service BUICK LACROSSE 2011 User Guide

Black plate (16,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
2-16 Keys, Doors and Windows
The system has one or more
transmitters that are matched to
an immobilizer control unit in your
vehicle. Only a correctly matched
transmitter will start the vehicle.
If the transmitter is ever damaged,
you may not be able to start your
vehicle.
When trying to start the vehicle, the
security light comes on briefly when
the ignition is turned on.
If the engine does not start and the
security light stays on, there is a
problem with the system. Turn the
ignition off and try again.If the RKE appears to be
undamaged, try another
transmitter. Or, you may try
placing the transmitter in the
transmitter pocket located in the
center console. See
“No Remote
Detected” underKey and Lock
Messages on page 5‑36.
If the engine does not start with
the other transmitter or when the
transmitter is on the pocket in the
center console, your vehicle needs
service. See your dealer who can
service the theft-deterrent system
and have a new transmitter
programmed to the vehicle.
Do not leave the key or device
that disarms or deactivates the
theft-deterrent system in the vehicle.Exterior Mirrors
Power Mirrors
To adjust the mirrors:
1. Turn the control knob to the L (left) or R (right) selecting the
driver or passenger mirror.
2. Push the control knob to the left, right, up, or down to adjust the
mirror.

Black plate (18,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
2-18 Keys, Doors and Windows
Interior Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Adjust the inside rearview mirror
for a clear view of the area behind
your vehicle. To avoid glare of the
headlamps from behind, push the
tab forward for daytime and pull it
for nighttime use.
Vehicles with OnStar
®have three
control buttons at the bottom of the
mirror. See your dealer for more
information about OnStar and how
to subscribe to it. See the OnStar
Owner's Guide for more information
about the services OnStar provides.
Windows
{WARNING
Leaving children, helpless
adults, or pets in a vehicle
with the windows closed is
dangerous. They can be
overcome by the extreme heat
and suffer permanent injuries
or even death from heat stroke.
Never leave a child, a helpless
adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle,
especially with the windows
closed in warm or hot weather.
The vehicle aerodynamics are
designed to improve fuel economy
performance. This may result in a
pulsing sound when either rear
window is down and the front
windows are up. To reduce the
sound, open either a front window
or the sunroof (if equipped).

Black plate (6,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
3-6 Seats and Restraints
Recalling Button Memory
Positions
To recall the manually saved
Button Memory positions, press
and hold“1”or“2.” The driver seat
and outside mirrors move to the
positions stored to those buttons
when pressed. Releasing “1”or“2”
before the stored positions are
reached stops the recall.
If something has blocked the
driver seat while recalling a
memory position, the recall may
stop. Remove the obstruction;
then press and hold the appropriate
manual control for the memory item
that is not recalling for two seconds.
Try recalling the memory position
again by pressing the appropriate
memory button. If the memory
position is still not recalling,
see your dealer for service. Recalling RKE Memory Positions
(Memory Remote Recall)
The Memory Remote Recall
feature can recall the driver seat
and outside mirrors to previously
stored RKE Memory positions
when entering the vehicle.
Every time the ignition is placed
in OFF, the positions of the driver
seat and outside mirrors are
automatically stored to the RKE
transmitter that was used to start
the vehicle. These positions are
called RKE Memory positions and
may be different than the previously
mentioned Button Memory positions
saved to the
“1”or“2” buttons. To automatically recall RKE
Memory positions, unlock
the driver door with the RKE
transmitter, and open the driver
door. On vehicles with Keyless
Access, opening the driver door
when an RKE transmitter is
present will activate the RKE
Memory recall. If the driver door
is already open, pressing the
RKE transmitter
Kbutton will also
activate the RKE Memory recall.
The driver seat and outside mirrors
will move to the previously saved
RKE Memory positions.

Black plate (7,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-7
This feature is turned on or off using
the vehicle personalization menu.
See“Remote Recall” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑39 for
more information.
To stop recall movement, press
one of the memory, power mirror,
or power seat controls.
If something has blocked the
driver seat while recalling a
memory position, the recall may
stop. Remove the obstruction;
then press and hold the appropriate
manual control for the memory item
that is not recalling for two seconds.
Try recalling the memory position
again by opening the driver door
and pressing the RKE transmitter K
button. If the memory position is
still not recalling, see your dealer
for service. Easy Exit Driver Seat
This feature moves the seat
rearward allowing the driver
more room to exit the vehicle.
To activate, place the ignition in
OFF and open the driver door. If the
driver door is already open, placing
the ignition in OFF will activate the
easy exit driver seat.
This feature is turned on or off
using the vehicle personalization
menu. See
“Driver Seat Easy Exit”
under Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑39 for more information.
To stop recall movement, press
one of the memory or power seat
controls.
If something has blocked the driver
seat while recalling the exit position,
the recall may stop. Remove the
obstruction; then press and hold
the power seat control rearward for
two seconds. Try recalling the exit
position again. If the exit position is
still not recalling, see your dealer
for service.Lumbar Adjustment
To increase or decrease lumbar
support, press and hold the front
or rear of the control.
To raise or lower lumbar support,
press and hold the top or bottom
of the control.
Release the control when the
seatback reaches the desired
level of lumbar support.
See Power Seat Adjustment on
page 3‑5 for more information.

Black plate (36,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
3-36 Seats and Restraints
{WARNING
A crash severe enough to
inflate the airbags may have
also damaged important functions
in the vehicle, such as the fuel
system, brake and steering
systems, etc. Even if the vehicle
appears to be drivable after a
moderate crash, there may be
concealed damage that could
make it difficult to safely operate
the vehicle.
Use caution if you should attempt
to restart the engine after a crash
has occurred.In many crashes severe enough
to inflate the airbag, windshields
are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage
may also occur from the right front
passenger airbag.
.Airbags are designed to inflate
only once. After an airbag
inflates, you will need some
new parts for the airbag system.
If you do not get them, the
airbag system will not be there
to help protect you in another
crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly
other parts. The service manual
for your vehicle covers the need
to replace other parts.
.The vehicle has a crash
sensing and diagnostic module
which records information after
a crash. See
Vehicle Data
Recording and Privacy on
page 13‑18 andEvent Data
Recorders on page 13‑18.
.Let only qualified technicians
work on the airbag systems.
Improper service can mean that
an airbag system will not work
properly. See your dealer for
service.

Black plate (39,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-39
When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag,
the off indicator will light and stay
lit to remind you that the airbags
are off. SeePassenger Airbag
Status Indicator on page 5‑15.
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn on (may inflate)
the right front passenger frontal
airbag anytime the system senses
that a person of adult size is sitting
properly in the right front passenger
seat. When the passenger sensing
system has allowed the airbag to be
enabled, the on indicator will light
and stay lit to remind you that the
airbag is active.
For some children who have
outgrown child restraints and for
very small adults, the passenger
sensing system may or may not turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag, depending upon
the person's seating posture
and body build. Everyone in the
vehicle who has outgrown child
restraints should wear a safety
belt properly
—whether or not
there is an airbag for that person.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑14 for more
information, including important
safety information.
If the On Indicator is Lit for a
Child Restraint
If a child restraint has been installed
and the on indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items from the seat such as blankets,
cushions, seat covers, seat
heaters, or seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directions
provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and refer to
Securing Child Restraints
(Rear Seat) on page 3‑61 or
Securing Child Restraints (Front
Passenger Seat) on page 3‑63.

Black plate (41,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-41
Additional Factors Affecting
System Operation
Safety belts help keep the
passenger in position on the
seat during vehicle maneuvers
and braking, which helps the
passenger sensing system
maintain the passenger airbag
status. See“Safety Belts” and
“Child Restraints” in the Index for
additional information about the
importance of proper restraint use.
A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion,
or aftermarket equipment such
as seat covers, seat heaters, and
seat massagers can affect how
well the passenger sensing system
operates. We recommend that
you not use seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment except when
approved by GM for your specific
vehicle. See Adding Equipment to
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 3‑42 for more information
about modifications that can
affect how the system operates.
{WARNING
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle
should be serviced. There are
parts of the airbag system in
several places around the vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual
have information about servicing
the vehicle and the airbag system.
To purchase a service manual,
see Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑15.
{WARNING
For up to 10 seconds after the
ignition is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an airbag
can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you
are close to an airbag when it
inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and
make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.

Black plate (43,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-43
In addition, your dealer and the
service manual have information
about the location of the airbag
sensors, sensing and diagnostic
module and airbag wiring.
Airbag System Check
The airbag system does not need
regularly scheduled maintenance
or replacement. Make sure the
airbag readiness light is working.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light on
page 5‑14 for more information.
Notice: If an airbag covering is
damaged, opened, or broken,
the airbag may not work properly.
Do not open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any
opened or broken airbag covers,
have the airbag covering and/or
airbag module replaced. For the
location of the airbag modules,
see What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? on page 3‑34. See your
dealer for service.
Replacing Airbag System
Parts After a Crash
{WARNING
A crash can damage the
airbag systems in the vehicle.
A damaged airbag system
may not work properly and
may not protect you and your
passenger(s) in a crash, resulting
in serious injury or even death.
To help make sure the airbag
systems are working properly
after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon
as possible. If an airbag inflates, you will need
to replace airbag system parts.
See your dealer for service.
If the airbag readiness light stays on
after the vehicle is started or comes
on when you are driving, the airbag
system may not work properly.
Have the vehicle serviced right
away. See
Airbag Readiness Light
on page 5‑14 for more information.

Black plate (12,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
5-12 Instruments and Controls
Metric
When the ignition is on, the fuel
gauge indicates about how much
fuel is left in the tank. An arrow on the fuel gauge
indicates the side of the vehicle
the fuel door is on.
When the indicator nears empty,
the low fuel light comes on. There is
still a little fuel left, but the fuel tank
should be filled soon.
Here are four things that some
owners ask about. None of these
show a problem with the fuel gauge:
.At the service station, the fuel
pump shuts off before the gauge
reads full.
.It takes a little more or less
fuel to fill up than the gauge
indicated. For example, the
gauge indicated the tank was
half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the
tank's capacity to fill the tank.
.The gauge moves a little while
turning a corner or speeding up.
.The gauge takes a few seconds
to stabilize after the ignition is
turned on, and goes back to
empty when the ignition is
turned off.

Black plate (15,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-15
The airbag readiness light comes
on solid and stays on for several
seconds when the vehicle is started.
Then the light goes out.
If it stays on solid after the vehicle
has been started or comes on while
driving, the airbag system may not
work properly. Have the vehicle
serviced right away.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 3‑37
for important safety information.
The instrument panel has a
passenger airbag status indicator.
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light the words ON and OFF for
several seconds as a system check.