Black plate (35,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-35
But airbags would not help in
many types of collisions, primarily
because the occupant's motion
is not toward those airbags.
SeeWhen Should an Airbag
Inflate? on page 3‑32 for more
information.
Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement
to safety belts.
What Will You See After
an Airbag Inflates?
After the frontal airbags and
seat-mounted side impact airbags
inflate, they quickly deflate, so
quickly that some people may
not even realize an airbag inflated.
Roof-rail airbags may still be at least
partially inflated for some time after
they deploy. Some components of
the airbag module may be hot for several minutes. For location of the
airbag modules, see
What Makes
an Airbag Inflate? on page 3‑34.
The parts of the airbag that come
into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There may
be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deflated
airbags. Airbag inflation does not
prevent the driver from seeing out
of the windshield or being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent
people from leaving the vehicle.{WARNING
When an airbag inflates, there
may be dust in the air. This dust
could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of
asthma or other breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
vehicle should get out as soon
as it is safe to do so. If you have
breathing problems but cannot
get out of the vehicle after an
airbag inflates, then get fresh air
by opening a window or a door.
If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag
deployment, you should seek
medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may
automatically unlock the doors, turn
on the interior lamps and hazard
warning flashers, and shut off the
fuel system after the airbags inflate.
You can lock the doors, turn off the
interior lamps and hazard warning
flashers by using the controls for
those features.
Black plate (49,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-49
Child Restraint Systems
(A) Rear‐Facing Infant Seat
A rear-facing infant seat (A)
provides restraint with the seating
surface against the back of the
infant.
The harness system holds the infant
in place and, in a crash, acts to
keep the infant positioned in the
restraint.
(B) Forward-Facing Child Seat
A forward-facing child seat (B)
provides restraint for the child's
body with the harness.(C) Booster Seats
A booster seat (C) is a child
restraint designed to improve
the fit of the vehicle's safety belt
system. A booster seat can also
help a child to see out the window.
Black plate (2,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
5-2 Instruments and Controls
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . 5-35
Engine Power Messages . . . . 5-36
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . 5-36
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 5-36
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Object Detection SystemMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Ride Control System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Anti-Theft Alarm System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Tire Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Transmission Messages . . . . . 5-38
Window Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . 5-39
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . 5-45
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Controls
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Pull the lever (A) down.
2. Move the steering wheel up
or down.
3. Pull or push the steering wheel closer or away from you.
4. Pull the lever (A) up to lock the steering wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving.
Steering Wheel Controls
For vehicles with audio steering
wheel controls, some audio controls
can be adjusted at the steering
wheel.
b g(Push to Talk): For vehicles
with a Bluetooth®, OnStar®,
or navigation system, press
to interact with those systems.
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 (7,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Lighting 6-7
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning
fast enough at idle to produce
all the power needed for very
high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on,
such as: headlamps, high beams,
fog lamps, rear window defogger,
climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.It can increase engine idle speed
to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.
Normally, these actions occur
in steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a Driver Information
Center (DIC) message might be
displayed, such as BATTERY
SAVER ACTIVE, BATTERY
VOLTAGE LOW, or LOW BATTERY.
If one of these messages displays,
it is recommended that the driver
reduce the electrical loads as much
as possible. See
Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑25.Battery Power Protection
The battery saver feature is
designed to protect the vehicle's
battery.
If the exterior lamps or any interior
light is left on and the ignition is
turned off, the battery rundown
protection system automatically
turns the lamp off after about
10 minutes.
Black plate (19,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Infotainment System 7-19
Radio Reception
Frequency interference and
static can occur during normal
radio reception if items such as
cellular phone chargers, vehicle
convenience accessories, and
external electronic devices are
plugged into the accessory power
outlet. If there is interference or
static, unplug the item from the
accessory power outlet.
FM
FM signals only reach about
16 to 65 km (10 to 40 mi). Although
the radio has a built-in electronic
circuit that automatically works to
reduce interference, some static
can occur, especially around tall
buildings or hills, causing the
sound to fade in and out.
AM
The range for most AM stations is
greater than for FM, especially at
night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere
with each other. For better radio
reception, most AM radio stations
boost the power levels during the
day, and then reduce these levels
during the night. Static can also
occur when things like storms and
power lines interfere with radio
reception. When this happens, try
reducing the treble on the radio.
XM™Satellite Radio Service
XM satellite radio service gives
digital radio reception from coast
to coast in the 48 contiguous
United States, and in Canada.
Just as with FM, tall buildings or
hills can interfere with satellite radio
signals, causing the sound to fade
in and out. In addition, traveling
or standing under heavy foliage,
bridges, garages, or tunnels may
cause loss of the XM signal for a
period of time.
Cellular Phone Usage
Cellular phone usage may cause
interference with the vehicle's radio.
This interference may occur when
making or receiving phone calls,
charging the phone's battery,
or simply having the phone on.
This interference can cause an
increased level of static while
listening to the radio. If static is
received while listening to the
radio, unplug the cellular phone
and turn it off.
Backglass Antenna
The AM-FM antenna is integrated
with the rear window defogger,
located in the rear window. Make
sure that the inside surface of the
rear window is not scratched and
that the lines on the glass are not
damaged. If the inside surface is
damaged, it could interfere with
radio reception. For proper radio
reception, the antenna connector
needs to be properly attached to
the post on the glass.
Black plate (20,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
7-20 Infotainment System
If a cellular telephone antenna
needs to be attached to the glass,
make sure that the grid lines for the
AM-FM antenna are not damaged.
There is enough space between
the grid lines to attach a cellular
telephone antenna without
interfering with radio reception.
Notice:Using a razor blade or
sharp object to clear the inside
rear window can damage the rear
window antenna and/or the rear
window defogger. Repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not clear the inside
rear window with sharp objects. Notice:
Do not apply aftermarket
glass tinting with metallic film.
The metallic film in some tinting
materials will interfere with
or distort the incoming radio
reception. Any damage caused
to your backglass antenna due
to metallic tinting materials will
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Satellite Radio Antenna
For vehicles with XM satellite radio
service, the antenna is located on
the roof of the vehicle. Keep the
antenna clear of obstructions for
clear radio reception.
Audio Players
CD Player
The CD player can play audio CDs
and MP3 CDs.
The CD player will not play
8 cm (3 in) CDs.
Care of CDs
Sound quality can be reduced due
to disc quality, recording method,
quality of the music recorded, and
how the disc has been handled.
Handle discs carefully and store
them in their original cases or other
protective cases away from direct
sunlight and dust. If the bottom
surface of a disc is damaged, the
disc may not play properly or at all.
Black plate (41,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Infotainment System 7-41
Video Screen Input Jack
Each video screen is equipped
with a video input jack to allow
video cables to be connected
from an auxiliary device such as
a camcorder or a video game
system. This signal will override
any video provided by the RSE
system; either the DVD or auxiliary
A/V jack source. The RSE system
must be on for this input to operate.
Remote Control
To use the remote control, aim it
at the transmitter window at either
seatback console and press thebutton. Direct sunlight or very bright
light could affect the ability of the
RSE transmitter to receive signals
from the remote control. Check
the batteries if the remote control
does not seem to be working. See
“Battery Replacement”
later in this
section. Objects blocking the line of
sight could also affect the function
of the remote control.
If a CD, DVD, or MP3 disc is in the
Radio DVD slot, the remote control
Obutton can be used to turn on
the video screen display and start
the disc. The infotainment system
can also turn on the video screen
display. See CD/DVD Player on
page 7‑23 or the separate
navigation system manual for
more information.
Notice: Storing the remote
control in a hot area or in direct
sunlight can damage it, and the
repairs will not be covered by the
warranty. Storage in extreme cold
can weaken the batteries. Keep
the remote control stored in a
cool, dry place. Remote Control Buttons
O(Power):
Press to turn the video
screens on and off.
P(Illumination): Press to turn
the remote control backlight on.
The backlight times out after
several seconds if no other
button is pressed.
v(Title): Press to return to
the main menu of the DVD. This
function could vary for each disc.
y(Main Menu): Press to access
the DVD menu. The DVD menu is
different on every DVD. Use the
navigation arrows to move the
cursor. After making a selection
press the enter button. This button
only operates when using a DVD.
n,q,p,o(Menu Navigation
Arrows): Use the arrow buttons to
navigate through a menu.
r(Enter): Press to select the
highlighted choice in any menu.