2012 BUICK LACROSSE wheel alignment

Black plate (2,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
10-2 Vehicle Care
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-67
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-69
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit (With Pressure Relief
Button) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit (With Pressure Deflation
Button) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78 Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-93
Jump Starting
Jump Starting (On-board with eAssist Only) . . . . . . . . . 10-94
Jump Starting (with or without eAssist) . . . . . . . . . . . 10-95
Towing
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-99
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-99
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-102
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-105
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-107
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:

Black plate (61,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-61
Tire Rotation
Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km (7,500 mi). See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3.
Tires are rotated to achieve a
uniform wear for all tires. The
first rotation is the most
important.
Any time unusual wear is
noticed, rotate the tires as soon
as possible and check the wheel
alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See
When It Is Time for New Tires
on page 10‑62andWheel
Replacement on page 10‑67.
Use this rotation pattern when
rotating the tires.
Do not include the compact
spare tire in the tire rotation. Adjust the front and rear tires to
the recommended inflation
pressure on the Tire and
Loading Information label after
the tires have been rotated. See
Tire Pressure on page 10‑54
and
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑12.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on
page 10‑57.

Black plate (67,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-67
Temperature–A, B, C
The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all
passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and
A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law. Warning: The
temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The tires and wheels were aligned
and balanced at the factory to
provide the longest tire life and best
overall performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire balancing
will not be necessary on a regular
basis. However, check the
alignment if there is unusual tire
wear or if the vehicle is pulling to
one side or the other. If the vehicle
vibrates when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels might
need to be rebalanced. See your
dealer for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked, or badly rusted or
corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and
wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it.
Some aluminum wheels can be
repaired. See your dealer if any of
these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of
wheel that is needed.
Each new wheel should have the
same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset, and be
mounted the same way as the one it
replaces.

Black plate (11,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
Service and Maintenance 11-11
Tires
Tires need to be properly inflated,
rotated, and balanced. Maintaining
the tires can save money, fuel, and
can reduce the risk of tire failure.
.Signs that the tires need to be
replaced include three or more
visible treadwear indicators; cord
or fabric showing through the
rubber; cracks or cuts in the
tread or sidewall; or a bulge or
split in the tire.
.Trained dealer technicians can
inspect and recommend the right
tires. Your dealer can also
provide tire/wheel balancing
services to ensure smooth
vehicle operation at all speeds.
Your dealer sells and services
name brand tires.Vehicle Care
To help keep the vehicle looking like
new, vehicle care products are
available from your dealer. For
information on how to clean and
protect the vehicle’s interior and
exterior, see
Interior Care on
page 10‑105 andExterior Care on
page 10‑102.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is critical for
ensuring that the tires deliver
optimal wear and performance.
.Signs that the alignment may
need to be adjusted include
pulling, improper vehicle
handling, or unusual tire wear.
.Your dealer has the required
equipment to ensure proper
wheel alignment. Windshield
For safety, appearance, and the
best viewing, keep the windshield
clean and clear.
.Signs of damage include
scratches, cracks, and chips.
.Trained dealer technicians can
inspect the windshield and
recommend proper replacement
if needed.
Wiper Blades
Wiper blades need to be cleaned
and kept in good condition to
provide a clear view.
.Signs of wear include streaking,
skipping across the windshield,
and worn or split rubber.
.Trained dealer technicians can
check the wiper blades and
replace them when needed.

Black plate (13,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
INDEX i-13
Tires (cont'd)Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . 10-71, 10-78
Sealant and Compressor Kit, Storing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-67
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Towing
Driving Characteristics . . . . . . . . 9-57
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . 10-99
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-61, 9-62
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-99 Traction
Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . 9-38
Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . 9-41
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Selective Ride Control . . . . . . . . 9-41
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-61, 9-62
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Turn Signal Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
U
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . . . 9-44
Uniform Tire QualityGrading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Universal Remote System . . . . . 5-49 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-52
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-49
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
V
Vehicle Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
IdentificationNumber (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-99

Black plate (14,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
i-14 INDEX
Vehicle CareStoring the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . 10-87
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
W
WarningBrake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv Cautions and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . .iv
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22 Wheels
Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . 3-43
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19 Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 10-29
Wiring, High Voltage
Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37