
Black plate (5,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
Introduction v
(:Heated Steering Wheel
j:LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak®
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (1,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Trunk Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 1-8
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Passenger Sensing System . . . 1-9
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10 Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-12
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-16
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-16
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . 1-18
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-18
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Universal Remote System . . . 1-18
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
eAssist Features
eAssist®Overview . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
High Voltage Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20 Driver Efficiency Gauge . . . . . . 1-20
Automatic Engine Start/Stop
Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 1-21
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
StabiliTrak
®System . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-22
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-23
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-23
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24

Black plate (3,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
In Brief 1-3
1.Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
Fog Lamps on page 6‑4 (If
Equipped).
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑5.
Head-Up Display (HUD) on
page 5‑29 (If Equipped).
2. Air Vents on page 8‑6.
3. Turn and Lane-Change Lever. See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑4.
Driver Information Center
Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑25.
4. Instrument Cluster on page 5‑9.
Driver Information Center
Display. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑25.
5. Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑3.
6. Infotainment Display Screen.
7. Infotainment. See infotainment system manual. 8. Hood Release. See
Hood on
page 10‑5.
9. Front Storage on page 4‑1.
10. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑16.
11. Cruise Control on page 9‑37.
12. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2.
13. Horn on page 5‑3.
14. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2 (If Equipped).
15. Ignition Positions (Keyless
Access) on page 9‑15 or
Ignition Positions (Key Access)
on page 9‑17.
16. Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats on page 3‑8 (If
Equipped).
17. Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑1.
18. Parking Brake on page 9‑32. 19. Shift Lever Position Indicator.
SeeAutomatic Transmission
on page 9‑27.
20. Shift Lever. See Shifting Into
Park on page 9‑24.
21. Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑34.
StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑35 (If Equipped).
Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑40.
Rear Window Sunshade on
page 2‑19 (If Equipped).
22. Power Door Locks on
page 2‑10.
Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑4.
Passenger Sensing System on
page 3‑26.

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 (1,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
Instruments and Controls 5-1
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-2
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-2
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 5-3
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-3
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Clock (Radio with CD andTouchscreen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Driver Efficiency Gauge . . . . . . 5-12
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-13 Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-14
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Charging System Light . . . . . . 5-15
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
StabiliTrak
®OFF Light . . . . . . . 5-20
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . 5-21
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 5-23
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 5-23
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . 5-24
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . 5-29
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Battery Voltage and Charging Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Brake System Messages . . . . 5-33
Compass Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Cruise Control Messages . . . . 5-34
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . 5-35
Engine Power Messages . . . . 5-35
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . 5-35
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 5-36
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Object Detection System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Ride Control System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Security Messages . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Starting the Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37

Black plate (20,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
5-20 Instruments and Controls
If the light does not come on, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn if
there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the
ignition off.
If the light comes on while driving,
stop as soon as it is safely possible
and turn off the vehicle. Then start
the engine again to reset the
system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the
vehicle needs service. A chime may
also sound when the light comes on
steady.
If the ABS light is the only light on,
the vehicle has regular brakes, but
the antilock brakes are not
functioning.
If both the ABS and the brake
system warning light are on, the
vehicle's antilock brakes are not
functioning and there is a problem
with the regular brakes. See your
dealer for service.See
Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑18 andBrake System
Messages on page 5‑33.
Traction Off Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer.
This light comes on when the
Traction Control System (TCS) has
been turned off by pressing and
releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak
button.
This light also comes on and the
system turns off if there is a problem
with the TCS. If the light comes on and stays on
for an extended period of time while
the system is turned on, the vehicle
needs service.
See
Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑34 andStabiliTrak
®
System on page 9‑35.
StabiliTrak®OFF Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer.
This light comes on when the
StabiliTrak system is turned off.
If the Traction Control System (TCS)
is off, wheel spin is not limited.
If StabiliTrak is off, the system does
not assist in controlling the vehicle.

Black plate (21,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
Instruments and Controls 5-21
Turn on the TCS and the StabiliTrak
system and the warning light
turns off.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑34 andStabiliTrak
®
System on page 9‑35 for more
information.
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak®Light
The TCS/StabiliTrak light comes on
briefly when the engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have
the vehicle serviced by the dealer.
If the system is working normally,
the indicator light turns off. If the light is on while certain DIC
messages display, this indicates
that the TCS and StabiliTrak
systems are not working or are
disabled.
If the light is on and not flashing, the
TCS and potentially the StabiliTrak
system have been disabled. Check
the DIC messages to determine
which feature(s) is no longer
functioning and whether it is
because of the driver turning off the
feature(s), or because the system is
not working properly and the vehicle
requires service.
If the TCS is disabled, wheel spin is
not limited. If the StabiliTrak system
is disabled, the system does not aid
in maintaining directional control of
the vehicle.
If the indicator/warning light is on
and flashing, the TCS or the
StabiliTrak system is actively
working. Check the DIC messages
for details to determine which
system is working. If a message
appears in the DIC, the system may
be limiting wheel spin and aiding in
maintaining directional control of the
vehicle.
For vehicles with an uplevel or
eAssist cluster, this light comes on
in the Driver information
Center (DIC).
See
StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑35 andTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑34.
See Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑37 for more information
on the messages associated with
this light.

Black plate (30,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/7/12
5-30 Instruments and Controls
The following indicator lights come
on in the instrument panel when
activated and also appear on
the HUD:
.Turn Signal Indicators
.High-Beam Indicator Symbol
The HUD temporarily displays some
vehicle warnings, such as CHECK
TIRE PRESSURE and FUEL
LEVEL LOW when these messages
are on the DIC trip computer.
The HUD also displays the following
messages on vehicles with these
systems, when they are active:
.TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE
.STABILITRAK ACTIVE
When the HUD is on, the
speedometer reading is continually
displayed. The current radio station
or CD track number will display for a
short period of time after the radio
or CD track status changes. This
happens whenever radio information
is changed. The speedometer size
is reduced when radio, CD
information, warnings, or turn-by-turn navigation
information are displayed on
the HUD.The HUD control is located to the
left of the steering wheel.
To adjust the HUD image so that
items are properly displayed, do the
following:
1. Adjust the driver seat to a
comfortable position.
2. Start the engine.
3. Adjust the HUD controls. Use the following settings to adjust
the HUD.
OFF:
To turn HUD off, turn the HUD
dimming knob fully counterclockwise
until the HUD display turns off.
Brightness: Turn the dimming knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to
brighten or dim the display.
«(Up) orª(Down): Press the
up or down arrows to center the
HUD image in your view. The HUD
image can only be adjusted up and
down, not side to side.
PAGE: Press to select the display
formats. Release the PAGE button
when the format number with the
desired display is shown on the
HUD. If vehicle messages are
displayed, pressing PAGE may clear
the message.