
Black plate (12,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Trunk
{WARNING:
Exhaust gases can enter the vehicle if it is driven
with the liftgate, trunk/hatch open, or with any
objects that pass through the seal between the
body and the trunk/hatch or liftgate. Engine
exhaust contains Carbon Monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with the liftgate,
or trunk/hatch open:
.Close all of the windows.
.Fully open the air outlets on or under the
instrument panel.
.Adjust the Climate Control system to a setting
that brings in only outside air and set the fan
speed to the highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
.If the vehicle is equipped with a power liftgate,
disable the power liftgate function.
For more information about carbon monoxide, see
Engine Exhaust on page 3‑30.
Remote Trunk Release
The remote trunk release buttonFis located on the
instrument panel. See Instrument Panel on page 1‑2.
Press the button to open the trunk. To use this feature,
your vehicle must be in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
You can also press the remote trunk release button on
the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter to open
the trunk. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 3‑4.
3-12

Black plate (18,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
When trying to start the vehicle if the engine does not
start and the security light on the instrument panel
cluster comes on, there may be a problem with your
theft-deterrent system. Turn the ignition off and try
again.
If the engine still does not start, and the key appears to
be not damaged, try another ignition key. At this time,
you may also want to check the fuse, seeFuses and
Circuit Breakers
on page 6‑108. If the engine still does
not start with the other key, your vehicle needs service.
If your vehicle does start, the first key may be faulty.
See your dealer who can service the PASS-Key
®III+
to have a new key made. In an emergency, contact
Roadside Assistance. See Roadside Assistance
Program on page 8‑7.
It is possible for the PASS-Key
®III+ decoder to “learn”
the transponder value of a new or replacement key. Up
to 10 keys may be programmed for the vehicle. The
following procedure is for programming additional keys
only. If all the currently programmed keys are lost or do
not operate, you must see your dealer or a locksmith
who can service PASS-Key
®III+ to have keys made
and programmed to the system.
See your dealer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
®III+ to get a new key blank that is cut
exactly as the ignition key that operates the system. To program the new key:
1. Verify that the new key has a
1stamped on it.
2. Insert the already programmed key in the ignition and start the engine. If the engine will not start, see
your dealer for service.
3. After the engine has started, turn the key to LOCK/OFF, and remove the key.
4. Insert the key to be programmed and turn it to the ON/RUN position within five seconds of the original
key being turned to the LOCK/OFF position.
The security light will turn off once the key has
been programmed.
5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 if additional keys are to be programmed.
If you lose or damage your PASS-Key
®III+ key,
see your dealer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
®III+ to have a new key made.
Do not leave the key or device that disarms or
deactivates the theft deterrent system in the vehicle.
3-18

Black plate (21,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
The following accessories can be used for up to
10 minutes after the engine is turned off.
.Audio System
.Audio Steering Wheel (if equipped)
.Clock
.Power Windows
.Sunroof (if equipped)
Power to these accessories works up to 10 minutes or
until the driver door is opened.
The instrument panel cluster lights stay on for a few
seconds, then will go out. Once the driver door is
opened, the power shuts off to these accessories. The
vehicle has a feature designed to protect the battery
against drainage. For more information see Inadvertent
Power Battery Saver
on page 4‑14and Electric Power
Management on page 4‑14.
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). The
engine will not start in any other position. To restart
the engine when the vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only. Notice:
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the vehicle
is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park) only when the vehicle
is stopped.
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will slow down
as the engine warms. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently to allow the oil to warm up
and lubricate all moving parts.
The vehicle has a Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in starting the engine
and protects components. If the ignition key is
turned to the START position, and then released
when the engine begins cranking, the engine will
continue cranking for a few seconds or until the
vehicle starts. If the engine does not start and the
key is held in START, cranking will be stopped
after 15 seconds to prevent cranking motor
damage. To prevent gear damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine is already running.
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Black plate (26,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
2 (Second):This position reduces vehicle speed even
more than 3 (Third) without using the brakes. You can
use 2 (Second) on hills. It can help control vehicle
speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then
you would also want to use the brakes off and on.
Notice: Driving in 2 (Second) for more than 25 miles
(40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h) may
damage the transmission. Also, shifting into
2 (Second) at speeds above 65 mph (105 km/h) can
cause damage. Drive in 3 (Third) or D (Drive) instead
of 2 (Second).
1 (First): This position reduces vehicle speed even
more than 2 (Second) without using the brakes. You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in 1 (First) while going forward, the
transmission will not shift into first gear until the vehicle
is going slowly enough.
Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission. The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, do
not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in place.Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal
is located to the left of the
regular brake pedal, near
the driver door.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down, then push the parking brake pedal down.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light on
the instrument panel cluster should come on. If it does
not, you need to have the vehicle serviced.
A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is
set, the ignition is on, and the vehicle speed is greater
than 5 mph (8 km/h). The brake light will come on
and stay on until the parking brake is released. See
Brake System Warning Light
on page 4‑32for more
information.
3-26

Black plate (41,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
How the System Works
LDW uses a camera located between the inside
rearview mirror and the windshield to detect the lane
markings.
@(Lane Departure Warning):To turn LDW on and
off, press the LDW control, located by the exterior
headlamp control. An indicator on the control will light to
indicate that LDW is on.
When the vehicle is started, the LDW symbol, located in
the instrument panel cluster, will briefly come on to
indicate that the light is operational. LDW only operates at speeds of 35 mph (56 km) or
greater. If LDW is turned on when traveling at these
speeds, the LDW symbol will appear green if the
system detects a left or right lane marking. This symbol
will change to amber and flash and three beeps will
sound if you cross a detected lane marking without
using the turn signal.
If the LDW symbol does not appear, LDW is not
currently operating and will not warn you.
To change the volume of the warning chime, see Chime
Volume under
DIC Vehicle Customization
on page 4‑58for more information.
When the System Does Not Seem To Work
Properly
The LDW symbol will not appear when the system is
having difficulty seeing the lines on the road or if the
view of the camera on the windshield is blocked with
mud, dirt, snow, ice, or slush, if the windshield is
damaged, or when weather limits visibility, such as
while driving in fog, rain, or snow conditions. This is
normal operation, the vehicle does not need service.
For cleaning instructions, see Washing Your Vehicle
on
page 6‑102.
LDW warnings may occasionally occur due to tar
marks, shadows, cracks in the road, or other road
imperfections. This is normal system operation, the
vehicle does not need service.
3-41

Black plate (1,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Section 4 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Tilt Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Power Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Windshield Wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Windshield Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Exterior Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Wiper Activated Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Headlamps on Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Cornering Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Instrument Panel Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Delayed Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Theater Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13 Delayed Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Perimeter Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Front Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Electric Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Battery Run-Down Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Accessory Power Outlet(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Ashtray(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . 4-20
Outlet Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . .4-27
Instrument Panel Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Speedometer and Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . 4-33
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
4-1

Black plate (2,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Section 4 Instrument Panel
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Light . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . 4-36
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-41
Highbeam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-41
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-41
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-42
DIC Operation and Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-42
DIC Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-47
DIC Warnings and Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-49
DIC Vehicle Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-58 Audio System(s)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67
Setting the Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-68
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-69
Using an MP3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-78
XM Radio Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-84
Navigation/Radio System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-85
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-86
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-94
Audio Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-94
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-97
Backglass Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-97
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . . . . . . . 4-98
4-2

Black plate (3,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Instrument Panel Overview
Hazard Warning Flashers
The hazard warning flashers let you warn others that
you have a problem.
The hazard warning flasher button is located in the
center of the instrument panel above the radio.
|:Press to make the front and rear turn signal lamps
flash on and off. Press the button again to turn the
flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, the turn
signals will not work.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on the steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
The tilt lever is located
on the left side of the
steering column.
To adjust the steering wheel: 1. Hold the wheel and pull the lever toward you.
2. Move the steering wheel up or down.
3. Release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
4-3