BUICK LACROSSE 2011 Owner's Manual

Black plate (41,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-41
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated,
.Move the thumbwheel toward
SET/−and hold until the desired
lower speed is reached, then
release it.
.To slow down in small amounts,
move the thumbwheel toward
SET/− briefly and then release
it. 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 previous set cruise control
speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works
on hills depends upon the vehicle's
speed, load, and the steepness
of the hills. When going up steep
hills, you might have to step on
the accelerator pedal to maintain
the vehicle's speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake
or shift to a lower gear to maintain
the vehicle's speed. When the
brakes are applied the cruise
control shuts off. Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise
control:
.To disengage cruise control,
step lightly on the brake pedal
or clutch; when cruise control
disengages, the indicator light
will not be lit.
.Press[on the steering wheel.
.To turn off the cruise control,
press
5on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory by pressing
the
5button or if the ignition is
turned off.

Black plate (42,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
9-42 Driving and Operating
Object Detection
Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
For vehicles with the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA)
system, it assists the driver with
parking and avoiding objects while
in R (Reverse). URPA operates at
speeds less than 8 km/h (5 mph),
and the sensors on the rear bumper
detect objects up to 2.5 m (8 ft)
behind the vehicle, and at least
20 cm (8 in) off the ground.
{WARNING
The Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) system does not
replace driver vision. It cannot
detect:
.Objects that are below the
bumper, underneath the
vehicle, or too close or far
from the vehicle.
.Children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, or pets.
If you do not use proper care
before and while backing, vehicle
damage, injury, or death could
occur. Even with URPA, always
check behind the vehicle before
backing up. While backing, be
sure to look for objects and check
the vehicle's mirrors.
How the System Works
URPA comes on automatically
when the shift lever is moved into
R (Reverse). A single tone sounds
to indicate the system is working.
URPA operates only at speeds less
than 8 km/h (5 mph).
An obstacle is indicated by audible
beeps. The interval between
the beeps becomes shorter as
the vehicle gets closer to the
obstacle. When the distance is
less than 30 cm (12 in) the beeps
are continuous.
To be detected, objects must be at
least 20 cm (8 in) off the ground and
below trunk level. Objects must also
be within 2.5 m (8 ft) from the rear
bumper. The distance objects can
be detected may be less during
warmer or humid weather.

Black plate (43,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-43
PARK ASSIST OFF displays on
the Driver Information Center (DIC)
to indicate that URPA is off. The
message disappears after a short
period of time.
Turning the System On and Off
The URPA system can be turned on
and off using the park assist button
located next to the shift lever.
The park assist button lights up
when the system is on and turns
off when it has been disabled.
URPA defaults to the on setting
each time the vehicle is started.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
SERVICE PARK ASSIST:If this
message occurs, take the vehicle
to your dealer to repair the system.
PARK ASSIST OFF: If the URPA
system does not activate due to a
temporary condition, the message
displays on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑25 for more information.
This can occur under the following
conditions:
.The driver has disabled the
system.
.The ultrasonic sensors are not
clean. Keep the vehicle's rear
bumper free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice, and slush. For cleaning
instructions, see Exterior Care
on page 10‑92.
.An object was hanging out of the
trunk during the last drive cycle.
Once the object is removed,
URPA will return to normal
operation.
.The vehicle's bumper is
damaged. Take the vehicle to
your dealer to repair the system.
.Other conditions may affect
system performance, such as
vibrations from a jackhammer
or the compression of air brakes
on a very large truck.
If the system is still disabled after
driving forward at least 40 km/h
(25 mph), take the vehicle to your
dealer.

Black plate (44,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
9-44 Driving and Operating
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA)
The vehicle may have a Side
Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) system.
Read this entire section before
using the system.
{WARNING
SBZA is only a lane changing
aid and does not replace driver
vision. SBZA does not detect:
.Vehicles outside the side
blind zones which may be
rapidly approaching.
.Pedestrians, bicyclists,
or animals.
Failure to use proper care when
changing lanes may result in
damage to the vehicle, injury,
or death. Always check the
outside and rearview mirrors,
glance over your shoulder,
and use the turn signal before
changing lanes. When the system detects a vehicle
in the side blind zone, amber
SBZA displays will light up in the
side mirrors. This indicates that it
may be unsafe to change lanes.
Before making a lane change,
always check the SBZA display,
check the outside and rearview
mirrors, look over your shoulder
for vehicles and hazards, and use
the turn signal.
SBZA Detection Zones
The SBZA sensor covers a
zone of approximately one lane
over from both sides of the vehicle,
or 3.5 m (11 ft). This zone starts
at each side mirror and goes
back approximately 5.0 m (16 ft.).
The height of the zone is
approximately between 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
and 2.0 m (6 ft) off the ground.
The SBZA detection zones do not
change if the vehicle is towing a
trailer. So be extra careful when
changing lanes while towing a
trailer.
How the System Works
Left Side Mirror
DisplayRight Side Mirror Display
When the vehicle is started, both
outside mirror displays will briefly
come on to indicate that the system
is operating. While driving forward,
the left or right side mirror SBZA
display will light up if a vehicle is
detected in that blind zone. If you
activate a turn signal and a vehicle
has been detected on the same
side, the SBZA display will flash
to give you extra warning not to
change lanes.

Black plate (45,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-45
SBZA displays do not come on
while the vehicle is approaching or
passing other vehicles. At speeds
greater than 32 km/h (20 mph),
SBZA displays may come on
when a vehicle you have passed
remains in or drops back into the
detection zone.
SBZA can be disabled through
Vehicle Personalization.
SeeVehicle Personalization on
page 5‑39 for more information.
If the SBZA is disabled by the
driver, the SBZA mirror displays will
not light up during normal driving.
When the System Does Not Seem
To Work Properly
Occasional missed alerts can
occur under normal circumstances
and will increase in wet conditions.
The system does not need to be
serviced due to an occasional
missed alert. The number of missed
alerts will increase with increased
rainfall or road spray. If the SBZA displays do not light up
when the system is on and vehicles
are in the blind zone, the system
may need service. Take the vehicle
to your dealer.
SBZA is designed to ignore
stationary objects; however, the
system may occasionally light up
due to guard rails, signs, trees,
shrubs, and other stationary objects.
This is normal system operation;
the vehicle does not need service.
SBZA does not operate when the
left or right corners of the rear
bumper are covered with mud,
dirt, snow, ice, or slush, or in
heavy rainstorms. For cleaning
instructions, see
Exterior Care on
page 10‑92. If the infotainment
display still shows the SIDE
BLIND ZONE SYS. UNAVAILABLE
message after cleaning the bumper,
see your dealer. The SBZA displays may remain on
if a trailer is attached to the vehicle,
or a bicycle or object is extending
out to either side of the vehicle.
When SBZA is disabled for any
reason other than the driver turning
it off, the driver will not be able to
turn SBZA back on using Vehicle
Personalization. The SIDE BLIND
ZONE ALERT ON option will not
be selectable if the conditions
for normal system operation are
not met. Until normal operating
conditions for SBZA are met, you
should not rely upon SBZA while
driving.

Black plate (46,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
9-46 Driving and Operating
SBZA Error Messages
The following messages may
appear on the infotainment display:
SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT
SYSTEM OFF:This message
indicates that the driver has turned
the system off.
SIDE BLIND ZONE SYS.
UNAVAILABLE: This message
indicates that the SBZA system
is disabled because the sensor is
blocked and cannot detect vehicles
in the blind zone. The sensor may
be blocked by mud, dirt, snow, ice,
or slush. This message may also
activate during heavy rain or due to
road spray. The vehicle does not
need service. For cleaning, see
Exterior Care on page 10‑92. SERVICE SIDE BLIND ZONE
ALERT SYSTEM:
If this message
appears, both SBZA displays will
remain on indicating there is a
problem with the SBZA system.
If these displays remain on after
continued driving, the system needs
service. Take the vehicle to your
dealer.
FCC Information
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑20 for FCC information.
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
This vehicle may have an RVC
system. Read this entire section
before using it.
The RVC system can assist
the driver when backing up by
displaying a view of the area
behind the vehicle.
{WARNING
The Rear Vision Camera (RVC)
system does not replace driver
vision. RVC does not:
.Detect objects that are
outside the camera's field
of view, below the bumper,
or underneath the vehicle.
.Detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, or pets.
(Continued)

Black plate (47,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-47
WARNING (Continued)
Do not back the vehicle by only
looking at the RVC screen, or use
the screen during longer, higher
speed backing maneuvers or
where there could be cross-traffic.
Your judged distances using the
screen will differ from actual
distances.
If you do not use proper care
before backing up, you could
hit a vehicle, child, pedestrian,
bicyclist, or pet, resulting in
vehicle damage, injury, or death.
Even though the vehicle has
the RVC system, always check
carefully before backing up by
checking behind and around the
vehicle.An image appears on the navigation
screen with the message Check
Surroundings for Safety when the
vehicle is shifted into R (Reverse).
The navigation screen goes to the
previous screen after approximately
10 seconds once the vehicle is
shifted out of R (Reverse).
To cancel the delay, do one of the
following:
.Press a hard key on the
navigation system.
.Shift into P (Park).
.Reach a vehicle speed of
8 km/h (5 mph).
Turning the Rear Vision Camera
System On or Off
To turn the RVC system on or off:
1. Shift into P (Park).
2. Press the CONFIG button to enter the configure menu
options.
3. Select Display.
4. Select Rear Camera Options.
5. Select Camera. When a checkmark appears next to the
Camera option, then the RVC
system is on.

Black plate (48,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
9-48 Driving and Operating
Symbols
The navigation system may
have a feature that lets the driver
view symbols on the navigation
screen while using the RVC.
The Ultrasonic Rear Park Assist
(URPA) system must not be
disabled to use the caution symbols.
The error message Rear Parking
Assist Symbols Unavailable may
display if URPA has been disabled
and the symbols have been turned
on. SeeUltrasonic Parking Assist
on page 9‑42.
The symbols appear and may
cover an object when viewing the
navigation screen when an object
is detected by the URPA system. To turn the symbols on or off:
1. Shift into P (Park).
2. Press the CONFIG button
to enter the configure menu
options.
3. Select Display.
4. Select Rear Camera Options.
5. Select Symbols. When a checkmark appears next to
the Symbols option, symbols
will appear.
Guidelines
The RVC system has a guideline
overlay that can help the driver align
the vehicle when backing into a
parking spot.
To turn the guidelines on or off:
1. Shift into P (Park).
2. Press the CONFIG button to enter the configure menu
options. 3. Select Display.
4. Select Rear Camera Options.
5. Select Guidelines. When a
checkmark appears next to the
Guidelines option, guidelines will
appear.
Rear Vision Camera Error
Messages
SERVICE REAR VISION CAMERA
SYSTEM: This message can
display when the system is not
receiving information it requires
from other vehicle systems.
If any other problem occurs or if a
problem persists, see your dealer.

Black plate (49,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-49
Rear Vision Camera Location
The camera is located above the
license plate.
The area displayed by the camera is
limited. It does not display objects
that are close to either corner or
under the bumper and can vary
depending on vehicle orientation or
road conditions. The distance of the
image that appears on the screen is
different from the actual distance.
The following illustration shows
the field of view that the camera
provides.
A. View displayed by the camera.
B. Corner of the rear bumper.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
The RVC system may not work
properly or display a clear image if:
.The RVC is turned off.
See“Turning the Rear Camera
System On or Off” earlier in
this section.
.It is dark.
.The sun or the beam of
headlamps are shining directly
into the camera lens.
.Ice, snow, mud, or anything else
builds up on the camera lens.
Clean the lens, rinse it with
water, and wipe it with a soft
cloth.
.The back of the vehicle is in
an accident. The position and
mounting angle of the camera
can change or the camera can
be affected. Be sure to have
the camera and its position and
mounting angle checked at your
dealer.

Black plate (50,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
9-50 Driving and Operating
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel
is an important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. To help
keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance,
we recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
Look for the TOP TIER label on
the fuel pump to ensure gasoline
meets enhanced detergency
standards developed by auto
companies. A list of marketers
providing TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline can be found at
www.toptiergas.com.
The eighth 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. SeeVehicle
Identification Number (VIN) on
page 12‑1.
Recommended Fuel
If the vehicle has a 2.4L L4 engine
(VIN Code C), use regular unleaded
gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 87 or higher. If the octane
rating is less than 87, an audible
knocking noise, commonly referred
to as spark knock, might be heard
when driving. If this occurs, use
a gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher as soon as possible. If heavy
knocking is heard when using
gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher, the engine needs service.
If the vehicle has the 3.6L V6 engine
(VIN Code D), use premium
unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher.