Page 161 of 450

Black plate (5,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
An arrow on the
instrument panel cluster
flashes in the direction of
the turn or lane change.
For vehicles with the side blind zone alert system, an
arrow in the outside mirror flashes when the turn signal
is used. See Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
on
page 3‑36for more information.
Move the lever all the way up or down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to flash to
signal a lane change. Hold it there until the lane change
is complete. If the lever is briefly pressed and released,
the turn signal will flash three times.
The lever returns to its starting position when it is
released.
If after signaling a turn or lane change the arrow flashes
rapidly or does not come on, a signal bulb may be
burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb is not burned out,
check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers
on
page 6‑108.
Turn Signal On Chime
If the turn signal is left on, a warning chime sounds and
the Driver Information Center (DIC) will display TURN
SIGNAL ON after driving about a mile as a reminder to
turn it off. See DIC Warnings and Messages
on
page 4‑49.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal lever away from you. To change
from high beam to low beam, pull the turn signal lever
toward you.
While the high beams are
on, this light located on
the instrument panel
cluster will also be on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if your headlamps are off.
Pull the turn signal lever toward you briefly to
flash-to-pass.
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Page 162 of 450

Black plate (6,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
If the headlamps are off or on low beam, the high-beam
headlamps will turn on. They will stay on as long as you
hold the lever toward you and the high-beam indicator
on the instrument panel cluster will come on.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper lever is located on the left side of
the steering column.
Turn the band with the wiper symbol on it to control the
windshield wipers.
8(Mist):For a single wiping cycle, hold it on mist until
the wipers start, then release. The wipers stop after one
wipe. Several wipes, hold the band longer.
6(Delay): Use to set the delay time between wipe
cycles. The wiper speed can be set for a long or short
delay between wipes. The closer the band is set to the
top of the lever, the shorter the delay.
6 (Low Speed): Slow wipes.
1 (High Speed): Fast wipes.
9 (Off): Turns the wipers off.
Clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before using
them. If frozen to the windshield, carefully loosen or
thaw them. Damaged blades should be replaced.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools.
The vehicle has wiper-activated headlamps. After the
windshield wipers have completed eight wipe cycles
within four minutes, the headlamps automatically turn
on. See Wiper Activated Headlamps
on page 4‑11for
more information.
4-6
Page 163 of 450

Black plate (7,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Windshield Washer
{WARNING:
In freezing weather, do not use the washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking your
vision.
J(Washer Fluid):Press and release this paddle,
located at the top of the turn signal/multifunction lever,
to spray washer fluid on the windshield. The wipers will
clear the windshield and either stop or return to the
preset speed. For more washer cycles, press and hold
the paddle.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. Cruise control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
{WARNING:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do not
use the cruise control on winding roads or in
heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction
can cause excessive wheel slip, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise control on slippery
roads.
If your vehicle has the Traction Control System (TCS)
and the cruise control is on, TCS will begin to limit
wheel spin and the cruise control automatically turns off.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 5‑6.
When road conditions allow you to safely use it again,
the cruise control can be turned back on.
4-7
Page 164 of 450

Black plate (8,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
The cruise control buttons
are located on left side of
the steering wheel.
T(On/Off):Press to turn the cruise control on or off.
The indicator is lit when cruise control is on.
+ RES (Resume/Accelerate): Press briefly to make the
vehicle resume to a previously set speed, or press and
hold to accelerate.
SET– :Press to set the speed and activate cruise
control or make the vehicle decelerate.
[(Cancel): Press to disengage cruise control without
erasing the set speed from memory.
Setting Cruise Control
If the cruise button is on when not in use, it could get
bumped and go into cruise when not desired. Keep the
cruise control switch off when cruise is not being used.
The cruise control light on the instrument panel cluster
comes on after the cruise control has been set to the
desired speed. See Instrument Panel Cluster
on
page 4‑28.
1. Press the
Tbutton to turn the cruise system on.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release the SET– button located on the
steering wheel.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
Resuming a Set Speed
If cruise control is set at a desired speed and then the
brakes are applied, the cruise control is disengaged
without erasing the set speed from memory.
Once the vehicle speed is 40 km/h (25 mph) or greater,
press the +RES button on the steering wheel. The
vehicle returns to the previously selected speed and
stays there.
4-8
Page 165 of 450

Black plate (9,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
If the cruise control system is already activated,
.Press and hold the +RES button on the steering
wheel until the desired speed is reached, then
release it.
.To increase vehicle speed in small increments,
press the +RES button. Each time this is done, the
vehicle goes about 1.6 km/h (1 mph) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
If the cruise control system is already activated,
.Press and hold the SET–button on the steering
wheel until the lower speed desired is reached,
then release it.
.To slow down in small amounts, press the
SET– button briefly. Each time this is done, the
vehicle goes about 1.6 km/h (1 mph) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase vehicle speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle will
slow down to the cruise speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills depends
upon the vehicle speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you might have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When
going downhill, you might have to brake or shift to a
lower gear to keep your speed down. If the brakes are
applied the cruise control will turn off.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
.To disengage cruise control, step lightly on the
brake pedal, or
.Press the[button on the steering wheel.
.To turn off the cruise control, press theTbutton
on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased from
memory by pressing
Tor if the ignition is turned off.
4-9
Page 166 of 450

Black plate (10,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps
control is located on the
instrument panel to the
left of the steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
.Headlamps
.Taillamps
.Parking Lamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
.Fog Lamps The exterior lamps control has four positions:
O(Off):
Turn the control to this position to turn off the
exterior lamps.
AUTO (Automatic): Turn the control to this position to
automatically turn on the headlamps at normal
brightness, together with the following:
.Parking Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
;(Parking Lamps): Turn the control to this position
to turn on the parking lamps together with the following:
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
5(Headlamps): Turn the control to this position to
turn on the headlamps together with the following lamps
listed below. A warning chime sounds if the driver's
door is opened while the ignition switch is off and the
headlamps are on.
.Parking Lamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
#(Fog Lamps): Push the exterior lamps control in to
turn on the fog lamps.
See Fog Lamps on page 4‑12.
4-10
Page 167 of 450

Black plate (11,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Wiper Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the headlamps and parking lamps
after the windshield wipers are turned on and have
completed eight wipe cycles within four minutes.
When the ignition is turned to LOCK/OFF, the
wiper-activated headlamps immediately turn off. The
wiper-activated headlamps also turn off if the windshield
wipers are turned off.
Headlamps on Reminder
If you leave the exterior lamp buttons for the headlamps
or parking lamps on, remove the key from the ignition
and open the driver's door, you will hear a continuous
warning chime. The chime will turn off when the lamps
are turned off.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running lamps are required on
all vehicles first sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel monitors
the exterior light level for the operation of DRL, so be
sure it is not covered.The DRL system makes the low-beam headlamps turn
on at reduced brightness in daylight when the following
conditions are met:
.The engine is running.
.The exterior lamp button for the headlamps is off.
When the DRL are on, only the low-beam headlamps
will be on. The parking lamps, taillamps, sidemarker
and other lamps will not be on.
When it is dark enough outside, the low-beam
headlamps will come on. The other lamps that turn on
with the headlamps will also turn on. When it is bright
enough outside, the regular lamps will go off, and the
low-beam headlamps change to the reduced brightness
of DRL.
To turn off all exterior lighting at night when the vehicle
is parked, turn the exterior lamp control to the off
position. See Exterior Lamps
on page 4‑10for more
information.
The regular headlamp system should be turned on
when needed.
4-11
Page 168 of 450

Black plate (12,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Fog Lamps
The fog lamps button is on the exterior lamps control to
the left of the steering column.
#(Fog Lamps):Press to turn the fog lamps on or off.
A light comes on in the instrument panel cluster when
the fog lamps are in use. See Instrument Panel Cluster
on page 4‑28. The ignition must be in the ON/RUN
position for the fog lamps to work.
The fog lamps will go off when the headlamps are
changed to high-beam.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
Cornering Lamps
For vehicles with this feature, the cornering lamps come
on when: the headlamps or parking lamps are on, the
vehicle is not in P (Park), and you signal a turn with the
turn signal/multifunction lever. They provide more light
for cornering.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the exterior lamp button has been left on, the exterior
lamps will turn off about 10 minutes after the ignition is
turned to LOCK/OFF and a door has been opened. This
protects against draining the battery if the headlamps or
parking lamps are accidentally left on. If the lamps need
to be left on for more than 10 minutes, use the exterior
lamp control to turn the lamps back on after the ignition
is turned to LOCK/OFF and any door is opened.
Instrument Panel Brightness
D (Instrument Panel Brightness): This feature
controls the brightness of the instrument panel lights.
The knob for this control is located next to the exterior
lamps control.
Push the knob in and release when it pops out. Turn
the knob clockwise to increase the brightness of the
instrument panel lights and counter clockwise to
decrease the brightness. Turning the knob completely
clockwise to the detent will turn on the courtesy lamps.
4-12