engine BUICK LUCERNE 2010 Owner's Guide

Leaving the Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle with the
engine running. The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running, it could overheat
and even catch fire. You or others could be
injured. Do not leave the vehicle with the engine
running.If you have to leave the vehicle with the engine running,
be sure your vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking
brake is firmly set before you leave it. See
Parking
Brake
on page 3‑26for more information.
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 Park”in this section.
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).
3-29

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.(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
.The vehicle’s exhaust system has been
modified, damaged or improperly repaired.
.There are holes or openings in the vehicle
body from damage or after-market
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.
3-31

Running the Vehicle While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{WARNING:
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed area with poor
ventilation is dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust contains
Carbon Monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause unconsciousness and even
death. Never run the engine in an enclosed area
that has no fresh air ventilation. For more
information, seeEngine Exhaust on page 3‑31.
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
automatic transmission 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 unless you have to. 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).
Follow the proper steps to be sure the vehicle will not
move. See Shifting Into Park on page 3‑27.
If parking on a hill and pulling a trailer, see Towing a
Trailer on page 5‑27.
3-32

Section 4 Instrument Panel
Traction Control System (TCS) WarningLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Light . . . . . . . . . . 4-39
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . 4-40
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-41
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-41
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-44
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
Highbeam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-46 Driver Information Center (DIC)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-47
DIC Operation and Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-47
DIC Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53
DIC Warnings and Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55
DIC Vehicle Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-65
Audio System(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-74
Setting the Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-75
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-77
Using an MP3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-87
XM Radio Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-92
Navigation/Radio System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-93
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-93
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-104
Audio Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-105
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-106
Backglass Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-107
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . . . . . . 4-107
4-2

Electric Power Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM) that
estimates the battery's temperature and state of charge.
It then adjusts the voltage for best performance and
extended life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge is low, the voltage is
raised slightly to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high, the voltage is lowered
slightly to prevent overcharging. If the vehicle has a
voltmeter gauge or a voltage display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), you may see the voltage
move up or down. This is normal. If there is a problem,
an alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical
loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles. This is
because the generator (alternator) may not be spinning
fast enough at idle to produce all the power that is
needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following are on, such as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at high
speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer loads,
and loads plugged into accessory power outlets.EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs. It can increase
engine idle speed to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce the power demands
of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without
being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels of
corrective action, this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC) message
might be displayed, such as BATTERY SAVER
ACTIVE, BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW, or LOW
BATTERY. If this message is displayed, it is
recommended that the driver reduce the electrical loads
as much as possible. See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑55.
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect your vehicle's battery
against drainage from the interior lamps, or garage
door opener. When the ignition is turned off, the power
to these features will automatically turn off after
10 minutes. Power will be restored for an additional
10 minutes if any door is opened, the trunk is opened or
the courtesy lamp switch is turned on.
4-16

To change the current mode, select one of the following:
H(Vent):Air is directed to the instrument panel
outlets.
)(Bi-Level): Air is divided between the instrument
panel outlets and the floor outlets. Slightly cooler air is
directed to the instrument panel outlets and warmer air
is directed to the floor outlets.
6(Floor): Air is directed to the floor outlets, with some
air directed to the windshield and side window outlets.
If recirculation is selected while in this mode, it stays on
for three minutes to reduce windshield fogging.
-(Floor/Defog): This clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the windshield and side
window outlets and to the floor outlets. The system
runs the air conditioning compressor unless the outside
temperature is near or below freezing.
0(Defrost): This mode clears the windshield of
fog or frost more quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and side window outlets. The system runs
the air conditioning compressor unless the outside
temperature is near or below freezing.
#(Air Conditioning): Press to turn the air
conditioning system on or off. An indicator light below
the button comes on to show that this mode is on. Air
conditioning can be selected in any mode as long as
the fan knob is not in the off position.
On hot days during the vehicle's initial start-up, open
the windows to let hot inside air escape; then close
them. This helps to reduce the time it takes for the
vehicle to cool down. It also helps the system to operate
more efficiently.
For quicker cool down on hot days, do the following:
1. Select
H.
2. Select
h.
3. Select
#.
4. Select the coolest temperature.
5. Select the highest fan speed.
The air-conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so a small amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off the engine. This
is normal.
4-20

h(Recirculation):Press to turn the recirculation
mode on. An indicator light below the button comes on
to show that this mode is on. This mode recirculates
and helps to quickly cool the air inside the vehicle.
It can be used to prevent outside air and odors from
entering the vehicle. This mode cannot be selected
while in the defog or defrost modes. If you try to
select the recirculation mode, the indicator light
flashes three times and turns off.
Operation in this mode during periods of high humidity
and cool outside temperatures may result in increased
window fogging. If window fogging is experienced,
select the defrost mode.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
<(Rear Window Defogger): Press to turn the rear
window defogger on or off. An indicator light below the
button comes on to show that the rear window defogger
is on. Be sure to clear as much snow from the rear
window as possible. The rear window defogger only works when the ignition
is in ON/RUN. The rear window defogger stays on for
about 20 minutes after the button is pressed if traveling
at slow speeds. At higher vehicle speeds, the rear
defogger may stay on continuously. If turned on again,
the defogger only runs for about 10 minutes before
turning off. The defogger can be turned off by pressing
the button again, by turning the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN, or by turning off the engine.
If the vehicle has heated outside rearview mirrors, the
mirrors heat to help clear fog or frost from the surface of
the mirror when the rear window defogger is on. See
Outside Heated Mirrors
on page 3‑36for more
information.
Notice: Do not use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not attach a
temporary vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything
similar to the defogger grid.
4-21

W(Floor/Defog):This mode clears the windows of fog
or moisture. Air is directed to the floor outlets, with
some air directed to the windshield and side window
outlets. The system turns off recirculation and runs
the air-conditioning compressor unless the outside
temperature is at or below freezing. The recirculation
mode cannot be selected while in the floor/defog mode.
0(Defrost): This mode removes fog or frost from the
windshield more quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and the side window outlets. The system
automatically turns off recirculation and runs the
air-conditioning compressor, unless the outside
temperature is at or below freezing. Recirculation
cannot be selected while in the defrost mode.
#(Air Conditioning): Press to turn the air
conditioning system on or off and override the
automatic system. An indicator light below the
button comes on to show that this mode is on.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so a small amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off the engine. This
is normal.
:(Outside Air): Press to let outside air enter the
vehicle. An indicator light comes on to show this mode
is on. Pressing
?cancels this mode.
?(Recirculation): Press to turn the recirculation
mode on. An indicator light below the button comes on
to show that this mode is on. This mode recirculates
and helps to quickly cool the air inside the vehicle.
It can be used to prevent outside air and odors from
entering the vehicle. This mode cannot be selected
while in the defog or defrost modes. If you try to select
the recirculation mode, the indicator light flashes three
times and turns off.
Operation in this mode during periods of high humidity
and cool outside temperatures may result in increased
window fogging. If window fogging is experienced,
select the defrost mode.
PASS (Passenger Climate Control): Press to turn the
passenger climate control systems on or off.
When the passenger climate control system is on, the
passenger temperature setting is displayed.
If the PASS button is pressed to turn the passenger
temperature setting off, the driver temperature setting
controls the temperature for the entire vehicle.
4-25

Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window.
<(Rear Defogger):Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light below the button
comes on to show that the rear window defogger is on.
Be sure to clear as much snow from the rear window as
possible.
The rear window defogger only works when the ignition
is in ON/RUN. The rear window defogger stays on for
about 20 minutes after the button is pressed if the
vehicle is traveling at slower vehicle speeds. At higher
vehicle speeds the rear window defogger may stay on
continuously. If turned on again, the defogger only runs
for about 10 minutes before turning off. The defogger
can be turned off by pressing the button again, by
turning the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN,
or by turning off the engine.
The heated outside rearview mirrors will heat to help
clear fog or frost from the surface of the mirror when the
rear window defogger is on. See Outside Heated
Mirrors
on page 3‑36for more information. Notice:
Do not use a razor blade or sharp object to
clear the inside rear window. Do not adhere
anything to the defogger grid lines in the rear glass.
These actions may damage the rear defogger.
Repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the levers, located in the middle of the front
outlets, to change the direction of the airflow. Use the
thumbwheel located between the outlets to turn them on
and off.
If the vehicle has rear seat outlets, adjust the direction
of the airflow using the lever in the center of each outlet.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the windshield that could block
the flow of air into the vehicle.
.Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors can
adversely affect the performance of the system.
.Keep the path under the front seats clear of
objects to help circulate the air inside the vehicle
better.
4-27

Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning lights and gauges can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to the
warning lights and gauges could prevent injury.
Warning lights come on when there might be or there is
a problem with one of the vehicle's functions. Some
warning lights come on briefly when the engine is
started to indicate they are working.
Gauges can indicate when there might be or there is a
problem with one of the vehicle's functions. Often
gauges and warning lights work together to indicate a
problem with the vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
while driving, or when one of the gauges shows there
could be a problem, check the section that explains
what to do. Follow this manual's advice. Waiting to do
repairs can be costly and even dangerous.
Instrument Panel Cluster
The instrument panel cluster is designed to show how
the vehicle is running. It shows how fast the vehicle is
going, how much fuel has been used, and many other
things needed to drive safely and economically.
The vehicle has this cluster or one very similar to it.
It includes indicator warning lights and gauges that are
explained on the following pages. Be sure to read
about them.
4-30