battery BUICK LACROSSE 2009 User Guide

Perimeter Lighting
Perimeter lighting provides a period of exterior vehicle
lighting. Perimeter lighting activates when the key
is removed from the ignition or the vehicle is unlocked
using the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
The amount of time the exterior lamps will remain on
can be programmed using the Driver Information Center
(DIC). See “EXIT LIGHT DELAY” underDIC Vehicle
Personalization on page 3-74for additional information.
Overhead Console Reading
Lamps
The vehicle may have reading lamps located on the
overhead console. Press the lens to turn them on and off.
Rear Assist Handle Reading Lamps
The vehicle may have reading lamps located near
the rear assist handles. Press the lens to turn them
on and off.
Electric Power Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM) that
estimates the battery’s temperature and state of charge.
It then adjusts the voltage for best performance and
extended life of the battery.
When the battery’s state of charge is low, the voltage is
raised slightly to quickly bring the charge back up. When
the state of charge is high, the voltage is lowered slightly
to prevent overcharging. If the vehicle has a voltmeter
gage or a voltage display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the voltage move up or down.
This is normal. If there is a problem, an alert will be
displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical
loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles. This is
because the generator (alternator) may not be spinning
fast enough at idle to produce all the power that is
needed for very high electrical loads.
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A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following are on, such as: headlamps, high beams,
fog lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at
high speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer
loads, and loads plugged into accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s output
and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It can increase engine
idle speed to generate more power, whenever needed.
It can temporarily reduce the power demands of some
accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without
being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels of
corrective action, this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC) message
might be displayed, such as BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE,
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW, or LOW BATTERY. If this
message is displayed, it is recommended that the driver
reduce the electrical loads as much as possible. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-56.Battery Run-Down Protection
This helps prevent the vehicle’s battery from draining
in case the interior courtesy lamps, reading lamps, trunk
lamp, underhood lamp, glove box lamps, or sun visor
vanity lamps, if equipped, are accidently left on. If any of
these lamps are left on while the ignition is off, they will
automatically turn off after 10 minutes. The lamps will not
come back on again until one of the following occurs:
The ignition is turned on.
The interior lamps control is turned off, then to
door or on.
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Accessory Power Outlet(s)
The accessory power outlets enable power electrical
equipment, such as a cellular telephone.
The vehicle has 12-volt outlets. One outlet is located on
the center console below the climate controls. There may
be another outlet located inside the center storage
console or in the ip and fold console.
Open the cover to use the outlet. Be sure to close the
cover when the outlet is not in use.
Notice:Adding any electrical equipment to the
vehicle can damage it or keep other components
from working as they should. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not use
equipment exceeding maximum amperage rating
of 20 amperes. Check with your dealer/retailer before
adding electrical equipment.Certain power accessory plugs may not be compatible
to the power accessory outlet and could result in
blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a
problem, see your dealer/retailer.
Notice:Improper use of the power outlet can cause
damage not covered by the warranty. Do not hang
any type of accessory or accessory bracket from the
plug because the power outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only.
Notice:Leaving electrical equipment plugged in for
an extended period of time while the vehicle is off
will drain the battery. Power is always supplied
to the outlets. Always unplug electrical equipment
when not in use and do not plug in equipment
that exceeds the maximum 20 ampere rating.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow
the proper installation instructions included with
the equipment.
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Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
might begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on the vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection
could prevent getting a vehicle registration.
Here are some things to know to help the vehicle pass
an inspection:
The vehicle will not pass this inspection if the check
engine light is on with the engine running, or if the
key is in ON/RUN and the light is not on.
The vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
II (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 the battery has recently been replaced
or if the battery has run down. The diagnostic system
is designed to evaluate critical emission control
systems during normal driving. This can take several
days of routine driving. If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the inspection for lack of
OBD II system readiness, your dealer/retailer can
prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
The engine can become so hot that it catches re.
Someone could be burned. Check the oil as soon
as possible and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
can damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always follow
the maintenance schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.
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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/retailer.
The uplevel DIC also allows some features to be
customized or personalized. SeeDIC Vehicle
Personalization on page 3-74for 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 base level buttons are the trip/odometer and
English/Metric buttons.
The uplevel buttons 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):For vehicles with the
base level DIC, press this button to display the odometer
and trip distance.
For vehicles with the uplevel DIC, press this button
to display the odometer, trip distance, time elapsed,
and average speed.
E/M (English/Metric)**:For vehicles with the base
level DIC, press this button to select between English
or Metric units.
For vehicles with the uplevel DIC, to select between
English or Metric units, 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, if equipped.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 3-56
for 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. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-56for more information.
SeeElectric Power Management on page 3-18for more
information.
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BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
This message displays when the system detects that
the battery voltage is dropping beyond a reasonable
level. The battery saver system starts reducing certain
features of the vehicle that you may be able to notice.
At the point that the features are disabled, this message
is displayed. It means that the vehicle is trying to
save the charge in the battery.
Turn off all unnecessary accessories to allow the battery
to recharge.
The normal battery voltage range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts.
If your vehicle has an uplevel DIC, you can monitor
the battery voltage by pressing the gages button until
BATTERY displays.
CHANGE OIL SOON
This message displays when service is required for
the vehicle. See your dealer/retailer. SeeEngine Oil on
page 5-15andScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4for
more information.
The CHANGE OIL SOON message is reset by
acknowledging the message. The OIL LIFE screen
under the gages menu on the DIC must also be reset.
See “Oil Life” underDIC Operation and Displays on
page 3-48andEngine Oil Life System on page 5-18.
This message displays while the ignition is in ON/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.
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/retailer immediately.
This message displays and a chime sounds while the
ignition is in ON/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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HOOD AJAR
If your vehicle has the remote start feature, this
message displays when the hood is not closed properly.
Make sure that the hood is closed completely. SeeHood
Release on page 5-11.
This message displays while the ignition is in ON/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.
HOT TRANS (Transmission) FLUID
This message displays when the transmission uid in
your vehicle is too hot. Stop the vehicle and allow it to idle
until it cools down. If the warning message continues to
display, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer/retailer
as soon as possible.
This message displays and a chime sounds only while
the ignition is in ON/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.
KEY FOB BATTERY LOW
This message displays when the battery in the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter needs to be replaced.
To replace the battery, see “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on
page 2-4.
This message displays while the ignition is in ON/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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STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak, this message displays
when StabiliTrak is actively assisting you with directional
control of the vehicle. Slippery road conditions may exist
when this message is displayed, so adjust your driving
accordingly. SeeStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6.
This message displays only while the ignition is in
ON/RUN. This message stays on until road conditions
change and StabiliTrak is not active.
This message cannot be acknowledged and cleared
from the screen.
STABILITY CONTROL OFF
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak, this message displays
any time the system turns off. When this message has
been displayed, StabiliTrak is no longer available to
assist you with directional control of the vehicle. Adjust
your driving accordingly. SeeStabiliTrak
®System
on page 4-6.This message displays only while the ignition is in
ON/RUN.
Any of the following conditions may cause the
StabiliTrak system to turn off:
The system is turned off by pressing and holding
the traction control button for ve seconds.
SeeStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6.
The battery is low.
There is a StabiliTrak system failure. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
STARTING DISABLED
This message displays if the starting of the engine is
disabled due to the electronic throttle control system
or vehicle theft-deterrent system. Have your vehicle
serviced by your dealer/retailer immediately.
This message only appears while the ignition is in
ON/RUN and will not disappear until the problem is
resolved.
This message cannot be acknowledged.
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TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE
This message displays when the traction system
is on. Slippery road conditions may exist if this message
is displayed, so adjust your driving accordingly. See
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-7orEnhanced
Traction System (ETS) on page 4-8for more information.
This message only displays while the ignition is in
ON/RUN and will not disappear until driving conditions
change and the system is no longer active.
This message cannot be acknowledged or cleared from
the screen.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the traction system turns
off. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-7
orEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-8
for more information.
This message only displays while the ignition is in
ON/RUN and disappears after two seconds.Any of the following conditions may cause the system to
turn off:
The system is turned off by pressing the traction
control button located on the center of the instrument
panel. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 4-7orEnhanced Traction System (ETS)
on page 4-8.
The battery is low.
There is a system failure. See your dealer/retailer for
service.
TRUNK AJAR
This message displays when the trunk is not closed
completely. Make sure that the trunk is closed
completely. SeeTrunk on page 2-12.
This message displays while the ignition is in ON/RUN.
A chime sounds when the gear position is shifted out of
P (Park). 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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