alarm BUICK LACROSSE 2012 Owner's Manual

Black plate (4,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
1-4 In Brief
Initial Drive
Information
This section provides a brief
overview about some of the
important features that may or may
not be on your specific vehicle.
For more detailed information, refer
to each of the features which can be
found later in this owner manual.
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter will work up to 20 m
(65 ft) away from the vehicle. On
vehicles with remote start the
distance will be greater.
Press the button to extend the key.
The key can be used for all locks.
This key is also used for the
ignition, if the vehicle does not have
pushbutton start.
K:Press to unlock the driver door
or all doors.
Q: Press to lock all doors.
Lock and unlock feedback can be
personalized.
V: Press and hold to open the
trunk.
7: Press and release one time to
locate the vehicle. Press and hold
for at least two seconds to sound
the panic alarm. Press again to
cancel the panic alarm.
See Keys on page 2‑2 andRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑4.
Remote Vehicle Start
For vehicles with this feature, the
engine can be started from outside
the vehicle.
Starting the Vehicle
1. Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press and release
Q.
3. Immediately after completing Step 2, press and hold
/until
the turn signal lamps flash, or for
about two seconds if the vehicle
is not in view.

Black plate (1,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-1
Keys, Doors, and
Windows
Keys and Locks
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Doors
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Vehicle Security
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Anti-theft Alarm System . . . . . . 2-14
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Immobilizer Operation (Key Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Immobilizer Operation (Keyless Access) . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Park Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Interior Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror . . . . . . 2-18
Automatic Dimming RearviewMirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Windows
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Rear Window Sunshade . . . . . 2-21
Roof
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22

Black plate (4,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
2-4 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation
The transmitter functions will work
up to 20 m (65 ft) away from the
vehicle. On vehicles with remote
start the distance will be greater.
Keep in mind that other conditions,
such as those previously stated, can
impact the performance of the
transmitter.
RKE without Remote Start Shown
Q(Lock):Press to lock all doors.
The turn signal indicators may flash
and/or the horn may sound to
indicate locking, see “Locking
Feedback” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑43.
If the driver door is open when
Qis
pressed, all doors lock except the
driver door, if enabled through the
vehicle personalization. If the passenger door is open when
Qis pressed, all doors lock.
Pressing
Qmay also arm the
theft-deterrent system. See
Anti-theft Alarm System on
page 2‑14.
K(Unlock): Press to unlock the
driver door or all doors. See “Door
Unlock Options” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑43.
The turn signal indicators may flash
and/or the horn may sound to
indicate unlocking. See “Unlock
Feedback” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑43.
Pressing
Kwill disarm the
theft-deterrent system. See
Anti-theft Alarm System on
page 2‑14.
Memory seat positions may be
recalled when unlocking the vehicle.
See “Memory Seats” underPower
Seat Adjustment on page 3‑5 and
“Remote Recall” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑43 for
more information.

Black plate (5,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-5
V(Remote Trunk Release):
Press and hold to unlock the trunk.
7(Vehicle Locator/Panic
Alarm): Press and release one
time to locate the vehicle. The
exterior lamps flash and the horn
chirps.
Press and hold
7for at least
two seconds to sound the panic
alarm. The horn sounds and the
turn signals flash until
7is pressed
again or the vehicle is started.
/(Remote Vehicle Start): For
vehicles with this feature, press to
operate the remote start feature.
See Remote Vehicle Start on
page 2‑9 for additional information.
The buttons on the keys are
disabled when there is a key in the
ignition, if equipped.
Keyless Access Operation
Some vehicles have a keyless
access system that lets you lock
and unlock the doors and access
the trunk without removing the RKE
transmitter from your pocket, purse,
briefcase, etc. The RKE transmitter
should be within 1 m (3 ft) of the
door or trunk being opened.
Keyless Unlocking
With the RKE transmitter within
1 m (3 ft), approach the front door
and pull the handle to unlock and
open the door. If the transmitter is
recognized, the door will unlock
and open.
Entering any door other than the
driver door will always cause all of
the doors to unlock. This is not
customizable.
To customize which doors unlock
when the driver door is opened, see
“Door Unlock Options” under
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑43. Lock Sensor
When all doors are closed and the
ignition is off, the vehicle can be
locked by pressing this area on the
door handle. This feature will be
available for several minutes after
the vehicle has been turned off.
Keyless Trunk Opening
Lift up on the touch pad located
above the license plate to open the
trunk if the RKE transmitter is within
range.

Black plate (14,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
2-14 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Emergency Trunk Release
Handle
Notice:Do not use the
emergency trunk release handle
as a tie-down or anchor point
when securing items in the trunk
as it could damage the handle.
The emergency trunk release
handle is only intended to aid a
person trapped in a latched trunk,
enabling them to open the trunk
from the inside.
There is an emergency trunk
release handle located inside the
trunk on the trunk latch. On some
vehicles, the release handle can be
accessed by folding the rear seat
center seatback. See Rear Seats on
page 3‑11. Pull the release handle
to open the trunk from the inside.
Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not make
it impossible to steal.
Anti-theft Alarm System
This vehicle has an anti-theft alarm
system.
Arming the System
To arm the system, pressQon the
RKE transmitter.
The alarm automatically arms after
about 30 seconds. The security
light, located on the instrument
panel, flashes.
Press
Von the RKE transmitter to
open the trunk without setting off the
alarm. The system rearms when the
trunk is closed.

Black plate (15,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-15
Disarming the System
To disarm the system, do one of the
following:
.PressKon the RKE transmitter.
.Approach the vehicle with the
RKE transmitter (keyless
access).
.Start the engine.
The alarm automatically disarms.
How to Detect a Tamper
Condition
IfKis pressed and the horn
sounds, an attempted break-in
occurred while the system was
armed.
If the alarm has been activated, a
message will appear on the DIC.
See Anti-theft Alarm System
Messages on page 5‑41 for
additional information.
Immobilizer
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑22 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
Immobilizer Operation
(Key Access)
This vehicle has a passive
theft-deterrent system.
The system does not have to be
manually armed or disarmed.
The vehicle is automatically
immobilized when the key is
removed from the ignition.
The system is automatically
disarmed when the vehicle is
started with the correct key. The key
uses a transponder that matches an
immobilizer control unit in the
vehicle and automatically disarms the system. Only the correct key
starts the vehicle. The vehicle may
not start if the key is damaged.
The security light, located in the
instrument panel cluster, comes on
if there is a problem with arming or
disarming the theft-deterrent
system.
When trying to start the vehicle, the
security light comes on briefly when
the ignition is turned on.
If the engine does not start and the
security light stays on, there is a
problem with the system. Turn the
ignition off and try again.
If the engine still does not start, and
the key appears to be undamaged
or the light continues to stay on, try
another ignition key.

Black plate (1,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-1
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-2
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-2
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 5-3
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-3
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Clock (Radio with CD andTouchscreen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Driver Efficiency Gauge . . . . . . 5-13
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-15 Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-16
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Charging System Light . . . . . . 5-17
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
StabiliTrak
®OFF Light . . . . . . . 5-22
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . 5-23
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 5-25
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 5-25
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . 5-26
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . 5-31
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Battery Voltage and Charging Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Brake System Messages . . . . 5-36
Compass Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Cruise Control Messages . . . . 5-36
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . 5-38
Engine Power Messages . . . . 5-38
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . 5-39
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 5-39
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Object Detection System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Ride Control System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Anti-theft Alarm System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
Starting the Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41

Black plate (41,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-41
SPORT MODE ON
This message displays when using
the selective ride control. See
Selective Ride Control on page 9‑41
for more information.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
turned off. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
Anti-theft Alarm System
Messages
THEFT ATTEMPTED
This message displays if the vehicle
detects a tamper condition.
Starting the Vehicle
Messages
JUMP START ACTIVE WAIT TO
START
This message displays while
performing an on-board jump start
of the vehicle. See“Jump Starting
(On-board with eAssist Only)” for
more information.
JUMP START COMPLETE
ATTEMPT START
This message displays while
performing an on-board jump start
of the vehicle. See “Jump Starting
(On-board with eAssist Only)” for
more information.
JUMP START DISABLED SEE
OWNERS MANUAL
This message displays if there is a
problem with the on-board jump
start system. Take the vehicle to
your dealer for service.
Tire Messages
TIRE PRESSURE LOW ADD
AIR TO TIRE
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the
vehicle's tires is low.
The low tire pressure warning light
will also come on. See Tire
Pressure Light on page 5‑24.
If a tire pressure message appears
on the DIC, stop as soon as you
can. Inflate the tires by adding air
until the tire pressure is equal to the
values shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See Tires
on page 10‑47, Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑12, and Tire Pressure on
page 10‑54.

Black plate (1,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
INDEX i-1
A
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Add-On Electrical
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-63
Additional Information, OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Adjustments
Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . 10-13
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Air Intake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27 Airbag System (cont'd)
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . 3-24
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Passenger Status Indicator . . . 5-16
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Servicing Airbag-Equipped
Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Alarm System Anti-theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18, 7-21 Antenna
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
Anti-theft Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Alarm System Messages . . . . . 5-41
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-102
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-105
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7, 13-10
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28 CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28
CD/DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30
MP3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-33
Audio System Backglass Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-26
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . 7-2

Black plate (8,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2012
i-8 INDEX
LocksDelayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . 5-25
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-44
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-15
Maintenance Schedule Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-12
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . 5-17
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33 Mass Storage Media (MEM) . . . 7-36
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Messages
Anti-theft Alarm System . . . . . . . 5-41
Battery Voltage andCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . . 5-37
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Key and Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Object Detection System . . . . . 5-39
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Starting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42 Mirrors
Automatic Dimming
Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Park Tilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Monitor System, Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
MP3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-33
N
Navigation OnStar®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-21
Net, Convenience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . 9-17