2011 BUICK LACROSSE air conditioning

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 (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 (35,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-35
TRUNK OPEN
This message will display when
the trunk is open. Close the trunk
completely.
Engine Cooling System
Messages
A/C OFF DUE TO HIGH
ENGINE TEMP
This message displays when
the engine coolant becomes
hotter than the normal operating
temperature. To avoid added
strain on a hot engine, the
air conditioning compressor
automatically turns off. When
the coolant temperature returns
to normal, the air conditioning
compressor turns back on.
You can continue to drive
the vehicle.
If this message continues to appear,
have the system repaired by your
dealer as soon as possible to avoid
damage to the engine.
COOLANT LEVEL LOW ADD
COOLANT
This message will display if the
coolant is low. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 10‑18.
ENGINE OVERHEATED —
IDLE ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature is too
hot. Stop and allow the vehicle to
idle until it cools down.
ENGINE OVERHEATED —
STOP ENGINE
This message displays and a
continuous chime sounds if the
engine cooling system reaches
unsafe temperatures for operation.
Stop and turn off the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so to avoid
severe damage. This message
clears when the engine has cooled
to a safe operating temperature.
HIGH COOLANT
TEMPERATURE
This message displays if the coolant
temperature is hot. See Engine
Overheating on page 10‑21.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil,
be sure to reset the Oil Life System.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑13 andDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑25 for
information on how to reset the
system. See Engine Oil on
page 10‑9 andScheduled
Maintenance on page 11‑2
for more information.

Black plate (1,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Climate Controls 8-1
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Automatic Climate ControlSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Maintenance
Air Intake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Passenger Compartment AirFilter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Climate Control Systems
Automatic Climate Control System
For vehicles with this system, it controls the heating, cooling, and ventilation.
A. Power
B. Temperature Control
C. Fan Control
D. Air Delivery Mode Control
E. Recirculation F. AUTO
G. Defrost
H. Air Conditioning
I. Rear Window Defogger

Black plate (2,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
8-2 Climate Controls
Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls
the fan speed, air delivery, air
conditioning, and recirculation in
order to heat or cool the vehicle
to the desired temperature.
When the AUTO indicator light is
on, the system is in full automatic
operation. If the air delivery mode,
fan speed, recirculation, or air
conditioning setting is adjusted,
the AUTO indicator turns off and
the selected settings will appear
on the display.
To place the system in automatic
mode do the following:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow thesystem time to stabilize. Adjust
the temperature as needed for
best comfort.
Q/R(Temperature Control):
Press to increase or decrease the
temperature. Manual Operation
O(Power):
Press to turn the fan
on or off.
D C(Fan Control): Press to
increase or decrease the fan speed.
The fan speed setting appears
on the main display. Pressing
either button cancels automatic
fan control and the fan can be
controlled manually. Press AUTO
to return to automatic operation.
e *(Air Delivery Mode
Control): Press to change the
direction of the airflow. The current
mode appears in the display screen.
Pressing either button cancels
automatic air delivery control and
the direction of the airflow can be
controlled manually. Press AUTO
to return to automatic operation.
To change the current mode, select
one of the following:
Y(Vent): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
\(Bi-Level): Air is divided
between the instrument panel
outlets and the floor outlets.
C(Tri‐Level): Air is divided
between the windshield, instrument
panel, and floor outlets.
[(Floor): Air is directed to the
floor outlets.
-(Defog): Clears the windows of
fog or moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield and floor outlets.
0(Defrost): Clears the
windshield of fog or frost more
quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield. Selecting defrost
will disable automatic control.
For best results, clear all snow
and ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
#(Air Conditioning): Press to
turn the air conditioning system
on or off. If the fan is turned off or
the outside temperature falls below
freezing, the air conditioning system
will not run.

Black plate (3,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Climate Controls 8-3
Pressing this button cancels
automatic air conditioning and
turns off the air conditioner.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation and the air conditioner
runs automatically as needed.
When the indicator light is on, the
air conditioner runs automatically
to cool the air inside the vehicle or
to dry the air needed to defog the
windshield faster.
>(Recirculation):Press to
alternate between recirculating
air inside the vehicle or pulling in
outside air. When the indicator light
is on, air is being recirculated inside
the vehicle. This helps to quickly
cool the air inside the vehicle or
prevent outside air and odors from
entering.
Pressing this button cancels
automatic recirculation. Press AUTO
to return to automatic operation and
recirculation runs automatically as
needed.
Rear Window Defogger
=(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off.
The rear window defogger
turns off automatically after
about 10 minutes. If turned on
again it runs for about five minutes
before turning off. The defogger
can also be turned off by turning
the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY
or LOCK/OFF.
The rear window defogger can
be set to automatic operation.
See “Climate and Air Quality”
under Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑39. When auto rear defog is
selected, the rear window defogger
turns on automatically when the
interior temperature is cold and
the outside temperature is about
4°C (40°F) and below. The auto
rear defogger turns off automatically
after about 10 minutes, or after
five minutes if the outside
temperature is not as cold. For vehicles with heated outside
rearview mirrors, they turn on when
the rear window defogger button
is on and help to clear fog or frost
from the surface of the mirror.
See
Heated Mirrors on page 2‑17.
Notice: Do not try to clear frost
or other material from the inside
of the front windshield and rear
window with a razor blade or
anything else that is sharp. This
may damage the rear window
defogger grid and affect your
radio's ability to pick up stations
clearly. The repairs wouldn't be
covered by your warranty.
Remote Start Climate Control
Operation: For vehicles with the
remote vehicle start feature, the
climate control system may run
when the vehicle is started remotely.
The system uses the driver's
previous settings to heat or cool the
inside of the vehicle. See Remote
Vehicle Start on page 2‑8.
The rear window defogger turns on
if it is cold outside.

Black plate (4,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
8-4 Climate Controls
Sensor
The solar sensor, located on top
of the instrument panel near the
windshield, monitors the solar heat.
The climate control system uses
the sensor information to adjust
the temperature, fan speed,
recirculation, and air delivery
mode for best comfort.
Do not cover the sensor or the
automatic climate control system
may not work properly.
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
For vehicles with this system, it controls the heating, cooling, and ventilation.
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