instrument panel BUICK LACROSSE 2011 Owner's Guide

Black plate (4,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
6-4 Lighting
Adaptive Forward
Lighting (AFL)
The Adaptive Forward Lighting
System (AFL) pivots the headlamps
horizontally to provide greater
road illumination while turning.
To enable AFL, set the exterior
lamp switch to the AUTO position.
Moving the switch out of the AUTO
position deactivates the system.
AFL operates when the vehicle
speed is greater than 3 km/h
(2 mph). AFL does not operate
when the transmission is in
R (Reverse). AFL is not immediately
operable after starting the vehicle;
driving a short distance is required
to calibrate the AFL. SeeExterior
Lamp Controls on page 6‑1.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|
Hazard Warning Flasher:
Press this button located on the
instrument panel below the climate
control system, to make the front
and rear turn signal lamps flash
on and off. Press again to turn the
flashers off.
The hazard warning flashers turn on
automatically if the airbags deploy.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
Move the lever all the way up or
down to signal a turn. An arrow on the instrument panel
cluster flashes in the direction of the
turn or lane change.
Raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to flash to signal a lane
change. Hold it there until the lane
change is completed. If the lever is
briefly pressed and released, the
turn signal flashes three times.
The turn and lane‐change signal
can be turned off manually by
moving the lever back to its
original position.
If after signaling a turn or lane
change the arrow flashes rapidly
or does not come on, a signal bulb
might be burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb
is not burned out, check the fuse.
See
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 10‑39.

Black plate (5,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Lighting 6-5
Fog Lamps
For vehicles with fog lamps, the
button is located on the exterior
lamp control, on the outboard side
of the steering wheel.
To turn on the fog lamps, the ignition
and the headlamps or parking lamps
must be on.
If the fog lamps are turned on while
the exterior lamp switch is in the
AUTO position, the headlamps
come on automatically.
#:Press to turn on or off. An
indicator light on the instrument
panel cluster comes on when the
fog lamps are on.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be on
along with the fog lamps.
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
The brightness of the instrument
panel lighting and steering
wheel controls can be adjusted.
Use the thumbwheel located next
to the exterior lamps control on the
outboard side of the steering wheel.
D: Move the thumbwheel up or
down to brighten or dim the lights.
Dome Lamps
The interior lamps control located in
the overhead console controls both
the front and rear interior lamps.
To operate, press the following
buttons:
((Off): Turns the lamps off.
HDoor: Turns the lamps on
when any door is opened.
'ON: Keeps the lamps on all
the time.
Reading Lamps
There are front and rear reading
lamps.
The front reading lamps are located
in the overhead console.
# $: Press to turn each lamp on
or off.
The rear reading lamps are located
in the headliner.
Sun Visor Lamps
This lamp turns on when the cover
is opened.

Black plate (2,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
8-2 Climate Controls
Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls
the fan speed, air delivery, air
conditioning, and recirculation in
order to heat or cool the vehicle
to the desired temperature.
When the AUTO indicator light is
on, the system is in full automatic
operation. If the air delivery mode,
fan speed, recirculation, or air
conditioning setting is adjusted,
the AUTO indicator turns off and
the selected settings will appear
on the display.
To place the system in automatic
mode do the following:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow thesystem time to stabilize. Adjust
the temperature as needed for
best comfort.
Q/R(Temperature Control):
Press to increase or decrease the
temperature. Manual Operation
O(Power):
Press to turn the fan
on or off.
D C(Fan Control): Press to
increase or decrease the fan speed.
The fan speed setting appears
on the main display. Pressing
either button cancels automatic
fan control and the fan can be
controlled manually. Press AUTO
to return to automatic operation.
e *(Air Delivery Mode
Control): Press to change the
direction of the airflow. The current
mode appears in the display screen.
Pressing either button cancels
automatic air delivery control and
the direction of the airflow can be
controlled manually. Press AUTO
to return to automatic operation.
To change the current mode, select
one of the following:
Y(Vent): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
\(Bi-Level): Air is divided
between the instrument panel
outlets and the floor outlets.
C(Tri‐Level): Air is divided
between the windshield, instrument
panel, and floor outlets.
[(Floor): Air is directed to the
floor outlets.
-(Defog): Clears the windows of
fog or moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield and floor outlets.
0(Defrost): Clears the
windshield of fog or frost more
quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield. Selecting defrost
will disable automatic control.
For best results, clear all snow
and ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
#(Air Conditioning): Press to
turn the air conditioning system
on or off. If the fan is turned off or
the outside temperature falls below
freezing, the air conditioning system
will not run.

Black plate (4,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
8-4 Climate Controls
Sensor
The solar sensor, located on top
of the instrument panel near the
windshield, monitors the solar heat.
The climate control system uses
the sensor information to adjust
the temperature, fan speed,
recirculation, and air delivery
mode for best comfort.
Do not cover the sensor or the
automatic climate control system
may not work properly.
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
For vehicles with this system, it controls the heating, cooling, and ventilation.
A. Power
B. Driver Temperature Control
C. Defrost
D. Fan Control
E. Air Delivery Mode Control
F. Recirculation/AutomaticRecirculation G. Passenger Temperature Control
H. AUTO
I. Rear Window Defogger
J. Heated Steering Wheel
K. Air Conditioning
L. ZONE

Black plate (5,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Climate Controls 8-5
Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls
the fan speed, air delivery, air
conditioning, and recirculation in
order to heat or cool the vehicle
to the desired temperature.
When the AUTO indicator light is
on, the system is in full automatic
operation. If the air delivery mode,
fan speed, recirculation, or air
conditioning setting is adjusted,
the AUTO indicator turns off and
the selected settings will appear
on the display.
To place the system in automatic
mode do the following:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow thesystem time to stabilize. Adjust
the temperature as needed for
best comfort.QTEMPR(Driver and
Passenger Temperature
Control): The temperature
can be adjusted separately for
the driver and the passenger.
Press to increase or decrease
the temperature.
ZONE: Press to link all climate
zone settings to the driver's
settings. The ZONE indicator light
will turn off. When the passenger
settings are adjusted, the ZONE
indicator light is on.
Manual Operation
O(Power): Press to turn the fan off
or on.
D C(Fan Control): Press to
increase or decrease the fan speed.
The fan speed setting appears on
the main display. Pressing either
button cancels automatic fan control
and the fan is controlled manually.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
e *(Air Delivery Mode
Control): Press to change
the direction of the airflow.
The current mode appears in
the display screen. Pressing
either button cancels automatic air
delivery control and the direction
of the airflow is controlled manually.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
To change the current mode, select
one of the following:
Y(Vent): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
\(Bi-Level): Air is divided
between the instrument panel
outlets and the floor outlets.
C(Tri‐Level): Air is divided
between the windshield, instrument
panel, and floor outlets.
[(Floor): Air is directed to the
floor outlets.
-(Defog): Clears the windows of
fog or moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield and floor outlets.

Black plate (7,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Climate Controls 8-7
Rear Window Defogger
=(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off.
The rear window defogger
turns off automatically after
about 10 minutes. If turned on
again it runs for about five minutes
before turning off. The defogger
can also be turned off by turning
the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY
or LOCK/OFF.
The rear window defogger can
be set to automatic operation.
See “Climate and Air Quality”
under Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑39. When auto rear defog is
selected, the rear window defogger
turns on automatically when the
interior temperature is cold and
the outside temperature is about
4°C (40°F) and below. The auto
rear defogger turns off automatically after about 10 minutes, or after
five minutes if the outside
temperature is not as cold.
For vehicles with heated outside
rearview mirrors, they turn on when
the rear window defogger button
is on and help to clear fog or frost
from the surface of the mirror.
See
Heated Mirrors on page 2‑17.
Notice: Do not try to clear frost
or other material from the inside
of the front windshield and rear
window with a razor blade or
anything else that is sharp. This
may damage the rear window
defogger grid and affect your
radio's ability to pick up stations
clearly. The repairs wouldn't be
covered by your warranty.
((Heated Steering Wheel): For
vehicles with this feature, press to
turn on or off. See Heated Steering
Wheel on page 5‑3. Remote Start Climate Control
Operation:
For vehicles with
the remote vehicle start feature,
the climate control system may
run when the vehicle is started
remotely. The system uses the
driver's previous settings to heat
or cool the inside of the vehicle.
See Remote Vehicle Start on
page 2‑8.
The rear window defogger turns on
if it is cold outside.
Sensor
The solar sensor, located on top
of the instrument panel near the
windshield, monitors the solar heat.
The climate control system
uses the sensor information to
adjust the temperature, fan speed,
recirculation, and air delivery mode
for best comfort.
Do not cover the sensor or the
automatic climate control system
may not work properly.

Black plate (8,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
8-8 Climate Controls
Air Vents
Use the louvers located on the air
vents to change the direction of the
airflow.
To open the vent, move the
thumbwheel to
R. To close the vent,
move the thumbwheel to
(.
Operation Tips
.Keep all outlets open whenever
possible for best system
performance.
.Keep the path under all seats
clear of objects to help circulate
the air inside the vehicle more
effectively.
.Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
Maintenance
Air Intake
Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves
from the air intake at the base of the
windshield that can block the flow of
air into the vehicle.
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The filter removes dust, pollen, and
other airborne irritants from outside
air that is pulled into the vehicle.
The filter should be replaced as part
of routine scheduled maintenance.
See Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11‑2 for replacement intervals.
To find out what type of filter to use,
see Maintenance Replacement
Parts on page 11‑9. The passenger compartment air
filter can be accessed by removing
the entire glove box.
1. Open the passenger side door.
Remove the end cover located
on the side of the instrument
panel in the top right corner.
Remove the screw affixed to
the side of the glove box.
2. Open the glove box door and remove the attached screws
from around the glove box.
3. Lower the loosened glove box housing.
4. Unplug both wire cables and remove the glove box.

Black plate (10,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
9-10 Driving and Operating
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use theRoadside
Assistance Program (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑8 orRoadside
Assistance Program (Mexico) on
page 13‑10. 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 (2 in) 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)
WARNING (Continued)
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑27.
Snow can trap exhaust gases
under your vehicle. This can
cause deadly CO (Carbon
Monoxide) gas to get inside. CO
could overcome you and kill you.
You cannot see it or smell it, so
you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking
the exhaust.
Run the engine for short periods
only as needed to keep warm,
but be careful.

Black plate (31,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-31
Uplevel Display Shown,Base Model 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
Vehicles with this feature always
send engine power 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
the system, replace the compact
spare with a full-size tire as soon as
possible. See
Compact Spare Tire
on page 10‑85 for more information.

Black plate (37,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-37
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
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on
page 9‑37.
Adding non‐GM accessories can
affect the vehicle's performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑3 for 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.
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. See Electronic Stability
Control (ESC)/Traction Control
System (TCS) Indicator/Warning
Light on page 5‑22. Driving should
be adjusted accordingly.