
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Driving and Operating 221
{Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
When towing a trailer:. Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Also adjust the climate
control system to a setting
that brings in only outside
air. See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0180.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy
braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so it is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Caution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Vehicle Care 243
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
.Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the
fluid level goes back up.
. A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system. Have the
brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system.{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light 0116.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid
at the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0297.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0305.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove
the cap and do not add fluid.
This vehicle has a standard 12-volt
battery under the trim panel on the
left side of the trunk. Refer to the

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Vehicle Care 247
LED Lighting
This vehicle has several LED lamps.
For replacement of any LED lighting
assembly, contact your dealer.
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps
Driver Side Shown, PassengerSide Similar
1. Stoplamp/Turn Signal
2. Back-Up Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the trunk. See Trunk
0 38.
2. Remove the fasteners to pull the trunk trim out.
3. Remove and retain the four nuts fastening the taillamp
assembly to the vehicle body.
4. Remove the taillamp assembly by pulling straight back.
5. Remove the bulb socket by turning it counterclockwise.
6. Remove the old bulb by pulling it straight out.
7. Reverse Steps 1–6 to install.License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Push the lamp assembly toward the center of the
vehicle, then move the lamp
downward, and remove it from
the vehicle body.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Vehicle Care 275
Warning (Continued)
2. Put an automatictransmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks, if equipped, on both sides of
the tire at the opposite
corner of the tire being
changed.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (2),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (1), if equipped.
1. Wheel Block (If Equipped)
2. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
1. Tow Hook (If Equipped)
2. Extension Bolt
3. Jack
4. Wrench
To access the spare tire and tools: 1. Open the trunk.
2. Remove the spare tire cover.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
336 Index
ArmrestRear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Assistance Systems for Parking and Backing . . . . . . . . . . 203
Automatic Dimming Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Forward Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
B
BatteryLoad Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Voltage and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Battery - North America . . . . 243, 281
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . 245 Brake
Parking, Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
System Warning Light . . . . . . . . .116
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Automatic Forward . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Braking System
Front Pedestrian (FPB) . . . . . . . 210
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 173
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
High Intensity Discharge(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . . . 247
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 217 California (cont'd)
Perchlorate Materials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
California
Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .227, 243, 281
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Cargo
Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . 2
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . . 98
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Charging Wireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 114
Check Malfunction Indicator
Engine Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Child Restraints Infants and Young Children . . . . . 80
Lower Anchors and Tethersfor Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Index 345
TransmissionAutomatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Turn Signal Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 271
Universal Remote System . . . . . . 145
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Identification Number (VIN) . . . 308
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Reminder Messages . . . . . . . . . . 137 Vehicle (cont'd)
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . 118
Vehicle Care Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Vehicle Hold Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Vehicle Hold (AVH) Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
W
Warning Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Caution and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Lane Departure (LDW) . . . . . . . 215
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Warnings Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance . . 272 Wheels (cont'd)
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . 84
Wi-Fi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Winter
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . 245
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106