Black plate (10,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
1-10 In Brief
The passenger airbag status
indicator will be visible on the
instrument panel when the vehicle is
started. SeePassenger Airbag
Status Indicator on page 5-12.
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior Mirrors
To adjust the mirrors:
1. Turn the selector switch to L (Left) or R (Right) to choose the
driver or passenger mirror. 2. Move the control to adjust the
mirror.
3. Turn the selector switch to
9to
deselect the mirror.
Interior Mirror
Adjustment
Hold the rearview mirror in the
center and move it to view the area
behind the vehicle.
Manual Rearview Mirror
If equipped with a manual rearview
mirror, push the tab forward for
daytime use and pull it for nighttime
use to avoid glare from the
headlamps from behind. See
Manual Rearview Mirror on
page 2-13.
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror
If equipped with an automatic
dimming rearview mirror, the mirror
will automatically reduce the glare from the headlamps from behind.
The dimming feature comes on
when the vehicle is started.
See
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2-13.Steering Wheel
Adjustment
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Pull the lever down.
2. Move the steering wheel up or down.
Black plate (1,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-1
Keys, Doors, and
Windows
Keys and Locks
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Doors
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Vehicle Security
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Immobilizer Operation . . . . . . . 2-10
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Blind Spot Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Reverse Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Interior Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror . . . . . . 2-13
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Windows
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Roof
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Keys and Locks
Keys
{WARNING
Leaving children in a vehicle with
the ignition key is dangerous and
children or others could be
seriously injured or killed. They
could operate the power windows
or other controls or make the
vehicle move. The windows will
function with the keys in the
ignition, and children or others
could be caught in the path of a
closing window. Do not leave
children in a vehicle with the
ignition key.
Black plate (12,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
2-12 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Folding Mirrors
Manual Folding Mirrors
These mirrors can be folded inward
to prevent damage when going
through an automatic car wash. To
fold, pull the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward to
return it to the original position.
Heated Mirrors
This vehicle has heated mirrors:
1(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to heat the mirrors.
See “Rear Window Defogger” under
Climate Control Systems on
page 8-1.
Blind Spot Mirrors
The blind spot mirror is a small
convex mirror built into the upper
and outer corner of both outside
mirrors. It can show objects that
may be in the vehicle's blind zone.
Driving with the Blind Spot
Mirror
Actual Mirror View 1. When the approaching vehicle is
a long distance away, the image
in the main mirror is small and
near the inboard edge of the
mirror.
2. As the vehicle gets closer, the image in the main mirror gets
larger and moves outboard.
3. As the vehicle enters the blind zone, the image transitions from
the main mirror to the blind spot
mirror.
4. When the vehicle is in the blind zone, the image only appears in
the blind spot mirror.
Using the Outside Mirror with
the Blind Spot Mirror
1. Set the main mirror so that theside of the vehicle can just be
seen and the blind spot mirror
has an unobstructed view.
2. When checking for traffic or before changing a lane, look at
the main driver/passenger side
mirror to observe traffic in the
adjacent lane, behind your
Black plate (13,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-13
vehicle. Check the blind spot
mirror for a vehicle in the blind
zone. Then, glance over your
shoulder to double check before
moving slowly into the
adjacent lane.
Reverse Tilt Mirrors
If equipped with the memory
package, the outside mirrors have a
reverse tilt feature. This feature tilts
the outside mirrors to a preselected
position when the vehicle is in
R (Reverse). This allows the driver
to view the curb for parallel parking.
The passenger and/or driver mirror
returns to its original position when
the vehicle is shifted out of
R (Reverse), or the ignition is turned
off or to OFF/LOCK.
This feature can be turned on or off
through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeVehicle
Personalization on page 5-31.
Interior Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Hold the rearview mirror in the
center and move it to view the area
behind the vehicle.
For vehicles with a manual rearview
mirror, push the tab forward for
daytime use and pull it for nighttime
use to avoid glare from the
headlamps from behind.
Vehicles with OnStar have three
control buttons at the bottom of the
mirror. See your dealer for more
information about OnStar and how
to subscribe to it. See OnStar
Overview on page 14-1.
Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror
To adjust the inside rearview mirror,
hold the rearview mirror in the
center and move it to view the area
behind the vehicle.
For vehicles with an automatic
dimming rearview mirror, the mirror
will automatically reduce the glare
from the headlamps from behind.
The dimming feature and the
indicator light come on when the
vehicle is started.
Vehicles with OnStar have three
control buttons at the bottom of the
mirror. See your dealer for more
information about OnStar and how
to subscribe to it. See OnStar
Overview on page 14-1.
Cleaning the Mirror
Do not spray glass cleaner directly
on the mirror. Use a soft towel
dampened with water.
Black plate (35,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
Instruments and Controls 5-35
Button Volume
This allows the selection of the
volume level when a button is
pressed.
Select Normal or High.
Reverse Tilt Mirror
This feature tilts the outside mirrors
when the vehicle is in R (Reverse)
allowing the driver to view the curb
for parallel parking.
Select On or Off.
Auto Reverse Gear Wiper
When selected, the rear wiper will
intermittent wipe when the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse). When
deselected, the rear wiper will
continuously wipe when the vehicle
is shifted into R (Reverse).
Select or Deselect.
Lighting
Select the Lighting menu and the
following will be displayed:
.Exit Lighting
.Vehicle Locator Lights
Exit Lighting
This allows the selection of how
long the exterior lamps stay on
when leaving the vehicle when it is
dark outside.
Select Off, 30 Seconds, 1 Minute,
or 2 Minutes.
Vehicle Locator Lights
This allows the headlamps, parking
lamps, taillamps, and most of the
interior lamps to turn on briefly
when
Kis pressed.
Select or Deselect.
Power Door Locks
Select Power Door Locks and the
following will be displayed:
.Open Door Anti Lock Out
.Auto Door Unlock
.Delayed Door Lock Open Door Anti Lock Out
When selected, this feature will
keep the driver door from locking
when the door is open. When
deselected, the Delayed Door Lock
menu will be available and the door
will lock as programmed through
this menu.
Select or Deselect.
Auto Door Unlock
This allows selection of which of the
doors will automatically unlock when
the vehicle is shifted into P (Park).
Select All Doors, Driver Door,
or OFF.
Delayed Door Lock
When selected, this feature will
delay the locking of the doors after
the last door is closed.
Select or Deselect.
Black plate (5,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
Climate Controls 8-5
Rear Window Defogger
=(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off.
The rear window defogger turns off
automatically after about
10 minutes. If turned on again it
runs for about five minutes before
turning off.
The rear window defogger can be
set to automatic operation; see
“Climate and Air Quality” under
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5-31. When auto rear defog is
selected, the rear window defogger
turns on automatically when the
interior temperature is cold and the
outside temperature is about 4°C
(40°F) and below. The auto rear
defogger turns off automatically
after about 10 minutes. At higher
speeds, the rear window defogger
may stay on continuously.
For vehicles with heated outside
rearview mirrors, they turn on when
the rear window defogger button is on and help to clear fog or frost from
the surface of the mirrors. See
Heated Mirrors on page 2-12.
Notice:
Do not try to clear frost
or other material from the inside
of the front windshield and rear
window with a razor blade or
anything else that is sharp. This
may damage the rear window
defogger grid and affect the
radio's ability to pick up stations
clearly. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
MorL(Heated Seats, If
Equipped): Press to turn the
heated seats on or off. See Heated
Front Seats on page 3-8.
((Heated Steering Wheel, If
Equipped): Press to turn the
heated steering wheel on or off. See
Heated Steering Wheel on
page 5-3.
Remote Start Climate Control
Operation: For vehicles with the
remote vehicle start feature, the
climate control system may run
when the vehicle is started remotely. The system uses the driver
’s
previous settings to heat or cool the
inside of the vehicle. The rear defog
may come on during remote start
based on cold ambient conditions.
The rear defog indicator light does
not come on during a remote start.
If the vehicle has front heated seats,
they may come on during a remote
start. The heated seat indicator
lights do not come on during a
remote start. See Remote Vehicle
Start on page 2-5 andHeated Front
Seats on page 3-8.
Sensors
The solar sensor, located on top of
the instrument panel near the
windshield, monitors the solar heat.
The climate control system uses the
sensor information to adjust the
temperature, fan speed,
recirculation, and air delivery mode
for best comfort.
If the sensor is covered, the
automatic climate control system
may not work properly.
Black plate (7,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
Driving and Operating 9-7
WARNING (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. SeeTires on
page 10-35.
.Turn off cruise control.
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention to
your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, find a
safe place to park the vehicle
and rest. Other driving tips include:
.Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
.Keep the interior
temperature cool.
.Keep your eyes moving
—scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
.Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
Black plate (34,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 1/8/13
9-34 Driving and Operating
you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to maintain the
vehicle speed. When the brakes are
applied the cruise control is
disengaged.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal;
when cruise control disengages,
the indicator light will not be lit.
.Press*.
.Press1to turn the cruise
control system off completely.
The cruise control cannot be
resumed.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory by pressing
1
or if the vehicle is turned off.
Object Detection
Systems
Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System
The Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
system may help to avoid or reduce
the harm caused by front-end
crashes. FCA provides a visual alert
and beeps when approaching a
vehicle directly ahead too quickly.
The forward-looking FCA camera
sensor is on the windshield ahead
of the rearview mirror. FCA detects
vehicles within a distance of
approximately 60 m (197 ft) and
operates at speeds above 40 km/h
(25 mph).
{WARNING
FCA is a warning system and
does not apply the brakes. When
approaching a slower-moving or
stopped vehicle ahead too rapidly,
or when following a vehicle too
closely, FCA may not provide a
warning with enough time to help
avoid a crash. FCA does not warn
of pedestrians, animals, signs,
guardrails, bridges, construction
barrels, or other objects. Be ready
to take action and apply the
brakes. For more information, see
Defensive Driving on page 9-4.