2011 BUICK LACROSSE service

Black plate (67,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-67
The grades are molded on
the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire
Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep
tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal
rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary
with respect to these grades,
they must also conform to
federal safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
All Passenger Car Tires Must
Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements In Addition
To These Grades.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified
government test course.
For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a
half (1½) times as well on
the government course as a
tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices
and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
–AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from
highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions
on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based
on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.

Black plate (70,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-70 Vehicle Care
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout,
especially if the tires are maintained
properly. See Tires. If air goes out
of a tire, it is much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if there is ever a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
creates a drag that pulls the
vehicle toward that side. Take
your foot off the accelerator pedal
and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position,
and then gently brake to a stop,
well off the road, if possible.
AA rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction
as used in a skid. Stop pressingthe accelerator pedal and steer
to straighten the vehicle. It may
be very bumpy and noisy. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.
{WARNING
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has
been driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause
a blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely underinflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon
as possible.
{WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance or
repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑4.

Black plate (88,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-88 Vehicle Care
6. Do not let the other endof the red positive (+) cable
touch metal. Connect it to
the positive (+) terminal of the
good battery (B). Use a remote
positive (+) terminal if the vehicle
has one.
7. Connect one end of the black negative (–) cable to
the negative (–) terminal of
the good battery (C). Use a
remote negative (−) terminal
if the vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch
anything until the next step.
The other end of the negative (–)
cable does not go to the dead
battery. It goes to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or
to a remote negative (–) terminal
on the vehicle with the dead
battery. 8. Connect the other end of the
black negative (–) cable to an
unpainted heavy metal engine
part (D) away from the dead
battery, but not near engine
parts that move.
9. Start the engine in the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine at idle speed for at
least four minutes.
10. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If it will
not start after a few tries,
it probably needs service.
Notice: If the jumper cables
are connected or removed in
the wrong order, electrical
shorting may occur and damage
the vehicle. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always connect and
remove the jumper cables in the
correct order, making sure that
the cables do not touch each
other or other metal.
Jumper Cable Removal
A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote Negative (–)
Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Remote
Negative (–) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) Terminal

Black plate (89,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-89
To disconnect the jumper cables
from both vehicles:
1. Disconnect the blacknegative (−) cable from the
vehicle that had the dead
battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the vehicle with the
good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the other vehicle.
5. Return the caps over the positive (+) and negative (–)
terminals to their original
positions.Towing
Towing the Vehicle
Notice: To avoid damage,
the disabled vehicle should
be towed with all four wheels
off the ground. Care must be
taken with vehicles that have
low ground clearance and/or
special equipment. Always
flatbed on a car carrier.
Consult your dealer or a
professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be towed.
See Roadside Assistance Program
(U.S. and Canada) on page 13‑8
or Roadside Assistance Program
(Mexico) on page 13‑10.
To tow the vehicle behind another
vehicle for recreational purposes,
such as behind a motor home, see
“Recreational Vehicle Towing” in this
section.
Recreational Vehicle
Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle such as a motor home.
The two most common types of
recreational vehicle towing are
known as dinghy towing and dolly
towing. Dinghy towing is towing the
vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground. Dolly towing is towing the
vehicle with two wheels on the
ground and two wheels up on
a device known as a dolly.
Here are some important things to
consider before recreational vehicle
towing:
.What is the towing capacity
of the towing vehicle?
Be sure to read the tow
vehicle manufacturer's
recommendations.

Black plate (1,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-1
Service and
Maintenance
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Scheduled Maintenance
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . 11-2
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Maintenance Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Maintenance Records
Maintenance Records . . . . . . 11-10
General Information
Notice: Maintenance
intervals, checks, inspections,
recommended fluids, and
lubricants are necessary to
keep this vehicle in good
working condition. Damage
caused by failure to follow
scheduled maintenance might
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
As the vehicle owner, you are
responsible for the scheduled
maintenance in this section.
We recommend having your
dealer perform these services.
Proper vehicle maintenance helps
to keep the vehicle in good working
condition, improves fuel economy,
and reduces vehicle emissions for
better air quality. Because of all the different ways
people use vehicles, maintenance
needs vary. The vehicle might need
more frequent checks and services.
Please read the information under
Scheduled Maintenance. To keep
the vehicle in good condition, see
your dealer.
The maintenance schedule is for
vehicles that:
.Carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. See
Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑12.
.Are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits.
.Use the recommended fuel.
See Recommended Fuel on
page 9‑50.

Black plate (2,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
11-2 Service and Maintenance
{WARNING
Performing maintenance work can
be dangerous. Some jobs can
cause serious injury. Perform
maintenance work only if you
have the required know-how and
the proper tools and equipment.
If in doubt, see your dealer to
have a qualified technician do
the work. SeeDoing Your Own
Service Work on page 10‑4.
At your dealer, you can be
certain that you will receive the
highest level of service available.
Your dealer has specially trained
service technicians, uses genuine replacement parts, as well as,
up‐to‐date tools and equipment
to ensure fast and accurate
diagnostics.
The proper replacement parts,
fluids, and lubricants to use are
listed in
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑7 and
Maintenance Replacement Parts on
page 11‑9. We recommend the use
of genuine parts from your dealer.
Rotation of New Tires
To maintain ride, handling,
and performance of the vehicle,
it is important that the first rotation
service for new tires be performed.
Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km/7,500 miles. See Tire
Rotation on page 10‑61.
Scheduled
Maintenance
When the Change Engine Oil
Soon Message Displays
Change engine oil and filter.
See Engine Oil on page 10‑9.
An Emission Control Service.
When the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message displays,
service is required for the vehicle
as soon as possible, within the next
1 000 km/600 miles. If driving under
the best conditions, the engine oil
life system might not indicate the
need for vehicle service for more
than a year. The engine oil and filter
must be changed at least once a
year and the oil life system must
be reset. Your dealer has trained
service technicians who will perform
this work and reset the system.

Black plate (3,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-3
If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 miles since
the last service. Reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on
page 10‑13.
Every Engine Oil Change
.Change engine oil and
filter. Reset oil life system.
See Engine Oil on page 10‑9
and Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑13. An Emission
Control Service.
.Engine coolant level check.
See Engine Coolant on
page 10‑18.
.Engine cooling system
inspection. Visual inspection
of hoses, pipes, fittings, and
clamps and replacement,
if needed.
.Windshield washer fluid level
check. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑24.
.Windshield wiper blade
inspection for wear, cracking,
or contamination and windshield
and wiper blade cleaning,
if contaminated. See Exterior
Care on page 10‑92. Worn
or damaged wiper blade
replacement. See Wiper Blade
Replacement on page 10‑29.
.Tire inflation pressures
check. See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑54.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑61.
.Rotate tires if necessary.
See Tire Rotation on
page 10‑61.
.Fluids visual leak check
(or every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). A leak in any
system must be repaired
and the fluid level checked.
.Engine air cleaner filter
inspection. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 10‑15.
.Brake system inspection
(or every 12 months,
whichever occurs first).
.Steering and suspension
inspection. Visual inspection
for damaged, loose, or missing
parts or signs of wear.

Black plate (4,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
11-4 Service and Maintenance
.Body hinges and latches,
key lock cylinders, folding
seat hardware, and sunroof
(if equipped) lubrication.
SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑7.
More frequent lubrication may
be required when the vehicle
is exposed to a corrosive
environment. Applying silicone
grease on weatherstrips with
a clean cloth makes them last
longer, seal better, and not
stick or squeak.
.Restraint system component
check. See Safety System
Check on page 3‑27.
.Fuel system inspection for
damage or leaks.
.Exhaust system and nearby heat
shields inspection for loose or
damaged components.
Additional Required Services
Every 12 000 km/7,500 Miles
.Rotate tires. Tires should
be rotated every 12 000 km/
7,500 miles. See Tire Rotation
on page 10‑61.
At Each Fuel Stop
.Engine oil level check.
See Engine Oil on page 10‑9.
.Engine coolant level check.
SeeEngine Coolant on
page 10‑18.
.Windshield washer fluid level
check. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑24. Once a Month
.Tire inflation check. See
Tire
Pressure on page 10‑54.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑61.
.Sunroof track and seal
inspection, if equipped.
See Sunroof on page 2‑21.
Once a Year
.See Starter Switch Check on
page 10‑27.
.See Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control Function
Check on page 10‑28.
.See Ignition Transmission Lock
Check on page 10‑28.
.See Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check on
page 10‑29.
.Accelerator pedal check for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed.
.Underbody flushing service.