
Black plate (5,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-5
/(Remote Vehicle Start):For
vehicles with this feature, press
Q
and then press and hold/within
five seconds to start the engine from
outside the vehicle using the RKE
transmitter. See Remote Vehicle
Start on page 2‑8 for additional
information.
Keyless Access Operation
Some vehicles have a keyless
access system that lets you lock
and unlock the doors and access
the trunk without removing the RKE
transmitter from your pocket, purse,
briefcase, etc. The RKE transmitter
should be within 1 m (3 ft) of the
door or trunk being opened. Keyless Unlocking
With the RKE transmitter within
1 m (3 ft), approach the front door
and pull the handle to unlock and
open the door. If the transmitter is
recognized, the door will unlock
and open.
Entering any door other than the
driver door will always cause all
of the doors to unlock. This is not
customizable.
To customize which doors unlock
when the driver door is opened,
see
“Door Unlock Options” under
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑39. Lock Sensor
When all doors are closed and the
ignition is off, the vehicle can be
locked by pressing this area on the
door handle. This feature will be
available for several minutes after
the vehicle has been turned off.

Black plate (7,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-7
Programming without a
Recognized Transmitter
(Keyless Access Vehicles Only)
If there are no currently recognized
transmitters available, follow this
procedure to program up to five
transmitters. This feature is not
available in Canada. This procedure
will take approximately 30 minutes
to complete. The vehicle must be
off and all of the transmitters you
wish to program must be with you.
1. Insert the vehicle key of thetransmitter into the key lock
cylinder located on the outside
of the driver door and turn the
key to the unlock position five
times within 10 seconds.
The Driver Information Center
(DIC) displays REMOTE LEARN
PENDING, PLEASE WAIT. 2. Wait for 10 minutes until the
DIC displays PRESS ENGINE
START BUTTON TO LEARN
and then press the ignition.
The DIC displays will again
show REMOTE LEARN
PENDING, PLEASE WAIT.
3. Repeat Step 2 two additional times. After the third time all
previously known transmitters
will no longer work with the
vehicle. Remaining transmitters
can be relearned during the
next steps.
The DIC display should
now show READY FOR
REMOTE # 1. 4. Place the new transmitter
into the transmitter pocket.
The transmitter pocket is
located inside the center
console storage area under
the cupholder. The cupholder
will need to be pulled out to
access the transmitter pocket.
5. Press the ignition. When the transmitter is learned the DIC
will show that it is ready to
program the next transmitter.
6. Remove the transmitter from the transmitter pocket and press
K.
To program additional
transmitters, repeat Steps 4
through 6.
When all additional transmitters
are programmed, press and hold
the ignition for 10 seconds to
exit programming mode.

Black plate (8,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
2-8 Keys, Doors and Windows
Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery
If the transmitter battery is weak,
the DIC may display NO REMOTE
DETECTED when you try to
start the vehicle. The REPLACE
BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY
message may also be displayed
at this time.
To start the vehicle:
1. Remove the cupholder from thecenter console storage area.
2. Place the transmitter in the transmitter pocket with the
buttons facing up. 3. With the vehicle in P (Park) or
N (Neutral), press the brake
pedal and the ignition control.
See Starting the Engine on
page 9‑20 for additional
information about the vehicle's
keyless ignition with push start.
Replace the transmitter battery
as soon as possible.
Battery Replacement
Replace the battery if the REPLACE
BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY
message displays in the DIC.
See “Replace Battery in Remote
Key” under Key and Lock Messages
on page 5‑36.
The battery is not rechargeable.
To replace the battery:
1. Push the button on the transmitter to extend the key.
2. Remove the battery cover by prying it with a finger.
3. Remove the battery by pushing on the battery and sliding it
toward the keyblade. 4. Insert the new battery, positive
side facing up. Push the battery
down until it is held in place.
Replace with a CR2032 or
equivalent battery.
5. Snap the battery cover back on to the transmitter.
Remote Vehicle Start
If available, this feature allows the
engine to be started from outside
the vehicle.
The
/button will be on the RKE
transmitter if the vehicle has remote
start.
Laws in some local communities
may restrict the use of remote
starters. For example, some laws
may require a person using remote
start to have the vehicle in view.
Check local regulations for any
requirements.

Black plate (9,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-9
Starting the Engine Using Remote
Start
To start the engine using the remote
start feature:
1. Aim the Remote Keyless Entrytransmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press
Q.
3. Immediately after completing Step 2, press and hold
/until
the turn signal lamps flash, or for
about 2 seconds if the vehicle is
not in view.
Once the vehicle is started, the
parking lamps will turn on and
remain on as long as the engine
is running.
Turn the ignition to ON/RUN
(key access), or select the
ON/RUN/START ignition position
(keyless access), to drive the
vehicle. The engine will shut off after
10 minutes unless a time
extension is done or the ignition
is put in ON/RUN (key access) or
ON/RUN/START (keyless access).
Vehicles with an automatic climate
control system will default to a
heating or cooling mode depending
on the outside temperature during a
remote start. When the key is turned
to ON/RUN (key access), or the
ON/RUN/START ignition position
is selected (keyless access), the
climate control system will turn on
at the setting the vehicle was set to
when the vehicle was last turned off.
Vehicles with heated or heated and
ventilated front seats can have this
feature turn on automatically during
a remote start. See
“Remote Start
Heated Seats” and“Remote Start
Vented Seats” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑39
for more information. Extending Engine Run Time
For a 10-minute extension, repeat
Steps 1 and 2 while the engine is
still running. The remote start can
only be extended once.
When the remote start is extended,
the second 10 minutes will start
immediately.
For example, if the vehicle has
been running for five minutes, and
10 minutes are added, the engine
will run for a total of 15 minutes.
A maximum of two remote starts or
remote start attempts are allowed
between ignition cycles.
The vehicle's ignition must be
turned on and then back off before
the remote start procedure can be
used again.

Black plate (10,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
2-10 Keys, Doors and Windows
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do any of
the following:
.Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle and press and hold
/
until the parking lamps turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Turn the vehicle on and then off.
Conditions in Which Remote Start
Will Not Work
The remote start will not operate if:
.The key is in the ignition (key
access) or the ignition is in any
position other than OFF (keyless
access).
.The transmitter is in the vehicle
(keyless access).
.The hood is not closed.
.The hazard warning flashers
are on.
.There is an emission control
system malfunction.
.The engine coolant temperature
is too high.
.The oil pressure is low.
.Two remote vehicle starts have
already been used.
.The vehicle is not in P (Park).
Door Locks
{WARNING
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
.Passengers, especially
children, can easily open
the doors and fall out
of a moving vehicle.
The chance of being thrown
out of the vehicle in a crash
is increased if the doors
are not locked. So, all
passengers should wear
safety belts properly and
the doors should be locked
whenever the vehicle is
driven. (Continued)

Black plate (16,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
2-16 Keys, Doors and Windows
The system has one or more
transmitters that are matched to
an immobilizer control unit in your
vehicle. Only a correctly matched
transmitter will start the vehicle.
If the transmitter is ever damaged,
you may not be able to start your
vehicle.
When trying to start the vehicle, the
security light comes on briefly when
the ignition is turned on.
If the engine does not start and the
security light stays on, there is a
problem with the system. Turn the
ignition off and try again.If the RKE appears to be
undamaged, try another
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 5‑36.
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 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.

Black plate (6,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
3-6 Seats and Restraints
Recalling Button Memory
Positions
To recall the manually saved
Button Memory positions, press
and hold“1”or“2.” The driver seat
and outside mirrors move to the
positions stored to those buttons
when pressed. Releasing “1”or“2”
before the stored positions are
reached stops the recall.
If something has blocked the
driver seat while recalling a
memory position, the recall may
stop. Remove the obstruction;
then press and hold the appropriate
manual control for the memory item
that is not recalling for two seconds.
Try recalling the memory position
again by pressing the appropriate
memory button. If the memory
position is still not recalling,
see your dealer for service. Recalling RKE Memory Positions
(Memory Remote Recall)
The Memory Remote Recall
feature can recall the driver seat
and outside mirrors to previously
stored RKE Memory positions
when entering the vehicle.
Every time the ignition is placed
in OFF, the positions of the driver
seat and outside mirrors are
automatically stored to the RKE
transmitter that was used to start
the vehicle. These positions are
called RKE Memory positions and
may be different than the previously
mentioned Button Memory positions
saved to the
“1”or“2” buttons. To automatically recall RKE
Memory positions, unlock
the driver door with the RKE
transmitter, and open the driver
door. On vehicles with Keyless
Access, opening the driver door
when an RKE transmitter is
present will activate the RKE
Memory recall. If the driver door
is already open, pressing the
RKE transmitter
Kbutton will also
activate the RKE Memory recall.
The driver seat and outside mirrors
will move to the previously saved
RKE Memory positions.

Black plate (11,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-11
Remote Start Heated and
Ventilated Seats
During a remote start, the heated
or ventilated seats, if equipped,
can be turned on automatically.
They are canceled when the ignition
is turned on. Press the button to use
the heated or ventilated seats after
the vehicle is started.
The heated or ventilated seat
indicator lights on the button do
not turn on during a remote start.
The heated seat temperature
performance of an unoccupied seat
may be reduced. This is normal.
The heated or ventilated seats
will not turn on during a remote
start unless they are enabled in
the vehicle personalization menu.
SeeRemote Vehicle Start on
page 2‑8 and“Remote Start
Heated Seats” or“Remote Start
Cooled Seats” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑39
for more information.Rear Seats
Folding the Seatback
Either side of the seatback can be
folded down for more cargo space.
Fold a seatback only when the
vehicle is not moving.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with
the safety belts still fastened may
cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the
safety belts and return them to
their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat. To fold the seatback down:
1. Be sure the safety belt is in the
retainer clip.