
Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032549) -
2019 - crc - 8/20/18
248 Vehicle Care
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature
. Protects against rust and
corrosion .
Will not damage aluminum parts
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperatureCaution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard
GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause
damage to the engine cooling
system and the vehicle, which
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
2.5L L4 Engine Coolant Surge Tank

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032549) -
2019 - crc - 8/20/18
250 Vehicle Care
Caution
Failure to follow the specific
coolant fill procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and could
cause system damage. If coolant
is not visible in the surge tank,
contact your dealer.
1. Remove the coolant surge tankpressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about
one-quarter of a turn. If you
hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. This will allow any
pressure still left to be vented
out the discharge hose.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture to the
indicated level mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you
can feel the upper radiator
hose getting hot. Watch out for
the engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level reaches the
indicated level mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly. 6. Verify coolant level after the
engine is shut off and the
coolant is cold. If necessary,
repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1–6.
If the coolant still is not at the
proper level when the system
cools down again, see your
dealer.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and engine
damage may occur. Be sure the
cap is properly and tightly
secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of the engine overheating.
The instrument cluster has an
engine coolant temperature gauge
and an engine coolant temperature
warning light.
See Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge 0119 and Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light 0127.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032549) -
2019 - crc - 8/20/18
Vehicle Care 251
The vehicle may also display a
message on the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance Program
0339.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface. Then
check to see if the engine cooling
fans are running. If the engine is
overheating, the fans should be
running. If they are not, do not
continue to run the engine. Have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak in the engine cooling system.
This can cause a loss of all
coolant and can damage the
system and vehicle. Have any
leaks fixed right away.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
See Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode 0252 for
information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
If No Steam Is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle: .
Climbs a long hill on a hot day
. Stops after high-speed driving
. Idles for long periods in traffic
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the
highest fan speed. Open the
windows as necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral), and let the
engine idle.
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is no longer in the
overheated area or the engine
coolant temperature warning light no
longer displays, the vehicle can be
driven. Continue to drive the vehicle
slowly for about 10 minutes. Keep a
safe distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally
and have the cooling system
checked for proper fill and function.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032549) -
2019 - crc - 8/20/18
252 Vehicle Care
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle
right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down. Also, seeOverheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode
0 252.
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode
allows the vehicle to be driven to a
safe place in an emergency
situation. If an overheated engine
condition exists, an overheat
protection mode which alternates
firing groups of cylinders helps
prevent engine damage. In this
mode, there is significant loss in
power and engine performance.
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on the
instrument panel, to indicate the
vehicle has entered overheated engine protection operating mode.
The temperature gauge also
indicates an overheat condition
exists. Driving extended distances
and/or towing a trailer in the
overheat protection mode should be
avoided.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an
area where the temperature may fall
below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0238 for
reservoir location.
Caution
. Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can
cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
. Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the
windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield
washer system and paint.
. Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the
solution to freeze and
damage the washer fluid
tank and other parts of the
washer system.
(Continued)

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032549) -
2019 - crc - 8/20/18
Index 363
Child RestraintsInfants and Young Children . . . . . 85
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97, 99
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Climate Control Systems Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 342
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant . . . 289
Connected Services Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Connections Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 358 Control
Traction and Electronic
Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Coolant Engine Temperature Gauge . . .119
Engine TemperatureWarning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Cornering Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Courtesy Transportation
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Cruise Control, Adaptive . . . . . . . . 201
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 338 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Text Telephone (TTY)
Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Customer Information Publications Ordering
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 342
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 2
Data CollectionInfotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 348
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 347
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Diagnostics
Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 360
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Door
Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 334
Drive Systems All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . 192, 256
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 208
Driver Efficiency Gauge . . . . . . . . 118
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032549) -
2019 - crc - 8/20/18
364 Index
DrivingAssistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 214
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 26
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 169
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 171
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
E
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . 193
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 125
Electrical Equipment,
Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 261
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 Electrical System (cont'd)
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Energy Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 238
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Overheated Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 186
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Engine Oil Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . .118 Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 347
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 149
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 150
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
F
FeaturesMemory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 151
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 245
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Forward Automatic Braking . . . . . 216

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032549) -
2019 - crc - 8/20/18
Index 365
Forward Collision Alert(FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Front Pedestrian Braking
(FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Front Seats Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 59
Fuel
Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 129
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . 185
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Top Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Fuses Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 261 Fuses (cont'd)
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 145Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Gauges Driver Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Engine Coolant
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Engine Oil Temperature . . . . . . . .118
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 318
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
H
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 151
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Head-up Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
HeadlampsAdaptive ForwardLighting (AFL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 129
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 150
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 130
Heated
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . 276

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032549) -
2019 - crc - 8/20/18
366 Index
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 169
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . 195
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
How to Wear Seat BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
HVAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Indicator
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Information Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Publication Ordering . . . . . . . . . . 344
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 47
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301, 302
K
Keyless Entry
Remote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . 29
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 269
Lamps Cornering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 150
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Sun Visor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . 220
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . 222
Lane Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . 126
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 LATCH System
Replacing Parts after a
Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Lighting Adaptive Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 153
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Lights Adaptive Forward Lighting(AFL) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 124
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 125
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning . . . . . . . 127
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 128