Black plate (1,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Trunk Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 1-9
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Sensing System for Passenger Airbag . . . . . . . . . . 1-10 Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Steering Wheel
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-13
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-17
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-18
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . 1-20
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Universal Remote System . . . 1-20
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-22
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-23
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Black plate (3,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-3
A.Air Vents on page 8‑8.
B. Head-Up Display (HUD) on
page 5‑29 (If Equipped).
C. Turn and Lane‐Change Lever. See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑4.
Driver Information Center
Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑25.
D. Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑10.
Driver Information Center
Display. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑25.
E. Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑3.
F. Infotainment Display Screen.
G. Infotainment on page 7‑1.
H. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
Fog Lamps on page 6‑5
(If Equipped).
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑5. I.
Front Storage on page 4‑1.
J. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑17.
K. Cruise Control on page 9‑39.
L. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2.
M. Horn on page 5‑3.
N. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2 (If Equipped).
O. Ignition Positions (Key Access)
on page 9‑17 orIgnition
Positions (Keyless Access) on
page 9‑19.
P. Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats on page 3‑10.
Q. Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑1
(If Equipped).
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System on page 8‑4
(If Equipped). R.
Power Door Locks on
page 2‑11.
Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑4.
Passenger Sensing System on
page 3‑37.
S. Parking Brake on page 9‑33.
T. Shift Lever Position Indicator. See Automatic Transmission on
page 9‑28.
U. Shift Lever. See Shifting Into
Park on page 9‑25.
V. Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑36.
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) on page 9‑37.
Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑42.
Rear Window Sunshade
(If Equipped). See Rear
Window Sunshade on
page 2‑20.
W. Glove Box on page 4‑1.
Black plate (9,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-9
Heated and Ventilated
Seats
Heated and VentilatedSeat Buttons Shown,
Heated Seat Buttons Similar
If available, the buttons are on the
climate control panel. To operate,
the ignition must be on. Press
Lto heat the seat cushion
and seatback or
{, if equipped,
to ventilate the seat.
Press the button once for the
highest setting. With each press
of the button, the seat will change
to the next lower setting, and then
to the off setting. The lights indicate
three for the highest setting and one
for the lowest.
For more information, see Heated
and Ventilated Front Seats on
page 3‑10.
Head Restraint
Adjustment
Do not drive until the head restraints
for all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
To achieve a comfortable seating
position, change the seatback
recline angle as little as necessary
while keeping the seat and the
head restraint height in the proper
position.
For more information see Head
Restraints on page 3‑2 and
Seat Adjustment on page 3‑4.
Black plate (9,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-9
Starting the Engine Using Remote
Start
To start the engine using the remote
start feature:
1. Aim the Remote Keyless Entrytransmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press
Q.
3. Immediately after completing Step 2, press and hold
/until
the turn signal lamps flash, or for
about 2 seconds if the vehicle is
not in view.
Once the vehicle is started, the
parking lamps will turn on and
remain on as long as the engine
is running.
Turn the ignition to ON/RUN
(key access), or select the
ON/RUN/START ignition position
(keyless access), to drive the
vehicle. The engine will shut off after
10 minutes unless a time
extension is done or the ignition
is put in ON/RUN (key access) or
ON/RUN/START (keyless access).
Vehicles with an automatic climate
control system will default to a
heating or cooling mode depending
on the outside temperature during a
remote start. When the key is turned
to ON/RUN (key access), or the
ON/RUN/START ignition position
is selected (keyless access), the
climate control system will turn on
at the setting the vehicle was set to
when the vehicle was last turned off.
Vehicles with heated or heated and
ventilated front seats can have this
feature turn on automatically during
a remote start. See
“Remote Start
Heated Seats” and“Remote Start
Vented Seats” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑39
for more information. Extending Engine Run Time
For a 10-minute extension, repeat
Steps 1 and 2 while the engine is
still running. The remote start can
only be extended once.
When the remote start is extended,
the second 10 minutes will start
immediately.
For example, if the vehicle has
been running for five minutes, and
10 minutes are added, the engine
will run for a total of 15 minutes.
A maximum of two remote starts or
remote start attempts are allowed
between ignition cycles.
The vehicle's ignition must be
turned on and then back off before
the remote start procedure can be
used again.
Black plate (17,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-17
Vehicles with the memory feature
can store a preferred mirror position.
See“Memory Seats” underPower
Seat Adjustment on page 3‑5 for
more information.
Folding Mirrors
Manual Foldaway Mirrors
The mirrors on vehicles with manual
folded mirrors are folded inward
to prevent damage when going
through an automatic car wash.
To fold, pull the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward
to return it to the original position.
Automatic Dimming Feature
The driver outside mirror
automatically adjusts for the glare
of the headlamps behind you.
Turn Signal Indicator
The vehicle may have a turn signal
indicator lamp built into the mirror
housing. The turn signal lamp
flashes with the use of the vehicle's
turn signal and hazard flashers.
Heated Mirrors
For vehicles with heated mirrors:
<(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to heat the mirrors.
See “Rear Window Defogger” under
Automatic Climate Control System
on page 8‑1 for more information.
Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle is equipped with
memory mirrors, there is an option
to have the mirrors tilt down, when
in R (Reverse), to more easily see
the ground near the vehicle.
When the vehicle is shifted to
R (Reverse), both the driver and
passenger mirrors will tilt downward.
They will return to their previous
position when the vehicle is shifted
out of R (Reverse), the ignition is
turned to OFF, or the vehicle is left
in R (Reverse) for an extended
period of time.
This feature can be turned on or off.
SeeVehicle Personalization on
page 5‑39.
Black plate (1,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-1
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . 3-5
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Heated and Ventilated FrontSeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Rear SeatPass-Through Door . . . . . . . . 3-13
Safety Belts
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Safety Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . 3-27
Safety Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-28
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . 3-31
When Should an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Black plate (10,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
3-10 Seats and Restraints
Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats
{WARNING
If you cannot feel temperature
change or pain to the skin, the
seat heater may cause burns
even at low temperatures.
To reduce the risk of burns,
people with such a condition
should use care when using
the seat heater, especially for
long periods of time. Do not
place anything on the seat that
insulates against heat, such
as a blanket, cushion, cover,
or similar item. This may cause
the seat heater to overheat.
An overheated seat heater may
cause a burn or may damage
the seat.
Heated and VentilatedSeat Buttons Shown,
Heated Seat Buttons Similar
If available, the buttons are on the
climate control panel. To operate,
the ignition must be on. Press
Lto heat the seat cushion
and seatback or
{, if equipped,
to ventilate the seat.
Press the button once for the
highest setting. With each press
of the button, the seat will change
to the next lower setting, and then
to the off setting. The lights indicate
three for the highest setting and
one for the lowest.
The passenger seat may take
longer to heat up.
Black plate (11,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-11
Remote Start Heated and
Ventilated Seats
During a remote start, the heated
or ventilated seats, if equipped,
can be turned on automatically.
They are canceled when the ignition
is turned on. Press the button to use
the heated or ventilated seats after
the vehicle is started.
The heated or ventilated seat
indicator lights on the button do
not turn on during a remote start.
The heated seat temperature
performance of an unoccupied seat
may be reduced. This is normal.
The heated or ventilated seats
will not turn on during a remote
start unless they are enabled in
the vehicle personalization menu.
SeeRemote Vehicle Start on
page 2‑8 and“Remote Start
Heated Seats” or“Remote Start
Cooled Seats” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑39
for more information.Rear Seats
Folding the Seatback
Either side of the seatback can be
folded down for more cargo space.
Fold a seatback only when the
vehicle is not moving.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with
the safety belts still fastened may
cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the
safety belts and return them to
their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat. To fold the seatback down:
1. Be sure the safety belt is in the
retainer clip.