation at
temperatures above −18°C (0°F).

Driving and Operating 8-25
Shifting Out of Park
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock
The vehicle has an electronic shift
lock release system. The shift lock
release is designed to:
.Prevent ignition key removal
unless the shift lever is in
P (Park).
.Prevent movement of the shift
lever out of P (Park), unless the
ignition is in ON/RUN and the
brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock is always functional
except in the case of a an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9 volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See Jump Starting
on
page 9‑75. If the console shift lever cannot be
moved out of P (Park):
1. Apply and maintain the regular
brakes.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN position. See Ignition Positions
(Key Access)
on page 8‑18or
Ignition Positions (Keyless
Access)
on page 8‑19for more
information.
3. Let up on the shift lever and make sure the shift lever is
pushed all the way into P (Park).
4. Press the shift lever button
5. Then, move the shift lever into the desired gear.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), consult your
dealer/retailer or a professional
towing service.
Parking Over Things
That Burn
{WARNING
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.

9-26 Vehicle Care
What to Add
Use only new DOT 3 brake fluid
from a sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 10‑7.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it. This
helps keep dirt from entering the
reservoir.
{WARNING
With the wrong kind of fluid in the
brake hydraulic system, the
brakes might not work well. This
could cause a crash. Always use
the proper brake fluid.Notice:
.Using the wrong fluid can
badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts. For
example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as
engine oil, in the brake
hydraulic system can
damage brake hydraulic
system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced.
Do not let someone put in
the wrong kind of fluid.
.If brake fluid is spilled on
the vehicle's painted
surfaces, the paint finish can
be damaged. Be careful not
to spill brake fluid on the
vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately.
Battery
Refer to the replacement number on
the original battery label when a
new battery is needed.
{WARNING
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.
If the battery has a very low charge
or is dead, it might not be possible
to remove the ignition key from the
ignition switch or shift out of
P (Park). See Shifting Out of Park
on page 8‑25.

INDEX i-7
Lights (cont.)Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 5-2
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . 4-15
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
Taillamp Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-23
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-22
Locks Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . 4-24
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
SYSTEM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-48
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Maintenance Schedule Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . 10-2
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . 4-17
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-29
Mass Storage Media (MEM) . . . 6-25
Messages Anti-Theft Alarm System . . . . . . 4-37
Battery Voltage andCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . . 4-34
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36 Messages (cont.)
Key and Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38
Mirrors
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Park Tilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Monitor System, Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
N
Navigation SystemVehicle Data Recordingand Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-16
Net, Convenience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . 8-17