2011 BUICK LUCERNE sensor

Black plate (20,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
For vehicles with LDW, it is intended to help avoid lane
change collisions. It provides a warning if the vehicle is
crossing a lane without using a turn signal. LDW uses a
camera to detect the lane markings. It only operates at
speeds of 56 km (35 mph) or greater.
The warning symbol
@, located in the instrument panel
cluster, appears green if a lane marking is detected.
It changes to amber, flashes, and sounds three chimes
if the vehicle crosses a detected land marking and the
turn signal is not on.
To turn LDW on and off, press the LDW button, located
by the exterior headlamp control.
See Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
on page 3‑40for
more information.
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
For vehicles with this feature, it may alert you to
vehicles located in your side blind zone. When the
system detects a vehicle in the side blind zone, an
SBZA display will light up in the corresponding outside
side mirror indicating that it may not be safe to change
lanes.
The system is enabled at every vehicle startup. It can
be disabled through the Driver Information Center (DIC).
If the message SIDE BLIND ZONE SYS.
UNAVAILABLE appears on the DIC, the system
has been disabled because the sensor is blocked
and cannot detect vehicles in the blind zone. The
sensors, located behind the rear quarter panels, may
be blocked by mud, dirt, snow, ice, slush, or even
heavy rainstorms. The vehicle does not need service.
See Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
on page 3‑36for
more information.
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Black plate (21,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
For vehicles with this feature, it uses sensors on the
rear bumper to detect objects while parking the vehicle.
It operates at speeds less than 8 km/h (5 mph) while in
R (Reverse).
Keep the sensors on the vehicle's rear bumper clean to
ensure proper operation.
The system can be disabled through the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
SeeUltrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)
on
page 3‑35for more information.
Power Outlets
The accessory power outlets can be used to plug in
electrical equipment, such as a cell phone or MP3
player.
The vehicle may have up to three power outlets
depending on the type of front seat installed. If the
vehicle has front bucket seats with a center console,
there are two outlets inside the center console storage
bin, one accessory power outlet and one USB port
outlet. An extra power outlet can be found under the
climate control system next to the ashtray.
See Accessory Power Outlet(s) on page 4‑15.
Universal Remote System
The Universal Home Remote System allows for garage
door openers, security systems, and home automation
devices to be programmed to work with these buttons in
the vehicle.
SeeUniversal Home Remote System
on page 3‑42.
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Black plate (24,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Roadside Assistance Program
U.S.:1-800-252-1112
TTY Users: 1-888-889-2438
Canada: 1-800-268-6800
As the owner of a new Buick, you are automatically
enrolled in the Roadside Assistance program.
See Roadside Assistance Program
on page 8‑7for
more information.
Roadside Assistance and OnStar
If you have an active OnStar subscription, press
the
Qbutton and the current GPS location will be
sent to an OnStar Advisor who will assess your
problem, contact Roadside Assistance, and relay
exact location to get you the help you need.
Online Owner Center
The Online Owner Center is a complimentary service
that includes online service reminders, vehicle
maintenance tips, online owner manual, special
privileges and more.
Sign up today at: www.buickownercenter.com (U.S.)
or www.gm.ca (Canada).
OnStar®
OnStar®uses several innovative technologies and live
Advisors to provide a wide range of safety, security,
navigation, diagnostics, and calling services.
Automatic Crash Response
In a crash, built‐in sensors can automatically alert an
OnStar Advisor who is immediately connected to the
vehicle to see if you need help.
How OnStar Service Works
Q
: This blue button connects you to a specially
trained OnStar Advisor to verify your account
information and to answer questions.
]: Push this red emergency button to get priority help
from specially trained OnStar Emergency Advisors.
X: Push this button for hands‐free, voice‐activated
calling and to give voice commands for Turn‐by‐Turn
Navigation.
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Black plate (60,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
When Should an Airbag Inflate?
Frontal airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to
severe frontal or near-frontal crashes to help reduce
the potential for severe injuries mainly to the driver's or
right front passenger's head and chest. However, they
are only designed to inflate if the impact exceeds a
predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment
thresholds are used to predict how severe a crash is
likely to be in time for the airbags to inflate and help
restrain the occupants.
Whether your frontal airbags will or should deploy is not
based on how fast your vehicle is traveling. It depends
largely on what you hit, the direction of the impact, and
how quickly your vehicle slows down.
Frontal airbags may inflate at different crash speeds.
For example:
.If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbags
could inflate at a different crash speed than if the
vehicle hits a moving object.
.If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits an object that does not
deform.
.If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole), the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall).
.If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.
Thresholds can also vary with specific vehicle design.
Frontal airbags are not intended to inflate during vehicle
rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts.
Your vehicle has a seat position sensor which enables
the sensing system to monitor the position of the right
front passenger's seat. The passenger seat position
sensor and passenger safety belt buckle switch provide
information that is used to determine if the airbags
should deploy at a reduced level or at full deployment.
In addition, your vehicle has a dual-stage driver airbag.
Dual-stage airbags adjust the restraint according to
crash severity. Your vehicle has electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe
frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, dual-stage
airbags inflate at a level less than full deployment. For
more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.
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Black plate (61,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Your vehicle also has a dual-depth passenger airbag
that adjusts the restraint according to crash severity,
seat location, and safety belt status using electronic
frontal sensor(s) and other special sensors which
enable the sensing system to monitor the position of the
front passenger seat. The passenger airbag inflates to a
reduced depth when the passenger seat is in a forward
position. For more rearward front seating positions, the
passenger airbag may inflate to an increased depth (a
full deployment), based on safety belt status and the
crash severity measured early in the event. (Always
wear your safety belt, even with frontal airbags.)
Your vehicle has seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags. SeeAirbag System
on page 2‑55.
Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags are
intended to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes.
Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags will
inflate if the crash severity is above the system's
designed threshold level. The threshold level can
vary with specific vehicle design.
Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags are
not intended to inflate in frontal impacts, near-frontal
impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts. A seat-mounted side
impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the
vehicle that is struck. Both roof-rail airbags will deploy
when either side of the vehicle is struck. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
airbag should have inflated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair
costs were. For frontal airbags, inflation is determined
by what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and
how quickly the vehicle slows down. For seat-mounted
side impact and roof-rail airbags, deployment is
determined by the location and severity of the side
impact.
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?
In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an
electrical signal triggering a release of gas from the
inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing the
bag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inflator,
the airbag, and related hardware are all part of the
airbag module.
Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering
wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with
seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are airbag
modules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to
the door. For vehicles with roof-rail airbags, there are
airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the
side windows that have occupant seating positions.
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Black plate (64,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
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 overhead console
when the vehicle is started.
United StatesCanada
The words ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off,
are 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
OFF, or the symbol for on or off, will be visible. See
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 4‑31. The passenger sensing system turns off the right front
passenger frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact
airbag under certain conditions. The driver airbags and
the 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 and seat‐mounted side
impact 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.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing
child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
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Black plate (69,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q: Is there anything I might add to or change aboutthe vehicle that could keep the airbags from
working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle's
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts of
the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing and
diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument panel,
roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner or pillar
garnish trim, overhead console, front sensors, side
impact sensors, or airbag wiring can affect the
operation of the airbag system.
In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger's position, which
includes sensors that are part of the passenger's
seat. The passenger sensing system may not
operate properly if the original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim, or with GM
covers, upholstery or trim designed for a different
vehicle. Any object, such as an aftermarket seat
heater or a comfort enhancing pad or device, installed under or on top of the seat fabric, could
also interfere with the operation of the passenger
sensing system. This could either prevent proper
deployment of the passenger airbag(s) or prevent
the passenger sensing system from properly turning
off the passenger airbag(s). See
Passenger Sensing
System on page 2‑64.
If you have any questions about this, you should
contact Customer Assistance before you modify
your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses
for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the
Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
See Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 8‑2.
Q: Because I have a disability, I have to get my vehicle modified. How can I find out whether this
will affect my airbag system?
A: If you have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 8‑2.
In addition, your dealer and the service manual have
information about the location of the airbag sensors,
sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
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Black plate (35,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Object Detection Systems
Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA)
For vehicles with the Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
(URPA) system, it operates at speeds less than 8 km/h
(5 mph), and assists the driver with parking and
avoiding objects while in R (Reverse). The sensors on
the rear bumper are used to detect the distance to an
object up to 2.5 m (8 ft) behind the vehicle, and at least
25 cm (10 in) off the ground.
{WARNING:
The Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)
system does not replace driver vision. It cannot
detect:
.Objects that are below the bumper,
underneath the vehicle, or too close or far
from the vehicle.
.Children, pedestrians, bicyclists, or pets.(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
If you do not use proper care before and while
backing, vehicle damage, injury, or death could
occur. Even with URPA, always check behind the
vehicle before backing up. While backing, be sure
to look for objects and check the vehicle's mirrors.
How the System Works
URPA comes on automatically when the shift lever
is moved into R (Reverse). A single tone sounds to
indicate the system is working.
URPA operates only at speeds less than
8 km/h (5 mph).
An obstacle is indicated by audible beeps. The interval
between the beeps becomes shorter as the vehicle gets
closer to the obstacle. When the distance is less than
30 cm (12 in) the beeps are continuous.
To be detected, objects must be at least 25 cm (10 in)
off the ground and below trunk level. Objects must
also be within 2.5 m (8 ft) from the rear bumper. This
distance may be less during warmer or humid weather.
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