power steering BUICK LACROSSE 2011 Owner's Guide

Black plate (9,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-9
A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑15.
B. Power Steering Reservoir and Cap. See Power Steering Fluid
on page 10‑23.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑9.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑9.
E. Engine Cover.
F. Transmission Fluid Cap and Dipstick. See Automatic
Transmission Fluid on
page 10‑15. G. Brake Master Cylinder
Reservoir. See Brakes on
page 10‑24.
H. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑18.
I. Battery Cover. See Battery on
page 10‑27.
J. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑39.
K. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑24.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life,
careful attention must be paid
to engine oil. Following these
simple, but important steps will
help protect your investment:
.Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and
of the proper viscosity grade.
See “Selecting the Right Engine
Oil” in this section.
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine
Oil Life System on page 10‑13.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.

Black plate (23,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-23
Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6 for information on the
location of the power steering fluid
reservoir.
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly
check power steering fluid unless a
leak is suspected in the system or
an unusual noise is heard. A fluid
loss in this system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
Check the level after the vehicle has
been driven for at least 20 minutes
so the fluid is warm.
To check the power steering fluid:
1. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF and let the engine compartment
cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and pull it straight up.
4. Wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
5. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
6. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
When the engine is hot, the level
should be at the hot MAX level.
When the engine is cold, the fluid
level should be between MIN and
MAX on the dipstick.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to
use, see Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑7. Always
use the proper fluid.

Black plate (41,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-41
Mini Fuses Usage10 Engine Control
Module
11 Post Catalytic
Converter Oxygen
Sensor Heater
13 Trans Ignition/Fuel
System Control
Module
16 MAF
17 Airbag Module
18 SBZ Ignition
23 Variable Effort
Steering
29 Power Lumbar, Left
32 Body Control
Module
33 Heated Seat
34 Antilock Brake
System Valves
35 Amplifier Mini Fuses Usage
36 AFL Ignition
37 Right High Beam
38 Left High Beam
46 Cooling Fan Relay
47 Pre Catalytic
Converter Oxygen
Sensor Heater
48 Fog Lamps
49 Right High Intensity
Discharge
Headlamp
50 Left High Intensity
Discharge
Headlamp
51 Horn
52 Cluster Ignition
53 Inside Rearview
Mirror, Rear
Vision Camera,
Vacuum Pump Mini Fuses Usage
54 Heating, Ventilation
and Air Conditioning
55 Outside Rearview
Mirror, Universal
Garage Door
Opener, Window
Switch
56 Windshield Washer
60 Heated Mirror
62 Canister Vent
64 AFL Battery
65 Theft‐Deterrent Horn
67 Fuel System Control
Module
69 Regulated Voltage
Control Sensor
70 Ultrasonic Parking
Assist/Side
Blind Zone

Black plate (43,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-43
Instrument Panel Fuse BlockThe vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown.
Fuses Usage
1 Steering Wheel
Controls Backlight
2 Body Control
Module 7
3 Body Control
Module 5
4 Radio
5 OnStar Universal
Hands‐Free Phone
6 Power Outlet 1
7 Power Outlet 2
8 Body Control
Module 1
9 Body Control
Module 4 Fuses Usage
10 Body Control
Module 8
11 Front Heater
Ventilation Air
Conditioning/Blower
12 Passenger Seat
13 Driver Seat
14 Diagnostic Link
Connector
15 Airbag
16 Trunk
17 Heater Ventilation
Air Conditioning
Controller

Black plate (51,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-51
(B) Tire Width:The three‐digit
number indicates the tire section
width in millimeters from
sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio
:A two‐digit
number that indicates the tire
height‐to‐width measurements.
For example, if the tire size
aspect ratio is 60, as shown in
item C of the illustration, it would
mean that the tire's sidewall is
60 percent as high as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code
:A
letter code is used to indicate
the type of ply construction in
the tire. The letter R means
radial ply construction; the
letter D means diagonal or
bias ply construction; and the
letter B means belted‐bias ply
construction.
(E) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches. (F) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load
index and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents
the load carrying capacity a tire
is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a
tire is certified to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
Definitions
Air Pressure:The amount
of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch
of the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in psi (pounds per
square inch) or kPa (kilopascal).
Accessory Weight
:The
combined weight of optional
accessories. Some examples
of optional accessories are,
automatic transmission, power
steering, power brakes, power
windows, power seats, and air
conditioning. Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire's height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords that is located between
the plies and the tread. Cords
may be made from steel or
other reinforcing materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic
tire in which the plies are laid
at alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline
of the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The
amount of air pressure in a tire,
measured in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch)
before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See Tire Pressure
on page 10‑54.

Black plate (7,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-7
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
UsageFluid/Lubricant
Engine Oil The engine requires engine oil approved to the dexos specification.
Oils meeting this specification can be identified with the dexos certification
mark. Look for and use only an engine oil that displays the dexos
certification mark of the proper viscosity grade. See
Engine Oil on
page 10‑9.
Engine Coolant 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL Coolant.
See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑18.
Hydraulic Brake System DOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid (GM Part No. 88862806,
in Canada 88862807).
Windshield Washer Optikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Hydraulic Power Steering System DEXRON
®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Automatic Transmission DEXRON
®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.

Black plate (4,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
12-4 Technical Data
Engine Drive Belt Routing
2.4L L4 Engine
(Electric Power Steering)
2.4L L4 Engine
(Hydraulic Power Steering)3.6L V6 Engines

Black plate (5,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
INDEX i-5
Electronic Stability ControlIndicator Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 10-6
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Cooling System Messages . . . 5-35
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-4
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 9-28
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20 Engine Oil
Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-61
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . 13-18
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 6-2
F
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 6-4
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-70 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-79
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-100 Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . 10-15
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Fog Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Front Fog Lamps Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Front Seats
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . 3-10
Front Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . 9-52
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . 9-51

Black plate (10,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
i-10 INDEX
PowerDoor Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 9-24
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Pregnancy, Using Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Privacy Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) . . . . . . . 13-19
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . .13-11
Proposition 65 Warning, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3R
Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) . . . . . . . . 13-19
Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-20
Radios AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
CD/DVD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Rear Seat Entertainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
Rear Seat Pass-Through Door . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 9-46
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8 Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-10
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-89
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-8
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3, 2-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Replacement Parts Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-43
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . 3-43
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 3-61

Black plate (12,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
i-12 INDEX
ServiceAccessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Maintenance Records . . . . . . .11-10
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Parts Identification Label . . . . . 12-1
Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-15
Scheduling Appointments . . . .13-11
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26 Side Blind Zone Alert . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Signals, Turn and
Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Spare Tire Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-85
Specifications and Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Start Assist, Hills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4 Fluid, Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Stoplamps and Back-Up Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-35 Storage
Mass Media (MEM) . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
Storage Areas Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . 10-79
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Sun Visor Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v
System Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1