tow BUICK LACROSSE 2015 Owner's Guide

Black plate (12,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707475) - 2015 - CRC - 10/9/14
9-12 Driving and Operating
and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs. (1400-750 (5 x 150)
= 650 lbs.)
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your trailer
will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual
to determine how this
reduces the available cargo
and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.”
See Trailer Towing (Except
eAssist) on page 9-66 orTrailer
Towing (eAssist) on page 9-67
for important information on
towing a trailer, towing safety
rules, and trailering tips.Example 1
1.Vehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 1 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant Weight
@ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 2 =
136 kg (300 lbs).
3.Available Occupant and
Cargo Weight = 317 kg
(700 lbs).
Example 2
1.Vehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 2 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant Weight
@ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 5 =
340 kg (750 lbs).
3.Available Cargo Weight =
113 kg (250 lbs).

Black plate (24,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707475) - 2015 - CRC - 10/9/14
9-24 Driving and Operating
Power to the power windows and
sunroof will continue to operate for
up to 10 minutes or until any door is
opened.
All of these features will work when
the ignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down andset the parking brake. See
Parking Brake on page 9-31.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pushing the lever all the way
toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park on
page 9-24. If you are towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9-63.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you have moved
the shift lever into P (Park), hold down the regular brake pedal. See if
you can move the shift lever away
from P (Park) without first pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that
the shift lever was not fully locked
into P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of
the vehicle puts too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. This happens when
parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not
done properly and then it is difficult
to shift out of P (Park). To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park). To find
out how, see "Shifting Into P (Park)"
listed previously.
If torque lock does occur, your
vehicle may need to be pushed
uphill by another vehicle to relieve
the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).

Black plate (25,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707475) - 2015 - CRC - 10/9/14
Driving and Operating 9-25
If you are towing a trailer and
parking on a hill, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9-63.
Shifting out of Park
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. The shift lock control
system is designed to:
.Prevent ignition key removal
unless the shift lever is in
P (Park).
.Prevent movement of the shift
lever out of P (Park), unless the
ignition is in ON/RUN and the
brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock is always functional
except in the case of an uncharged
or low voltage (less than 9‐volt)
battery. If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See
Jump Starting
(On-board with eAssist Only) on
page 10-78 orJump Starting (with
or without eAssist) on page 10-79.
If the shift lever cannot be moved
out of P (Park):
1. Apply and maintain the regular brakes.
2. Turn the ignition to the ON/RUN position. See Ignition Positions
(Key Access) on page 9-15 or
Ignition Positions (Keyless
Access) on page 9-16 for more
information.
3. Let up on the shift lever and make sure the shift lever is
pushed all the way into P (Park).
4. Press the shift lever button.
5. Move the shift lever into the desired gear. If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), consult your
dealer or a professional towing
service.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.

Black plate (26,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707475) - 2015 - CRC - 10/9/14
9-26 Driving and Operating
Engine Exhaust
{Warning
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation (parking
garages, tunnels, deep snow
that may block underbody
airflow or tail pipes).
.The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
.The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
.The vehicle exhaust system
has been modified, damaged,
or improperly repaired.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle:
.Drive it only with the windows
completely down.
.Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation.
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to
be sure the vehicle will not move.
See Shifting Into Park on page 9-24
and Engine Exhaust on page 9-26.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9-63.

Black plate (27,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707475) - 2015 - CRC - 10/9/14
Driving and Operating 9-27
Automatic
Transmission
Shift Lever without Selective RideControl Shown
P (Park): This position locks the
front wheels. It is the best position
to use when starting the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park on
page 9-24 andDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
on page 9-63.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. The regular brake must be
fully applied first and then the shift lever button pressed before shifting
from P (Park) when the ignition key
is in ON/RUN. If you cannot shift out
of P (Park), ease pressure on the
shift lever, then push the shift lever
all the way into P (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then
press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever into another
gear. See
Shifting out of Park on
page 9-25.
R (Reverse): Use this gear to
back up.
{Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.

Black plate (28,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707475) - 2015 - CRC - 10/9/14
9-28 Driving and Operating
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, seeIf
the Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9-9.
N (Neutral): In this position, the
engine does not connect with the
wheels. To restart the engine when
the vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only. Also, use
N (Neutral) when the vehicle is
being towed.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
{Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
D (Drive): This position is for
normal driving. It provides good fuel
economy when pushing the
accelerator pedal around a quarter
of the way down. If more power is
needed for passing, press the
accelerator pedal over half, or all
the way down.
{Caution
If the vehicle accelerates slowly,
or does not shift gears, the
transmission could be damaged.
Have the vehicle serviced
right away.
M (Manual Mode) or M/S (Manual
Mode/Sport Mode): This position
allows the driver to select the gears
appropriate for current driving
conditions, and to activate Selective
Ride Control (if equipped). See
Manual Mode on page 9-29 and
Selective Ride Control on
page 9-36.

Black plate (33,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707475) - 2015 - CRC - 10/9/14
Driving and Operating 9-33
Caution (Continued)
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
If parking on a hill, or if the vehicle
is pulling a trailer, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9-63.
Brake Assist
The Brake Assist feature is
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal as
the driving situation dictates. The
Brake Assist feature will
automatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
This vehicle has an HSA feature,
which may be useful when the
vehicle is stopped on a grade
sufficient enough to activate HSA.
This feature is designed to prevent
the vehicle from rolling, either
forward or rearward, during vehicle
drive off. After the driver completely
stops and holds the vehicle in a
complete standstill on a grade, HSA
will be automatically activated.
During the transition period between
when the driver releases the brake
pedal and starts to accelerate to
drive off on a grade, HSA holds the
braking pressure for a maximum of
two seconds to ensure that there is
no rolling. The brakes will
automatically release when the
accelerator pedal is applied within
the two-second window. It will not
activate if the vehicle is in a drive
gear and facing downhill, or if the
vehicle is facing uphill and in
R (Reverse).

Black plate (46,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707475) - 2015 - CRC - 10/9/14
9-46 Driving and Operating
When following a vehicle and
entering a curve, ACC may not
detect the vehicle ahead and
accelerate to the set speed. When
this happens, the vehicle ahead
symbol will not appear.
ACC may detect a vehicle that is
not in your lane and apply the
brakes.
ACC may occasionally provide an
alert and/or braking that is
considered unnecessary. It could
respond to vehicles in different
lanes, signs, guardrails, and other
stationary objects when entering or
exiting a curve. This is normal
operation. The vehicle does not
need service.Other Vehicle Lane Changes
ACC will not detect a vehicle ahead
until it is completely in the lane. The
brakes may need to be manually
applied.
Do Not Use ACC on Hills and
When Towing a TrailerDo not use ACC when driving on
steep hills or when towing a trailer.
ACC will not detect a vehicle in the
lane while driving on steep hills. The
driver will often need to take over
acceleration and braking on steep
hills, especially when towing a
trailer. If the brakes are applied, the
ACC disengages.

Black plate (49,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707475) - 2015 - CRC - 10/9/14
Driving and Operating 9-49
1. View Displayed by theCamera
2. Corners of the Rear Bumper
Displayed images may be farther or
closer than they appear. The area
displayed is limited and objects that
are close to either corner of the
bumper or under the bumper do not
display.
A warning triangle may display on
the RVC screen to show where the
Rear Parking Assist (RPA) has
detected an object. This triangle
changes from amber to red and
increases in size the closer the
object. On vehicles with the Rear Cross
Traffic Alert (RCTA), a triangle with
an arrow may also display on the
RVC screen to warn of traffic
coming from either direction when
backing. This system detects
objects coming from up to 20 m
(66 ft) from the left or right side
behind the vehicle. When an object
is detected, either three beeps
sound from the left or right side or
three Safety Alert Seat pulses occur
on the left or right side, depending
on the direction of the detected
vehicle.
Use caution while backing up when
towing a trailer, as the RCTA
detection zones that extend out
from the back of the vehicle do not
move further back when a trailer is
towed.
With RPA, as the vehicle backs up
at speeds of less than 8 km/h
(5 mph), the sensors on the rear
bumper detect objects up to 2.5 m
(8 ft) behind the vehicle that are
within a zone 25 cm (10 in) high off
the ground and below bumper level.These detection distances may be
shorter during warmer or humid
weather. Blocked sensors will not
detect objects and can also cause
false detections. Keep the sensors
clean of mud, dirt, snow, ice, and
slush; and clean sensors after a car
wash in freezing temperatures.
{Warning
The parking assist system does
not detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects
located below the bumper or that
are too close or too far from the
vehicle. It is not available at
speeds greater than 8 km/h
(5 mph). To prevent injury, death,
or vehicle damage, even with
parking assist, always check the
area around the vehicle and
check all mirrors before moving
forward or backing.

Black plate (50,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707475) - 2015 - CRC - 10/9/14
9-50 Driving and Operating
The vehicle may have instrument
cluster parking assist display with
bars that show“distance to object”
and object location information for
RPA. As the object gets closer,
more bars light up and the bars
change color from yellow to amber
to red.
When an object is first detected,
one beep will be heard from the
rear, or both sides of the Safety
Alert Seat will pulse two times.
When an object is very close
(<0.6 m (2 ft)), five beeps will sound,
or both sides of the Safety Alert
Seat will pulse five times.
Turning the Features On or Off
TheXbutton on the center stack
is used to turn on or off the Rear
Parking Assist. The indicator light
next to the button comes on when
the feature is on and turns off when
the feature has been disabled.
Turn off parking assist when towing
a trailer.
The parking assist symbols and
guidance lines can be turned on or
off through the Settings menu on
the infotainment system:
1. On the infotainment system, press the Settings screen
button, or turn the MENU knob
to highlight Settings and
press MENU.
2. Select Rear Camera. 3. Press Rear Park Assist Symbols
or Guidance Lines, and then
select OFF or ON.
Assistance Systems for
Driving
If equipped, when driving the
vehicle forward, Forward Collision
Alert (FCA), Lane Departure
Warning (LDW), Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA), Lane Change Alert
(LCA), and/or the Active Emergency
Braking System can help to avoid a
crash or reduce crash damage.
Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System
The FCA system may help to avoid
or reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes. FCA provides a
flashing red alert on the windshield,
and beeps or pulses the Safety Alert
Seat when approaching a vehicle
directly ahead too quickly. FCA also
provides a visual alert if following
another vehicle much too closely.