instrument cluster BUICK LACROSSE 2006 Owner's Manual

{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to,
any airbag when it inates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer the best protection for adults, but
not for young children and infants. Neither
the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag
system is designed for them. Young children
and infants need the protection that a child
restraint system can provide. Always secure
children properly in your vehicle. To read how,
seeOlder Children on page 1-30orInfants and
Young Children on page 1-33.There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag
symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-34
for more information.
1-58

If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting properly in the seat.
If this happens, turn the vehicle off and ask the person
to place the seatback in the fully upright position, then sit
upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the
person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle
and have the person remain in this position for about
two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that
person and then enable the passenger’s airbag.
{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 3-34for 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 not
using seat covers or other aftermarket equipment if
your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
SeeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
on page 1-70for more information about modications
that can affect how the system operates.
1-68

Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your vehicle’s automatic transaxle may have a shift
lever on the steering column or on the console between
the seats.There is also a display
located on the instrument
panel cluster that will
indicate the gear the
vehicle is in.
Console Shift Lever
2-26

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-8
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-8
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-9
Windshield Washer.........................................3-9
Cruise Control..............................................3-10
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-13
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp System........................3-14
Fog Lamps..................................................3-15
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver........................3-15
Interior Lamps..............................................3-16
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-16
Courtesy Lamps...........................................3-16
Entry Lighting...............................................3-16
Delayed Entry Lighting...................................3-17
Theater Dimming..........................................3-17
Delayed Exit Lighting.....................................3-17
Perimeter Lighting.........................................3-18
Overhead Console Reading Lamps.................3-18Rear Assist Handle Reading Lamps................3-18
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-18
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)............3-18
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-20
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter......................3-21
Climate Controls............................................3-22
Climate Control System.................................3-22
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-25
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-29
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-30
Steering Wheel Climate Controls.....................3-31
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-31
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-32
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-33
Tachometer.................................................3-33
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-33
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light.............3-34
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-34
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator...................3-35
Charging System Light..................................3-37
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-38
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-39
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light...........................................3-40
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-40
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

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

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

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

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

Instrument Panel Cluster
The instrument panel cluster is designed to let the driver know at a glance how the vehicle is running. It will show
how fast the vehicle is going, about how much fuel is in the fuel tank and many other things needed to drive safely
and economically.
3-32

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your vehicle’s odometer works together with the
driver information center. You can set a Trip A and
Trip B odometer. See “Trip Information” underDIC
Operation and Displays on page 3-51.
The odometer mileage can be checked without the
vehicle running. Simply press the odometer/trip switch
on the instrument panel cluster.
If your vehicle ever needs a new odometer installed, the
new one will be set to the correct mileage total of the old
odometer.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays
the engine speed in
thousands of revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime
will sound for several seconds to remind you and your
passengers to buckle your safety belts. The driver
safety belt light will also come on and stay on for several
seconds, then it will ash for several more. You should
buckle your seat belt.
If the driver’s belt is
buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will come on.
3-33