fuel BUICK LACROSSE 2007 User Guide

If the Light is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed
Avoiding hard accelerations
Avoiding steep uphill grades
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible
If the light stops ashing and remains on steady,
see “If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to do
so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park
your vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart the engine. If the light
remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady”
following. If the light is still ashing, follow the
previous steps, and see your dealer for service as
soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully
install the cap. SeeFilling the Tank on page 346.
The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap
has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap
properly installed should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle
of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The
condition will usually be corrected when the
electrical system dries out. A few driving trips
should turn the light off.
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Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 343. Poor fuel
quality will cause your engine not to run as
efficiently as designed. You may notice this as
stalling after start-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation on
acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is
warmed up.) This will be detected by the system
and cause the light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at
least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the
light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light
turn off, your dealer can check the vehicle.
Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have
or may begin programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass
this inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
check engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if
the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control systems have not
been completely diagnosed by the system.
The vehicle would be considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen if you have recently
replaced your battery or if your battery has
run down. The diagnostic system is designed to
evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and
your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for
lack of OBD system readiness, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for inspection.
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Fuel Gage
The fuel gage indicates
about how much fuel is
left in the fuel tank
when the ignition is on.
When the indicator nears empty, there is still a
little fuel left, but you should get more fuel soon.
Here are four things that some owners ask
about. All these things are normal and do not
indicate that anything is wrong with the fuel gage:
At the gas station, the pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
It takes more, or less, fuel to ll up than the
gage reads. For example, the gage reads
half full, but it took more, or less, than half of
the tank’s capacity to ll it.
The gage pointer may move while cornering,
braking or accelerating.
The gage may not indicate empty when the
ignition is turned off.
Low Fuel Warning Light
Your vehicle may have a low fuel light. It is
located on the fuel gage and will come on and a
chime will sound periodically when the vehicle
is low on fuel. The light will go off when fuel
is added to the fuel tank.
It will also come on for a few seconds when the
ignition is turned on as a check to indicate it is
working. If it does not come on then, have it xed.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
a LOW FUEL message will appear. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 208for more
information.
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Check Gas Cap Light
Your vehicle may have
a check gas cap light.
This light will come on and a chime will sound if
your gas cap is not securely fastened.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 190and
Filling the Tank on page 346for more information.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
Your vehicle may have a Driver Information
Center (DIC).
All messages will appear in the DIC display
located in the instrument panel cluster, below the
speedometer. The DIC buttons are located on
the center of the instrument panel, below
the center outlets.
The DIC comes on when the ignition is on. After a
short delay, the DIC on the uplevel vehicle will
display the WELCOME DRIVER (1 or 2) if apersonalized key 1 or 2 is used, and then the
information that was last displayed before
the engine was turned off.
The DIC on the base level vehicle displays the
odometer and trip odometers only.
The DIC on the uplevel vehicle displays the
odometer, trip odometers, fuel economy, trip
computer, vehicle system, and compass display
information. It also displays warning messages if a
system problem is detected. In addition, the DIC
on the uplevel vehicle displays phone numbers
that are called using the OnStar
®system, if
equipped. SeeOnStar®System on page 126.
The outside air temperature automatically appears
in the bottom right corner of the uplevel DIC
display when viewing the trip/odometer screens,
fuel screens and some of the gages screens. If the
outside air temperature is at or below 37°F
(3°C), the temperature reading will toggle between
displaying the outside temperature and the
word ICE for two minutes. If there is a problem
with the system that controls the temperature
display, the letters OC (open circuit) or SC (short
circuit) will appear on the display. If this occurs,
have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
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The DIC on the uplevel vehicle also allows some
features to be customized or personalized.
SeeDIC Vehicle Personalization on page 229for
more information.
DIC Operation and Displays
The DIC has different modes which can be
accessed by pressing the DIC buttons located on
the center of the instrument panel. Depending
on whether your vehicle has the base level
or uplevel DIC, the buttons and modes available
will differ.
The buttons on the base level vehicle are the
trip/odometer and English/Metric buttons.
The buttons on the uplevel vehicle are the trip/
odometer, fuel, gages, set/reset, and option
buttons.
The button functions are detailed in the
following pages.
DIC Buttons
TRIP/ODO (Trip/Odometer):Press this button on
the base level vehicle to display the odometer
and trip distance.
Press this button on the uplevel vehicle to display
the odometer, trip distance, time elapsed, and
average speed.
E/M (English/Metric)**:Press this button on the
base level vehicle to select between English
or Metric units.
To select between English or Metric units on the
uplevel vehicle, see “Units” later in this section.
.(Fuel)*:Press this button to display the
fuel range and average fuel economy.
2(Gages)*:Press this button to display the
battery voltage, oil life, and tire pressure readings.
Uplevel shown
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Fuel Menu Items (Uplevel Only)
.
(Fuel):Press this button to scroll through the
following menu items:
Fuel Range
Press the fuel button until FUEL RANGE displays.
This mode shows the approximate number of
remaining miles or kilometers the vehicle can be
driven without refueling.
Fuel range is based on several factors, including
distance traveled, fuel used, fuel capacity, etc.
This estimate will change if driving conditions
change. For example, if driving in traffic and
making frequent stops, this mode may read
one number, but if the vehicle is driven on a
freeway, the number may change even though the
same amount of fuel is in the fuel tank. This is
because different driving conditions produce
different fuel economies. Generally, freeway
driving produces better fuel economy than city
driving. Fuel range cannot be reset.
If your vehicle is low on fuel, FUEL RANGE LOW
will display followed by the LOW FUEL message.
See “LOW FUEL” underDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 208for more information.
Average Fuel Economy
Press the fuel button until AVG ECONOMY
displays. This mode shows the approximate
average miles per gallon (mpg) or liters per
100 kilometers (L/100 km). This number is
calculated based on the number of mpg (L/100 km)
recorded since the last time this menu item was
reset. To reset AVG ECONOMY, press and hold
the set/reset button. The display will return to zero.
Gages Menu Items (Uplevel Only)
2
(Gages):Press this button to scroll through
the following menu items:
Battery
Press the gages button until BATTERY displays.
This mode shows the current battery voltage.
Your vehicle’s charging system regulates voltage
based on the state of the battery. The battery
voltage may uctuate when viewing this
information on the DIC. This is normal.
If there is a problem with the battery charging
system, a DIC message will display. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 208for
more information.
SeeElectric Power Management on page 163for
more information.
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3. Press the set/reset button to scroll through
and select the appropriate variance zone.
Navigate to one of the trip/fuel menu screens
to view the direction the vehicle is moving.
This will be shown in the top right corner of the
DIC display.
4. If you need to calibrate the compass, use the
compass calibration procedure. See
“Compass Calibration Procedure” following.
Compass Calibration
The compass can be manually calibrated. Only
calibrate the compass in a safe location where
driving the vehicle in circles is not a problem.
If “CAL” should ever appear in the DIC display,
the compass may need calibration.To calibrate the compass, use the following
procedure:
Compass Calibration Procedure
1. Before calibrating the compass, make sure the
compass zone is set to the variance zone in
which the vehicle is traveling. See “Compass
Variance Procedure” earlier in this section.
2. Press the option button until the COMPASS
CALIBRATION screen is displayed.
3. Press the set/reset button to start the
compass calibration.
4. The DIC will display CALIBRATION BEGUN
DRIVE IN CIRCLES. Drive the vehicle in a
circle until the DIC displays CALIBRATION
FINISHED. The DIC will display
CALIBRATION FINISHED for several seconds
and then will display the COMPASS
CALIBRATION screen.
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CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE
This message displays when there is a problem
with the generator and battery charging systems.
Driving with this problem could drain the battery.
Turn off all unnecessary accessories. Stop
and turn off the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so. Have the electrical system checked by your
dealer immediately.
This message displays and a chime sounds while
the ignition is in RUN. Press any of the DIC
buttons to acknowledge this message and to clear
it from the screen.
This message continues to display for two seconds
if it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It also re-displays for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the
condition still exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message re-appears
when the engine is turned on.
CHECK GAS CAP
This message may display if the fuel cap is not
on, or is not fully tightened. The check gas
cap light also appears on the instrument panel
cluster. SeeCheck Gas Cap Light on page 199.
Check the fuel cap to ensure that it is on properly.
The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or missing fuel cap allows fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips
with the cap properly installed should turn this
message off. SeeFilling the Tank on page 346for
more information.
This message displays while the ignition is in RUN.
Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge this
message and to clear it from the screen.
This message continues to display for two seconds
if it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It also re-displays for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the
condition still exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message re-appears
when the engine is turned on.
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LEFT REAR TURN LAMP OUT
This message displays when the left rear turn
signal bulb needs to be replaced. SeeTaillamps,
Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps on page 398.
This message displays while the ignition is in RUN.
Press any of the DIC buttons to acknowledge this
message and to clear it from the screen.
This message continues to display for two seconds
if it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It also re-displays for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the
condition still exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message re-appears
when the engine is turned on.
LOW BRAKE FLUID
This message displays when the brake uid level
is low. Have the brake system serviced by
your dealer as soon as possible. SeeBrakes on
page 381for proper uid level.
The brake system warning light also appears on
the instrument panel cluster when this message
appears on the DIC. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 186.This message displays and a chime sounds only
while the ignition is in RUN. Press any of the
DIC buttons to acknowledge this message and to
clear it from the screen.
This message continues to display for two seconds
if it has not been acknowledged when the engine is
turned off. It also re-displays for two seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the
condition still exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message re-appears
when the engine is turned on.
LOW FUEL
This message displays when your vehicle is low
on fuel. Rell the fuel tank as soon as possible.
SeeFuel Gage on page 198andFilling the Tank
on page 346for more information.
The message displays and a chime sounds while
the ignition is in RUN. Press any of the DIC
buttons to acknowledge this message and to clear
it from the screen.
If the condition still exists, the message re-appears
when the engine is turned on.
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Once you are moving on the freeway, make
certain you allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your
exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and
back up. Drive on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite
sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce
your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any
distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think
you are going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If
you must start when you are not fresh — such
as after a day’s work — do not plan to make too
many miles that rst part of the journey. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily
drive in.Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you will nd experienced and able service experts
in GM dealerships all across North America. They
will be ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir
full? Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you
checked all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses
clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough
for long-distance driving? Are the tires
all inated to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather
outlook along your route? Should you
delay your trip a short time to avoid a major
storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
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