2011 BUICK LACROSSE Owner's Manual

Black plate (33,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-33
9. Make sure that the lightfrom the headlamp is positioned
at the bottom edge of the
horizontal tape line. The lamp
on the left (A) shows the correct
headlamp aim. The lamp on
the right (B) shows the incorrect
headlamp aim.
10. Repeat Steps 7 through 9 for the opposite headlamp.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, see Replacement Bulbs on
page 10‑37.
For any bulb changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{WARNING
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting
{WARNING
The low beam high intensity
discharge lighting system
operates at a very high voltage.
If you try to service any of the
system components, you could
be seriously injured. Have your
dealer or a qualified technician
service them.
After an HID headlamp bulb has
been replaced, the beam might be
a slightly different shade than it was
originally. This is normal.

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.

Black plate (36,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-36 Vehicle Care
3. Remove the four plastic wingnuts retaining the taillamp
assembly in place.
4. Pull out the taillamp assembly and disconnect the wiring
harness.
A. Back-Up Lamp
B. Turn Signal Lamp 5. Turn the bulb socket
counterclockwise to remove it.
6. Pull the old bulb straight out of the bulb socket.
7. Push the new bulb straight into the bulb socket until it clicks.
8. Turn the bulb socket clockwise to reinstall.
9. Reconnect the wiring harness.
10. Push the taillamp assembly back into place on the vehicle.
11. Turn the four wing nuts clockwise to reinstall them.
12. Place the trunk trim to its original location.
License Plate Lamp
The license plate lamps for this
vehicle are on the trunk lid.
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the trunk. See Trunk on
page 2‑12 for more information.
2. Push the end on either of the
lamp assemblies (passenger
side shown) and then move the
lamp assembly down to remove
it from the trunk lid.

Black plate (37,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-37
A. Bulb Socket
B. Bulb
C. Lamp Assembly3. Turn the bulb socket (A)
counterclockwise to remove it
from the lamp assembly (C).
4. Pull the bulb (B) straight out of the bulb socket.
5. Push the replacement bulb straight into the bulb socket and
turn the bulb socket clockwise to
install it into the lamp assembly.
6. Move the lamp assembly into the trunk lid engaging the clip
side first.
7. Push on the lamp side opposite the clip until the lamp assembly
snaps into place.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
Back-Up Lamp W16WLL
Daytime Running
Lamp (Uplevel) 3157K LCP
Front Turn Signal/
Parking Lamp 3757NAK
LCP
Headlamp High
Beam (Base) H9
Headlamp Low
Beam (Base) H11LL
License Plate Lamp W5WLL
Rear Turn Signal 3757AK
LCP
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.

Black plate (38,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-38 Vehicle Care
Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload
The vehicle has fuses and circuit
breakers to protect against an
electrical system overload.
When the current electrical load is
too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes, protecting the circuit
until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed.
This greatly reduces the chance
of circuit overload and fire caused
by electrical problems.Fuses and circuit breakers protect
the following in the vehicle:
.Headlamp Wiring
.Windshield Wiper Motor
.Power Windows and Other
Power Accessories
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road
and a fuse needs to be replaced,
the same amperage fuse can be
borrowed. Choose some feature of
the vehicle that is not needed to use
and replace it as soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have
the headlamp wiring checked right
away if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.

Black plate (39,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-39
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using
the windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow
or ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces
the chance of damage caused
by electrical problems.To check a fuse, look at the
silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the band is broken or melted,
replace the fuse. Be sure to replace
a bad fuse with a new one of the
identical size and rating.
Fuses of the same amperage
can be temporarily borrowed from
another fuse location, if a fuse goes
out. Replace the fuse as soon as
possible.
To identify and check fuses,
circuit breakers, and relays,
see
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑39, Instrument
Panel Fuse Block on page 10‑42,
and Rear Compartment Fuse Block
on page 10‑44.
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
To remove the fuse block cover,
squeeze the three retaining clips
on the cover and lift it straight up.
Notice: Spilling liquid on any
electrical component on the
vehicle may damage it. Always
keep the covers on any electrical
component.

Black plate (40,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-40 Vehicle Care
Engine Compartment Fuse Block
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown. J-CaseFuses Usage
6 Wiper
12 Starter J-Case
Fuses Usage
21 Rear Power
Windows
22 Sunroof
24 Front Power
Windows J-Case
Fuses Usage
26 Antilock Brake
System Pump
27 Electric Park Brake
28 Rear Window
Defogger
41 Brake
Vacuum Pump
42 Cooling Fan K2
45 Cooling Fan K1
Mini Fuses Usage 1 Transmission
Control Module
2 Engine Control
Module Battery
5 Engine Control
Module Ignition
8 Ignition Coils ‐Even
9 Ignition Coils ‐Odd