Black plate (23,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
Vehicle Care 10-23
3.6L V6 Engine
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on the
instrument panel, to indicate the
vehicle has entered overheated
engine protection operating mode.
The temperature gauge also
indicates an overheat condition
exists. Driving extended distances
and/or towing a trailer in the
overheat protection mode should be
avoided.
Power Steering Fluid
(2.4L L4 Engine and 3.6L
V6 Engine with FWD)
The vehicle has electric power
steering and does not use power
steering fluid.
Power Steering Fluid
(3.6L V6 Engine
with AWD)
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6 for information on the
location of the power steering fluid
reservoir.
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly
check power steering fluid unless a
leak is suspected in the system or
an unusual noise is heard. A fluid
loss in this system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
Check the level when the engine
is cool.
To check the power steering fluid:
1. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
2. Unscrew the cap and pull it straight up.
3. Wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
Black plate (25,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
Vehicle Care 10-25
Brakes
This vehicle has disc brakes. Disc
brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be
heard all the time the vehicle is
moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{WARNING
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Notice: Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could result
in costly brake repair. Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications in
Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be
required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time the brakes are applied,
with or without the vehicle moving,
the brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is
complex. Its many parts have to be
of top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. The vehicle was designed
and tested with top-quality brake
parts. When parts of the braking
system are replaced, be sure to get
new, approved replacement parts.
If this is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example,
installing disc brake pads that are
wrong for the vehicle, can change
the balance between the front and
rear brakes —for the worse. The
braking performance expected can
change in many other ways if the
wrong replacement brake parts are
installed.
Black plate (37,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
Vehicle Care 10-37
J-CaseFuses Usage
25 Rear Heated Seats
26 Antilock Brake System Pump
27 Electric Park Brake
28 Rear Window Defogger
41 Brake Vacuum Pump
42 Cooling Fan K2
43 Not Used
44 Transmission Auxiliary Oil Pump
(eAssist)
45 Cooling Fan K1
59 AIR Pump
Mini Fuses Usage 1 Transmission Control Module —
Battery Mini Fuses Usage
2 Engine Control Module Battery
3 Air Conditioning Compressor Clutch
5 Engine Control Module Run/Crank
8 Ignition Coils —
Even (Six Cylinder
Engine), Ignition
Coils —All (Four
Cylinder Engine)
9 Ignition Coils —Odd
(Six Cylinder
Engine)
10 Engine Control Module—Switched
Battery (from Engine
Control Module
Relay) Mini Fuses Usage
11 Six Cylinder Engine: Post Catalytic
Converter Oxygen
Sensor Heater,
Mass Air Flow
Sensor, Flex Fuel
Sensor, Secondary
Air Induction
Solenoid
13 Run/Crank for Transmission
Control Module and
Fuel System Control
Module/Chassis
Control Module
(eAssist)
14 Cabin Heater Coolant Pump
(eAssist)
15 Motor Generator Unit Coolant Pump
(eAssist)
Black plate (39,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
Vehicle Care 10-39
Mini Fuses Usage53 Run/Crank for Inside Rearview Mirror,
Rear Vision Camera,
Air Quality Sensor,
Aero Shutter Motor
54 Run/Crank for: Heating, Ventilation
and Air
Conditioning,
Headlamp Switch
55 Outside Rearview Mirror, Universal
Garage Door
Opener, Front
Window Switches
56 Windshield Washer
60 Heated Mirror
62 Canister Vent
64 Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL)
Module—Battery
65 Not Used Mini Fuses Usage
66 AIR Solenoid (eAssist)
67 Fuel System Control Module
69 Regulated Voltage Control Sensor
70 Ultrasonic Parking Assist/Side Blind
Zone/Lane
Departure Warning/
Rain Sensor
71 Passive Entry/ Passive Start
Mini Relays Usage 7 Engine Control Module
9 Cooling Fan
13 Cooling Fan
15 Run/Crank
16 AIR Pump Mini Relays Usage
17 Rear Window Defogger
Micro
Relays Usage
1 Air Conditioning Compressor Clutch
2 Starter
4 Wiper Speed
5 Wiper Control
6 Cabin Heater Coolant Pump
(eAssist)
10 Cooling Fan
14 Headlamp Low Beam
Ultra Micro Relays Usage
11 Transmission Auxiliary Oil Pump
(eAssist)
Black plate (41,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
Vehicle Care 10-41
FusesUsage
11 Front Heater Ventilation Air
Conditioning/Blower
(J-Case Fuse)
12 Passenger Seat (Circuit Breaker)
13 Driver Seat (Circuit Breaker)
14 Diagnostic Link Connector
15 Airbag/Automatic Occupant Sensing
16 Trunk
17 Heater Ventilation Air Conditioning
Controller
18 Pre-Fuse for Fuses 4 and 5 Fuses
Usage
19 Infotainment and Center Stack
Displays, Head-Up
Display, Preferred
Device Interface
Module, Rear Seat
Infotainment
(eAssist)
20 Rear Seat Entertainment
Display/Rear Seat
Audio
21 Instrument Panel Cluster
22 Discrete Logic Ignition Switch
23 Body Control Module 3 Fuses
Usage
24 Body Control Module 2
25 Rear Heater Ventilation Air
Conditioning/Blower
26 AC/DC Inverter
Relays Usage
R1 Trunk Relay
R2 Not Used
R3 Power Outlet Relay
Black plate (47,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
Vehicle Care 10-47
is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a
tire is certified to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
Definitions
Air Pressure:The amount of
air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of
the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch).
Accessory Weight
:The
combined weight of optional
accessories. Some examples of
optional accessories are
automatic transmission, power
steering, power brakes, power
windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire's height to its width. Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords between the plies and the
tread. Cords may be made from
steel or other reinforcing
materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The
amount of air pressure in a tire,
measured in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch)
before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See Tire Pressure
on page 10‑49.
Curb Weight
:The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil,
and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings
:A code molded
into the sidewall of a tire
signifying that the tire is in
compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and
date of production.
GVWR
:Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑10.
GAWR FRT
:Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the front axle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑10.
Black plate (52,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
10-52 Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS is designed to warn the
driver when a low tire pressure
condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel
assembly, excluding the spare tire
and wheel assembly. The TPMS
sensors monitor the air pressure in
the tires and transmits the tire
pressure readings to a receiver in
the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition
is detected, the TPMS illuminates
the low tire pressure warning light
on the instrument cluster. If the
warning light comes on, stop as
soon as possible and inflate thetires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑10.
A message to check the pressure in
a specific tire displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The low
tire pressure warning light and the
DIC warning message come on at
each ignition cycle until the tires are
inflated to the correct inflation
pressure. Using the DIC, tire
pressure levels can be viewed. For
additional information and details
about the DIC operation and
displays see Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑25.
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
could be an early indicator that the
air pressure is getting low and
needs to be inflated to the proper
pressure. A Tire and Loading Information
label, attached to your vehicle,
shows the size of the original
equipment tires and the correct
inflation pressure for the tires when
they are cold. See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑10, for an example
of the Tire and Loading Information
label and its location. Also see Tire
Pressure on page 10‑49.
The TPMS can warn about a low
tire pressure condition but it does
not replace normal tire
maintenance. See Tire Inspection
on page 10‑55, Tire Rotation on
page 10‑55 andTires on
page 10‑42.
Notice: Tire sealant materials are
not all the same. A non-approved
tire sealant could damage the
TPMS sensors. TPMS sensor
damage caused by using an
incorrect tire sealant is not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always use only the
GM-approved tire sealant
available through your dealer or
included in the vehicle.
Black plate (61,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
Vehicle Care 10-61
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 smoothroad, 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.
Replace wheels, wheel bolts, wheel
nuts, or Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS) sensors with new
GM original equipment parts.
{WARNING
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel
nuts can be dangerous. It could
affect the braking and handling of
the vehicle. Tires can lose air,
and cause loss of control, causing
a crash. Always use the correct
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for replacement.
Notice: The wrong wheel can
also cause problems with bearing
life, brake cooling, speedometer
or odometer calibration,
headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and tire
or tire chain clearance to the
body and chassis.