Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
174 Driving and Operating
If the pushbutton start is not
working, the vehicle may be near a
strong radio antenna signal causing
interference to the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) system. SeeRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 027.
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be in ON/RUN mode and the
brake pedal must be applied.
Stopping the Engine/OFF (No
Indicator Light) : When the vehicle
is stopped, press ENGINE START/
STOP once to turn the engine off.
The transmission will shift to
P (Park) automatically.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0178.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency: 1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and press ENGINE
START/STOP.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake 0187. If the vehicle cannot be pulled over
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold ENGINE START/
STOP for longer than two seconds,
or press twice in five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber
Indicator Light) :
This mode allows
you to use some electrical
accessories when the engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing
ENGINE START/STOP once without
the brake pedal applied will place
the ignition system in ACC/
ACCESSORY.
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after
10 minutes to prevent battery
rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator
Light) : This mode is for driving and
starting. With the ignition off and the
brake pedal applied, pressing
ENGINE START/STOP once will
place the ignition system in ON/
RUN/START. Once engine cranking
begins, release the button. Engine
cranking will continue until the
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Driving and Operating 175
engine starts. SeeStarting the
Engine 0175. The ignition will then
remain in ON/RUN.
Service Only Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and Car
Wash Mode. See Automatic
Transmission 0181. Service Only
Mode is also available to verify the
proper operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required
for emission inspection purposes.
With the vehicle off, and the brake
pedal not applied, pressing and
holding ENGINE START/STOP for
more than five seconds will place
the vehicle in Service Only Mode.
The instruments and audio systems
will operate as they do in ON/RUN,
but the vehicle will not be able to be
driven. The engine will not start in
Service Only Mode. Press ENGINE
START/STOP again to turn the
vehicle off.Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in P (Park) or
N (Neutral). To restart the engine
when the vehicle is already moving,
use N (Neutral).
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment
0 225. To start the vehicle:
1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the
brake pedal applied. When the
engine begins cranking, let go
of the button. The idle speed
will go down as the engine
warms up. Do not race the
engine immediately after
starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or if the RKE
battery is low, a Driver
Information Center (DIC)
message will display.
See Key and Lock Messages
0 132 andRemote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation
0 27.
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
176 Driving and Operating
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by pressing
ENGINE START/STOP
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and hold it there, then
press ENGINE START/STOP
for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try,
to allow the cranking motor to
cool down. When the engine
starts, let go of the button and
the accelerator. If the vehicle
starts briefly but then stops again, do the same thing. This
clears the extra gasoline from
the engine. Do not race the
engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates
all moving parts.
Stop/Start System
{Warning
Exiting the vehicle without first
shifting into P (Park) may cause
the vehicle to move. You or others
may be injured. Because the
vehicle may have an auto engine
stop/start feature, the vehicle's
engine might seem to be shut off;
however, once the brake pedal is
released, the engine will start up
again.
Shift to P (Park) and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF, before
exiting the vehicle.
The vehicle has a fuel saving stop/
start system to shut off the engine to
help conserve fuel.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied and
the vehicle is at a complete stop,
the engine may turn off. When
stopped, the tachometer displays
AUTO STOP. See
Tachometer
0 110. When the brake pedal is
released or the accelerator pedal is
pushed, the engine will restart.
Auto Stop may be deactivated if:
. A minimum vehicle speed is not
reached.
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Driving and Operating 177
.The engine or transmission is
not at the required operating
temperature.
. The outside temperature is not
in the required operating range,
typically below −10 °C (14 °F) or
above 50 °C (122 °F).
. The transmission is in any gear
other than D (Drive).
. The battery is low.
. The battery has been
disconnected.
. The interior comfort level has not
reached the required level for
the climate control system or
defog settings. See Dual
Automatic Climate Control
System 0156.
. The Auto Stop time is greater
than two minutes.
Engine Heater
The engine coolant heater,
if available, can help in cold weather
conditions at or below −18 °C (0 °F)
for easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up. Plug in the coolant heater at least
four hours before starting the
vehicle. An internal thermostat in
the plug end of the cord will prevent
engine coolant heater operation at
temperatures above
−18 °C (0 °F).
To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord.
The electrical cord is on the
driver side of the engine
compartment, between the
fender and the engine
compartment fuse block.
Check the heater cord for
damage. If it is damaged, do
not use it. See your dealer for
a replacement. Inspect the
cord for damage yearly.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord
or an extension cord can damage
the cord and may result in
overheating and fire.
. Plug the cord into a
three-prong electrical utility
receptacle that is protected
by a ground fault detection
(Continued)
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Driving and Operating 179
Shifting Into Park
To shift into P (Park):1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0187.
2. Press the button on top of the shift lever to shift into P (Park).
See Automatic Transmission
0 181.
3. The P indicator on the shift lever will turn red when the
vehicle is in P (Park).
4. Turn the ignition off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the vehicle is not in
P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
shift to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park 0179. If you are towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0220.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it.
If you are towing a trailer and
parking on a hill, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 220.
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic transmission. The shift
lever unlock button is designed to
prevent inadvertent shifting out of
P (Park) unless the ignition is in ON/
RUN, the brake pedal is applied,
and the shift lever unlock button is
pressed.
The shift lock control is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See Jump Starting - North
America 0281.
To shift out of P (Park):
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Press ENGINE START/STOP.
3. Press the shift lever unlock button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
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182 Driving and Operating
The shift lever always starts from a
center position, represented by an
amber dot on the shift pattern. After
releasing the shift lever, it will return
to the center position.
The transmission does not operate
when the vehicle is off.
If the vehicle is in ACC/
ACCESSORY, the transmission can
be shifted into P (Park).
If the vehicle is turned to LOCK/OFF
while at a relatively high vehicle
speed, the transmission will
automatically shift to N (Neutral).
Once the vehicle is stopped,
P (Park) can be selected.P :This position locks the front
wheels. It is the best position to use
when you start the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the transmission is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle
can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
place the transmission into
P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park 0179 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0220.
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic transmission. The shift
lever unlock button is designed to
prevent inadvertent shifting out of
P (Park) unless the ignition is in ON/
RUN, the brake pedal is applied,
and the shift lever unlock button is
pressed.
When the vehicle is stopped, press
ENGINE START/STOP to turn off
the vehicle. The transmission will
shift to P (Park) automatically.
The vehicle will not shift into
P (Park) if it is moving too fast. Stop
the vehicle and shift into P (Park).
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
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Driving and Operating 183
To shift in and out of P (Park), see
Shifting Into Park0179 andShifting
out of Park 0179.
R : Use this gear to back up.
If the vehicle is shifted from either
R (Reverse) to D (Drive),
or D (Drive) to R (Reverse) while the
speed is too high, the vehicle will
shift to N (Neutral). Reduce the
vehicle speed and try the shift
again.
To shift into R (Reverse): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Press the shift lever unlock button on the side of the shift
lever.
3. From the center position, move the shift lever forward, and
then to the left. R is illuminated
in red.
4. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center
position.
To shift out of R (Reverse): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. 2. Shift to the desired gear.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it
will return to the center
position.
At low vehicle speeds, R (Reverse)
can be used to rock the vehicle
back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging the
transmission. See If the Vehicle Is
Stuck 0169.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Caution
The vehicle is not designed to
stay in N (Neutral) for extended
periods of time. It will
automatically shift into P (Park).
To shift into N (Neutral): 1. From the center position, move the shift lever forward. If the
vehicle is in P (Park) press the
shift lever unlock button while
moving the shift lever back. N
is illuminated in red.
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
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Driving and Operating 189
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal as
the driving situation dictates. The
Brake Assist feature will
automatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
Automatic Vehicle
Hold (AVH)
The Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH)
feature provides Hill Start Assist
(HSA). This feature will activate
when the vehicle is stopped on a
moderate to steep grade to help
prevent it from rolling in an
unintended direction. After the brake
pedal has been released and before
the accelerator pedal has been
pressed, AVH uses brakingpressure to hold the vehicle
stationary. If AVH is holding the
vehicle, a DIC message displays.
AVH will not activate in a forward
drive gear when facing downhill,
or in R (Reverse) when facing uphill.
Select the duration of the AVH
feature on the center stack
touchscreen by choosing the
submenu for Automatic Vehicle
Hold. See
“Comfort and
Convenience” inVehicle
Personalization 0138. When Short
and Auto Park Brake Off is selected,
the vehicle is held stationary for up
to two seconds after the brake pedal
is released. When Long and Auto
Park Brake On is selected, the
vehicle is held stationary for up to
five minutes after the brake pedal is
released. In either case, override
the hold feature by pressing the
accelerator pedal and attempting to
drive away.
If Short and Auto Park Brake Off is
selected in the Settings menu, it will
hold the vehicle for two seconds
unless the driver door is opened or
the driver safety belt is unbuckled
after releasing the brake pedal. If Long and Auto Park Brake On is
selected, it will hold the vehicle for
five minutes unless the driver door
is opened and the driver safety belt
is unbuckled prior to releasing the
brake pedal. When deactivated after
five minutes, or if it is deactivated
when the driver safety belt is
unlatched or the driver door is
opened, the Electric Parking Brake
will engage to prevent vehicle
movement.