2013 BUICK LACROSSE wheel

Black plate (16,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
1-16 In Brief
Portable Audio Devices
Some vehicles have a 3.5 mm
(1/8 in) auxiliary input and a USB
port in the center console bin.
External devices such as iPods
®,
laptop computers, MP3 players, CD
changers, and USB drives may be
connected, depending on the audio
system.
See Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑18.
Bluetooth®
The Bluetooth®system allows users
with a Bluetooth-enabled mobile
phone to make and receive
hands-free calls using the vehicle
audio system and controls.
The Bluetooth-enabled mobile
phone must be paired with the
in-vehicle Bluetooth system before it
can be used in the vehicle. Not all
phones will support all functions. See
Bluetooth (Overview) on
page 7‑20 orBluetooth
(Infotainment Controls) on
page 7‑22 orBluetooth (Voice
Recognition) on page 7‑25.
Steering Wheel Controls
For vehicles with audio steering
wheel controls, some audio controls
can be adjusted at the steering
wheel.
b/g: Press to interact with the
available Bluetooth, OnStar,
or navigation system.
$/i: Press to silence the
vehicle speakers only. Press again
to turn the sound on. For vehicles
with OnStar or Bluetooth systems,
press to reject an incoming call,
or to end a current call.
_SRC^: Turn_or^to select a
radio band or audio source.
Turn
_or^to select the next or
previous favorite radio station, CD,
or MP3 track.
Press SRC to change between
radio and CD or DVD.
+
x−: Press + to increase or −to
decrease the volume.
For more information, see Steering
Wheel Controls on page 5‑2.

Black plate (17,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
In Brief 1-17
Cruise Control
5:Press to turn the cruise control
system on and off.
*: Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
RES/+: Move the thumbwheel up to
make the vehicle resume to a
previously set speed or to
accelerate. SET/−:
Move the thumbwheel down
toward SET/- to set a speed and
activate cruise control, or to make
the vehicle decelerate.
See Cruise Control on page 9‑37.
Infotainment System
See the infotainment manual for
information on the radio, audio
players, phone, navigation system,
and voice or speech recognition.
There is also information on settings
and downloadable applications (if
equipped).
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC display is in the center of
the instrument cluster. It shows the
status of many vehicle systems. The
controls for the DIC are on the turn
signal lever.
1.SET/CLR: Press to set, or press
and hold to clear, the menu item
displayed.
2.
w/x: Use the thumbwheel to
scroll through the items in
each menu.
3. MENU: Press to display the DIC
menus. This button is also used
to return to or exit the last
screen displayed on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑25.

Black plate (22,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
1-22 In Brief
Performance and
Maintenance
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The traction control system limits
wheel spin. The system turns on
automatically every time the vehicle
is started.
.To turn off traction control, press
and release the Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak button
located on the console to the
right of the shift lever.
i
illuminates and the appropriate
DIC message is displayed. See
Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑37.
.Press and release the TCS/
StabiliTrak button again to turn
on traction control.
For more information, see Traction
Control System (TCS) on
page 9‑34.
StabiliTrak®System
The StabliTrak system assists with
directional control of the vehicle in
difficult driving conditions. The
system turns on automatically every
time the vehicle is started.
.To turn off both TCS and
StabiliTrak, press and hold the
TCS/StabiliTrak button, located
on the console to the right of the
shift lever, until
iandg
illuminate and the appropriate
DIC message is displayed. See
Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑37.
.Press and release the TCS/
StabiliTrak button to turn on both
systems.
For more information, see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑35.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The low tire pressure warning light
alerts to a significant loss in
pressure of one of the vehicle's
tires. If the warning light comes on,
stop as soon as possible and inflate
the tires to the recommended
pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑10.
The warning light will remain on until
the tire pressure is corrected.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven. This
may be an early indicator that the

Black plate (23,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
In Brief 1-23
tire pressures are getting low and
the tires need to be inflated to the
proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. Maintain
the correct tire pressures.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑50.
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
This vehicle may come with a spare
tire and tire changing equipment or
a tire sealant and compressor kit.
The kit can be used to temporarily
seal small punctures in the tread
area of the tire. See Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit (With Pressure
Relief Button) on page 10‑64 orTire
Sealant and Compressor Kit (With
Pressure Deflation Button) on
page 10‑71.
If the vehicle came with a spare tire
and tire changing equipment, see If
a Tire Goes Flat on page 10‑62.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message when it is time
to change the engine oil and filter.
The oil life system should be reset
to 100% only following an oil
change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off.
2. Press the DIC MENU button on the turn signal lever to enter the
Vehicle Information Menu. Use
the thumbwheel to scroll through
the menu items until you reach
REMAINING OIL LIFE.
3. Press the SET/CLR button to reset the oil life at 100%.
4. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑13.
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
Vehicles that have a yellow fuel cap
can use either unleaded gasoline or
ethanol fuel containing up to 85%
ethanol (E85). See Fuel E85 (85%
Ethanol) on page 9‑49. For all other
vehicles, use only the unleaded
gasoline described under
Recommended Fuel on page 9‑47.
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
.When road and weather
conditions are appropriate, use
cruise control.

Black plate (20,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
3-20 Seats and Restraints
All of the airbags have the word
AIRBAG embossed on the trim or
on a label near the deployment
opening.
For frontal airbags, the word
AIRBAG is on the center of the
steering wheel for the driver and on
the instrument panel for the front
outboard passenger.
For seat-mounted side impact
airbags, the word AIRBAG is on the
side of the seatback closest to
the door.
For roof-rail airbags, the word
AIRBAG is on the ceiling or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement
the protection provided by safety
belts. Even though today's airbags
are also designed to help reduce
the risk of injury from the force of an
inflating bag, all airbags must inflate
very quickly to do their job.Here are the most important things
to know about the airbag system:
{WARNING
You can be severely injured or
killed in a crash if you are not
wearing your safety belt, even
with airbags. Airbags are
designed to work with safety
belts, not replace them. Also,
airbags are not designed to inflate
in every crash. In some crashes
safety belts are the only restraint.
See
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? on page 3‑23.
Wearing your safety belt during a
crash helps reduce the chance of
hitting things inside the vehicle or
being ejected from it. Airbags are
“supplemental restraints” to the
safety belts. Everyone in the
vehicle should wear a safety belt
properly, whether or not there is
an airbag for that person.
{WARNING
Because airbags inflate with great
force and faster than the blink of
an eye, anyone who is up
against, or very close to any
airbag when it inflates can be
seriously injured or killed. Do not
sit unnecessarily close to any
airbag, as you would be if sitting
on the edge of the seat or leaning
forward. Safety belts help keep
you in position before and during
a crash. Always wear a safety
belt, even with airbags. The driver
should sit as far back as possible
while still maintaining control of
the vehicle.
Occupants should not lean on or
sleep against the door or side
windows in seating positions with
seat-mounted side impact airbags
and/or roof-rail airbags.

Black plate (21,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
Seats and Restraints 3-21
{WARNING
Children who are up against,
or very close to, any airbag when
it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Airbags plus
lap-shoulder belts offer protection
for adults and older children, but
not for young children and infants.
Neither the vehicle's safety belt
system nor its airbag system is
designed for them. Young
children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint
system can provide. Always
secure children properly in the
vehicle. To read how, seeOlder
Children on page 3‑32 orInfants
and Young Children on
page 3‑34.
There is an airbag readiness light
on the instrument cluster, which
shows the airbag symbol. The
system checks the airbag electrical
system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See Airbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑14 for more
information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the
center of the steering wheel.
The front outboard passenger
frontal airbag is in the passenger
side instrument panel.

Black plate (22,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
3-22 Seats and Restraints
Driver Side Shown, PassengerSide Similar
The driver and front outboard
passenger seat-mounted side
impact airbags are in the side of the
seatbacks closest to the door.
The roof-rail airbags for the driver,
front outboard passenger, and
second row outboard passengers
are in the ceiling above the side
windows.Rear Seat Driver Side Shown, Passenger Side Similar
On vehicles with second row
seat-mounted side impact airbags,
they are in the sides of the rear
seatback closest to the door.
{WARNING
If something is between an
occupant and an airbag, the
airbag might not inflate properly
or it might force the object into
that person causing severe injury (Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
or even death. The path of an
inflating airbag must be kept
clear. Do not put anything
between an occupant and an
airbag, and do not attach or put
anything on the steering wheel
hub or on or near any other
airbag covering.
Do not use seat accessories that
block the inflation path of a
seat-mounted side impact airbag.
Never secure anything to the roof
of a vehicle with roof-rail airbags
by routing a rope or tie‐down
through any door or window
opening. If you do, the path of an
inflating roof-rail airbag will be
blocked.

Black plate (24,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
3-24 Seats and Restraints
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. The inflator, the airbag,
and related hardware are all part of
the airbag module.
For airbag location, seeWhere Are
the Airbags? on page 3‑21.
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or
near frontal collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the steering
wheel or the instrument panel. In
moderate to severe side collisions,
even belted occupants can contact
the inside of the vehicle. Airbags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts by
distributing the force of the impact
more evenly over the
occupant's body.
But airbags would not help in many
types of collisions, primarily
because the occupant's motion is
not toward those airbags. See
When
Should an Airbag Inflate? on
page 3‑23.
Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement
to safety belts.
What Will You See after
an Airbag Inflates?
After the frontal airbags and
seat-mounted side impact airbags
inflate, they quickly deflate, so
quickly that some people may not
even realize an airbag inflated.
Roof-rail airbags may still be at least
partially inflated for some time after
they inflate. Some components of
the airbag module may be hot for several minutes. For location of the
airbags, see
Where Are the
Airbags? on page 3‑21.
The parts of the airbag that come
into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There may
be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deflated
airbags. Airbag inflation does not
prevent the driver from seeing out of
the windshield or being able to steer
the vehicle, nor does it prevent
people from leaving the vehicle.
{WARNING
When an airbag inflates, there
may be dust in the air. This dust
could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of
asthma or other breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as
it is safe to do so. If you have
breathing problems but cannot
get out of the vehicle after an
(Continued)