
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
104 Instruments and Controls
Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder
Light
There is a driver safety belt
reminder light on the instrument
cluster.
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind the driver to fasten
their safety belt. Then the light stays
on solid until the belt is buckled.
This cycle may continue several
times if the driver remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving.
If the driver safety belt is buckled,
neither the light nor the chime
comes on.
Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
The vehicle may also have a
passenger safety belt reminder light.
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind passengers to fasten
their safety belt. Then the light stays
on solid until the belt is buckled.
This cycle continues several times if
the front passenger remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving.
If the front passenger safety belt is
buckled, neither the chime nor the
light comes on.
The front passenger safety belt
reminder light and chime may turn
on if an object is put on the seat
such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop, or otherelectronic device. To turn off the
reminder light and/or chime, remove
the object from the seat or buckle
the safety belt.
Airbag Readiness Light
This light shows if there is an
electrical problem with the airbag
system. The system check includes
the airbag sensor(s), passenger
sensing system (if equipped), the
pretensioners, the airbag modules,
the wiring, and the crash sensing
and diagnostic module. For more
information on the airbag system,
see
Airbag System 059.
The airbag readiness light comes on
for several seconds when the
vehicle is started. If the light does
not come on then, have it fixed
immediately.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Instruments and Controls 105
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system. SeePassenger
Sensing System 065 for important
safety information. The instrument
panel has a passenger airbag status
indicator.
United States
Canada and Mexico
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the symbol
for on and off, for several seconds
as a system check. Then, after
several seconds, the status
indicator will light either ON or OFF,
or the on or off symbol to let you
know the status of the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag (if equipped). If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag (if equipped) are
allowed to inflate.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has
turned off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag and
passenger knee airbag (if
equipped).
If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the
passenger sensing system. See
your dealer for service.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
(Continued)

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
106 Instruments and Controls
Warning (Continued)
have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light 0104 for more information,
including important safety
information.
Charging System Light
This light will come on briefly when
the ignition is turned on, and the
engine is not running, as a check to
show it is working.
It should go out when the engine is
started. If it stays on, or comes on
while driving, there may be a
problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked by your
dealer. Driving while this light is on
could drain the battery. If a short
distance must be driven with the light on, turn off all accessories,
such as the radio and air
conditioner, to help reduce the drain
on the battery.
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine
Light)
This light is part of the vehicle’s
emission control on-board
diagnostic system. If this light is on
while the engine is running, a
malfunction has been detected and
the vehicle may require service. The
light should come on to show that it
is working when the ignition is in
ON/RUN with the engine not
running. See
Ignition
Positions 0155.
Malfunctions are often indicated by
the system before any problem is
noticeable. Being aware of the light
and seeking service promptly when
it comes on may prevent damage.
Caution
If the vehicle is driven continually
with this light on, the emission
control system may not work as
well, the fuel economy may be
lower, and the vehicle may not
run smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Caution
Modifications to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake,
or fuel system, or the use of
replacement tires that do not
meet the original tire
specifications, can cause this light
to come on. This could lead to
(Continued)

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 155
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Caution
The vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will
perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:. Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the first 805 km (500 mi).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
. Avoid making hard stops for
the first 322 km (200 mi) or
so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
The key must be fully extended to
start the vehicle. To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be in ON/RUN and the regular
brake pedal applied.
0 (STOPPING THE ENGINE/LOCK/
OFF) :
When the vehicle is stopped,
turn the ignition switch to LOCK/
OFF to turn the engine off.
This position locks the ignition and
transmission. The steering wheel
may also lock, if equipped.
The ignition switch can bind in the
LOCK/OFF position with the wheels
turned off center. If this happens,
move the steering wheel from right
to left while turning the key to ACC/
ACCESSORY. If this does not work,
then the vehicle needs service.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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156 Driving and Operating
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF. On
vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever
must be in P (Park) to turn the
ignition switch to the LOCK/
OFF position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0167.{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
Caution
Using a tool to force the key to
turn in the ignition could cause
damage to the switch or break the
key. Use the correct key, make
sure it is all the way in, and turn it
only with your hand. If the key
cannot be turned by hand, see
your dealer. 1 (ACC/ACCESSORY) :
This is the
position in which you can operate
things like the radio and the
windshield wipers when the engine
is off.
2 (ON/RUN) : This position can be
used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument cluster warning and
indicator lights. This position can
also be used for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required
for emission inspection purposes.
The switch stays in this position
when the engine is running.
If you leave the key in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off, the battery could
be drained. You may not be able to
start the vehicle if the battery is
allowed to drain for an extended
period of time.
3 (START) : This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for
driving.
![BUICK ENCORE 2016 Owners Manual Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
304 OnStar
(cell and/or landline) your RFC
(Registro Federal de Contribuyentes
[taxpayer ID] and your pers BUICK ENCORE 2016 Owners Manual Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
304 OnStar
(cell and/or landline) your RFC
(Registro Federal de Contribuyentes
[taxpayer ID] and your pers](/manual-img/43/35299/w960_35299-304.png)
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
304 OnStar
(cell and/or landline) your RFC
(Registro Federal de Contribuyentes
[taxpayer ID] and your personal
identification number (NIP) for
OnStar services.
We may also collect information
from your vehicle including: your
Vehicle identification number (VIN):
the make, model and year of your
vehicle; the Vehicle license plate
number; information about your
selling or preferred GM distributor;
information about the operation of
the vehicle (including diagnostic
trouble codes, oil life remaining, tire
pressure, fuel economy and
odometer readings); information
about collisions involving the
vehicle, the direction from which it
was hit, which airbags have
deployed and safety belt usage;
information about the use of the
vehicle and its features, such as
whether a mobile device has been
paired with your vehicle; and in
limited circumstances, the
geographical location and
approximate GPS (global
positioning satellite) speed of the
vehicle.Your personal and vehicle data will
be treated for the following
purposes: (i) to provide you with
services you have requested
(automatic accident response,
remote and emergency services,
assistance if your vehicle is stolen,
step-by-step directions); (ii) to keep
our records up to date so that we
are able to answer your inquiries;
(iii) for troubleshooting and research
purposes; (iv) to protect the safety
of you or others; (v) to prevent fraud
or misuse of the OnStar service; (vi)
in the cases set forth by law or the
authorities; (vii) to carry out
marketing and general promotional
activities; (viii) to allow OnStar,
General Motors de México, S. de
R.L. de C.V., General Motors LLC
and all subsidiaries, affiliates or any
company of the same corporate
group to which OnStar belongs, to
carry out advertising activities
(offering you products, services and
information); and (ix) for business
prospecting and statistical market
analysis.
It is important to mention that
purposes (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and
(vi), give rise to and are necessary
to maintain our legal relationship.
On the other hand, purposes (vii),
(viii) and (ix), do not give rise to and
are not necessary to maintain our
legal relationship and therefore for
these purposes we make available
a mechanism set up at our
Customer Service Center in the
telephone: 01800-0834994 or via
your e-mail:
[email protected], so
that, if applicable, you can indicate
your refusal to have your personal
data being processed for the
purposes indicated in purposes (vii),
(viii) and (ix).
In order to know the integral version
of this privacy notice, please visit
our web page www.onstar.com.mx.
OnStar - Software
Acknowledgements
Certain OnStar components include
libcurl and unzip software and other
third party software. Below are the
notices and licenses associated
with libcurl and unzip and for other

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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314 Index
Lamps (cont'd)On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Lane Departure
Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Lane Departure Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
LATCH System Replacing Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Lighting
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Antilock Brake System(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 108
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Lights (cont'd)
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 127
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Lane Departure Warning . . . . . . 109
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . 104
StabiliTrak
®OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak
®. . . . . . . . . . .110
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Warning, Power Steering . . . . . 109
Locks
Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 112
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Maintenance and Care Additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . 263 Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . 106
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Messages Battery Voltage and
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . . .117
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Object Detection System . . . . . .118
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . . .119
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116

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Index 315
MirrorsAutomatic Dimming
Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Tilt in Reverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Mirrors, Interior Rearview . . . . . . . . 37
Monitor System, Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
N
NavigationOnStar®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Net, Convenience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . 155
O
Object Detection System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Oil
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 197 Oil (cont'd)
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . . . 71
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . . 281
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
OnStar
®Additional
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296, 301
OnStar
®Connections . . . . . . . . . . . 294
OnStar®Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
OnStar®Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
OnStar®Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
OnStar®Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
OnStar®Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Ordering Service Publications . . . . . . . . . . 287
Outlets Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
P
Park Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 209 Parking (cont'd)
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 162
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . 65
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . . 188
Personalization Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 160
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Power Steering Warning Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Pregnancy, Using Safety Belts . . . 57
Privacy
Vehicle Data Recording . . . . . . . 289
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . 284