BUICK LACROSSE 2008 Owner's Manual

If another party’s insurance company is paying for the
repairs, you are not obligated to accept a repair
valuation based on that insurance company’s collision
policy repair limits, as you have no contractual limits with
that company. In such cases, you can have control of
the repair and parts choices as long as cost stays within
reasonable limits.
Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which
could cause a crash or could cause injury or
death, you should immediately inform the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
in addition to notifying General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open
an investigation, and if it nds that a safety defect
exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall
and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot
become involved in individual problems between
you, your dealer/retailer, or General Motors.To contact NHTSA, you may call the
Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153);
go to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA
400 Seventh Street, SW.
Washington D.C., 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov.
Reporting Safety Defects to
the Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, notify Transport Canada
immediately, in addition to notifying General Motors of
Canada Limited. Call them at 1-800-333-0510 or
write to:
Transport Canada
Road Safety Branch
2780 Sheffield Road
Ottawa, Ontario K1B 3V9
7-15

Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in
a situation like this, please notify General Motors.
Call 1-800-521-7300, or write:
Buick Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33136
Detroit, MI 48232-5136
In Canada, call 1-800-263-3777 (English) or
1-800-263-7854 (French), or write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, CA1-163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins’ give additional technical service
information needed to knowledgeably service
General Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin contains
instructions to assist in the diagnosis and service of
your vehicle.
Owner Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner manual includes the
Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Without Portfolio: Owner Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available
for current and past model GM vehicles. To request
an order form, specify year and model name of
the vehicle.
7-16

ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy
Your GM vehicle has a number of sophisticated
computers that record information about the vehicle’s
performance and how it is driven. For example, your
vehicle uses computer modules to monitor and control
engine and transmission performance, to monitor the
conditions for airbag deployment and deploy airbags in a
crash and, if so equipped, to provide antilock braking to
help the driver control the vehicle. These modules may
store data to help your dealer/retailer technician service
your vehicle. Some modules may also store data about
how you operate the vehicle, such as rate of fuel
consumption or average speed. These modules may also
retain the owner’s personal preferences, such as radio
pre-sets, seat positions, and temperature settings.
7-17

Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations, such as an airbag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will
assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems
performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR
in this vehicle is designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your vehicle were operating
Whether or not the driver and passenger safety
belts were buckled/fastened
How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal
How fast the vehicle was traveling
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.Important:EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is recorded
by the EDR under normal driving conditions and no
personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash
location) is recorded. However, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type
of personally identifying data routinely acquired during a
crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment
is required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR
is needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer,
other parties, such as law enforcement, that have
the special equipment, can read the information if
they have access to the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access this data or share it with others
except: with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee; in
response to an official request of police or similar
government office; as part of GM’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process; or, as required by law.
Data that GM collects or receives may also be used for
GM research needs or may be made available to others
for research purposes, where a need is shown and the
data is not tied to a specic vehicle or vehicle owner.
7-18

OnStar®
If your vehicle has OnStar and you subscribe to the
OnStar services, please refer to the OnStar Terms and
Conditions for information on data collection and use.
See alsoOnStar
®System on page 2-43in this manual
for more information.
Navigation System
If your vehicle has a navigation system, use of the
system may result in the storage of destinations,
addresses, telephone numbers, and other trip
information. Refer to the navigation system operating
manual for information on stored data and for deletion
instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identication (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some vehicles for functions
such as tire pressure monitoring and ignition system
security, as well as in connection with conveniences
such as key fobs for remote door locking/unlocking and
starting, and in-vehicle transmitters for garage door
openers. RFID technology in GM vehicles does not use
or record personal information or link with any other
GM system containing personal information.
7-19

✍NOTES
7-20

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-67
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-108
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-23
Air Conditioning......................................3-20, 3-24
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-34
Readiness Light..........................................3-33
Airbag System................................................1-54
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-60
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-59
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-57
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-67
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-60
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-62
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-66
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-60
Antenna, Backglass.......................................3-104
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-105
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-4
Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-38Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-104
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-102
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-106
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-103
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-100
Finish Care...............................................5-103
Finish Damage..........................................5-105
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-101
Interior Cleaning..........................................5-99
Leather....................................................5-101
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-105
Tires........................................................5-105
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-106
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-106
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-102
Weatherstrips............................................5-102
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-104
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Ashtray.........................................................3-20
Audio System.................................................3-84
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-102
Backglass Antenna.....................................3-104
Chime Level Adjustment.............................3-105
Radio Reception........................................3-103
Setting the Clock.........................................3-85
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-101
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-105
1

Audio System(s).............................................3-86
Automatic Door Lock.......................................2-12
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-25
Operation...................................................2-29
B
Backglass Antenna........................................3-104
Battery..........................................................5-49
Electric Power Management..........................3-18
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-15
Run-Down Protection...................................3-19
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-5
Brakes..........................................................5-46
System Warning Light..................................3-37
Braking........................................................... 4-3
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-5
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-24
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-58
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-58
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-56
License Plate Lamps....................................5-61
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-61
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps.................................5-59
Buying New Tires...........................................5-78
C
Calibration.....................................................3-56
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-3
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-116
Carbon Monoxide...................2-14, 2-37, 4-17, 4-28
Care of
Safety Belts..............................................5-102
CD, MP3 .......................................................3-97
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-53
Center Seat..................................................... 1-7
Chains, Tire...................................................5-84
Charging System Light....................................3-36
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-42
Check Gas Cap Light......................................3-49
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-106
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-37
Infants and Young Children...........................1-33
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-41
Older Children.............................................1-29
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-47
2

Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Front Seat Position...................................1-50
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-50
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-39
Chime Level Adjustment.................................3-105
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-20
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-104
Exterior Lamps/Lenses................................5-103
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-100
Finish Care...............................................5-103
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-101
Interior.......................................................5-99
Leather....................................................5-101
Tires........................................................5-105
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-106
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-102
Weatherstrips............................................5-102
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-104
Climate Control System...................................3-20
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-29
Dual Automatic............................................3-24
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-28
Clock, Setting.................................................3-85
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-12
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-98Compass.......................................................3-56
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-20
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Convenience Net............................................2-54
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-40
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-40
Heater, Engine............................................2-27
Low Warning Light.......................................3-41
Cooling System..............................................5-33
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-16
Cruise Control................................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-46
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-52
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation................................7-10
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone
(TTY) Users.............................................. 7-6
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-6
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-7
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-16
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-15
Reporting Safety Defects to the United
States Government...................................7-15
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-8
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-16
3

D
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic
Headlamp System.......................................3-14
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Entry Lighting.....................................3-17
Delayed Exit Lighting.......................................3-17
Delayed Locking.............................................2-12
DIC Compass.................................................3-56
Diesel
Running Out of Fuel....................................2-37
Disc, MP3......................................................3-97
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Door
Ajar Light...................................................3-47
Automatic Door Lock....................................2-12
Delayed Locking..........................................2-12
Locks........................................................2-11
Power Door Locks.......................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock............2-12
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-12
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-49
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-50
DIC Vehicle Personalization..........................3-76
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-58Driving
At Night.....................................................4-13
Before a Long Trip......................................4-15
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-15
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-16
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-14
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-21
Winter........................................................4-17
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-24
E
EDR .............................................................7-17
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-108
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-109
Headlamp Wiring.......................................5-109
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-110
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-109
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-112
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-109
4