2011 BUICK LACROSSE air condition

Black plate (6,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
vi Introduction
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol,
refer to the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
%:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (10,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
1-10 In Brief
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
safety belts properly.
.Safety Belts on page 3‑13.
.How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly on page 3‑17.
.Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3‑22.
.Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on
page 3‑52.
Sensing System for
Passenger Airbag
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbags,
seat‐mounted side impact airbags,
and roof‐rail airbags are not affected
by the passenger sensing system.
The passenger airbag status
indicator will be visible on the
instrument panel when the vehicle
is started. SeePassenger Sensing
System on page 3‑37 for more
information.
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior
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 (14,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
1-14 In Brief
Climate Controls
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with
these systems.
Automatic Climate Control System
A. Power
B. Temperature Control
C. Fan Control
D. Air Delivery Mode ControlE. Recirculation
F. AUTO
G. Defrost
H. Air Conditioning
I. Rear Window Defogger

Black plate (15,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-15
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
A. Power
B. Driver Temperature Control
C. Defrost
D. Fan Control
E. Air Delivery Mode Control
F. Recirculation/AutomaticRecirculation
G. Passenger Temperature Control
H. AUTO I. Rear Window Defogger
J. Heated Steering Wheel
K. Air Conditioning
L. ZONE
See
Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑1 (If Equipped)
or Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑4 (If Equipped).
Transmission
Automatic Transmission
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
Driver Shift Control (DSC) allows
shifting an automatic transmission
similar to a manual transmission.
DSC can be enabled through the
shift lever. SeeManual Mode on
page 9‑30.

Black plate (37,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-37
Passenger Sensing
System
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the right front
passenger position. The passenger
airbag status indicator will be visible
on the instrument panel when the
vehicle is started.
The words ON and OFF will be
visible during the system check.
If you are using remote start,if equipped, to start the vehicle from
a distance you may not see the
system check. When the system
check is complete, either the word
ON or the word OFF will be visible.
See
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 5‑15.
The passenger sensing system
turns off the right front passenger
frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbags,
seat‐mounted side impact airbags,
and roof‐rail airbags are not affected
by the passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part
of the right front passenger seat. The sensors are designed to detect
the presence of a properly-seated
occupant and determine if the
right front passenger frontal airbag
should be enabled (may inflate)
or not.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
secured in a rear seat in the
correct child restraint for their
weight and size.
We recommend that children be
secured in a rear seat, including:
an infant or a child riding in a
rear-facing child restraint; a child
riding in a forward-facing child seat;
an older child riding in a booster
seat; and children, who are large
enough, using safety belts.

Black plate (63,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-63
6. If the child restraint has a toptether, follow the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions
regarding the use of the top
tether. See Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑52 for
more information.
7. Before placing a child in the child restraint, make sure
it is securely held in place.
To check, grasp the child
restraint at the safety belt
path and attempt to move it
side‐to‐side and back‐and‐forth.
When the child restraint is
properly installed, there should
be no more than 2.5 cm (1 in)
of movement. To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle safety belt
and let it return to the stowed
position. If the top tether is
attached to a top tether anchor,
disconnect it. If the head restraint
was removed, reinstall it before
the seating position is used.
See
“Head Restraint Removal and
Reinstallation” underLower Anchors
and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑52 for additional
information on installing the head
restraint properly.Securing Child Restraints
(Front Passenger Seat)
This vehicle has airbags. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure
a forward-facing child restraint.
See Where to Put the Restraint on
page 3‑51.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system which
is designed to turn off the right
front passenger frontal airbag
and seat‐mounted side impact
airbag under certain conditions.
See Passenger Sensing System on
page 3‑37 andPassenger Airbag
Status Indicator on page 5‑15
for more information, including
important safety information.

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 (17,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-17
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
A computer system called OBD II
(On-Board Diagnostics-Second
Generation) monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition, and emission
control systems. It ensures that
emissions are at acceptable levels
for the life of the vehicle, helping
to produce a cleaner environment.
This light should come on when the
ignition is on, but the engine is not
running, as a check to show it is
working. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.If the malfunction indicator lamp
comes on and stays on while the
engine is running, this indicates
that there is an OBD II problem
and service is required.
Malfunctions often are indicated by
the system before any problem is
apparent. Being aware of the light
can prevent more serious damage
to the vehicle. This system assists
the service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:
If the vehicle is
continually driven with this
light on, after a while, the
emission controls might not
work as well, the vehicle fuel
economy might not be as good,
and the engine might not run
as smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Notice:
Modifications made
to the engine, transmission,
exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of the vehicle or the replacement
of the original tires with other
than those of the same Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
can affect the vehicle's
emission controls and can
cause this light to come on.
Modifications to these systems
could lead to costly repairs not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
This could also result in a failure
to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test.
See Accessories and
Modifications on page 10‑3.
This light comes on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing: A misfire condition
has been detected. A misfire
increases vehicle emissions and
could damage the emission control
system on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.