2018 BUICK LACROSSE engine

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Driving and Operating 175
to normal air conditioning,
or defrost. SeeDual Automatic
Climate Control System 0152.
. The high voltage battery charge
is low and requires recharging.
. Auto Stop time is greater than
two minutes.
. The hood is opened.
Engine Heater
The engine 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
heater operation at temperatures
above −18 °C (0 °F).
To Use the Engine 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
function. An ungrounded
outlet could cause an
electric shock.
. Use a weatherproof,
heavy-duty, 15 amp-rated
extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the
recommended extension
cord in good operating
condition, or using a
damaged heater or
extension cord, could make
(Continued)

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
176 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
it overheat and cause a fire,
property damage, electric
shock, and injury.
. Do not operate the vehicle
with the heater cord
permanently attached to the
vehicle. Possible heater
cord and thermostat
damage could occur.
. While in use, do not let the
heater cord touch vehicle
parts or sharp edges. Never
close the hood on the
heater cord.
. Before starting the vehicle,
unplug the cord, reattach
the cover to the plug, and
securely fasten the cord.
Keep the cord away from
any moving parts.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine
parts. The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer in the
area where you will be parking the
vehicle for the best advice on this.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
Some vehicle accessories may be
used after the ignition is turned off.
The power windows and sunroof,
if equipped, will continue to work for
up to 10 minutes or until any door is
opened.
The infotainment system will
continue to work for 10 minutes,
until the driver door is opened,
or until the ignition is turned on or
placed in ACC/ACCESSORY.
Shifting Into Park
To shift into P (Park):
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0188. 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
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 (Continued)

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
178 Driving and Operating
Vehicles with the 3.6L V6 Engine
may include a manual park release
that can be used to shift the vehicle
into N (Neutral) when the engine is
not running.
Pulling the manual park release
while the vehicle is on or turning the
ignition on while the manual park
release is pulled, will result in a
Service Transmission message
being displayed.
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
using the manual park release:1. Ensure the vehicle is on level ground and set the parking
brake. Release the brake
pedal.
2. Turn the vehicle off.
3. Remove the interior trim panel on the driver side of the center
console.
4. Use pliers to remove the fastener holding the fabric to
the center console. Then pull
back the fabric to expose the
manual park release lever.
5. Ensure more than one minute has elapsed since Step 2.
Apply the brake pedal.6. Pull the manual park release
lever 90° to its latching
position.
7. Place the ignition in ACC/ ACCESSORY and release the
parking brake.
To return the vehicle to P (Park)
using the manual park release: 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Driving and Operating 179
2. Move the manual park release90° back to its original position.
3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Confirm that the vehicle is in P (Park) by turning the ignition
on or placing the vehicle in
ACC/ACCESSORY, then
ensure that the indicator
displays P.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Extended Parking
It is better not to park with the
vehicle running. If the vehicle is left
while running, follow the proper
steps to be sure the vehicle will not
move and there is adequate
ventilation.
See Shifting Into Park 0176 and
Engine Exhaust 0180.
If the vehicle is left parked while
running and the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter is outside
the vehicle, the vehicle will turn off
after one hour. If the vehicle is left
parked while running and the RKE
transmitter is inside, the vehicle will
turn off after two hours.
The timer will reset if the vehicle is
taken out of P (Park) while it is
running.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
180 Driving and Operating
Engine Exhaust
{Warning
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO), which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:. The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation
(parking garages, tunnels,
deep snow that may block
underbody airflow or tail
pipes).
. The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
. The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
. The vehicle exhaust system
has been modified,
damaged, or improperly
repaired.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle: . Drive it only with the
windows completely down.
. Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation.
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to
be sure the vehicle will not move.
See Shifting Into Park 0176 and
Engine Exhaust 0180.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Driving and Operating 181
Automatic
Transmission
The shift pattern is displayed in the
top of the shift lever. The selected
gear position will illuminate red on
the shift lever, while all others will
be displayed in white. If the shift is
not immediate, as in very cold
conditions, the indicator on the shift
lever may blink until it is fully
engaged.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 ignition is off.
If the ignition is in ACC/
ACCESSORY, the transmission can
be shifted into P (Park).
If the ignition is turned 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 drive
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
in P (Park) with the parking brake
set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If the engine
has been left running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
on fairly level ground, always set
the parking brake and place the
transmission into P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park 0176 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0221.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
182 Driving and Operating
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic transmission. The shift
lock release button is designed to
prevent shifting out of P (Park) while
the vehicle is running, unless the
ignition is on, the brake pedal is
applied, and the shift lock release
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).To shift in and out of P (Park), see
Shifting Into Park
0176 andShifting
out of Park 0177.
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 lock release button on the side of the shift
lever.
3. From the center position, move the shift lever forward, and
then to the left.
4. R will illuminate in red.
5. 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 0166.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect to the wheels. To restart
the engine 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.
(Continued)