heater BUICK LACROSSE 2007 Owner's Manual

{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the
instrument panel cluster ever comes on
and stays on, it means that something may
be wrong with the airbag system. If this
ever happens, have the vehicle serviced
promptly, because an adult-size person
sitting in the right front passenger’s seat
may not have the protection of the frontal
airbag. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on
page 182for more on this, including
important safety information.
A thick layer of additional material such as a
blanket, or aftermarket equipment such as seat
covers, seat heaters, and seat massagers, can
affect how well the passenger sensing system
operates. Remove any additional material from
the seat cushion before reinstalling or securing
the child restraint and before a small occupant,
including a small adult, sits in the right front
passenger’s seat. You may want to consider notusing seat covers or other aftermarket equipment if
your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
SeeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 81for more information about
modications that can affect how the system
operates.
The passenger sensing system may suppress the
airbag deployment when liquid is soaked into the
seat. If this happens, the off indicator in the
passenger airbag status indicator and the airbag
readiness light on the instrument panel will be lit.
The system should resume normal operation after
the seat is allowed to dry. If the system operates
incorrectly after the seat has dried, have your
dealer check the system.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger’s
seat or between the passenger’s seat
cushion and seatback may interfere with
the proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
79

Keys.............................................................. 87
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System.......... 89
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation................................................. 90
Doors and Locks.......................................... 96
Door Locks................................................. 96
Power Door Locks....................................... 97
Delayed Locking.......................................... 97
Automatic Door Lock................................... 98
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock........ 98
Rear Door Security Locks........................... 98
Lockout Protection....................................... 99
Trunk........................................................ 100
Windows...................................................... 102
Power Windows........................................ 103
Sun Visors................................................ 104
Theft-Deterrent Systems............................. 104
Content Theft-Deterrent............................. 104
PASS-Key
®III ........................................... 106
PASS-Key®III Operation........................... 107Starting and Operating Your Vehicle......... 109
New Vehicle Break-In................................ 109
Ignition Positions....................................... 109
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)............. 110
Starting the Engine.................................... 111
Engine Coolant Heater.............................. 112
Automatic Transaxle Operation.................. 114
Parking Brake........................................... 117
Shifting Into Park (P) ................................. 118
Shifting Out of Park (P)............................. 120
Parking Over Things That Burn................. 121
Engine Exhaust......................................... 122
Running the Engine While Parked............. 123
Mirrors......................................................... 124
Manual Rearview Mirror............................. 124
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®....... 124
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror.......... 124
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®.......................................... 125
Outside Power Mirrors............................... 125
Outside Power Heated Mirrors................... 126
Outside Convex Mirror............................... 126
Section 2 Features and Controls
85

2. If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather (below 0°F
or−18°C), it could be ooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the accelerator pedal all
the way to the oor and holding it there as you
hold the key in START for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least 15 seconds between
each try, to allow the cranking motor to cool
down. When the engine starts, let go of the key
and accelerator. If the vehicle starts briey but
then stops again, do the same thing. This
clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
Do not race the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine and transaxle
gently until the oil warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Notice:Your engine is designed to work with
the electronics in your vehicle. If you add
electrical parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine operates. Before
adding electrical equipment, check with your
dealer. If you do not, your engine might not
perform properly. Any resulting damage would
not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty.Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may have an engine coolant heater.
In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder,
the engine coolant heater can help. You will get
easier starting and better fuel economy during
engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater
should be plugged in a minimum of four hours
prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures
above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not
required. Your vehicle may also have an internal
thermostat in the plug end of the cord. This
will prevent operation of the engine coolant heater
when the temperature is at or above 0°F (−18°C)
as noted on the cord.
112

To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical
cord. The cord is attached to the underside
of the diagonal brace, which is located above
the engine air cleaner/lter assembly.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt
AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded
outlet could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a re. You
could be seriously injured. Plug the cord
into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not
reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.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. If you do
not, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater
plugged in? The answer depends on the outside
temperature, the kind of oil you have, and
some other things. Instead of trying to list
everything here, we ask that you contact your
dealer in the area where you will be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best
advice for that particular area.
113

Instrument Panel Overview........................ 148
Hazard Warning Flashers.......................... 150
Other Warning Devices............................. 150
Horn.......................................................... 150
Tilt Wheel.................................................. 151
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.................. 152
Turn and Lane-Change Signals................. 152
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.......... 153
Flash-to-Pass............................................ 153
Windshield Wipers..................................... 153
Windshield Washer.................................... 154
Cruise Control........................................... 154
Exterior Lamps.......................................... 158
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp System.................. 159
Fog Lamps................................................ 160
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver.................. 160
Interior Lamps........................................... 161
Instrument Panel Brightness...................... 161
Courtesy Lamps........................................ 161
Entry Lighting............................................ 161
Delayed Entry Lighting.............................. 162
Theater Dimming....................................... 162
Delayed Exit Lighting................................. 162Perimeter Lighting..................................... 163
Overhead Console Reading Lamps........... 163
Rear Assist Handle Reading Lamps.......... 163
Electric Power Management...................... 163
Battery Run-Down Protection..................... 164
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)...... 164
Accessory Power Outlet(s)........................ 167
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter................ 168
Climate Controls......................................... 168
Climate Control System............................. 168
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.... 172
Outlet Adjustment...................................... 177
Passenger Compartment Air Filter............. 178
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators..... 179
Instrument Panel Cluster........................... 180
Speedometer and Odometer...................... 181
Tachometer............................................... 181
Safety Belt Reminder Light........................ 181
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light....... 182
Airbag Readiness Light............................. 182
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............. 183
Charging System Light.............................. 185
Brake System Warning Light..................... 186
Section 3 Instrument Panel
145

Entry lighting includes a feature called theater
dimming. With theater dimming, the lamps do not
turn off at the end of the delay time. Instead, they
slowly dim after the delay time and then turn off.
The courtesy lamps turn off when the ignition key
is turned to RUN or START. They will come
on again when a door is opened.
Delayed Entry Lighting
Delayed entry lighting lights the vehicle’s interior
for a period of time after all the doors have
been closed.
After all the doors have been closed, the delayed
entry lighting feature will continue to work until
one of the following occurs:
The ignition is in RUN.
The doors are locked.
25 seconds has passed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened,
the timed illumination period will be canceled
and the interior lamps will remain on.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to ve-second fade
out of the courtesy lamps instead of immediate
turn off.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature can be programmed either on or off
using the Driver Information Center. SeeDIC
Vehicle Personalization on page 229under INT
(Interior) LIGHTS KEYS REMOVED. When
activated, this feature illuminates the interior for a
period of time after the ignition key is removed
from the ignition.
The ignition must be off and the interior lamp
control must be in the door position for delayed
exit lighting to work. When the ignition key is
removed, interior illumination will activate
and remain on until one of the following occurs:
The ignition is in RUN.
The power door locks are activated.
25 seconds has passed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened,
the timed illumination period will be canceled
and the interior lamps will remain on.
162

SeePassenger Sensing System on page 75for
more on this, including important safety
information.
If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there
may be a problem with the lights or the passenger
sensing system. See your dealer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the off indicator and the airbag
readiness light ever come on together, it
means that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. If this ever happens,
have the vehicle serviced promptly,
because an adult-size person sitting in the
right front passenger seat may not have
the protection of the frontal airbag. See
Airbag Readiness Light on page 182.
Charging System Light
This light comes on
briey when the ignition
is turned on, as a
check to show that it is
working. Then it
should go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while the vehicle is being
driven, a chime will sound and there may be a
problem with the charging system. It could indicate
that the vehicle has a loose accessory belt or
another electrical problem. Have it checked right
away. Driving while this light is on could drain the
battery and result in the engine suddenly stopping.
If the vehicle must be driven a short distance with
the light on, be certain to turn off all unnecessary
electrical loads, such as the radio, heater fan,
air conditioning fan, and heated seats.
185

You will need a well-charged battery to restart the
vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with
your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window
almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start
the engine again and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as
little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as
you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of
the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you
will need to spin the wheels, but you do not
want to spin your wheels too fast. The method
known as rocking can help you get out when you
are stuck, but you must use caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. And, the
transaxle or other parts of the vehicle can
overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment re or other damage. When
you are stuck, spin the wheels as little as
possible. Do not spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the
speedometer.
Notice:Spinning the wheels can destroy parts
of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you
spin the wheels too fast while shifting
the transaxle back and forth, you can destroy
the transaxle. SeeRocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out on page 319.
For information about using tire chains on your
vehicle, seeTire Chains on page 424.
318

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant
is designed to remain in the vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever
occurs rst, if only DEX-COOL
®extended life
coolant is added.
The following explains the cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If there is
a problem with engine overheating or if coolant
needs to be added to the radiator, seeEngine
Overheating on page 367.A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®engine coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core, or
radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at the rst
maintenance service after each 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs
rst. Any repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Always use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free)
coolant in your vehicle.
363

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®engine coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If this coolant mixture
is used, nothing else needs to be added.
{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.Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not be
covered by your warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
If coolant needs to be added more than four times
a year, have your dealer check the cooling
system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system,
you could damage your vehicle. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine coolant listed
in this manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 470for more information.
364