2010 Buick LaCrosse Owner ManualM
Keys, Doors and Windows. . . 1-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-40
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 3-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 3-2 Instruments and Controls
. . . . 4-1
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . 4-4
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 4-25
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 4-38
OnStar System
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-43
Universal Remote System . . . . 4-45
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-12
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-20
Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 6-34
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-42 Climate Controls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 7-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 8-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 8-17
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-26
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 8-27
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-30
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-31
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 8-34
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-37
Object Detection Systems . . . . 8-40
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-49
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-54
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 8-60
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Introduction v
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do
Not,” “Do not do this” or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message, gage,
or indicator.
M: This symbol is shown when
you need to see your owner manual
for additional instructions or
information.
*: This symbol is shown when
you need to see a service manual
for additional instructions or
information. Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the index.
9:
Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gage
+:Fuses
i: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
Keys, Doors and Windows 1-15
If the keyless access transmitter
appears to be undamaged, try
another keyless access transmitter.
Or, you may try placing the
transmitter in the transmitter pocket
located in the center console. See
“No Remote Detected”underKey
and Lock Messages on page 4‑36.
If the engine does not start with the
other transmitter or when the
transmitter is on the pocket in the
center console, your vehicle needs
service. See your dealer/retailer
who can service the theft-deterrent
system and have a new transmitter
programmed to the vehicle.
Do not leave the key or device that
disarms or deactivates the theft
deterrent system in the vehicle.Exterior Mirrors
Power Mirrors
To adjust the mirrors:
1. Turn the control knob to the L (left) or R (right) selecting the
driver or passenger mirror.
2. Push the control knob to the left, right, up, or down to adjust the
mirror. Vehicles with the memory feature
can store a preferred mirror position.
See
“Memory Seats” underPower
Seat Adjustment
on page 2‑4for
more information.
Folding Mirrors
Manual Foldaway Mirrors
Vehicles with manual folded mirrors
are folded inward to prevent
damage when going through an
automatic car wash. To fold, pull the
mirror toward the vehicle. Push the
mirror outward, to return it to the
original position.
Automatic Dimming Feature
The driver outside mirror
automatically adjusts for the glare of
the headlamps behind you.
1-16 Keys, Doors and Windows
Turn Signal Indicator
The vehicle might have a turn signal
indicator lamp that is built into the
mirror housing. The turn signal lamp
flashes with the use of the vehicle's
turn signal and hazard flashers.
Heated Mirrors
For vehicles with heated mirrors:
<(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to heat the mirrors.
See “Rear Window Defogger” under
Automatic Climate Control System
on page 7‑1for more information.
Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory
package, the outside mirrors have a
park tilt feature. This feature tilts the
outside mirrors to a preselected
position when the vehicle is in
R (Reverse). This allows the driver
to view the curb for parallel parking.
The passenger and driver mirror
returns to its original position when
the vehicle is shifted out of
R (Reverse), or the ignition is turned
off or to OFF/LOCK.
This feature can be turned on or off
through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See Vehicle
Personalization
on page 4‑38for
more information.
Interior Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Adjust this mirror for a clear view of
the area behind the vehicle. Hold
the mirror in the center to move it
up, down, or side-to-side. To reduce
headlamp glare during night-time
use, move the lever at the bottom of
the mirror to the right.
Vehicles with OnStar
®have three
additional control buttons located at
the bottom of the mirror. See your
dealer/retailer for more information
on the system and how to subscribe
to OnStar. See OnStar
®Systemon
page 4‑43for more information
about the services OnStar provides.
4-24 Instruments and Controls
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem. See
your dealer/retailer.
For vehicles with the uplevel cluster
this telltale displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) screen.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light, below the fuel gage,
comes on briefly when the engine is
started.
If it does not come on have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer/
retailer. If the system is working
normally the indicator light then
goes off.This light also comes on when the
fuel tank is low on fuel. When fuel is
added the light should go off. If it
does not, have your vehicle
serviced.
For vehicles with the uplevel cluster,
this telltale displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) screen.
Security Light
This light flashes when the security
system is activated.
For more information, see
Vehicle
Security on page 1‑13.
For vehicles with the uplevel cluster
this telltale displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) screen.
High-Beam on Light
This light comes on when the
high-beam headlamps are on.
See Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
on page 5‑2for more
information.
Fog Lamp Light
For vehicles with fog lamps, this
light comes on when the fog lamps
are on.
Lighting 5-1
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . 5-1
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 5-4
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Sun Visor Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Battery Load Management . . . . 5-6
Battery Power Protection . . . . . . 5-7
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is located
on the instrument panel on the
outboard side of the steering wheel.
Turn the control to the following
positions:
O(Off): Turns off the exterior
lamps. The knob returns to the
AUTO position after it is released.
Turn to off again to reactivate
the AUTO mode.
5-2 Lighting
AUTO (Automatic):Automatically
turns the exterior lamps on and off,
depending on outside lighting.
The current status of the AUTO
system is displayed in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) uplevel
display. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 4‑25.
; (Parking Lamps): Turns on the
parking lamps together with the
following:
.Sidemarker Lamps
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
2(Headlamps): Turns on the
headlamps together with the
following:
.Sidemarker Lamps
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
.Parking Lamps
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder
A warning chime sounds, if the
driver door is opened while the
ignition is off and the exterior lamps
are on.
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
2 3
Headlamp High/Low Beam
Changer: Push the turn signal/lane
change lever away from you and
release, to turn the high beams on.
Pull the lever towards you to return
to low beams.
This indicator light turns on in the
instrument panel cluster when the
high beam headlamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature allows use of the
high-beam headlamps to signal a
driver in front that you want to pass.
To flash the high beams, pull the
turn signal/lane change lever
towards you, and release.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see the
front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running
lamps are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.
Lighting 5-3
The DRL system turns on the
low-beam headlamps at a reduced
brightness or for vehicles with
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
headlamps, the dedicated
DRL lights will come on when
the following conditions are met:
.The engine is running,
.The exterior lamp band is in
AUTO, and
.The light sensor determines it
is daytime.
When the DRL are on, the
low-beam headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker,
instrument panel lights and other
lamps will not be on.
The DRL turn off when the
headlamps are turned to
Oor the
ignition is off.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When the exterior lamp control is
set to AUTO and it is dark enough
outside, the headlamps come on
automatically.
There is a light sensor located on
top of the instrument panel. Do not
cover the sensor or the headlamps
will come on when they are not
needed.
The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage or tunnel.
When it is bright enough outside the
headlamps will turn off or may
change to daytime running
lamps (DRL).
The automatic headlamp system
turns off when the exterior lamp
control is turned to
Oor the ignition
is off.
Adaptive Forward
Lighting (AFL)
The Adaptive Forward Lighting
System (AFL) pivots the headlamps
horizontally to provide greater road
illumination while turning. To enable
AFL, set the exterior lamp switch to
the AUTO position. Moving the
switch out of the AUTO position
deactivates the system. AFL
operates when the vehicle speed is
greater than 3 km/h (2 mph).
AFL does not operate when the
transmission is in R (Reverse).
AFL is not immediately operable
after starting the vehicle; driving a
short distance is required to
calibrate the AFL. See Exterior
Lamp Controls on page 5‑1.