coolant temperature BUICK LACROSSE 2016 User Guide

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159288) - 2016 - CRC - 10/5/15
Vehicle Care 243
{Warning
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.
Caution
Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL®can cause
premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition,
the engine coolant could require
changing sooner. Any repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL (silicate-free) coolant
in the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant mixture. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0323 and
Maintenance Schedule 0314.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating 0245.
What to Use
{Warning
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts.
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159288) - 2016 - CRC - 10/5/15
Vehicle Care 245
The coolant surge tank pressure
cap can be removed when the
cooling system, including the surge
tank pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no longer hot.1. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise. If a hiss is
heard, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still
some pressure left.
2. Keep turning the cap and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank withthe proper mixture to the mark
pointed to on the front of the
coolant surge tank.
4. With the coolant surge tank cap off, start the engine and let
it run until the upper radiator
hose starts getting hot. Watch
out for the engine cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level reaches the
mark pointed to on the front of
the coolant surge tank. 5. Replace the cap tightly.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and
possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
There is a coolant temperature
gauge and a engine coolant
temperature warning light on the
instrument cluster that indicate an
overheated engine condition. See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
0
111 and Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light 0118.
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance
Program 0334.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159288) - 2016 - CRC - 10/5/15
246 Vehicle Care
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, the fans
should be running. If not, do not
continue to run the engine and have
the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Running the engine without
coolant may cause damage or a
fire. Vehicle damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode 0246 for
information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
If No Steam Is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem might not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle: .
Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
. Stops after high-speed driving.
. Idles for long periods in traffic.
. Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning displays with
no sign of steam: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the
highest fan speed. Open the
windows as necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral), and let the
engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gauge is
no longer in the overheat zone or an
engine coolant temperature warning
light no longer displays, the vehicle
can be driven. Continue to drive the
vehicle slowly for about 10 minutes.
Keep a safe vehicle distance from
the vehicle in front. If the warning
does not come back on, continue to
drive normally and have the cooling
system checked for proper fill and
function. If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle
right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down. Also, see
Overheated
Engine Protection Operating
Mode 0246.
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode
allows the vehicle to be driven to a
safe place in an emergency
situation. If an overheated engine
condition exists, an overheat
protection mode which alternates
firing groups of cylinders helps
prevent engine damage. In this
mode, there is significant loss in
power and engine performance.
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on the
instrument panel, to indicate the
vehicle has entered overheated

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159288) - 2016 - CRC - 10/5/15
Index 357
CleaningExterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Climate Control Systems Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 337
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant . . . 285
Connections OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Control Traction and ElectronicStability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Coolant Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Engine Temperature Gauge . . . 111
Engine TemperatureWarning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Cooling System (cont'd)
Engine Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Cruise Control, Adaptive . . . . . . . . 197
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 333 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Text Telephone (TTY)Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Customer Information
Service PublicationsOrdering Information . . . . . . . . 340
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 337
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 2
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 343
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Diagnostics OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349 Differential, Limited-Slip . . . . . . . . 194
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Door
Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 329
Drive Systems All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . 189, 251
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 204
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Driving
Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 207
Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 25
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 168
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 170
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159288) - 2016 - CRC - 10/5/15
358 Index
Driving (cont'd)Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 116
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 258
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Emergency OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Energy Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 231
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Engine (cont'd)
Coolant Temperature
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Cooling System Messages . . . 132
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 186
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 343
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 148
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 149
F
Features
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 151
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
FlexFuel
E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 239
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Fog Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Front Automatic Braking (FAB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159288) - 2016 - CRC - 10/5/15
Index 359
Front SeatsAdjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 56
Front Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 120
Requirements, California . . . . . 216
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Fuses
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 258
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Gauges
Engine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Gauges (cont'd)
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Warning Lights and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 313
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 151
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Head-up Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
HeadlampsAdaptive ForwardLighting (AFL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Headlamps (cont'd)
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 120
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 149
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 121
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
High Voltage Devices and
Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . 272
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 168
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . 192
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . 175, 176
Ignition Transmission LockCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9159288) - 2016 - CRC - 10/5/15
360 Index
IndicatorVehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Information Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 44
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
J
Jump Starting - North
America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297, 298
K
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . . . . 133
Keyless EntryRemote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . 28
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 266
Lamps Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 149
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Lamps (cont'd)
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Malfunction Indicator . . . . . . . . . .114
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Sun Visor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . 211
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Lane Departure Warning
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
LATCH System Replacing Parts after a
Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Light Adaptive Forward Lighting(AFL) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Lighting Adaptive Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 Lighting (cont'd)
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 152
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Antilock Brake System(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . .115
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . .116
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning . . . . . . . .118
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . .119
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 149
Lane Departure Warning . . . . . . .117
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . 111
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Service Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
StabiliTrak
®OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119