2011 BUICK LACROSSE lock

Black plate (14,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-14 Vehicle Care
SeeEngine Oil Messages on
page 5‑35. Change the oil as
soon as possible within the next
1 000 km (600 miles). It is possible
that, if driving under the best
conditions, the oil life system
might indicate that an oil change
is not necessary for up to a year.
The engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and,
at this time, the system must be
reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform
this work and reset the system.
It is also important to check the
oil regularly over the course of
an oil drain interval and keep
it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 miles)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
system:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with
the engine off.
2. Press the DIC menu button on the turn signal lever to enter
the Vehicle Information Menu.
Use the thumbwheel to scroll
through the menu items until you
reach REMAINING OIL LIFE.
3. Press the SET/CLR button to reset the oil life at 100%.
4. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF. The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message is off and the REMAINING
OIL LIFE 100% message is
displayed.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
message comes back on when
the vehicle is started, the engine
oil life system has not been reset.
Repeat the procedure.

Black plate (16,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-16 Vehicle Care
To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter do the following:
2.4 L L4 Engine
1. Remove the screws on top ofthe engine air cleaner/filter
housing.
2. Lift the filter cover housing away from the engine.
3. Pull out the filter.
4. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter. 5. Lower the filter cover housing
toward the engine.
6. Install the screws on the top of the housing to lock the cover in
place.
3.6 L V6 Engine
1. Remove the screws on top of the engine air cleaner/filter
housing.
2. Lift the filter cover housing away from the engine.
3. Pull out the filter. 4. Inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter.
5. Lower the filter cover housing toward the engine.
6. Install the screws on the top of the housing to lock the cover in
place.
{WARNING
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you
or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air;
it helps to stop flames if the
engine backfires. Use caution
when working on the engine
and do not drive with the air
cleaner/filter off.
Notice: If the air cleaner/filter is
off, dirt can easily get into the
engine, which could damage it.
Always have the air cleaner/filter
in place when you are driving.

Black plate (20,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-20 Vehicle Care
{WARNING
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up
even when the engine is not
running and can cause injury.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
{WARNING
Steam and scalding liquids
from a hot cooling system can
blow out and burn you badly.
They are under pressure, and if
you turn the surge tank pressure
cap—even a little —they can
come out at high speed. Never
turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the surge tank
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the
cooling system and surge tank
pressure cap to cool if you ever
have to turn the pressure cap.
The coolant surge tank pressure
cap can be removed when the
cooling system, including the
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
1. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise. If a hiss is
heard, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still
some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the cap and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank withthe proper mixture to the mark
pointed to on the front of the
coolant surge tank.

Black plate (23,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-23
Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6 for information on the
location of the power steering fluid
reservoir.
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly
check power steering fluid unless a
leak is suspected in the system or
an unusual noise is heard. A fluid
loss in this system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
Check the level after the vehicle has
been driven for at least 20 minutes
so the fluid is warm.
To check the power steering fluid:
1. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF and let the engine compartment
cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and pull it straight up.
4. Wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
5. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
6. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
When the engine is hot, the level
should be at the hot MAX level.
When the engine is cold, the fluid
level should be between MIN and
MAX on the dipstick.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to
use, see Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑7. Always
use the proper fluid.

Black plate (28,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-28 Vehicle Care
3. Try to start the engine in eachgear. The vehicle should start
only in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your dealer for
service.
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
{WARNING
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. See Parking Brake on
page 9‑33.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition on, 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 for service.
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).
.With the key access ignition
system, the ignition key should
come out only in LOCK/OFF.
See Ignition Positions (Key
Access) on page 9‑17 orIgnition
Positions (Keyless Access) on
page 9‑19.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.

Black plate (32,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-32 Vehicle Care
4. At the wall, measure fromthe ground upward (A) to
the recorded distance from
Step 3 and mark it.
5. Draw or tape a horizontal line (B) on the wall the width of the
vehicle at the height of the
mark in Step 4.
Notice: Do not cover a headlamp
to improve beam cut-off when
aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up
which may cause damage to the
headlamp. 6. Turn on the low-beam
headlamps and place a
piece of cardboard or equivalent
in front of the headlamp not
being adjusted. This allows
only the beam of light from
the headlamp being adjusted
to be seen on the flat surface.
Base
Uplevel
7. Locate the vertical headlamp aiming screw, which are under
the hood near each headlamp
assembly.
8. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the headlamp
beam is aimed to the horizontal
tape line. Turn it clockwise or
counterclockwise to raise or
lower the angle of the beam.

Black plate (34,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-34 Vehicle Care
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking
Lamps
Base Headlamp Assembly
The base model vehicle has a
halogen high-beam headlamp,
a low-beam/Daytime Running
Lamp (DRL) headlamp, and a
turn signal/parking lamp on the
headlamp assembly.
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood on
page 10‑5.
A. Low-Beam Headlamp/DRL
B. High-Beam Headlamp
C. Parking/Turn Signal Lamp
2. If replacing a headlamp bulb, remove the dust cover from the
back of the headlamp housing
by turning counterclockwise
one‐quarter turn. 3. Remove the bulb socket
from the headlamp by
turning counterclockwise
one‐quarter turn.
4. Remove the bulb from the socket. If replacing the
high/low‐beam bulb, pry the
two clips on either end of the
bulb and pull straight out.
5. Install the new bulb in the socket.

Black plate (35,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-35
6. Install the bulb socket by turningclockwise one‐quarter turn.
7. If a headlamp bulb was replaced, install the dust cover
in the back of the headlamp
housing by turning clockwise
one‐quarter turn.
Uplevel Headlamp Assembly
The uplevel model vehicle has
a high intensity discharge (HID)
high/low beam, a dedicated DRL
and a parking/turn signal lamp on
the headlamp assembly. See High
Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting
on page 10‑33 for more information.
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the hood. See Hood on
page 10‑5.
A. DRL Lamp
B. Parking/Turn Signal Lamp
2. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove it
from the headlamp assembly.
3. Pull the bulb straight out from the socket.
4. Push the new bulb into the socket and reinstall the socket
into the headlamp assembly by
turning it clockwise.
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps
A. Turn Signal Lamp
B. Back–Up Lamp
To replace one of these lamps:
1. Open the trunk. See Trunk on
page 2‑12.
2. Remove fasteners and pull back the trunk trim.