2018 BUICK LACROSSE ABS

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Introduction 3
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do
Not,” “Do not do this,” or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M: Shown when the owner ’s
manual has additional instructions
or information.
*: Shown when the service
manual has additional instructions
or information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.”
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. See the
features in this manual for
information.
9: Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System (12-Volt
Battery)
I: Cruise Control
`:Do Not Puncture
^:Do Not Service
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
g: First Responder
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
.:Fuel Gauge
+: Fuses
3:Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
_: High Voltage
j: LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
O:Power

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
38 Keys, Doors, and Windows
To replace the cap:1. Position the bottom edge of the cap under the lower edge of
the metal piece (5). The tabs
(6) attach to the metal piece (5)
at the positions (4)
2. Rotate the cap upward and install into place.
3. Check that the cap is secure.
Free-Turning Locks
The door key lock cylinder turns
freely when either the wrong key is
used, or the correct key is not fully
inserted. The free-turning door lock
feature prevents the lock from being
forced open. To reset the lock, turn
it to the vertical position with the
correct key fully inserted. Remove
the key and insert it again. If this
does not reset the lock, turn the key
halfway around in the cylinder and
repeat the reset procedure.
Power Door Locks
K: Press to unlock the doors.
Q: Press to lock the doors.
The indicator light in the switch will
illuminate when activated.
Delayed Locking
This feature delays the locking of
the doors until five seconds after all
doors are closed.
Delayed locking can only be turned
on when the Unlocked Door
Anti-Lockout has been turned off.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Instruments and Controls 103
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 104
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 104
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 104
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 105
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Driver Efficiency Gauge (eAssist) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . 115
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 115 Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Charging System Light . . . . . . . 117
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 117
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . 121
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . 121
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 123
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 123
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 124
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . 124
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 124 Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 125
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Information Displays
Power Flows (eAssist) . . . . . . . . 125
Energy Information
(eAssist) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . 129
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 132
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . 133
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 133
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . 140
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
120 Instruments and Controls
Service Electric Parking
Brake Light
This light should come on briefly
when starting the vehicle. If it does
not come on, have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn if there is a
problem.
If this light stays on, take the vehicle
to your dealer as soon as possible.
See the information for the Electric
Parking Brake underElectric
Parking Brake 0188. A message
may also display in the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn if
there is a problem.
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
0 119.Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
Light
This light is green if LKA is available
to assist.
LKA may assist by gently turning
the steering wheel if the vehicle
approaches a detected lane marking
without using the turn signal in that
direction. The LKA light will turn
amber.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Driving and Operating 159
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 163
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 164
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 166
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 170
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 181
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 188
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Selective Ride Control . . . . . . . . 192
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 195
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 203 Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 204
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 214
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 216
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 219
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
162 Driving and Operating
Steering
Variable Effort Steering
The vehicle has a steering system
that varies the amount of effort
required to steer the vehicle in
relation to the speed of the vehicle.
The amount of steering effort
required is less at slower speeds to
make the vehicle more
maneuverable and easier to park. At
faster speeds, the steering effort
increases to provide a sport-like feel
to the steering. This provides
maximum control and stability.
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort. See your dealer if
there is a problem.If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.
Curve Tips
.
Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Driving and Operating 165
.Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0190. .
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes
should be applied sooner than
when on dry pavement. See
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
0187.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
. Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
mode. See All-Wheel Drive
0 187.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See
Roadside Assistance Program
0 26. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
(Continued)

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10999169) -
2018 - crc - 3/28/17
Driving and Operating 187
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature always
send engine power to all four
wheels. It is fully automatic, and
adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system
performance will be automatically
reduced when the compact spare
tire is in use. To restore full AWD
performance, and prevent excessive
wear to the AWD system, replace
the compact spare tire with a
full-size tire as soon as possible.
SeeCompact Spare Tire 0292.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has an Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the vehicle begins to drive
away, ABS checks itself.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
may be heard while this test is going
on, and it may even be noticed that
the brake pedal moves a little. This
is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 120. If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses the wheels are
slowing down. If one of the wheels
is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at
each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
you steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.