
Black plate (16,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
5-16 Instruments and Controls
If you are using remote start,
if equipped, to start the vehicle
from a distance, you may not see
the system check. Then, after
several more seconds, the status
indicator will light either the word
ON or OFF to let you know the
status of the right front passenger
frontal airbag.
If the word ON is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator,
it means that the right front
passenger frontal airbag is
enabled (may inflate).
If the word OFF is lit on the airbag
status indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has
turned off the right front passenger
frontal airbag.If, after several seconds, both
status indicator lights remain on,
or if there are no lights at all, there
may be a problem with the lights
or the passenger sensing system.
See your dealer for service.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light
ever comes on and stays on,
it means that something may be
wrong with the airbag system.
To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have the vehicle serviced
right away. See
Airbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑14 for more
information, including important
safety information.
Charging System Light
The charging system light comes
on briefly when the ignition is turned
on, but the engine is not running, as
a check to show the light is working.
The light turns off when the engine
is started. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving, there could be a
problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked by your
dealer. Driving while this light is
on could drain the battery.
If a short distance must be driven
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.

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 (39,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-39
Window Messages
OPEN, THEN CLOSE DRIVER
WINDOW
This message is displayed when the
window needs to be reprogrammed.
If the vehicle's battery has been
recharged or disconnected, you
will need to reprogram each front
window for the express-up feature
to work. SeePower Windows on
page 2‑19 for more information.
OPEN, THEN CLOSE
PASSENGER WINDOW
This message is displayed when the
window needs to be reprogrammed.
If the vehicle's battery has been
recharged or disconnected, you
will need to reprogram each front
window for the express-up feature
to work. See Power Windows on
page 2‑19 for more information.
Vehicle
Personalization
The audio system controls are
used to access the personalization
menus for customizing vehicle
features.
CONFIG (Configuration):
Press to access the Configuration
Settings Menu.
MENU/SELECT Knob: Press
the center of this knob to enter
the menus and select menu items.
Turn the knob to scroll through the
menus.
0BACK: Press to exit or move
backward in a menu.
Entering the Personalization
Menus
1. Press CONFIG to access the Configuration Settings menu.
2. Turn the MENU/SELECT knob to highlight Vehicle Settings. 3. Press the center of the
MENU/SELECT knob to select
the Vehicle Settings menu.
The following list of menu items will
be available:
.Climate and Air Quality
.Comfort and Convenience
.Collision/Detection Systems
.Language
.Lighting
.Power Door Locks
.Remote Lock/Unlock/Start
.Return to Factory Settings
Turn the MENU/SELECT knob to
highlight the menu. Press the knob
to select it. Each of the menus is
detailed in the following information.

Black plate (40,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
5-40 Instruments and Controls
Climate and Air Quality
Select the Climate and Air Quality
menu and the following will be
displayed:
.Auto Fan Control
.Air Quality Control
.Auto Heated Seats
.Remote Start Heated Seats
.Remote Start Cooled Seats
.Auto Defog
.Auto Rear Defog
Auto Fan Control
This will allow you to select the
automatic fan speed. It can be
adjusted to run lower or higher
than normal.
Press the MENU/SELECT
knob when Auto Fan Control is
highlighted to open the menu.
Turn the knob to highlight High,
Medium, or Low. Press the knob
to confirm the selection and move
back to the last menu. Air Quality Control
This will allow you to select whether
the system will operate at high or
low sensitivity. Only vehicles with
the dual zone climate control will
have this option.
Press the MENU/SELECT
knob when Air Quality Control
is highlighted to open the menu.
Turn the knob to highlight High or
Low. Press the knob to confirm the
selection and move back to the
last menu.
Remote Start Heated Seats
When on, this feature will turn the
heated seats on when using remote
start on cold days.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when Remote Start Heated Seats is
highlighted. Turn the knob to select
On or Off. Press the knob to confirm
and go back to the last menu.
Remote Start Cooled Seats
When on, this feature will turn the
cooled seats on when using remote
start on warm days.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when Remote Start Cooled Seats is
highlighted. Turn the knob to select
On or Off. Press the knob to confirm
and go back to the last menu.
Auto Defog
This will allow you to turn the auto
defog on or off. Only vehicles with
the dual zone climate control will
have this option.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when Auto Defog is highlighted to
open the menu. Turn the knob to
highlight On or Off. Press the knob
to confirm the selection and move
back to the last menu.

Black plate (43,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-43
Unlocked Door Anti Lock Out
When on, this feature will keep the
driver door from locking when the
door is open. If off is selected, the
Delayed Door Lock menu will be
available and the door will lock as
programmed through this menu.
Press the MENU/SELECT
knob when Auto Door Unlock is
highlighted. Turn the knob to select
On or Off. Press the knob to confirm
and go back to the last menu.
Delayed Door Lock
When on, this feature will delay
the locking of the doors until
five seconds after the last door is
closed. You will hear three chimes
to signal delayed locking is in use.Pressing either the power lock
button or the lock button on the
RKE transmitter twice will override
the delayed locking feature and
immediately lock all of the doors.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when Delayed Door Lock is
highlighted. Turn the knob to select
On or Off. Press the knob to confirm
and go back to the last menu.
Auto Door Unlock
This allows selection of which of the
doors will automatically unlock when
the vehicle is shifted into P (Park).
Press the MENU/SELECT
knob when Auto Door Unlock
is highlighted. Turn the knob to
select All Doors, Driver Door, or Off.
Press the knob to confirm and go
back to the last menu.Remote Lock/Unlock/Start
Select Remote Lock/Unlock/Start
and the following will be displayed:
.Unlock Feedback (Lights)
.Locking Feedback
.Door Unlock Options
.Remote Recall
.Passive Entry
.Remote Left In Vehicle
Unlock Feedback (Lights)
When on, the exterior lamps will
flash when unlocking the vehicle
with the RKE transmitter.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when Unlock Feedback (Lights) is
highlighted. Turn the knob to select
On or Off. Press the knob to confirm
and go back to the last menu.

Black plate (44,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
5-44 Instruments and Controls
Locking Feedback
This allows selection of what type of
feedback is given when locking the
vehicle with the RKE transmitter.
Press the MENU/SELECT
knob when Locking Feedback
is highlighted. Turn the knob to
select Lights and Horn, Lights Only,
Horn Only, or Off. Press the knob
to confirm and go back to the
last menu.
Door Unlock Options
This allows selection of which doors
will unlock when pressing the unlock
button on the RKE transmitter.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when Door Unlock Options is
highlighted. Turn the knob to
select All Doors or Driver Door Only.
When set to Driver Door Only, thedriver door will unlock the first time
the unlock button is pressed and all
doors will unlock when the button is
pressed a second time. When set
to All Doors, all of the doors will
unlock at the first press of the
unlock button. Press the knob
to confirm and go back to the
last menu.
Remote Recall
When on, this feature will recall the
current driver's last seat and outside
mirror positions upon unlocking
the driver door with the RKE, and
opening that door. The current driver
is identified when the RKE is used
to unlock the driver door. If keyless
access equipped, the recall will
occur upon opening the driver door.
See
“Memory Remote Recall” under
Power Seat Adjustment on page 3‑5
for more information. This allows the Remote Recall
feature to be turned on or off.
Remote Recall is when the
memorized settings will be
recalled as you unlock and
enter the vehicle.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when Remote Recall is highlighted.
Turn the knob to select On or Off.
Press the knob to confirm and go
back to the last menu.
Passive Entry
This allows the Passive Entry
feature to be turned on or off.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when Passive Entry is highlighted.
Turn the knob to select On or Off.
Press the knob to confirm and go
back to the last menu.

Black plate (45,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-45
Remote Left In Vehicle
This allows the Remote Left In
Vehicle reminder feature to be
turned on or off. If on, the horn
will chirp if a remote is left in the
vehicle.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when Remote Left In Vehicle is
highlighted. Turn the knob to select
On or Off. Press the knob to confirm
and go back to the last menu.
Return to Factory Settings
Select Return to Factory
Settings to return all of the vehicle
personalization to the default
settings. Turn the knob to select
Yes or No. Press the knob to
confirm and go back to the
last menu.
Universal Remote
System
SeeRadio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑20 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission
(FCC) rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-210/220/310.
Universal Remote System
Programming
If the vehicle has this feature,
you will see these buttons with
one LED indicator next to them
in the overhead console. This system provides a way to
replace up to three remote control
transmitters used to activate
devices such as garage door
openers, security systems, and
home automation devices.
Do not use the Universal Remote
system with any garage door opener
that does not have the stop and
reverse feature. This includes
any garage door opener model
manufactured before April 1,1982.
Read the instructions completely
before attempting to program
the Universal Remote system.
Because of the steps involved, it
may be helpful to have another
person available to assist with
programming the Universal
Remote system.

Black plate (46,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
5-46 Instruments and Controls
Keep the original hand-held
transmitter for use in other vehicles
as well as for future Universal
Remote system programming. It is
also recommended that upon the
sale of the vehicle, the programmed
Universal Remote system buttons
be erased for security purposes.
See“Erasing Universal Remote
System Buttons” later in this
section.
When programming a garage door,
park outside of the garage. Park
directly in line with and facing the
garage door opener motor-head
or gate motor-head. Be sure that
people and objects are clear of
the garage door or gate being
programmed.
It is recommended that a new
battery be installed in the hand-held
transmitter for quicker and more
accurate transmission of the
radio-frequency signal.Programming the Universal
Remote System
For questions or help programming
the Universal Remote system,
call 1‐800‐355‐3515 or go to
www.homelink.com.
Programming a garage door opener
involves time-sensitive actions, so
read the entire procedure before
starting. Otherwise, the device will
time out and the procedure will have
to be repeated.
To program up to three devices:
1. Hold the end of the hand-held transmitter about 3 to 8 cm
(1 to 3 in) away from the
Universal Remote system
buttons while keeping the
indicator light in view. The
hand-held transmitter was
supplied by the manufacturer
of the garage door opener
receiver (motor-head unit). 2. At the same time, press
and hold both the hand-held
transmitter button and one
of the three Universal Remote
system buttons to be used to
operate the garage door. Do not
release the Universal Remote
system button or the hand-held
transmitter button until the
indicator light changes from
a slowly to a rapidly flashing
light. You now may release
both buttons.
Some entry gates and garage
door openers may require
substitution of Step 2 with
the procedure noted in “Gate
Operator and Canadian
Programming” later in this
section.