BUICK LACROSSE 2006 Owner's Manual

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-29.
B. Interior Lamps Control. SeeInterior Lamps on
page 3-16.
C. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-13. Fog Lamp Control. SeeFog Lamps on
page 3-15.
D. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn Signal/
Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
E. Audio Steering Wheel Controls. SeeAudio Steering
Wheel Controls on page 3-126.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-32.
G. DIC Buttons (If Equipped) and Hazard Warning
Flasher Button. SeeDIC Operation and Displays on
page 3-51andHazard Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
H. Passenger Airbag Status Indicator. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-35.I. Audio System Controls. SeeAudio System(s)
on page 3-84.
J. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-11.
K. Parking Brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-30.
L. Cruise Controls. SeeCruise Control on page 3-10.
M. Tilt Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-6.
N. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
O. Steering Wheel Climate Controls. SeeSteering
Wheel Climate Controls on page 3-31.
P. Climate Controls. SeeClimate Control System on
page 3-22orDual Automatic Climate Control System
on page 3-25.
Q. Shift Lever. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on page 2-31.
R. Accessory Power Outlet. SeeAccessory Power
Outlet(s) on page 3-20.
S. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-44.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will ash on and off.
The hazard warning
asher button is located
in the center of the
instrument panel.
Your hazard warning ashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key is not in the
ignition switch.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, your turn
signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set them up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on your steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
If equipped, a tilt wheel allows adjustment of the steering
wheel before you drive. The steering wheel can be raised
to the highest level to give the driver’s legs more room
when you enter and exit the vehicle.
The lever that allows you
to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of
the steering column, If
equipped.
To tilt the wheel, pull the lever down. Then move the
wheel to a comfortable position and pull the lever up to
lock the wheel in place.
3-6

Telescoping Column
If equipped, a telescoping column on the steering wheel
allows adjustment of the distance of the steering wheel
and the driver without moving the driver’s seat.
The lever on the steering
wheel column that enables
telescoping is located on
the left side of the steering
column and behind the tilt
lever, if equipped.
To adjust the steering wheel, pull the steering wheel
column lever down and push or pull the steering wheel
to a comfortable position. Then pull the lever up to
lock the wheel in place.
Do not drive the vehicle unless the telescoping column
is locked.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
GTurn and Lane Change Signals. SeeTurn and
Lane-Change Signals on page 3-8.
2Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer. See
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-8.
Flash-to-Pass. SeeFlash-to-Pass on page 3-8.
NWindshield Wipers. SeeWindshield Wipers on
page 3-9.
LQWindshield Washer. SeeWindshield Washer
on page 3-9.
For information on the headlamps, seeExterior Lamps
on page 3-13.
3-7

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
To signal a turn, move the lever up or down. The lever
returns to its original position when the turn is
completed.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until the lane
change is completed. The lever will return to its original
position when released.
Arrows that ash rapidly when signaling for a turn or lane
change, or that fail to work, may indicate a burned-out
signal bulb or fuse. Other drivers will not see the signal.
SeeFront Turn Signal and Parking Lamps on page 5-53
andTaillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps on page 5-54for turn signal bulb
replacement procedures. Also seeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-93for location of fuses.
A chime will sound if the turn signal is left on for more
than 3/4 mile (1.2 km).
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal/multifunction lever away from you.
When the high beams
are on, a light on the
instrument panel cluster
also will be on if the
ignition is on.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps
momentarily to signal a driver in front of you that
you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
3-8

Windshield Wipers
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they are frozen to the windshield,
gently loosen or thaw them. Damaged wiper blades
may not clear the windshield well, making it harder to
see and drive safely. If the blades do become damaged,
install new blades or blade inserts. For more information,
seeWindshield Wiper Blade Replacement on page 5-56
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools down.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
with the wiper symbol on it.
8(Mist):For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to
mist. Hold it there until the wipers start. Then let go. The
wipers will stop after one wipe. If you want more wipe
cycles, hold the band on mist longer.
N(Delay):You can set the wiper speed for a long
or short delay between wiping cycles. This can be very
useful in light rain or snow. Turn the band to choose
the delay time. The closer to the top of the lever,
the shorter the delay.
6(Low Speed):For steady wiping at low speed,
turn the band away from you to the rst solid band
past the delay settings.
1(High Speed):For high-speed wiping, turn the
band further, to the second solid band past the
delay settings.
9(Off):To stop the wipers, move the band to off.
Windshield Washer
LQ(Washer Fluid):There is a paddle marked
with the windshield washer symbol at the top of the
multifunction lever. To spray washer uid on the
windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will clear the
window and then either stop or return to your preset
speed.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
3-9

Cruise Control
The buttons for the cruise control are located on the
steering wheel.
I(Cruise On/Off):Push this button to turn the
system on and off.
RES + (Resume/Accelerate):Push this button to make
the vehicle resume a previously set speed or to
accelerate when cruise is already active.
SET−(Set/Decelerate):Push this button to set the
speed or to decrease the speed when cruise is already
active.With cruise control, a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h)
or more can be maintained without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When the brakes are applied, the cruise control shuts off.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
The cruise control will automatically disengage if the
vehicle has the traction control system and begins
to limit wheel spin. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 4-10. When road conditions allow, the cruise
control can be used again.
3-10

Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
1. Press the cruise on/off button. The indicator light in
the button will come on.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the SET−button. The cruise symbol will
display in the instrument panel cluster when the
system is engaged.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired
speed and then you apply the brake. This, of course,
disengages the cruise control. The cruise symbol in the
instrument panel cluster will go out, indicating cruise
control is no longer engaged.To return to your previously set speed, press the
RES + button once you are going about 25 mph
(40 km/h) or more.
You will go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you hold the RES + button, the vehicle will keep going
faster until you release the button or apply the brake.
So unless you want to go faster, do not hold the RES +
button.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Press the SET−button, then release
the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now
cruise at the higher speed.
Press the RES + button. Hold it there until you get up
to the speed you want, and then release the button.
To increase your speed in very small amounts, press
the button briey. Each time you do this, your vehicle
will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
3-11

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Press the SET−button until you reach the lower
speed you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, briey press
the SET−button. Each time you do this, you will
go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle’s
speed. When you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the cruise control speed
you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills depends
upon the speed and load of the vehicle, and the
steepness of the hills. When going up steep hills, you
may have to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle’s speed. When going downhill, you may have to
brake or shift to a lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed
down. Of course, applying the brake takes the vehicle out
of cruise control. Many drivers nd this to be too much
trouble and do not use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
To end a cruise control session, step lightly on the
brake pedal.
Stepping on the brake will end the current cruise control
session only. Press the cruise on/off button to turn off
the system completely.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
3-12

Exterior Lamps
The control located to the
left of the cluster on the
instrument panel, operates
the exterior lamps.
P(On/Off):Turn the control to this position to
manually turn the headlamps on and off. This is a
momentary control that will spring back to AUTO when
released.
AUTO (Automatic):Turn the control to this position
to set your headlamps in automatic mode. AUTO
mode, if enabled, will turn the exterior lamps on and off
automatically depending on how much light is available
outside the vehicle.Due to the momentary switch design, your automatic
lights may be disabled even if the control is in the
AUTO position.
To enable automatic lighting, do any of the following:
Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to off
and release the control. It will return back to
the AUTO position by itself.
Turn the headlamp control from the parking lamp
position to AUTO.
Turn the headlamp control from the headlamp
position to AUTO.
To disable automatic lighting, do any of the following:
Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to off
and release the control. It will return back to
the AUTO position by itself.
Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to the
parking lamp position.
Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to the
headlamp position.
3-13

<(Parking Lamps):Turn the control to this position
to turn on the parking lamps together with the
following:
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
2(Headlamps):Turn the control to this position to
turn your headlamps on, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
A warning chime will sound if the driver’s door is
opened when the ignition switch is turned to OFF
or ACCESSORY and the headlamps are on.
-(Foglamps):If your vehicle is equipped with fog
lamps, press this button to turn them on and off. See
Fog Lamps on page 3-15for additional information.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp System
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset. Daytime running lamps
are required to function at all times on all vehicles rst
sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it is not covered.
The DRL system will make the low-beam headlamps
come on at reduced brightness when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is off.
The parking brake is released.
While the DRL are on, only the vehicle’s low-beam
headlamps will be on at reduced brightness. The turn
signal, taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps will not be
on. The instrument panel will not be lit up either.
3-14