2008 Buick Lucerne Owners Manual

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If possible, call your insurance company from the scene of the crash. They will walk you through the information they will need. If they ask for a police report, phone or go to the police department headquarters the next day and you can get a copy of the report for a nominal fee. In some states/provinces with “no fault” insurance laws, a report may not be necessary. This is especially true if there are no injuries and both vehicles are driveable. (cid:129) Choose a reputable collision repair facility for your vehicle. Whether you select a dealer/retailer or a private collision repair facility to ﬁx the damage, make sure you are comfortable with them. Remember, you will have to feel comfortable with their work for a long time. (cid:129) Once you have an estimate, read it carefully and make sure you understand what work will be performed on your vehicle. If you have a question, ask for an explanation. Reputable shops welcome this opportunity. Managing the Vehicle Damage Repair Process In the event that your vehicle requires damage repairs, GM recommends that you take an active role in its repair. If you have a pre-determined repair facility of choice, take your vehicle there, or have it towed there. Specify to the facility that any required replacement collision parts be original equipment parts, either new Genuine GM parts or recycled original GM parts. Remember, recycled parts will not be covered by your GM vehicle warranty. Insurance pays the bill for the repair, but you must live with the repair. Depending on your policy limits, your insurance company may initially value the repair using aftermarket parts. Discuss this with your repair professional, and insist on Genuine GM parts. Remember if your vehicle is leased you may be obligated to have the vehicle repaired with Genuine GM parts, even if your insurance coverage does not pay the full cost. 7-14 (cid:129) If another party’s insurance company is paying for the repairs, you are not obligated to accept a repair valuation based on that insurance company’s collision policy repair limits, as you have no contractual limits with that company. In such cases, you can have control of the repair and parts choices as long as cost stays within reasonable limits. Reporting Safety Defects Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying General Motors. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it ﬁnds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer/retailer, or General Motors. To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to: Administrator, NHTSA 400 Seventh Street, SW. Washington D.C., 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov. Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle has a safety defect, notify Transport Canada immediately, in addition to notifying General Motors of Canada Limited. Call them at 1-800-333-0510 or write to: Transport Canada Road Safety Branch 2780 Sheffield Road Ottawa, Ontario K1B 3V9 7-15 Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in a situation like this, please notify General Motors. Call 1-800-521-7300, or write: Buick Customer Assistance Center P.O. Box 33136 Detroit, MI 48232-5136 In Canada, call 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French), or write: General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Communication Centre, CA1-163-005 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7 Service Publications Ordering Information Service Manuals Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information on engines, transmission, axle suspension, brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc. Service Bulletins Service Bulletins’ give additional technical service information needed to knowledgeably service General Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to assist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle. Owner Information Owner publications are written speciﬁcally for owners and intended to provide basic operational information about the vehicle. The owner manual includes the Maintenance Schedule for all models. In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual, and Warranty Booklet. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee Without Portfolio: Owner Manual only. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee Current and Past Model Order Forms Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available for current and past model GM vehicles. To request an order form, specify year and model name of the vehicle. 7-16 ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123 Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Eastern Time For Credit Card Orders Only (VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com Or you can write to: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 Prices are subject to change without notice and without incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery. Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make checks payable in U.S. funds. Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy Your GM vehicle has a number of sophisticated computers that record information about the vehicle’s performance and how it is driven. For example, your vehicle uses computer modules to monitor and control engine and transmission performance, to monitor the conditions for airbag deployment and deploy airbags in a crash and, if so equipped, to provide antilock braking to help the driver control the vehicle. These modules may store data to help your dealer/retailer technician service your vehicle. Some modules may also store data about how you operate the vehicle, such as rate of fuel consumption or average speed. These modules may also retain the owner’s personal preferences, such as radio pre-sets, seat positions, and temperature settings. 7-17 Event Data Recorders This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near crash-like situations, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record such data as: (cid:129) How various systems in your vehicle were operating (cid:129) Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were buckled/fastened (cid:129) How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the accelerator and/or brake pedal (cid:129) How fast the vehicle was traveling This data can help provide a better understanding of the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur. Important: EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location) is recorded. However, other parties, such as law enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of personally identifying data routinely acquired during a crash investigation. To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special equipment, can read the information if they have access to the vehicle or the EDR. GM will not access this data or share it with others except: with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee; in response to an official request of police or similar government office; as part of GM’s defense of litigation through the discovery process; or, as required by law. Data that GM collects or receives may also be used for GM research needs or may be made available to others for research purposes, where a need is shown and the data is not tied to a speciﬁc vehicle or vehicle owner. 7-18 OnStar® If your vehicle has OnStar® and you subscribe to the OnStar® services, please refer to the OnStar® Terms and Conditions for information on data collection and use. See also OnStar® System on page 2-46 in this manual for more information. Navigation System If your vehicle has a navigation system, use of the system may result in the storage of destinations, addresses, telephone numbers, and other trip information. Refer to the navigation system operating manual for information on stored data and for deletion instructions. Radio Frequency Identiﬁcation (RFID) RFID technology is used in some vehicles for functions such as tire pressure monitoring and ignition system security, as well as in connection with conveniences such as key fobs for remote door locking/unlocking and starting, and in-vehicle transmitters for garage door openers. RFID technology in GM vehicles does not use or record personal information or link with any other GM system containing personal information. 7-19 ✍ NOTES 7-20 A Accessories and Modiﬁcations ............................ 5-3 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ....................................................... 1-72 Additives, Fuel ................................................. 5-7 Add-On Electrical Equipment ........................... 5-105 Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine ................................. 5-20 Air Conditioning ...................................... 3-21, 3-24 Airbag Passenger Status Indicator ........................... 3-36 Readiness Light .......................................... 3-35 Airbag System ................................................ 1-58 What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? .... 1-66 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .................... 1-63 Where Are the Airbags? ............................... 1-60 Airbag Systems Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ................................................... 1-72 How Does an Airbag Restrain? ...................... 1-65 Passenger Sensing System ........................... 1-67 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .......... 1-72 What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? ...................... 1-65 Antenna, Backglass ......................................... 3-97 Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System .. 3-97 Antilock Brake System (ABS) ............................. 4-4 Antilock Brake, System Warning Light ................ 3-40 Appearance Care Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels ............. 5-100 Care of Safety Belts .................................... 5-97 Chemical Paint Spotting .............................. 5-102 Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses .................... 5-98 Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 5-96 Finish Care ................................................. 5-99 Finish Damage .......................................... 5-102 Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces ................................................. 5-97 Interior Cleaning .......................................... 5-94 Leather ...................................................... 5-96 Sheet Metal Damage .................................. 5-101 Tires ........................................................ 5-101 Underbody Maintenance ............................. 5-102 Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials ............... 5-103 Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 5-98 Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-97 Windshield and Wiper Blades ...................... 5-100 Appointments, Scheduling Service ..................... 7-10 Ashtray(s) ...................................................... 3-21 Audio System ................................................. 3-75 Audio Steering Wheel Controls ...................... 3-95 Backglass Antenna ...................................... 3-97 Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation Manual ................................................... 3-94 Radio Reception .......................................... 3-96 Setting the Time .......................................... 3-76 Theft-Deterrent Feature ................................ 3-94 XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ............ 3-97 Audio System(s) ............................................. 3-78 Automatic Transmission Fluid .......................................................... 5-21 Operation ................................................... 2-25 Backglass Antenna .......................................... 3-97 Battery .......................................................... 5-46 Electric Power Management .......................... 3-19 Exterior Lighting Battery Saver ...................... 3-17 Inadvertent Power Saver .............................. 3-19 Run-Down Protection ................................... 3-20 Brake Emergencies ................................................ 4-5 Brakes .......................................................... 5-42 Panic Assist ................................................. 4-7 System Warning Light .................................. 3-39 Braking ........................................................... 4-3 Braking in Emergencies ..................................... 4-5 Break-In, New Vehicle ..................................... 2-20 Bulb Replacement ........................................... 5-56 Halogen Bulbs ............................................ 5-56 Headlamp Aiming ........................................ 5-53 License Plate Lamps .................................... 5-58 Replacement Bulbs ...................................... 5-59 Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps ....................... 5-57 Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Sidemarker Lamps ................................... 5-56 Buying New Tires ........................................... 5-76 Calibration ............................. 1-11, 2-34, 2-36, 3-54 California Fuel .................................................. 5-6 California Perchlorate Materials Requirements ....... 5-4 California Proposition 65 Warning ....................... 5-4 Canadian Owners ................................................ ii Capacities and Speciﬁcations .......................... 5-113 Carbon Monoxide ................... 2-13, 2-32, 4-15, 4-26 Care of Safety Belts ................................................ 5-97 CD, MP3 ....................................................... 3-89 Center Console Storage Area ........................... 2-56 Center Flex Storage Unit ................................. 2-57 Center Seat ................................................... 1-11 Chains, Tire ................................................... 5-82 Charging System Light .................................... 3-38 Check Engine Light ............................................... 3-44 Checking Things Under the Hood ...................... 5-10 Chemical Paint Spotting ................................. 5-102 Child Restraints Child Restraint Systems ............................... 1-40 Infants and Young Children ........................... 1-36 Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children .......... 1-43 Older Children ............................................. 1-33 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position .................................................. 1-50 Child Restraints (cont.) Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Front Seat Position ........................................... 1-53 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ........................................... 1-54 Where to Put the Restraint ........................... 1-42 Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels ............. 5-100 Exterior Lamps/Lenses ................................. 5-98 Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 5-96 Finish Care ................................................. 5-99 Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces ................................................. 5-97 Interior ....................................................... 5-94 Leather ...................................................... 5-96 Tires ........................................................ 5-101 Underbody Maintenance ............................. 5-102 Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 5-98 Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-97 Windshield and Wiper Blades ...................... 5-100 Climate Control System ................................... 3-21 Air Filter, Passenger Compartment ................. 3-30 Dual Automatic ............................................ 3-24 Outlet Adjustment ........................................ 3-30 Clock ............................................................ 3-76 Collision Damage Repair .................................. 7-12 Compact Spare Tire ........................................ 5-94 Compass ............................... 1-11, 2-34, 2-36, 3-54 Content Theft-Deterrent .................................... 2-17 Control of a Vehicle .......................................... 4-3 Convenience Net ............................................ 2-57 Coolant Engine Temperature Gage ............................ 3-43 Engine Temperature Warning Light ................. 3-42 Heater, Engine ............................................ 2-24 Surge Tank Pressure Cap ............................. 5-28 Cooled Seats ................................................... 1-5 Cooling System ...................................... 5-30, 5-36 Cornering Lamps ............................................ 3-17 Courtesy Lamps ............................................. 3-17 Cruise Control ................................................ 3-12 Cruise Control Light ........................................ 3-47 Cupholder(s) .................................................. 2-56 Customer Assistance Information Courtesy Transportation ................................ 7-10 Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users ............................... 7-6 Customer Assistance Offices ........................... 7-6 Customer Satisfaction Procedure ..................... 7-2 GM Mobility Reimbursement Program ............... 7-7 Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors .... 7-16 Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government ............................................ 7-15 Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government ............................................ 7-15 Roadside Assistance Program ......................... 7-8 Service Publications Ordering Information ........ 7-16 D Daytime Running Lamps .................................. 3-16 Defensive Driving ............................................. 4-2 Delayed Entry Lighting ..................................... 3-18 Delayed Exit Lighting ....................................... 3-18 Delayed Locking ............................................. 2-11 DIC Compass ................................................. 3-54 Disc, MP3 ...................................................... 3-89 Doing Your Own Service Work ........................... 5-4 Door Delayed Locking .......................................... 2-11 Locks ........................................................ 2-10 Power Door Locks ....................................... 2-10 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............. 2-11 Rear Door Security Locks ............................. 2-12 Driver Information Center (DIC) ......................... 3-48 DIC Operation and Displays .......................... 3-49 DIC Vehicle Customization ............................ 3-66 DIC Warnings and Messages ........................ 3-56 Driving At Night ..................................................... 4-11 Before a Long Trip ...................................... 4-13 Defensive ..................................................... 4-2 Drunken ....................................................... 4-2 Highway Hypnosis ....................................... 4-13 Hill and Mountain Roads .............................. 4-14 In Rain and on Wet Roads ........................... 4-12 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out ................. 4-19 Winter ........................................................ 4-15 Dual Automatic Climate Control System ............. 3-24 EDR ............................................................. 7-17 Electrical System Add-On Equipment ..................................... 5-105 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ......................... 5-105 Power Windows and Other Power Options .... 5-105 Rear Underseat Fuse Block ......................... 5-108 Underhood Fuse Block ............................... 5-106 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ......................................... 5-20 Check and Service Engine Soon Light ............ 3-44 Coolant ...................................................... 5-24 Coolant Heater ............................................ 2-24 Coolant Temperature Gage ........................... 3-43 Coolant Temperature Warning Light ................ 3-42 Drive Belt Routing ....................................... 6-14 Engine Compartment Overview ...................... 5-12 Exhaust ..................................................... 2-32 Oil ............................................................. 5-15 Oil Life System ........................................... 5-18 Overheated Protection Operating Mode ........... 5-30 Overheating ................................................ 5-28 Running While Parked .................................. 2-33 Starting ...................................................... 2-22 Entry Lighting ................................................. 3-18 Event Data Recorders ..................................... 7-18 Extender, Safety Belt ....................................... 1-32 Exterior Lamps ............................................... 3-14 Exterior Lighting Battery Saver .......................... 3-17 F Filter Engine Air Cleaner ...................................... 5-20 Finish Damage ............................................. 5-102 Flashers, Hazard Warning .................................. 3-6 Flash-to-Pass ................................................... 3-9 Flat Tire ........................................................ 5-83 Flat Tire, Changing ......................................... 5-84 Flat Tire, Storing ............................................. 5-92 Floor Mats ..................................................... 2-57 Fluid ............................................................. 5-21 Power Steering ........................................... 5-40 Windshield Washer ...................................... 5-41 Fog Lamp Fog ........................................................... 3-17 Fog Lamp Light .............................................. 3-47 Front Reading Lamps ...................................... 3-18 Front Storage Area ......................................... 2-56 ............................................................... 5-5 Fuel Additives ...................................................... 5-7 California Fuel .............................................. 5-6 Filling a Portable Fuel Container .................... 5-10 Filling the Tank ............................................. 5-8 Fuels in Foreign Countries .............................. 5-7 Fuel (cont.) Fuses Gage ......................................................... 3-48 Gasoline Octane ........................................... 5-6 Gasoline Speciﬁcations .................................. 5-6 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ......................... 5-105 Rear Underseat Fuse Block ......................... 5-108 Underhood Fuse Block ............................... 5-106 Gage Engine Coolant Temperature ......................... 3-43 Fuel .......................................................... 3-48 Speedometer .............................................. 3-34 Tachometer ................................................. 3-34 Garage Door Opener ....................................... 2-49 Gasoline Octane ........................................................ 5-6 Speciﬁcations ............................................... 5-6 Glove Box ..................................................... 2-56 GM Mobility Reimbursement Program .................. 7-7 H Ignition Positions ............................................. 2-21 Inadvertent Power Battery Saver ....................... 3-19 Infants and Young Children, Restraints ............... 1-36 Inﬂation - Tire Pressure ................................... 5-67 Instrument Panel Overview ..................................................... 3-4 Instrument Panel (I/P) Brightness .................................................. 3-17 Cluster ....................................................... 3-33 Jump Starting ................................................. 5-48 Keyless Entry System ....................................... 2-4 Keys ............................................................... 2-3 Hazard Warning Flashers ................................... 3-6 Head Restraints .............................................. 1-10 Headlamp Aiming ....................................................... 5-53 Headlamps Bulb Replacement ....................................... 5-56 Daytime Running Lamps ............................... 3-16 Exterior Lamps ............................................ 3-14 Flash-to-Pass ............................................... 3-9 Halogen Bulbs ............................................ 5-56 High/Low Beam Changer ................................ 3-9 On Reminder .............................................. 3-16 Wiper Activated ........................................... 3-15 Heated Seats ............................................ 1-4, 1-5 Heated Steering Wheel ..................................... 3-7 Heater ........................................................... 3-21 Heater ........................................................... 3-24 Highbeam On Light ......................................... 3-47 Highway Hypnosis ........................................... 4-13 Hill and Mountain Roads .................................. 4-14 Hood Checking Things Under ................................ 5-10 Release ..................................................... 5-11 Horn ............................................................... 3-6 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................... 1-17 L Labeling, Tire Sidewall ..................................... 5-61 Lamps Cornering ................................................... 3-17 Courtesy .................................................... 3-17 Exterior Lighting Battery Saver ...................... 3-17 Front Reading ............................................. 3-18 Inadvertent Power Battery Saver .................... 3-19 Lane Departure Warning .................................. 2-44 Lane Departure Warning Light .......................... 3-42 Lap Belt ........................................................ 1-31 Lap-Shoulder Belt ........................................... 1-25 LATCH System Child Restraints ........................................... 1-43 License Plate Lamps ....................................... 5-58 Light Airbag Readiness ........................................ 3-35 Antilock Brake System Warning ..................... 3-40 Brake System Warning ................................. 3-39 Charging System ......................................... 3-38 Cruise Control ............................................. 3-47 Engine Coolant Temperature Warning ............. 3-42 Fog Lamp .................................................. 3-47 Highbeam On ............................................. 3-47 Lane Departure Warning ............................... 3-42 Malfunction Indicator .................................... 3-44 Oil Pressure ............................................... 3-46 Passenger Airbag Status Indicator .................. 3-36 Safety Belt Reminders .................................. 3-34 Light (cont.) Security ..................................................... 3-47 StabiliTrak® Indicator .................................... 3-41 TCS Warning Light ...................................... 3-40 Tire Pressure .............................................. 3-43 Traction Control System (TCS) Warning .......... 3-40 Delayed Entry ............................................. 3-18 Delayed Exit ............................................... 3-18 Entry ......................................................... 3-18 Perimeter ................................................... 3-18 Theater Dimming ......................................... 3-18 Lighting Lights Exterior Lamps ............................................ 3-14 Flash-to-Pass ............................................... 3-9 High/Low Beam Changer ................................ 3-9 On Reminder .............................................. 3-16 Loading Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-19 Lockout Protection .......................................... 2-12 Locks Delayed Locking .......................................... 2-11 Door .......................................................... 2-10 Lockout Protection ....................................... 2-12 Power Door ................................................ 2-10 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............. 2-11 Rear Door Security Locks ............................. 2-12 Loss of Control ............................................... 4-10 Lumbar Power Controls ............................................. 1-3 Mirrors Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass .... 2-36 Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar® and Compass .......................................... 2-34 Manual Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature ............................................ 1-11 Outside Automatic Dimming Heated Mirror ...... 2-38 Outside Convex Mirror ................................. 2-38 Outside Power Mirrors .................................. 2-37 Park Tilt ..................................................... 2-38 MP3 ............................................................. 3-89 MyGMLink.com ................................................ 7-5 Navigation System, Privacy .............................. 7-19 Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation Manual ................................. 3-94 New Vehicle Break-In ...................................... 2-20 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ............ 6-13 Maintenance Schedule Additional Required Services ........................... 6-6 At Each Fuel Fill ........................................... 6-9 At Least Once a Month .................................. 6-9 At Least Once a Year .................................. 6-10 Introduction .................................................. 6-2 Maintenance Footnotes .................................. 6-7 Maintenance Record .................................... 6-15 Maintenance Requirements ............................. 6-2 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ......... 6-13 Owner Checks and Services ........................... 6-8 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ............. 6-12 Scheduled Maintenance ................................. 6-4 Using .......................................................... 6-3 Your Vehicle and the Environment ................... 6-2 Malfunction Indicator Light ................................ 3-44 Manual Seats ................................................... 1-2 Manual, Using .................................................... iii Memory Seat and Mirrors .................................. 1-6 Message DIC Warnings and Messages ........................ 3-56 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 Paint, Damage .............................................. 5-102 Panic Brake Assist ............................................ 4-7 Park Aid ........................................................ 2-39 Park Brake .................................................... 2-27 Park (P) Shifting Into ................................................ 2-28 ............................................ 2-31 Shifting Out of 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 Power (cont.) Seat ............................................................ 1-3 Steering Fluid ............................................. 5-40 Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering Column ....... 3-7 Windows .................................................... 2-16 Privacy .......................................................... 7-17 Event Data Recorders .................................. 7-18 Navigation System ....................................... 7-19 OnStar ....................................................... 7-19 Radio Frequency Identiﬁcation ....................... 7-19 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ................. 2-11 Radiator Pressure Cap .................................... 5-28 Radio Frequency Identiﬁcation (RFID), Privacy .... 7-19 Radios .......................................................... 3-75 Radio(s) ........................................................ 3-78 Radios Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation Manual .............................. 3-94 Reception ................................................... 3-96 Setting the Time .......................................... 3-76 Theft-Deterrent ............................................ 3-94 Rainsense™ II Wipers ..................................... 3-10 Rear Door Security Locks ................................ 2-12 Rear Seat Armrest .......................................... 2-57 Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with Compass .................................................... 2-36 10 Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with OnStar® and Compass ................................. 2-34 Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature ............................................... 1-11 Reclining Seatbacks .......................................... 1-7 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ................. 6-12 Recreational Vehicle Towing ............................. 4-25 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System .................. 2-4 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System, Operation ..................................................... 2-5 Remote Vehicle Start ........................................ 2-8 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire .................................................. 5-86 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ................... 5-85 Replacement Bulbs ......................................... 5-59 Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government .................................. 7-15 General Motors ........................................... 7-16 United States Government ............................ 7-15 Restraint System Check Checking the Restraint Systems .................... 1-74 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash .......................................... 1-75 Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................... 2-22 Roadside Assistance Program ....................................... 7-8 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out .................... 4-19 Routing, Engine Drive Belt ............................... 6-14 Running the Engine While Parked ..................... 2-33 S Safety Belt Safety Belts Reminder Light ............................................ 3-34 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 ................................................. 3-47 Service ........................................................... 5-3 Accessories and Modiﬁcations ......................... 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 Speciﬁcations, 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 Steering .......................................................... 4-7 Steering Wheel Controls, Audio ......................... 3-95 Steering Wheel, Heated ..................................... 3-7 Steering Wheel, Power Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering Column ........................................... 3-7 Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel ................................. 3-6 Storage Areas Center Console Storage Area ........................ 2-56 Center Flex Storage Unit .............................. 2-57 Convenience Net ......................................... 2-57 Cupholder(s) ............................................... 2-56 Front Storage Area ...................................... 2-56 Glove Box .................................................. 2-56 Rear Seat Armrest ....................................... 2-57 Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow ..................... 4-18 Sun Visors ..................................................... 2-17 Sunroof ......................................................... 2-58 Tachometer .................................................... 3-34 Taillamps Back-Up Lamps ........................................... 5-57 Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Sidemarker Lamps ................................... 5-56 TCS Warning Light .......................................... 3-40 Telescopic Steering Column, Power Tilt Wheel ...... 3-7 Theater Dimming ............................................ 3-18 Theft-Deterrent, Radio ..................................... 3-94 12 Theft-Deterrent Systems ................................... 2-17 Content Theft-Deterrent ................................ 2-17 PASS-Key® III+ ........................................... 2-18 PASS-Key® III+ Operation ............................. 2-19 Tilt Wheel ........................................................ 3-6 Time, Setting .................................................. 3-76 Tire Pressure Light ............................................. 3-43 Tires ............................................................. 5-60 Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels, Cleaning ............................................... 5-100 Buying New Tires ........................................ 5-76 Chains ....................................................... 5-82 Changing a Flat Tire .................................... 5-84 Cleaning ................................................... 5-101 Compact Spare Tire ..................................... 5-94 Different Size .............................................. 5-78 If a Tire Goes Flat ....................................... 5-83 Inﬂation - Tire Pressure ................................ 5-67 Inspection and Rotation ................................ 5-74 Installing the Spare Tire ................................ 5-86 Pressure Monitor Operation ........................... 5-70 Pressure Monitor System .............................. 5-69 Removing the Flat Tire ................................. 5-86 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ............... 5-85 Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools ............ 5-92 Tire Sidewall Labeling .................................. 5-61 Tire Terminology and Deﬁnitions .................... 5-64 Uniform Tire Quality Grading ......................... 5-78 Tires (cont.) Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ................. 5-80 Wheel Replacement ..................................... 5-80 When It Is Time for New Tires ...................... 5-75 Recreational Vehicle ..................................... 4-25 Towing a Trailer .......................................... 4-26 Your Vehicle ............................................... 4-25 Towing Traction Control System (TCS) .................................... 4-5 Control System Warning Light ....................... 3-40 StabiliTrak® System ....................................... 4-6 Transmission Fluid, Automatic ........................................... 5-21 Transmission Operation, Automatic .................... 2-25 Trip Odometer ................................................ 3-34 Trunk ............................................................ 2-13 Turn and Lane-Change Signals .......................... 3-8 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever ........................... 3-8 Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) ............... 2-39 Uniform Tire Quality Grading ............................ 5-78 Universal Home Remote System ....................... 2-49 Operation ................................................... 2-50 Using this Manual ............................................... iii Vehicle Control ........................................................ 4-3 Damage Warnings ........................................... iv Loading ...................................................... 4-19 Symbols ......................................................... iv Vehicle Customization, DIC .............................. 3-66 Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy .................. 7-17 Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN) ............................................ 5-104 Service Parts Identiﬁcation Label .................. 5-104 Vehicle, Remote Start ....................................... 2-8 Ventilation Adjustment ...................................... 3-30 Visors ........................................................... 2-17 13 W Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ................ 3-32 Warnings DIC Warnings and Messages ........................ 3-56 Hazard Warning Flashers ............................... 3-6 Other Warning Devices .................................. 3-6 Safety and Symbols ......................................... iii Vehicle Damage .............................................. iv Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance .......................... 5-80 Different Size .............................................. 5-78 Replacement ............................................... 5-80 Where to Put the Restraint ............................... 1-42 Windows ....................................................... 2-15 Power ........................................................ 2-16 Windshield Rainsense™ II Wipers .................................. 3-10 Washer ...................................................... 3-11 Washer Fluid .............................................. 5-41 Wiper Blade Replacement ............................. 5-59 Wiper Blades, Cleaning .............................. 5-100 Wipers ......................................................... 3-9 Winter Driving ................................................ 4-15 Wiper Activated Headlamps .............................. 3-15 XM Radio Messages ....................................... 3-93 XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ................ 3-97 Your Vehicle and the Environment ....................... 6-2 14 2008 Buick Lucerne Owner Manual M Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1 Front Seats ............................................... 1-2 Rear Seats .............................................. 1-11 Safety Belts ............................................. 1-12 Child Restraints ....................................... 1-33 Airbag System ......................................... 1-58 Restraint System Check ............................ 1-74 Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1 Keys ........................................................ 2-3 Doors and Locks ...................................... 2-10 Windows ................................................. 2-15 Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-17 Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-20 Mirrors .................................................... 2-34 Object Detection Systems .......................... 2-39 OnStar® System ...................................... 2-46 Universal Home Remote System ................ 2-49 Storage Areas ......................................... 2-56 Sunroof .................................................. 2-58 Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1 .......................... 3-4 ...................................... 3-21 ........ 3-32 .................. 3-48 ....................................... 3-75 Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s) Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Towing Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1 ..... 4-2 ................................................... 4-25 Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1 Service ..................................................... 5-3 Fuel ......................................................... 5-5 Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10 Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-53 Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-56 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-59 Tires ...................................................... 5-60 Appearance Care ..................................... 5-94 Vehicle Identiﬁcation ............................... 5-104 Electrical System .................................... 5-105 Capacities and Speciﬁcations ................... 5-113 Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1 ................................ 6-2 Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1 ........... 7-2 ........................... 7-15 ........... 7-17 Index ................................................................ 1 Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy Maintenance Schedule Canadian Owners A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer/retailer or from: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 1-800-551-4123 www.helminc.com Propriétaires Canadiens On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français auprès de concessionnaire ou à l’adresse suivante: Helm Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 1-800-551-4123 www.helminc.com GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK, the BUICK Emblem, and the name LUCERNE are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles ﬁrst sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Buick Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. This manual describes features that may be available in this model, but your vehicle may not have all of them. For example, more than one entertainment system may be offered or your vehicle may have been ordered without a front passenger or rear seats. Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference. Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 15862328 A First Printing ©2007 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved. ii Using this Manual Many people read the owner manual from beginning to end when they ﬁrst receive their new vehicle to learn about the vehicle’s features and controls. Pictures and words work together to explain things. Safety Warnings and Symbols There are a number of safety cautions in this book. A box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about things that could hurt you or others if you were to ignore the warning. Index A good place to quickly locate information about the vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found. {CAUTION: These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. We tell you what the hazard is and what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not, you or others could be hurt. A circle with a slash through it is a safety symbol which means “Do Not,” “Do Not do this” or “Do Not let this happen.” iii Vehicle Symbols The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a speciﬁc component, control, message, gage, or indicator. Vehicle Damage Warnings You will also ﬁnd notices in this manual. Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. The notice tells what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. iv Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Front Seats ......................................................1-2 Manual Seats ................................................1-2 Power Seats ..................................................1-3 Power Lumbar ...............................................1-3 Heated Seats .................................................1-4 Heated and Cooled Seats ................................1-5 Memory Seat and Mirrors ................................1-6 Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-7 Head Restraints ............................................1-10 Center Seat .................................................1-11 Rear Seats .....................................................1-11 Rear Seat Pass-Through Door ........................1-11 Safety Belts ...................................................1-12 Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-12 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-17 Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-25 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-31 Lap Belt ......................................................1-31 Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-32 Child Restraints .............................................1-33 Older Children ..............................................1-33 Infants and Young Children ............................1-36 Child Restraint Systems .................................1-40 Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-42 Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) ......................................1-43 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position ...................................................1-50 Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Front Seat Position ............................................1-53 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ............................................1-54 Airbag System ...............................................1-58 Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-60 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .....................1-63 What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? .......................1-65 How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-65 What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? .....1-66 Passenger Sensing System ............................1-67 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-72 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ....................................................1-72 Restraint System Check ..................................1-74 Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-74 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash ............................................1-75 1-1 Front Seats Manual Seats {CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving. To move a manual seat forward or rearward: 1. Lift the bar to unlock the seat. 2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the bar. Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place. 1-2 Power Seats Power Lumbar To adjust a power seat, do any of the following: (cid:129) Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the control forward or rearward. (cid:129) Raise or lower the front part of the seat cushion by moving the front of the control up or down. (cid:129) Raise or lower the rear part of the seat cushion by moving the rear of the control up or down. (cid:129) Raise or lower the entire seat by moving the entire control up or down. On vehicles with power reclining seatbacks, see “Power Reclining Seatbacks” under Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-7. If your vehicle has this feature, the power lumbar control is located on the outboard side of the front seats. Press the lumbar control forward to increase support and rearward to decrease support in the lower seatback. Press the control up or down to raise or lower the support mechanism. Keep in mind that as your seating position changes, as it may during long trips, so should the position of your lumbar support. Adjust the seat as needed. 1-3 There are three temperature settings for each feature. A column of three lights next to the buttons will display which setting the feature is in: high, medium or low. Three lights indicate the highest setting, two lights indicate medium and one light indicates the lowest setting. When you press a button, the feature will turn on at the highest setting. Each time you press the button, the feature will decrease one temperature setting. To turn the feature off, keep pressing the button until the display lights turn off. If your vehicle has remote vehicle start and is started using the remote keyless entry transmitter, the front heated seats will be turned on to the high setting if it is cold outside. See “Remote Vehicle Start” under Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2-5. When the key is inserted into the ignition and the ignition is turned on, the heated seat feature will turn off. To turn the heated seat feature back on, press the desired button. Heated Seats Your vehicle may have heated front seats. To operate the heated seats, the ignition must be on. The buttons are located on the front doors. Driver’s Side Buttons shown J(Heated Seat Cushion and Seatback): Press this button to turn on the heated seat cushion and seatback. I(Heated Seatback): Press this button to turn on the heated seatback. Press the button to turn on the desired feature. A light on that button will display to show which feature is on. 1-4 Heated and Cooled Seats The front seats may have the heated and cooled seat feature. To heat or cool the seats, the ignition must be on. The buttons are located on the front doors. Driver’s Side Buttons shown J(Heated Seat Cushion and Seatback): Press this button to heat the seat cushion and seatback. I(Heated Seatback): Press this button to heat the seatback. H(Cooled Seat Cushion and Seatback): Press this button to cool the seat cushion and seatback. Press each button to turn on the desired feature. A light on that button will display indicating which feature is on. There are three temperature settings for each feature. A column of three lights next to the buttons will display which setting the feature is in: high, medium or low. Three lights indicate the highest setting, two lights indicate medium and one light indicates the lowest setting. When you press a button, the feature will turn on at the highest setting. Each time you press the button, the feature will decrease one temperature setting. To turn the feature off, keep pressing the button until the display lights turn off. If your vehicle has remote vehicle start and is started using the remote keyless entry transmitter, the front heated seats will be turned on to the high setting if it is cold outside. See “Remote Vehicle Start” under Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2-5. When the key is inserted into the ignition and the ignition is turned on, the heated seat feature will turn off. To turn the heated seat feature back on, press the desired button. 1-5 Memory Seat and Mirrors On vehicles with the memory feature the buttons are located on the driver’s door. 1: Saves the seating position for driver 1. 2: Saves the seating position for driver 2. B: Recalls the easy exit position. For more programming information, see DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-66. To save your positions in memory: 1. Adjust the driver’s seat, including the seatback recliner and lumbar, and both outside mirrors to your preferred position. 2. Press and hold button 1 until two beeps sound to let you know that the position has been stored. 3. Repeat the procedure for a second driver using button 2. The vehicle must be in PARK (P) to recall your memory positions. 1-6 Press and release either button to recall the stored setting. Each time a memory button is pressed, a single beep sounds. If you use the remote keyless entry transmitter to enter your vehicle and the remote recall memory feature is on, automatic seat and mirror movement occurs. To stop recall movement of the memory feature, press one of the power seat controls, memory buttons, or power mirror buttons. If something has blocked the driver’s seat while recalling a memory position, the driver’s seat recall may stop working. If this happens, press the control for the area that is not recalling for two seconds, after the obstruction is removed. Try recalling the memory position again by pressing the appropriate memory button. If the memory position is still not recalling, see your dealer/retailer for service. Easy Exit Seat B: With the vehicle in PARK (P), press to recall the exit position. You will hear a single beep and the driver’s seat moves back. Reclining Seatbacks Manual Reclining Seatbacks {CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving. {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked. If the seats have manual reclining seatbacks, the lever used to operate them is located on the outboard side of the seats. Passenger’s Seat shown To recline the seatback, do the following: 1. Lift the recline lever. 2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release the lever to lock the seatback in place. 3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked. 1-7 To return the seatback to an upright position, do the following: 1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the seatback and the seatback will return to the upright position. 2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked. Power Reclining Seatbacks Driver’s Seat with Power Seat Control, Power Recline, and Power Lumbar shown If the seats have power reclining seatbacks, the controls used to operate them are located on the outboard side of the seats. Tilt the top of the control rearward to recline the seatback. Tilt the top of the control forward to raise the seatback. 1-8 (cid:129) (cid:129) {CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you are reclined like this. The shoulder belt cannot do its job. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. Do not have the seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. 1-9 Head Restraints Pull the head restraint up to raise it. To lower the head restraint, press the button, located on the top of the seatback, and push the head restraint down. Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. 1-10 Center Seat Rear Seats Rear Seat Pass-Through Door Your vehicle has a pass-through door that provides access to the trunk from the rear seats. See “Rear Seat Pass-Through Door” under Trunk on page 2-13. Your vehicle may have a front center seat. This seat can be converted to a storage area by lowering the seatback. See Center Flex Storage Unit on page 2-57. 1-11 Safety Belts Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. {CAUTION: Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you are not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle harder or be ejected from it and be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passenger(s) are restrained properly too. 1-12 {CAUTION: It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. Your vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle your safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 3-34. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law requires wearing safety belts. Here is why: You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a serious one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter... a lot! Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. Put someone on it. Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels. 1-13 Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... 1-14 or the instrument panel... or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense. 1-15 Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in a crash — even one that is not your fault — you and your passenger(s) can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone. Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I am wearing a safety belt? A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety belt or not. But your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. And you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down. Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear safety belts? A: Airbags are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts — not instead of them. Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. 1-16 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This section is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-33 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-36. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. It is very important for all occupants to buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted people are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Occupants who are not buckled up can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. First, before you or your passenger(s) wear a safety belt, there is important information you should know. Sit up straight and always keep your feet on the ﬂoor in front of you. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones and you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The shoulder belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash. 1-17 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt snugly against your body. A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give nearly as much protection this way. 1-18 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your lap belt is too loose. In a crash, you could slide under the lap belt and apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. A: The lap belt is too loose. It will not give as much protection this way. 1-19 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not on the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you. A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place. 1-20 Q: What is wrong with this? A: The belt is over an armrest. {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if your belt goes over an armrest like this. The belt would be much too high. In a crash, you can slide under the belt. The belt force would then be applied on the abdomen, not on the pelvic bones, and that could cause serious or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt goes under the armrests. 1-21 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times. 1-22 Q: What is wrong with this? A: The belt is behind the body. {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured by not wearing the lap-shoulder belt properly. In a crash, you would not be restrained by the shoulder belt. Your body could move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. You might also slide under the lap belt. The belt force would then be applied right on the abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. 1-23 Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer/retailer to ﬁx it. A: The belt is twisted across the body. 1-24 If you ever pull the shoulder portion of a passenger belt out all the way, you may engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again. Engaging the child restraint locking feature may affect the passenger sensing system. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-67. Lap-Shoulder Belt All seating positions in your vehicle have a lap-shoulder except for the center front passenger position (if equipped), which has a lap belt. See Lap Belt on page 1-31 for more information. Here is how to wear a lap-shoulder belt properly. 1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index. 2. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 1-25 4. If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster, move it to the height that is right for you. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. See “Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment” later in this section. 3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. If you ﬁnd that the latch plate will not go fully into the buckle, see if you are using the correct buckle. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-32. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if necessary. 1-26 5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt. It may be necessary to pull stitching on the safety belt through the latch plate to fully tighten the lap belt on smaller occupants. To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. When the safety belt is not in use, slide the latch plate up so that it is stored on the safety belt stitching, near the guide loop. Before you close a door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle. Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster Your vehicle has shoulder belt height adjusters for the driver and right front passenger position. Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder. Incorrect positioning of the shoulder belt can reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt. To move it down, press the release button (A) and move the height adjuster to the desired position. You can move the height adjuster up just by pushing up on the shoulder belt guide. After you move the height adjuster to where you want it, try to move it down without pressing the release button to make sure it has locked into position. 1-27 Safety Belt Pretensioners Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for front outboard occupants. Although you cannot see them, they are part of the safety belt assembly. They can help tighten the safety belts during the early stages of a moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met. And, if your vehicle has side impact airbags, safety belt pretensioners can help tighten the safety belts in a side crash. Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-75. Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the belt away from the neck and head. There is one guide for each outside passenger position in the rear seat. Here is how to install a comfort guide to the safety belt: 1-28 1. Remove the guide from its storage pocket on the rear side of the seatback. 2. Place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide. 3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies ﬂat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top. 1-29 {CAUTION: A safety belt that is not properly worn may not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. 1-30 4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as described earlier in this section. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder. To remove and store the comfort guide, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guide. Slide the guide into its storage pocket on the side of the seatback. Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts. Lap Belt This part is only for the lap belt. To learn how to wear a lap-shoulder belt, see Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 1-25. You vehicle may have a center seating position. When you sit in the center front seating position, you have a lap safety belt, which has no retractor. A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy. The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly. To make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt. Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lap part of a lap-shoulder belt. 1-31 Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer/retailer will order you an extender. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to ﬁt. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, attach it to the regular safety belt. For more information, see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender. To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until the belt is snug. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-32. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if necessary. If you ﬁnd that the latch plate will not go fully into the buckle, see if you are using the correct buckle. Be sure that the latch plate clicks when inserted into the buckle. 1-32 Child Restraints Older Children Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts. The manufacturer’s instructions that come with the booster seat, state the weight and height limitations for that booster. Use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt until the child passes the below ﬁt test: (cid:129) Sit all the way back on the seat. Do the knees bend at the seat edge? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat. (cid:129) Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the shoulder belt rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue. If no, try using the rear safety belt comfort guide. See “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 1-25 for more information. If the shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder, then return to the booster seat. (cid:129) Does the lap belt ﬁt low and snug on the hips, touching the thighs? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat. (cid:129) Can proper safety belt ﬁt be maintained for length of trip? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat. If you have the choice, a child should sit in a position with a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. 1-33 {CAUTION: Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt. The belt cannot properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crushed together and seriously injured. A belt must be used by only one person at a time. Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts? A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should ﬁt snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash. Also see “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 1-25. According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety belts properly. 1-34 {CAUTION: Never do this. Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. In a crash, the child would not be restrained by the shoulder belt. The child might slide under the lap belt. The belt force would then be applied right on the abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. The child could also move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. 1-35 Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle. {CAUTION: Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Never leave children unattended in a vehicle and never allow children to play with the safety belts. Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Children who are not restrained properly can strike other people, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. In addition, young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone; they need to use a child restraint. 1-36 {CAUTION: People should never hold an infant in their arms while riding in a vehicle. An infant does not weigh much — until a crash. During a crash an infant will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg) infant will suddenly become a 240 lb (110 kg) force on a person’s arms. An infant should be secured in an appropriate restraint. 1-37 {CAUTION: Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inﬂates can be seriously injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. 1-38 Q: What are the different types of add-on child restraints? A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height, and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used. {CAUTION: The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that is unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young children should always be secured in appropriate child restraints. For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come with the restraint state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs. {CAUTION: Newborn infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because a newborn infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of an infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants should always be secured in appropriate infant restraints. 1-39 Child Restraint Systems A rear-facing infant seat (A) provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant. The harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint. A forward-facing child seat (B) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness. A booster seat (C-D) is a child restraint designed to improve the ﬁt of the vehicle’s safety belt system. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window. 1-40 Securing an Add-On Child Restraint in the Vehicle {CAUTION: A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. Make sure the child restraint is properly installed in the vehicle using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraint systems must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH system. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-43 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it. Securing the Child Within the Child

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2008 Buick Lucerne Owners Manual