instrument panel BUICK LACROSSE 2010 Owner's Guide

8-10 Driving and Operating
TheAntilock Brake System (ABS)on page 8‑31improves vehicle
stability during hard stops on
slippery roads, but apply the brakes
sooner than when on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in
shaded areas. The surface of a
curve or an overpass can remain icy
when the surrounding roads are
clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped,
on slippery surfaces.Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be in a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use the Roadside
Assistance Program (US, Can)
on
page 12‑6. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{WARNING
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
.Clear away snow from around
the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking
the exhaust pipe.
.Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
.Open a window about 5 cm
(two inches) on the side of
the vehicle that is away from
the wind to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
.Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
vehicle and set the fan speed
to the highest setting. See
Climate Control System in the
Index.(Continued)

8-30 Driving and Operating
Uplevel Display Shown, BaseModel Similar
The display on the instrument panel
cluster will show which gear the
vehicle is in. The number indicates
the requested gear range when
moving the shift lever forward or
rearward. The transmission will only allow you
to shift into gears appropriate for the
vehicle speed and engine
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). The
transmission will not automatically
shift to the next lower gear if the
engine RPM is too high, nor to the
next higher gear when the maximum
engine RPM is reached.
While in the DSC mode, the
transmission will automatically
downshift when the vehicle comes
to a stop. This will allow for more
power during take-off.
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
you may want to shift into second
gear. A higher gear allows you to
gain more traction on slippery
surfaces.
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
With this feature, engine power is
always sent to all four wheels. It is
fully automatic, and adjusts itself as
needed for road conditions.
When using a compact spare tire on
an AWD vehicle, the system
automatically detects the compact
spare and disables AWD. To restore
AWD operation and prevent
excessive wear on system, replace
the compact spare with a full-size
tire as soon as possible. See
Compact Spare Tire
on page 9‑74for more information.

Driving and Operating 8-35
Notice:Do not repeatedly brake
or accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle's driveline could
be damaged.
The TCS off light comes on to
indicate that the traction control
system has been turned off.
When TCS is switched off on AWD
vehicles, the system may still make
noise. This is normal and necessary
with the AWD hardware on the
vehicle.
It might be necessary to turn the
system off if the vehicle gets stuck
in sand, mud or snow and rocking
the vehicle is required. See If the
Vehicle is Stuck
on page 8‑11for
more information. See also WinterDriving
on page 8‑9for
information on using TCS when
driving in snowy or icy conditions.
To turn the system off, pressg
located on the console to the right of
the shifter.
Press and release
gand the traction
control system turns off and the
traction control system warning light
comes on. Press
gagain to turn the
system back on. For information on
turning StabiliTrak off and on, see
StabiliTrak System following in this
section.
Adding non-GM accessories can
affect the vehicle's performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 9‑3for more information.
Electronic Stability
Control (ESC)
The vehicle has a vehicle stability
enhancement system called
StabiliTrak. It is an advanced
computer controlled system that
assists with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the
computer senses a difference
between the intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one
of the vehicle's brakes to help steer
the vehicle in the intended direction.
When the stability control system
activates, the Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak light
flashes on the instrument panel.

8-36 Driving and Operating
This also occurs when traction
control is activated. A noise might
be heard or vibration might be felt in
the brake pedal. This is normal.
Continue to steer the vehicle in the
intended direction.
If there is a problem detected with
StabiliTrak, the TCS/StabiliTrak light
comes on and the system is not
operational. SeeElectronic Stability
Control (ESC)/Traction Control
System (TCS) Indicator/Warning
Light
on page 4‑22. Driving should
be adjusted accordingly.
StabiliTrak comes on automatically
whenever the vehicle is started. To
assist with directional control of the
vehicle, the system should always
be left on.
StabiliTrak can be turned off if
needed by pressing and holding
g
until the StabiliTrak Off light comes
on the instrument panel. For
information on turning TCS off and
on, see Traction Control System
(TCS) in this section.
If cruise control is being used when
StabiliTrak activates, the cruise
control automatically disengages.
Press the cruise control button to
reengage when road conditions
allow. See Cruise Control
on
page 8‑37for more information.
Selective Ride Control
The vehicle may have a ride control
system called Selective Ride
Control. The system provides the
following performance benefits:
.Reduced Impact Harshness
.Improved Road Isolation
.Improved High-Speed Stability
.Improved Handling Response
.Better Control of Body Ride
Motions
To switch from TOUR to SPORT
mode, move the shift lever to
the left while the transmission is
in D (Drive).

8-38 Driving and Operating
Setting Cruise Control
{WARNING
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.
The cruise control buttons are
located on the steering wheel.
5(On/Off):Press to turn the
cruise control system on and off. An
indicator light will turn on or off in
the instrument panel cluster.
\(Cancel): Press to cancel cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
RES/+ (Resume/Accel): Move the
thumbwheel up to resume a set
speed or to accelerate to a higher
speed.
SET/− (Set/Coast): Move the
thumbwheel down to set a speed or
to decrease the speed.
To set a speed:
1. Press
5to turn cruise control
on. The indicator light in the
instrument panel cluster
comes on.
2. Get to the speed desired.

Driving and Operating 8-39
3. Move the thumbwheel downtoward SET/− and release it.
The desired set speed briefly
appears in the instrument panel
cluster.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
When the brakes are applied, the
cruise control shuts off.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
are applied, the cruise control is
disengaged. To return to the
previously set speed, move the
thumbwheel up toward RES/+
briefly when the vehicle has
reached a speed of about 40 km/h
(25 mph) or more.
This accelerates the vehicle to the
previously selected speed. Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a
higher speed.
.Disengage the cruise control,
but do not turn it off.
.If the cruise control system is
already engaged, move the
thumbwheel up toward RES/+
and hold it until the vehicle
accelerates to the desired
speed, and then release it. To
increase the speed in small
amounts, move the thumbwheel
up toward RES/+ briefly and
then release it. Each time this is
done, the vehicle goes about
1.6 km/h (1 mph) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already engaged,
.Move the thumbwheel toward
SET/−
and hold until the desired
lower speed is reached, then
release it.
.To slow down in very small
amounts, move the thumbwheel
toward SET/− briefly. Each time
this is done, the vehicle goes
about 1.6 km/h (1 mph) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle's speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the
previously set cruise control speed.

8-50 Driving and Operating
The 8th digit of the Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) shows
the code letter or number that
identifies the vehicle's engine.The VIN is at the top left of the
instrument panel. See
Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN)
on
page 11‑1.
Recommended Fuel
If the vehicle has a 2.4L L4 engine
(VIN Code C) or the 3.0L V6 engine
(VIN Code G), use regular unleaded
gasoline with a posted octane rating
of 87 or higher. If the octane rating
is less than 87, you might notice an
audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as
spark knock. If this occurs, use a
gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher as soon as possible. If you
are using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher and you hear
heavy knocking, the engine needs
service.
If the vehicle has the 3.6L V6 engine
(VIN Code V), use premium
unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher. You
can also use regular unleaded
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but the vehicle's acceleration
could be slightly reduced, and you
might notice a slight audible
knocking noise, commonly referred
to as spark knock. If the octane is
less than 87, you might notice a
heavy knocking noise when you
drive. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as soon
as possible. Otherwise, you could
damage the engine. If you are using
gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher and you hear heavy
knocking, the engine needs service.
Gasoline Specifications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet
ASTM specification D 4814 in the
United States or CAN/CGSB-3.5
or 3.511 in Canada. Some
gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. See
Fuel Additives
on page 8‑51for additional
information.

8-56 Driving and Operating
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal so the
trailer will not strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other
objects. Use the turn signal well in
advance and avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
The turn signal indicators on the
instrument panel flash whenever
signaling a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer
lamps also flash, telling other
drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument panel flash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Use a lower gear if the transmission
shifts too often. When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, engine coolant
boils at a lower temperature than at
normal altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing
at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, the vehicle could show
signs similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the engine run
while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission in
P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating on page 9‑20.
Parking on Hills
{WARNING
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.

Vehicle Care 9-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 9-13
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . 9-15
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . 9-22 Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . 9-27
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control System
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . 9-29Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35 Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . 9-47
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54

Vehicle Care 9-5
Hood
To open the hood, do the following:
1. Pull the interior hood releasehandle located to the left of the
steering column below the
instrument panel.
2. Push the secondary hoodrelease lever, located under the
center of the hood above the
grille, to the right to disengage it.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, make sure
all the filler caps are properly
secured. Pull the hood down and
close it firmly.