
Black plate (21,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-21
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have
it fixed so it will be ready to warn if
there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the
ignition off.
If the light comes on while
driving, stop as soon as it is safely
possible and turn off the vehicle.Then start the engine again to reset
the system. If the ABS light stays
on, or comes on again while driving,
the vehicle needs service. A chime
may also sound when the light
comes on steady.
If the ABS light is the only light on,
the vehicle has regular brakes,
but the antilock brakes are not
functioning.
If both the ABS and the brake
system warning light are on, the
vehicle's antilock brakes are not
functioning and there is a problem
with the regular brakes. See your
dealer for service.
See
Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑19.
See Brake System Messages on
page 5‑33 for all brake related DIC
messages.
Traction Off Light
This light comes on when the
Traction Control System (TCS)
has been turned off by pressing and
releasing the traction control button.
This light also comes on and the
system turns off if there is a problem
with the traction control system.
If the light comes on and stays on
for an extended period of time while
the system is turned on, the vehicle
needs service.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑36 andElectronic
Stability Control (ESC) on
page 9‑37 for more information.

Black plate (23,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-23
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine
is started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS.
When the Light is On Steady
This indicates that one or
more of the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A tire pressure message can
accompany the light. SeeTire
Messages on page 5‑38 for more
information. Stop as soon as
possible, and inflate the tires to
the pressure value shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label.
See Tire Pressure on page 10‑54
for more information. When the Light Flashes First and
Then is On Steady
This indicates that there may
be a problem with the TPMS.
The light flashes for about a
minute and stays on steady for
the remainder of the ignition cycle.
This sequence repeats with every
ignition cycle. See
Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on page 10‑57
for more information.
Engine Oil Pressure Light
{WARNING
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced. Notice:
Lack of proper engine
oil maintenance can damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule for changing engine oil.
The oil pressure light should come
on briefly as the engine is started.
If it does not come on have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
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.
For vehicles with the uplevel cluster,
this telltale displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) screen.

Black plate (27,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-27
Digital Speedometer
The speedometer shows how fast
the vehicle is moving in either
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles
per hour (mph). The speedometer
cannot be reset.
Trip 1 and Trip 2
This display shows the current
distance traveled, in either
kilometers (km) or miles (mi), since
the last reset for the trip odometer.
The trip odometer can be reset to
zero by pressing SET/CLR while
the trip odometer display is
showing.
Fuel Range
This display shows the approximate
distance the vehicle can be driven
without refueling. The fuel range
estimate is based on an average
of the vehicle's fuel economy
over recent driving history and the
amount of fuel remaining in the fuel
tank. Fuel range cannot be reset.Average Fuel Economy
This display shows the
approximate average liters per
100 kilometers (L/100 km) or miles
per gallon (mpg). This number is
calculated based on the number
of L/100 km (mpg) recorded since
the last time this menu item was
reset. The fuel economy can be
reset by pressing SET/CLR while
the Average Fuel Economy display
is showing.
Average Vehicle Speed
This display shows the average
speed of the vehicle in miles
per hour (mph) or kilometers
per hour (km/h). This average is
calculated based on the various
vehicle speeds recorded since
the last reset of this value.
The average speed can be reset
by pressing SET/CLR while the
Average Vehicle Speed display
is showing.
Timer
This display can be used as
a timer. To start the timer, press
SET/CLR while Timer is displayed.
The display will show the amount of
time that has passed since the timer
was last reset, not including time the
ignition is off. Time will continue to
be counted as long as the ignition is
on, even if another display is being
shown on the DIC. The timer will
record up to 99 hours, 59 minutes
and 59 seconds (99:59:59) after
which the display will return to zero.
To stop the timer, press SET/CLR
briefly while Timer is displayed.
To reset the timer to zero, press
and hold SET/CLR.
Turn-by-Turn
This display is used for the OnStar
or Navigation System Turn-by-Turn
guidance. See the OnStar manual
or the Navigation manual, if the
vehicle has navigation, for more
information.

Black plate (36,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
5-36 Instruments and Controls
ENGINE OIL HOT, IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine oil temperature is too hot.
Stop and allow the vehicle to idle
until it cools down.
ENGINE OIL LOW—ADD OIL
This message displays when the
engine oil level is too low. Check
the oil level. See Engine Oil on
page 10‑9.
OIL PRESSURE LOW —STOP
ENGINE
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible
and do not operate it until the cause
of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check the oil as soon
as possible and have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's engine power is reduced.
Reduced engine power can affect
the vehicle's ability to accelerate.
If this message is on, but there
is no reduction in performance,
proceed to your destination.
The performance may be reduced
the next time the vehicle is driven.
The vehicle may be driven at a
reduced speed while this message
is on, but maximum acceleration
and speed may be reduced.
Anytime this message stays on,
the vehicle should be taken to
your dealer for service as soon
as possible.
Fuel System Messages
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays when the
vehicle is low on fuel. Refuel as
soon as possible.
TIGHTEN GAS CAP
This message displays when the
fuel cap is not on tight. Tighten the
fuel cap.
Key and Lock Messages
NO REMOTE DETECTED
This message displays when the
transmitter battery is weak on
vehicles with keyless access.
See “Starting the Vehicle with
a Low Transmitter Battery” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑4
for more information.
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY
This message displays when the
battery in the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter needs
to be replaced.

Black plate (37,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-37
Lamp Messages
AFL (Adaptive Forward
Lighting) LAMPS NEED
SERVICE
This message displays
when the Adaptive Forward
Lighting (AFL) system is disabled
and needs service. See your
dealer. SeeAdaptive Forward
Lighting (AFL) on page 6‑4 for
more information.
Object Detection System
Messages
PARK ASSIST OFF
This message is displayed when the
park assist system has been turned
off. See Ultrasonic Parking Assist
on page 9‑42.
SERVICE PARK ASSIST
This message is displayed if there
is a problem with the park assist
system. Take the vehicle to your
dealer for service.
Ride Control System
Messages
SERVICE REAR AXLE
This message displays when there
is a problem with the All-Wheel
Drive (AWD) System. See your
dealer for service.
SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL
This message displays when there
is a problem with the Traction
Control System (TCS). When this
message is displayed, the system
will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly. See your dealer
for service.
SERVICE STABILITRAK
This message displays if there
is a problem with the StabiliTrak®
system. If this message appears, try
to reset the system. Stop; turn off
the engine for at least 15 seconds;
then start the engine again. If this
message still comes on, it means
there is a problem. See your dealer
for service. The vehicle is safe to
drive, however, you do not have the
benefit of StabiliTrak, so reduce
your speed and drive accordingly.
SPORT MODE ON
This message displays when
using the selective ride control.
See Selective Ride Control on
page 9‑38 for more information.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
turned off. Adjust your driving
accordingly.

Black plate (28,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
7-28 Infotainment System
Recording from Audio CDs
The infotainment system can record
the current song playing or all songs
from an audio CD to MEM. A status
bar appears on the top of the
display when the recording process
starts and disappears when the
process has ended. Copy protected
CDs cannot be recorded to MEM.
Recording to MEM
Press
OREC, then select Record
Current Song or Record All Songs
on Disc. If the track has started
playing, the system will restart the
track and begin recording from the
beginning of the track. When the
song recording is completed, the
message Song Recorded to MEM
displays, and there may be a slight
pause.
Songs recorded to MEM are stored
as the current date, disc, and track
number. Re-recording a Previously
Recorded Disc
If the disc or track has already been
recorded to MEM, the message
The Song(s) is Already Recorded
displays.
Stopping the Recording
Press the
OREC button while
recording from an audio CD to
display the stop recording option.
Select Stop Recording Song
to MEM.
Renaming Recorded Discs
Discs that have been recorded to
MEM can be renamed.
1. Turn the Menu knob.
2. Select Rename Recorded Discs.
3. Select the disc.
4. Select Album or Artist to rename either one.
5. Use the Menu knob to enter the character sequence.
See Operation on page 7‑7
for more information.
Recording from MP3/WMA
Discs or USB Storage Devices
USB Host Support
The USB connector uses the USB
standards, 1.1 and 2.0.
USB Supported Devices
.USB Flash Drives
.Portable USB Hard Drives
Recording to MEM
Press
OREC, then select Record
Current Song or Record Current
Folder.
The information stored by MEM
is titled according to the ID3 tag
associated with it.
Re-recording a Previously
Recorded Disc
If the disc or track has already been
recorded to MEM, the message
The Song(s) is Already Recorded
displays.

Black plate (42,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
7-42 Infotainment System
z(Display Menu):Press to
adjust the brightness and screen
display mode, and display the
language menu.
q(Return): Press to exit the
current active menu and return to
the previous menu. This button
operates only when the display
menu or a DVD menu is active.
c(Stop): Press to stop playing,
rewinding, or fast forwarding a
DVD. Press twice to return to
the beginning of the DVD.
s(Play/Pause): Press to start
playing a DVD. Press to pause a
DVD while it is playing. Press again
to continue playing.
Depending on the infotainment
system in the vehicle, DVD
playback may be slowed down
by pressing
sthen[. Reverse
slow play by pressing
sthenr.
Press
sagain to cancel slow play.
t(Previous Track/Chapter):
Press to go to the start of the
current track or chapter. Press
again to go to the previous track
or chapter. This button may not
work when the DVD is playing
the copyright information or the
previews.
u(Next Track/Chapter): Press
to go to the beginning of the next
chapter or track. This button might
not work when the DVD is playing
the copyright information or the
previews.
r(Fast Reverse): Press to
quickly reverse the DVD or CD.
To stop fast reversing a DVD video,
press
s. To stop fast reversing
a DVD audio or CD, release
r.
This button might not work when
the DVD is playing the copyright
information or the previews.
[(Fast Forward): Press to fast
forward the DVD or CD. To stop fast
forwarding a DVD video, press
s.
To stop fast forwarding a DVD audio
or CD, release
[. This button might
not work when the DVD is playing
the copyright information or the
previews.
e(Audio): Press to change audio
tracks on DVDs that have this
feature when the DVD is playing.
{(Subtitles): Press to turn
ON/OFF subtitles and to move
through subtitle options when a
DVD is playing.
AUX (Auxiliary): Press to switch
the video display between the DVD
player and an auxiliary source.

Black plate (44,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
7-44 Infotainment System
Tips and Troubleshooting Chart
ProblemRecommended Action
No power. The ignition might not be turned to ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY.
The picture does not fill the screen. There are black
borders on the top and bottom or on both sides or it
looks stretched out. Check the display mode settings in the setup menu by
pressing the display menu button on the remote control.
In auxiliary mode, the picture moves or scrolls. Check the auxiliary input connections at both devices.
The remote control does not work. Check to make sure there is no obstruction between
the remote control and the transmitter window.
Check the batteries to make sure they are not dead or
installed incorrectly.
After stopping the player, I push Play but sometimes
the DVD starts where I left off and sometimes at the
beginning. If the Stop button was pressed one time, the DVD player
resumes playing where the DVD was stopped. If the
stop button was pressed two times the DVD player
begins to play from the beginning of the DVD.