ignition BUICK LUCERNE 2011 Owner's Guide

Black plate (10,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps
control is located on the
instrument panel to the
left of the steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
.Headlamps
.Taillamps
.Parking Lamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
.Fog Lamps The exterior lamps control has four positions:
O(Off):
Turn the control to this position to turn off the
exterior lamps.
AUTO (Automatic): Turn the control to this position to
automatically turn on the headlamps at normal
brightness, together with the following:
.Parking Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
;(Parking Lamps): Turn the control to this position
to turn on the parking lamps together with the following:
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
5(Headlamps): Turn the control to this position to
turn on the headlamps together with the following lamps
listed below. A warning chime sounds if the driver's
door is opened while the ignition switch is off and the
headlamps are on.
.Parking Lamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
#(Fog Lamps): Push the exterior lamps control in to
turn on the fog lamps.
See Fog Lamps on page 4‑12.
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Black plate (11,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Wiper Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the headlamps and parking lamps
after the windshield wipers are turned on and have
completed eight wipe cycles within four minutes.
When the ignition is turned to LOCK/OFF, the
wiper-activated headlamps immediately turn off. The
wiper-activated headlamps also turn off if the windshield
wipers are turned off.
Headlamps on Reminder
If you leave the exterior lamp buttons for the headlamps
or parking lamps on, remove the key from the ignition
and open the driver's door, you will hear a continuous
warning chime. The chime will turn off when the lamps
are turned off.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running lamps are required on
all vehicles first sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel monitors
the exterior light level for the operation of DRL, so be
sure it is not covered.The DRL system makes the low-beam headlamps turn
on at reduced brightness in daylight when the following
conditions are met:
.The engine is running.
.The exterior lamp button for the headlamps is off.
When the DRL are on, only the low-beam headlamps
will be on. The parking lamps, taillamps, sidemarker
and other lamps will not be on.
When it is dark enough outside, the low-beam
headlamps will come on. The other lamps that turn on
with the headlamps will also turn on. When it is bright
enough outside, the regular lamps will go off, and the
low-beam headlamps change to the reduced brightness
of DRL.
To turn off all exterior lighting at night when the vehicle
is parked, turn the exterior lamp control to the off
position. See Exterior Lamps
on page 4‑10for more
information.
The regular headlamp system should be turned on
when needed.
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Black plate (12,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Fog Lamps
The fog lamps button is on the exterior lamps control to
the left of the steering column.
#(Fog Lamps):Press to turn the fog lamps on or off.
A light comes on in the instrument panel cluster when
the fog lamps are in use. See Instrument Panel Cluster
on page 4‑28. The ignition must be in the ON/RUN
position for the fog lamps to work.
The fog lamps will go off when the headlamps are
changed to high-beam.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
Cornering Lamps
For vehicles with this feature, the cornering lamps come
on when: the headlamps or parking lamps are on, the
vehicle is not in P (Park), and you signal a turn with the
turn signal/multifunction lever. They provide more light
for cornering.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the exterior lamp button has been left on, the exterior
lamps will turn off about 10 minutes after the ignition is
turned to LOCK/OFF and a door has been opened. This
protects against draining the battery if the headlamps or
parking lamps are accidentally left on. If the lamps need
to be left on for more than 10 minutes, use the exterior
lamp control to turn the lamps back on after the ignition
is turned to LOCK/OFF and any door is opened.
Instrument Panel Brightness
D (Instrument Panel Brightness): This feature
controls the brightness of the instrument panel lights.
The knob for this control is located next to the exterior
lamps control.
Push the knob in and release when it pops out. Turn
the knob clockwise to increase the brightness of the
instrument panel lights and counter clockwise to
decrease the brightness. Turning the knob completely
clockwise to the detent will turn on the courtesy lamps.
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Black plate (13,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps turn on
making it easier for you to enter and exit the vehicle.
Turn the instrument panel brightness control completely
clockwise to manually turn on these lamps.
Entry Lighting
If it is dark enough outside when you press the unlock
button on the remote keyless entry transmitter, the
interior courtesy lamps will turn on and stay on for about
40 seconds. The lamps can be turned off immediately
by pressing the lock button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter, turning the ignition key to ON/RUN or
activating the power door locks.
Delayed Entry Lighting
The interior lamps will turn on if you open the door
when it is dark enough outside. When you close the
door with the ignition off, the interior lamps will stay on
for up to 25 seconds or until the ignition is turned to an
on position. When the lamps turn off as a result of the
25 second timer or the ignition switch being turned
on, the lighting will deactivate by way of the theater
dimming effect. Locking the doors will override the
delayed entry lighting feature and the lamps will turn off
right away.
Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to five second fade out of
the courtesy lamps instead of immediate turn off.
Delayed Exit Lighting
If it is dark enough outside when you remove the key
from the ignition, the interior lamps will turn on and
stay on for about 25 seconds. This will give you time
to find the door pull handle or lock switches. Once the
key is inserted into the ignition, the exit lighting will be
cancelled and the lighting will fade out.
Perimeter Lighting
If it is dark enough outside when the unlock button on
the remote keyless entry transmitter is pressed, the
DRL, parking lamps and back-up lamps will come on.
This feature can be programmed on for various
amounts of time in seconds for each transmitter.
SeeDIC Vehicle Customization
on page 4‑58for
information on programming.
Front Reading Lamps
The front reading lamps are located on the headliner.
Press the button near each lamp to turn them on or off.
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Black plate (14,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
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 4‑49.
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.
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Black plate (15,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature helps prevent the battery from
being drained, if the interior courtesy lamps,
reading/map lamps, visor vanity lamps or trunk
lamp are accidentally left on. If any of these lamps
are left on, they automatically turn off after 10 minutes,
if the ignition is off. The lamps will not come back on
again until one of the following occurs:
.The ignition is turned on.
.The exterior lamps control is turned off, then on
again.
The headlamps will timeout after 10 minutes, if they are
manually turned on with the ignition on or off.
Accessory Power Outlet(s)
Accessory power outlets can be used to plug in
electrical equipment, such as a cell phone or MP3
player.
The vehicle may have up to three power outlets
depending on the type of front seat installed. If the
vehicle has front bucket seats with a center console,
there are two outlets inside the center console storage
bin, one accessory power outlet and one USB port
outlet. An extra accessory power outlet can be found
under the climate control system next to the ashtray. Remove the cover to access and replace when not
in use.
{WARNING:
Power is always supplied to the outlets. Do not
leave electrical equipment plugged in when the
vehicle is not in use because the vehicle could
catch fire and cause injury or death.
Notice: Leaving electrical equipment plugged in
for an extended period of time while the vehicle is
off will drain the battery. Always unplug electrical
equipment when not in use and do not plug in
equipment that exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.
Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible
with the accessory power outlet and could overload
vehicle or adapter fuses. If a problem is experienced,
see your dealer.
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Black plate (19,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
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 3‑34for 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.
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Black plate (24,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
There is also an interior temperature sensor located
next to the steering wheel that measures the
temperature of the air inside the vehicle.
There is also an exterior temperature sensor located
behind the front grille. This sensor reads the outside air
temperature and helps maintain the temperature inside
the vehicle. Any cover on the front of the vehicle could
cause a false temperature reading to display.
In order to prevent false temperature readings at
startup, the displayed temperature will not change
until the following occurs:
.Vehicle speed is above 10 mph (16 km/h) for
five minutes.
.Vehicle speed is above 32 mph (51 km/h) for
two and a half minutes.
The climate control system uses the information from
these sensors to maintain your comfort setting by
adjusting the outlet temperature, fan speed, and the
air delivery mode. The system may also supply cooler
air to the side of the vehicle facing the sun. The
recirculation mode will also be used as needed to
maintain cool outlet temperatures.
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 3‑34for 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.
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Black plate (32,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
If, after several seconds, both status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer for service.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 4‑30
for more information, including important safety
information.
Charging System Light
This light comes on briefly
when the ignition key is
turned to START, but the
engine is not running, as
a check to show it is
working. If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
The light should go out once the engine starts. If it stays
on, or comes on while driving, there could be a problem
with the charging system. A charging system message
in the Driver Information Center (DIC) can also appear.
See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑49for
more information. This light could indicate that there are
problems with a generator drive belt, or that there is an
electrical problem. Have it checked right away. If the
vehicle must be driven a short distance with the light
on, turn off accessories, such as the radio and air
conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
The vehicle brake system consists of two hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the vehicle. For normal
braking performance, both circuits need to be working
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have the brake system inspected right away.
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Black plate (33,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
EnglishMetric
This light should come on briefly when the engine is
started. If it does not come on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn if there is a problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
also comes on when the parking brake is set. The light
will stay on if the parking brake does not fully release.
If it stays on after the parking brake is fully released, it
means there is a brake problem.
{WARNING:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service. If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road and
stop carefully. The pedal can be harder to push, or the
pedal could go closer to the floor. It could take longer to
stop. Try turning off and restarting the vehicle one or
two times, if the light is still on, have the vehicle towed
for service. See
Towing Your Vehicle on page 5‑23.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light comes on
briefly when the engine is
started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally the indicator light then
goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safely
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light is not
on, the vehicle still has brakes, but not antilock brakes.
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