warning BUICK LACROSSE 2007 Repair Manual

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.If you have not found a problem yet, but the
coolant level is not at the cold ll line, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®engine coolant at the coolant
recovery tank. SeeEngine Coolant on page 363
for more information.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and
crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts. Use the recommended coolant
and the proper coolant mixture.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant
on hot engine parts. Coolant contains
ethylene glycol and it will burn if the
engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant level in the coolant recovery
tank is at the cold ll line, start the vehicle.
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If the overheat warning continues, there is one
more thing you can try. You can add the proper
coolant mixture directly to the cooling system
through the coolant ll neck under the pressure cap,
but be sure the system is cool before you do it.
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system can blow out and burn you
badly. They are under pressure, and if you
turn the radiator pressure cap — even a
little — they can come out at high speed.
Never turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and radiator pressure cap to cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(3.8L V6 Engine)
Notice:Your engine has a specic radiator
ll procedure. Failure to follow this procedure
could cause your engine to overheat and
be severely damaged.
1. You can remove the
radiator pressure
cap when the
cooling system,
including the radiator
pressure cap and
upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise
until it rst stops. Do not press down while
turning the pressure cap. If you hear a
hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means there
is still some pressure left.
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Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer uid, be sure
to read the manufacturer’s instructions before
use. If you will be operating your vehicle in an area
where the temperature may fall below freezing,
use a uid that has sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
When the windshield washer uid is low, a low
washer uid light may appear on the instrument
panel cluster. SeeLow Washer Fluid Warning
Light on page 197for more information.
In addition, if your vehicle has a Driver Information
Center (DIC), the LOW WASHER FLUID
message will display when the uid level is low.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 208
for more information.Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it.
Add washer uid until
the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 350
for reservoir location.
Notice:
When using concentrated washer uid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions
for adding water.
Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer
uid. Water can cause the solution to
freeze and damage your washer uid tank
and other parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as well
as washer uid.
Fill your washer uid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in
your windshield washer. It can damage
your washer system and paint.
380

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master
cylinder reservoir is
lled with DOT-3 brake
uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 350for the
location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid
level in the reservoir might go down. The rst
is that the brake uid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are put in, the uid level goes back
up. The other reason is that uid is leaking out of
the brake system. If it is, you should have your
brake system xed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes will not work well,
or will not work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you
add uid when your linings are worn, then you
will have too much uid when you get new brake
linings. You should add or remove brake uid,
as necessary, only when work is done on
the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has too much brake uid,
it can spill on the engine. The uid will
burn if the engine is hot enough. You or
others could be burned, and your vehicle
could be damaged. Add brake uid only
when work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When your brake uid falls to a low level, your
brake warning light will come on. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 186.
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What to Add
When you do need brake uid, use only DOT-3
brake uid. Use new brake uid from a sealed
container only. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 470.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This
will help keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake
system, the brakes may not work well, or
they may not even work at all. This could
cause a crash. Always use the proper
brake uid.Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such
as engine oil, in the brake system can
damage brake system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint nish can
be damaged. Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 442.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound may come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
382

{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause
a brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to GM torque
specications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return
to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without
the vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work
well together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested
with top-quality GM brake parts. When you replace
parts of your braking system — for example, when
your brake linings wear down and you need new
ones put in — be sure you get new approved
GM replacement parts. If you do not, your brakes
may no longer work properly. For example, if
someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for
your vehicle, the balance between your front
and rear brakes can change — for the worse.
The braking performance you have come to expect
can change in many other ways if someone puts
in the wrong replacement brake parts.
383

Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 350for battery location.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling.
If the battery has a very low charge or is dead,
you may not be able to remove the ignition
key from the ignition switch or shift out of
PARK (P). Refer toShifting Out of Park (P)
on page 120.
Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for
25 days or more, remove the black, negative (−)
cable from the battery. This will help keep the
battery from running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. SeeJump
Starting on page 385for tips on working
around a battery without getting hurt.
384

Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses
radio and sensor technology to check tire pressure
levels. TPMS sensors are mounted onto each
tire and wheel assembly, except for the spare tire.
The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure in
your vehicle’s tires and transmit tire pressure
readings to a receiver located in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition is detected,
the TPMS illuminates the low tire pressure
warning light, located in the instrument panel
cluster. If your vehicle has the uplevel Driver
Information Center (DIC), a warning message to
check the pressure in a specic tire displays at
the same time the low tire pressure warning light
comes on. The low tire pressure warning light
and the DIC warning message CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE come on at each ignition cycle
until the tires are inated to the correct
ination pressure. Vehicles that have the
uplevel DIC buttons can also check tire
pressure levels by pressing the gages button.For additional information and details about the
DIC operation and displays seeDIC Operation and
Displays on page 200andDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 208.
During cooler weather conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light and the DIC warning
message, if your vehicle has this feature, may
come on when the vehicle is rst started, and then
turn off as you start to drive. This could be an
early indicator that the air pressure in the tire(s)
are getting low and need to be inated to the
proper pressure.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should
be checked monthly when cold and inated
to the ination pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire
ination pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires
of a different size than the size indicated on
the vehicle placard or tire ination pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire ination
pressure for those tires.)
411

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specied
government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and a half (1.5) times
as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices, and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specied
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning:The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
421

Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance to
the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specied indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning:The temperature grade for this tire
is established for a tire that is properly inated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underination,
or excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and possible
tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The tires and wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to give you
the longest tire life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and tire
balancing will not be necessary on a regular basis.
However, if you notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling to one side or the other, the
alignment may need to be checked. If you notice
your vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, your tires and wheels may need to be
rebalanced. See your dealer for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly
rusted or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts should be replaced. If the wheel leaks air,
replace it (except some aluminum wheels,
which can sometimes be repaired). See your
dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
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