
Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-9186636) - 2016 - crc -
3/9/16
220 Driving and Operating
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate. Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
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. See Tires0288.
. Turn off cruise control.

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-9186636) - 2016 - crc -
3/9/16
Driving and Operating 221
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips 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.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0239.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0236.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-9186636) - 2016 - crc -
3/9/16
Driving and Operating 223
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0239.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see
Towing the Vehicle 0318.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it may properly carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
reduce stopping distance,
damage the tires, and shorten
the life of the vehicle.

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-9186636) - 2016 - crc -
3/9/16
224 Driving and Operating
Tire and Loading Information
Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the vehicle's center
pillar (B-pillar). The Tire and
Loading Information label shows
the number of occupant seating
positions (1), and the maximum
vehicle capacity weight (2) in
kilograms and pounds.
The Tire and Loading
Information label also shows the
tire size of the originalequipment tires (3) and the
recommended cold tire inflation
pressures (4). For more
information on tires and inflation
see
Tires 0288 andTire
Pressure 0295.
There is also important loading
information on the Certification
label. It may show the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for the front and
rear axle. See “Certification
Label” later in this section.
“Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit–
1.Locate the statement "The
combined weight of
occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs." on your vehicle’s
placard.
2.Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kg or
XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals
the available amount of
cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the
"XXX" amount equals
1400 lbs. and there will be
five 150 lb passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs.)
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your
trailer will be transferred to

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-9186636) - 2016 - crc -
3/9/16
254 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 255
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 255
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 262
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 263
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 268
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Battery - North America . . . . . . 271
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 272 Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 273
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 273
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Adaptive Forward Lighting Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . 276
Sidemarker Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Side Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . . 278
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 280
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 281
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 282
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 290
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 306

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-9186636) - 2016 - crc -
3/9/16
270 Vehicle Care
Brakes
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or can
be heard all the time when the
vehicle is moving, except when
applying the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications. See
Capacities and
Specifications 0344.
Brake pads should be replaced as
complete sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts
with new, approved replacement
parts. If this is not done, the brakes
may not work properly. The braking
performance expected can change
in many other ways if the wrong replacement brake parts are
installed or if parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with GM approved DOT 4
brake fluid as indicated on the
reservoir cap. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0259 for
the location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a
level surface, the brake fluid level
should be between the minimum
and maximum marks on the brake
fluid reservoir.

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-9186636) - 2016 - crc -
3/9/16
288 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
22 –
23 Convertible control module/Left
power rail
24 Selective catalytic reduction system
25 –
26 Non-logistic mode
27 Passive entry/ Passive start
28 –
29 Hydraulic unit
30 –
31 –
32 –Wheels and Tires
Tires
Every new GM vehicle has
high-quality tires made by a
leading tire manufacturer. See
the warranty manual for
information regarding the tire
warranty and where to get
service. For additional
information refer to the tire
manufacturer.
{Warning
.Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
.Overloading the tires can
cause overheating as a
result of too much
flexing. There could be a
blowout and a serious
crash. See Vehicle Load
Limits 0223.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Underinflated tires pose
the same danger as
overloaded tires. The
resulting crash could
cause serious injury.
Check all tires frequently
to maintain the
recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be
checked when the tires
are cold.
.Overinflated tires are
more likely to be cut,
punctured, or broken by
a sudden impact —such
as when hitting a pothole.
Keep tires at the
recommended pressure.
.Worn or old tires can
cause a crash. If the
tread is badly worn,
replace them.
(Continued)

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-9186636) - 2016 - crc -
3/9/16
Vehicle Care 289
Warning (Continued)
.Replace any tires that
have been damaged by
impacts with potholes,
curbs, etc.
.Improperly repaired tires
can cause a crash. Only
the dealer or an
authorized tire service
center should repair,
replace, dismount, and
mount the tires.
.Do not spin the tires in
excess of 56 km/h
(35 mph) on slippery
surfaces such as snow,
mud, ice, etc. Excessive
spinning may cause the
tires to explode.
All-Season Tires
This vehicle may come with
all-season tires. These tires are
designed to provide good overall
performance on most road surfacesand weather conditions. Original
equipment tires designed to GM's
specific tire performance criteria
have a TPC specification code
molded onto the sidewall. Original
equipment all-season tires can be
identified by the last two characters
of this TPC code, which will
be
“MS.”
Consider installing winter tires on
the vehicle if frequent driving on
snow or ice-covered roads is
expected. All-season tires provide
adequate performance for most
winter driving conditions, but they
may not offer the same level of
traction or performance as winter
tires on snow or ice-covered roads.
See Winter Tires 0289.
Winter Tires
This vehicle was not originally
equipped with winter tires. Winter
tires are designed for increased
traction on snow and ice-covered
roads. Consider installing winter
tires on the vehicle if frequent
driving on ice or snow covered
roads is expected. See your dealer for details regarding winter tire
availability and proper tire selection.
Also, see
Buying New Tires 0302.
With winter tires, there may be
decreased dry road traction,
increased road noise, and shorter
tread life. After changing to winter
tires, be alert for changes in vehicle
handling and braking.
If using winter tires:
. Use tires of the same brand and
tread type on all four wheel
positions.
. Use only radial ply tires of the
same size, load range, and
speed rating as the original
equipment tires.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as the original equipment tires
may not be available for H, V, W, Y,
and ZR speed rated tires. If winter
tires with a lower speed rating are
chosen, never exceed the tire's
maximum speed capability.