Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Driving and Operating 173
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 off before exiting the
vehicle.
The vehicle may be equipped with a
fuel saving Stop/Start system to
shut off the engine to help
conserve fuel.
Auto Stop (Vehicles without
eAssist)
If equipped, 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 0112. When the brake
pedal is released or the accelerator
pedal is pushed, the engine will
restart.
The vehicle may remain in Auto
Stop even after it is shifted into
P (Park). Auto Stop will be
maintained until the door is opened
or the seat belt is unbuckled. There are several conditions that
may prevent an Auto Stop or cause
an Auto Start.
Auto Stop may be deactivated if:
.
A minimum vehicle speed is not
reached.
. 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 charge is low.
. The battery has been
disconnected.
. The system may not be able to
shut off the engine in order to
maintain the air conditioning
comfort level or defrost system
settings. See Dual Automatic
Climate Control System 0152.
To maximize fuel economy, use
the ECO air conditioning mode.
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
174 Driving and Operating
.The Auto Stop time is greater
than two minutes.
Auto Stop (Vehicles with
eAssist)
If equipped, 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 0112. When the brake
pedal is released or the accelerator
pedal is pushed, the engine will
restart.
The vehicle may remain in Auto
Stop for up to two minutes. The vehicle may remain in Auto
Stop even after it is shifted into
P (Park). If the driver opens the door
or unbuckles the seat belt the
vehicle will exit Auto Stop and
restart the engine.
There are several conditions that
may prevent an Auto Stop or cause
an Auto Start.
Auto Stop may be
deactivated when:
.
The engine, transmission,
or high voltage battery is not at
the required operating
temperature.
. The outside temperature is not
in the required operating range,
typically below −20 °C (−4 °F).
. The system may not be able to
shut off the engine in order to
maintain the air conditioning
comfort level or defrost system
settings. See Dual Automatic
Climate Control System 0152.
To maximize fuel economy, use
the ECO air conditioning mode. .
The transmission is in any gear
other than D (Drive).
. The high voltage battery charge
is low.
. The hood is not fully closed.
. The malfunction indicator lamp
is on.
. High humidity is detected.
The Engine Will Restart when:
. The brake pedal is released.
. The accelerator pedal is applied.
. Shifting out of D (Drive) to any
other gear besides P (Park).
. The air conditioning or defrost
system needs the compressor to
maintain interior comfort. See
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System 0152. To maximize fuel
economy, use the ECO air
conditioning mode.
. The engine is required to run for
either heater or climate control
performance, or the climate
control system is turned from off
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Driving and Operating 177
Warning (Continued)
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
shift to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park 0176. If you are towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0221.
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
0 221.
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic transmission. The shift
lock release button is designed to
prevent inadvertent shifting out of
P (Park) while the vehicle is running. 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
(with or without eAssist) 0294 or
Jump Starting - North America
(On-board with eAssist Only) 0293.
To shift out of P (Park):
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Press ENGINE START/STOP.
3. Press the shift lock release button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
5. The P indicator will turn white and the gear indicator on the
shift lever will turn red when
the vehicle is no longer in
P (Park).
6. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center
position. If the vehicle cannot shift from
P (Park), a Driver Information Center
(DIC) message will be displayed.
See your dealer for service.
Manual Park Release
{Warning
The transmission will be placed in
N (Neutral) when the manual park
release is pulled. The vehicle can
roll and you or others could be
injured. Ensure the vehicle is on
level ground.
Caution
The manual park release is not
intended to be used for towing.
Damage may result from using
the manual park release in this
way. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Driving and Operating 189
normal, and is done to periodically
check the correct operation of the
EPB system.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the
rear wheels to prevent vehicle
movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/ ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The EPB is released when the red
parking brake status light is off.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, release the EPB by
pressing and holding the EPB
switch. Continue to hold the switch
until the red parking brake status
light is off. If either light stays on
after release is attempted, see your
dealer.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
Brake Assist
The Brake Assist feature is
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has 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 braking
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
190 Driving and Operating
pressure to hold the vehicle
stationary. If AVH is holding the
vehicle, a Driver Information Center
(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 through vehicle
personalization. See“Comfort and
Convenience” inVehicle
Personalization 0133. 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, it will hold the vehicle for
two seconds unless the driver door
is opened or the driver seat 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
seat belt is unbuckled prior to
releasing the brake pedal. When
deactivated after five minutes, or if it
is deactivated when the driver seat
belt is unlatched or the driver door is
opened, the Electric Parking Brake
will engage to prevent vehicle
movement.Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak®, an
electronic stability control system.
These systems help limit wheel slip
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any
of the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Driving and Operating 203
Driver Assistance
Systems
This vehicle may have features that
work together to help avoid crashes
or reduce crash damage while
driving, backing, and parking. Read
this entire section before using
these systems.
{Warning
Do not rely on the Driver
Assistance Systems. These
systems do not replace the need
for paying attention and driving
safely. You may not hear or feel
alerts or warnings provided by
these systems. Failure to use
proper care when driving may
result in injury, death, or vehicle
damage. SeeDefensive Driving
0 161.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Under many conditions, these
systems will not:
. Detect children,
pedestrians, bicyclists,
or animals.
. Detect vehicles or objects
outside the area monitored
by the system.
. Work at all driving speeds.
. Warn you or provide you
with enough time to avoid a
crash.
. Work under poor visibility or
bad weather conditions.
. Work if the detection sensor
is not cleaned or is covered
by ice, snow, mud, or dirt.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Work if the detection sensor
is covered up, such as with
a sticker, magnet, or metal
plate.
. Work if the area surrounding
the detection sensor is
damaged or not properly
repaired.
Complete attention is always
required while driving, and you
should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes and/or steer
the vehicle to avoid crashes.
Audible or Safety Alert Seat
Some driver assistance features
alert the driver of obstacles by
beeping. To change the volume of
the warning chime, see “Comfort
and Convenience” underVehicle
Personalization 0133.
If equipped with the Safety Alert
Seat, the driver seat cushion may
provide a vibrating pulse alert
instead of beeping. To change this,
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
204 Driving and Operating
see“Collision/Detection Systems”
under Vehicle Personalization
0 133.
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing
If equipped, the Rear Vision Camera
(RVC), Rear Parking Assist (RPA),
Front Parking Assist (FPA), Rear
Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), and
Automatic Parking Assist (APA) may
help the driver park or avoid objects.
Always check around the vehicle
when parking or backing.
Rear Vision Camera (RVC)
When the vehicle is shifted into
R (Reverse), the RVC shows an
image of the area behind the vehicle
in the infotainment display. The
previous screen displays when the
vehicle is shifted out of R (Reverse)
after a short delay. To return to the
previous screen sooner, press any
button on the infotainment system,
shift into P (Park), or reach a vehicle
speed of 8 km/h (5 mph). Press MENU to adjust the display
brightness while viewing the
infotainment display.
1. View Displayed by the
Camera
1. View Displayed by theCamera
2. Corners of the Rear Bumper
Displayed images may be farther or
closer than they appear. The area
displayed is limited and objects that
are close to either corner of the
bumper or under the bumper do not
display.
A warning triangle may appear on
the infotainment display to show
that RPA has detected an object.
This triangle changes from amber to
red and increases in size the closer
the object.
{Warning
The camera(s) do not display
children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
crossing traffic, animals, or any
other object outside of the
cameras’ field of view, below the
bumper, or under the vehicle.
Shown distances may be different
from actual distances. Do not
drive or park the vehicle using
(Continued)
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Driving and Operating 205
Warning (Continued)
only these camera(s). Always
check behind and around the
vehicle before driving. Failure to
use proper care may result in
injury, death, or vehicle damage.
Parking Assist
With RPA, and if equipped with FPA,
as the vehicle moves at speeds of
less than 8 km/h (5 mph) the
sensors on the bumpers may detect
objects up to 1.8 m (6 ft) behind the
vehicle and 1.2 m (4 ft) in front of the
vehicle within a zone 25 cm (10 in)
high off the ground and below
bumper level. These detection
distances may be shorter during
warmer or humid weather. Blocked
sensors will not detect objects and
can also cause false detections.
Keep the sensors clean of mud, dirt,
snow, ice, and slush; and clean
sensors after a car wash in freezing
temperatures.
{Warning
The Parking Assist system does
not detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects
located below the bumper or that
are too close or too far from the
vehicle. It is not available at
speeds greater than 8 km/h
(5 mph). To prevent injury, death,
or vehicle damage, even with
Parking Assist, always check the
area around the vehicle and
check all mirrors before moving
forward or backing.
The instrument cluster may have a
Parking Assist display with bars that
show “distance to object” and object
location information for RPA, and on
some vehicles, FPA. As the object
gets closer, more bars light up and
the bars change color from yellow to
amber to red.
When an object is first detected in
the rear, one beep will be heard
from the rear. When an object is
very close (<0.6 m (2 ft) in the
vehicle rear, or <0.3 m (1 ft) in the
vehicle front), five beeps will sound
from the front or rear depending on
object location. Beeps for FPA are
higher pitched than for RPA.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
If equipped, when the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse), RCTA
displays a red warning triangle with
a left or right pointing arrow on the
infotainment display to warn of
traffic coming from the left or right.
This system detects objects coming
from up to 20 m (65 ft) from the left
or right side of the vehicle. When an
object is detected, either three
beeps sound from the left or right,