Shift BUICK LUCERNE 2008 Owner's Guide

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or hear
no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for three minutes while you are parked. If you still
have the warning,turn off the engine and get everyone
out of the vehicleuntil it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-29

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your vehicle’s
hazard warning ashers. SeeHazard Warning Flashers
on page 3-6for more information.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over or fall on you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured or even killed. Find a level place to
change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle
from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the
vehicle.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
To be even more certain the vehicle will not
move, you should put blocks at the front and
rear of the tire farthest away from the one
being changed. That would be the tire, on the
other side, at the opposite end of the vehicle.
When your vehicle has a at tire, use the following
example as a guide to assist you in the placement of
wheel blocks.
The following information tells you how to use the jack
and change a tire.
5-84

At Least Once a Year
Starter Switch Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this inspection, the
vehicle could move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be injured.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular
brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-27.
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to
turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle
should start only in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). If
the vehicle starts in any other position, contact your
dealer/retailer for service.
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control System Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this inspection, the
vehicle could move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be injured.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle. It should be parked on a level
surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. SeeParking Brake
on page 2-27.
Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately if
the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON/RUN,
but do not start the engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of PARK (P), contact your dealer/retailer
for service.
6-10

Ignition Transmission Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition to LOCK/OFF in each shift lever position.
The ignition should turn to LOCK/OFF only
when the shift lever is in PARK (P).
The ignition key should come out only in
LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer/retailer if service is required.
Parking Brake and Automatic
Transmission Park (P) Mechanism Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, your vehicle
could begin to move. You or others could be
injured and property could be damaged. Make
sure there is room in front of your vehicle in
case it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle begin
to move.Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake, set the
parking brake.
To check the parking brake’s holding ability: With
the engine running and the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N), slowly remove foot pressure from
the regular brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
To check the PARK (P) mechanism’s holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to PARK (P).
Then release the parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer/retailer if service is required.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to ush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
6-11

O
Odometer......................................................3-34
Odometer, Trip...............................................3-34
Off-Road Recovery........................................... 4-9
Oil
Engine.......................................................5-15
Pressure Light.............................................3-46
Oil, Engine Oil Life System..............................5-18
Older Children, Restraints................................1-33
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-5
OnStar, Privacy..............................................7-19
OnStar
®System, see OnStar®Manual...............2-46
Operation, Universal Home Remote System........2-50
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-30
Outlets
Accessory Power.........................................3-20
Outside
Automatic Dimming Heated Mirror..................2-38
Convex Mirror.............................................2-38
Power Mirrors.............................................2-37
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . 5-30
Owner Checks and Services.............................. 6-8
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
P
Paint, Damage..............................................5-102
Panic Brake Assist............................................ 4-7
Park Aid........................................................2-39
Park Brake....................................................2-27
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-28
Shifting Out of............................................2-31
Park Tilt Mirrors..............................................2-38
Parking
Assist........................................................2-39
Over Things That Burn.................................2-32
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator.....................3-36
Passenger Compartment Air Filter.....................3-30
Passenger Sensing System..............................1-67
Passing........................................................... 4-9
PASS-Key
®III+..............................................2-18
PASS-Key®III+ Operation................................2-19
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California...... 5-4
Perimeter Lighting...........................................3-18
Power
Door Locks.................................................2-10
Electrical System.......................................5-105
Inadvertent Battery Saver.............................3-19
Lumbar Controls........................................... 1-3
Retained Accessory (RAP)............................2-22
9

S
Safety Belt
Reminder Light............................................3-34
Safety Belts
Care of......................................................5-97
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly................1-17
Lap Belt.....................................................1-31
Lap-Shoulder Belt........................................1-25
Safety Belt Extender....................................1-32
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy.................1-31
Safety Belts Are for Everyone.......................1-12
Safety Warnings and Symbols.............................. iii
Scheduled Maintenance..................................... 6-4
Seats
Center Seat................................................1-11
Head Restraints..........................................1-10
Heated and Cooled Seats.............................. 1-5
Heated Seats............................................... 1-4
Memory, Mirrors............................................ 1-6
Power Lumbar.............................................. 1-3
Power Seats................................................. 1-3
Reclining Seatbacks...................................... 1-7
Securing a Child Restraint
Center Front Seat Position............................1-53
Rear Seat Position......................................1-50
Right Front Seat Position..............................1-54
Security Light.................................................3-47Service........................................................... 5-3
Accessories and Modications......................... 5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle..................................................... 5-5
California Pershlorate Materials
Requirements............................................ 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning.................... 5-4
Doing Your Own Work................................... 5-4
Engine Soon Light.......................................3-44
Publications Ordering Information...................7-16
Service, Scheduling Appointments.....................7-10
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..............1-72
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-101
Shifting Into Park (P).......................................2-28
Shifting Out of Park (P)...................................2-31
Side Blind Zone Alert......................................2-41
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change
.......................... 3-8
Spare Tire
Compact....................................................5-94
Installing....................................................5-86
Removing...................................................5-85
Storing.......................................................5-92
Specications, Capacities...............................5-113
Speedometer..................................................3-34
StabiliTrak
®System.......................................... 4-6
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light................................3-41
Start Vehicle, Remote....................................... 2-8
Starting the Engine.........................................2-22
11