Page 248 of 368

Black plate (14,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
10-14 Vehicle Care
If no problem is found, check to see
if coolant is visible in the coolant
surge tank. If coolant is visible but
the coolant level is not at the
indicated level mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure the
cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap, is
cool before you do it.
{WARNING
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the surge tank pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling
system and surge tank pressure
cap to cool.
Notice: In cold weather, water
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core and other parts. Use the recommended
coolant and the proper coolant
mixture.
{WARNING
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
1. Remove the coolant surge tank
pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about
one-quarter of a turn. If you hear
a hiss, wait for that to stop. This
will allow any pressure still left to
be vented out the
discharge hose.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper DEX-COOL coolant
mixture to the indicated
level mark.
Page 254 of 368

Black plate (20,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
10-20 Vehicle Care
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
All-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
Under normal driving conditions,
transfer case fluid does not require
changing or checking unless there
is a fluid leak or unusual noise.
If required, have the transfer case
serviced by your dealer.
Starter Switch Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.1. Before starting this check, be
sure there is enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular brake.
See Parking Brake on
page 9-27.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it
starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle should start
only in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your dealer for
service.
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brake on
page 9-27.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move.
Page 255 of 368

Black plate (21,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
Vehicle Care 10-21
3. With the engine off, turn theignition on, but do not start the
engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.
Ignition Transmission
Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF in each shift lever
position.
.The ignition should turn to
LOCK/OFF only when the shift
lever is in P (Park).
.The ignition key should come
out only in LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
.To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear and cracking.
See Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-3.
Replacement blades come in
different types and are removed in
different ways. For proper type and
length, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 11-12.
Notice: Allowing the wiper arm to
touch the windshield when no
wiper blade is installed could
damage the windshield. Any
damage that occurs would not be
covered by your warranty. Do not
allow the wiper arm to touch the
windshield.
Page 258 of 368
Black plate (24,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
10-24 Vehicle Care
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking
Lamps
Driver Side Shown, Passenger
Side Similar
1. Turn Signal Lamp
2. Low-Beam Headlamp
3. Parking Lamp
4. High-Beam Headlamp
High-Beam Headlamp/
Low-Beam Headlamp
1. Open the hood. SeeHood on
page 10-4.
2. Remove the headlamp bulb access cover.
3. Turn the bulb counterclockwise and pull straight back.
4. Disconnect the wiring harness
connector from the bulb.
5. Install the new bulb in the headlamp assembly by turning
clockwise.
6. Reconnect the wiring harness connector.
7. Install the headlamp bulb access cover.
Page 259 of 368
Black plate (25,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
Vehicle Care 10-25
Parking Lamp
1. Open the hood. SeeHood on
page 10-4.
2. Remove the parking lamp bulb socket from the headlamp
assembly by turning
counterclockwise.
3. Remove the bulb from the bulb socket by pulling it straight out.
4. Install the new bulb in the bulb socket.
5. Install the bulb socket into the headlamp assembly by turning
clockwise.
Turn Signal Lamp
1. Open the hood. See Hood on
page 10-4.
2. Remove the turn signal lamp bulb socket from the headlamp
assembly by turning
counterclockwise. 3. Remove the bulb from the bulb
socket by pulling it straight out.
4. Install the new bulb in the bulb socket.
5. Install the bulb socket into the headlamp assembly by turning
clockwise.
Page 260 of 368
Black plate (26,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
10-26 Vehicle Care
License Plate Lamp
Lamp Assembly
Bulb AssemblyTo replace one of these bulbs:
1. Push the left end of the lamp
assembly toward the right.
2. Turn the lamp assembly down to remove it.
3. Turn the bulb socket (1) counterclockwise to remove it
from the lamp assembly (3).
4. Pull the bulb (2) straight out of the bulb socket (1).
5. Push the replacement bulb straight into the bulb socket and
turn the bulb socket clockwise to
install it into the lamp assembly.
6. Turn the lamp assembly into the lamp assembly opening
engaging the clip side first.
7. Push on the lamp side opposite the clip until the lamp assembly
snaps into place.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
Back-Up Lamp 921
Front Parking Lamp 7444NA
Front Turn
Signal Lamp 7444NA
High-Beam
Headlamp 9005LL
License Plate Lamp W5W LL
Low-Beam
Headlamp H11 LL
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.
Page 261 of 368

Black plate (27,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
Vehicle Care 10-27
Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload
The vehicle has fuses and circuit
breakers to protect against an
electrical system overload.
When the current electrical load is
too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes, protecting the circuit
until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed. This
greatly reduces the chance of circuit
overload and fire caused by
electrical problems.
Fuses and circuit breakers protect
power devices in the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road and
a fuse needs to be replaced, the
same amperage fuse can be
borrowed. Choose some feature of
the vehicle that is not needed to use
and replace it as soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away
if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by
electrical problems.
To check a fuse, look at the
silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the band is broken or melted,
replace the fuse. Be sure to replace
a bad fuse with a new one of the
identical size and rating.
Fuses of the same amperage can
be temporarily borrowed from
another fuse location, if a fuse goes
out. Replace the fuse as soon as
possible.
To identify and check fuses, circuit
breakers, and relays, seeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on
page 10-28, Instrument Panel Fuse
Block on page 10-31, and Rear
Compartment Fuse Block on
page 10-33.
Page 262 of 368
Black plate (28,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
10-28 Vehicle Care
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
To remove the fuse block cover,
squeeze the clip and lift it up.
Notice:Spilling liquid on any
electrical component on the
vehicle may damage it. Always
keep the covers on any electrical
component.
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown. Mini Fuses Usage
1 Sunroof
2 Outside Rearview Mirror Switch
3 Canister Vent Solenoid
4 Not Used
5 Electronic Brake Control Module
Valve
6 Not Used
7 Not Used
8 Transmission Control Module
Battery
9 BCM Regulated Voltage Control
10 Fuel System Control Module R/C/
Headlamp Leveling
11 Rear Wiper