check engine light BUICK LACROSSE 2017 User Guide

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
190 Driving and Operating
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak®, an
electronic stability control system.
These systems help limit wheel slip
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any
of the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See
If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0169
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.
Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
. Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated.
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC),
and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
218 Driving and Operating
may not pass a smog-check test.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0114. If this
occurs, return to your authorized
dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico post
fuel octane ratings in anti-knock
index (AKI). For fuel not to use in a
foreign country, see “Prohibited
Fuels” inFuel 0217.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER®detergent gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel0217.
If TOP TIER detergent gasoline is
not available, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment Cleaner added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. GM Fuel System
Treatment Cleaner is the only gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.
Filling the Tank
{Warning
Fuel vapors and fuel fires burn
violently and can cause injury or
death.
. To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow
all the instructions on the
fuel pump island.
. Turn off the engine when
refueling.
. Keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away
from fuel.
. Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended.
. Do not use a cell phone
while refueling.
. Do not reenter the vehicle
while pumping fuel.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Keep children away from
the fuel pump and never let
children pump fuel.
. Fuel can spray out if the
refueling nozzle is inserted
too quickly. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly
full, and is more likely in hot
weather. Insert the refueling
nozzle slowly and wait for
any hiss noise to stop prior
to beginning to flow fuel.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Driving and Operating 225
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0114.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check
with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 076 and Adding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 76.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
226 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 227
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 227
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 233
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 235
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 239
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Battery - North America . . . . . . 243
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 244
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 245
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 245
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 246
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 247
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 248
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 249
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254 All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 256
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 272
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 280

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
240 Vehicle Care
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance Program
0315.
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
Running the engine without
coolant may cause damage or a
fire. Vehicle damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
See Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode 0240 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.
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, see
Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode
0 240.
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

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
242 Vehicle Care
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 can come and go or can
be heard all the time when the
vehicle is moving, except when
applying the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the 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 torque
specifications. See
Capacities and
Specifications 0309.
Brake pads should be replaced as
complete 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
that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts
with new, approved replacement
parts. If this is not done, the brakes
may not work properly. The braking
performance expected can change
in many other ways if the wrong replacement brake parts are
installed or if parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid as indicated on the
reservoir cap. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0230 for
the location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a
level surface, the brake fluid level
should be between the minimum
and maximum marks on the brake
fluid reservoir.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
282 Vehicle Care
Caution
Ignoring these steps could result
in costly damage to the vehicle
that would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Trying to start
the vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage
the vehicle.
1. Discharged Remote BatteryPositive Terminal
2. Discharged Remote Battery Negative Ground Terminal
3. Good Battery Positive Terminal 4. Good Battery Negative
Terminal
The jump start remote positive
terminal (1) and the remote negative
ground terminal (2) for the
discharged battery are in the engine
compartment on the driver side of
the vehicle.
The jump start positive terminal (3)
and negative terminal (4) are on the
battery of the vehicle providing the
jump start.
The positive jump start connection
for the discharged battery is under a
cover. Remove the cover to expose
the terminal.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery
with a negative ground system.
Caution
If the other vehicle does not have
a 12-volt system with a negative
ground, both vehicles can be
damaged. Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump starting. 2. Position the two vehicles so
that they are not touching.
3. Set the parking brake firmly and shift to P (Park). See
Shifting Into Park 0179.
Caution
If any accessories are left on or
plugged in during the jump
starting procedure, they could be
damaged. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Whenever possible, turn
off or unplug all accessories on
either vehicle when jump starting.
4. Set the ignition to OFF. Turn off all lights and accessories in
both vehicles, except the
hazard warning flashers if
needed.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Service and Maintenance 303
.To avoid break-down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
. Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion-free.
Belts
. Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the belts and
recommend adjustment or
replacement when necessary.
Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
. Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping. .
Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0305 for GM approved
fluids.
. Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
. Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled.
Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should
be regularly inspected to ensure
that there are no cracks or leaks.
With a multi-point inspection, your
dealer can inspect the hoses and
advise if replacement is needed. Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.
Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage.
The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure
that they light when braking.
. With a multi-point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns.
Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts help aid in control
for a smoother ride.
. Signs of wear may include
steering wheel vibration, bounce/
sway while braking, longer
stopping distance, or uneven
tire wear.
. As part of the multi-point
inspection, trained dealer
technicians can visually inspect
the shocks and struts for signs

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
Index 335
IndexA
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . 194
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 225
Additional Information
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 235
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Air Intake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Passenger Sensing System . . . . 72 Airbag System (cont'd)
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
What Will You See after an
Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 67
Airbags
Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Passenger Status Indicator . . . .113
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Alert Lane Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . 212
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 186, 244
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 186 Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9803782) -
2017 - crc - 9/7/16
336 Index
ArmrestRear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Assistance Systems for Parking and Backing . . . . . . . . . . 203
Automatic Dimming Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Forward Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
B
BatteryLoad Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Voltage and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Battery - North America . . . . 243, 281
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . 245 Brake
Parking, Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
System Warning Light . . . . . . . . .116
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Automatic Forward . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Braking System
Front Pedestrian (FPB) . . . . . . . 210
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 173
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
High Intensity Discharge(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . . . 247
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 217 California (cont'd)
Perchlorate Materials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
California
Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .227, 243, 281
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Cargo
Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . 2
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . . 98
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Charging Wireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 114
Check Malfunction Indicator
Engine Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Child Restraints Infants and Young Children . . . . . 80
Lower Anchors and Tethersfor Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85