Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9967834) - 2017 - crc -
7/18/16
Instruments and Controls 113
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action that may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple
messages may display one after the
other.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by
pressing SET/CLR. The messages
that require immediate action cannot
be cleared until that action is
performed. All messages should be
taken seriously and clearing the
messages does not correct the
problem.
Follow the instructions given in the
messages. The system displays
messages regarding the following
topics:
.Service Messages
. Fluid Levels
. Vehicle Security
. Brakes
. Ride Control Systems .
Driver Assistance Systems
. Cruise Control
. Lighting and Bulb Replacement
. Wiper/Washer Systems
. Doors and Windows
. Convertible Top
. Safety Belts
. Airbag Systems
. Engine and Transmission
. Tire Pressure
. Battery
Vehicle
Personalization
Use the audio system controls to
access the personalization menus
for customizing vehicle features.
The following are all possible
personalization features. Depending
on the vehicle, some may not be
available.
Infotainment System Audio
System Controls
Using the Faceplate
ZKnob
. Press the outer diameter
(chrome ring) to enter, select,
or activate a highlighted menu
option.
. Turn to highlight a menu option.
. Press the outer diameter
(chrome ring) to enable or
disable a system setting.
BACK
. Press to exit a menu.
. Press to return to a previous
screen.
Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9967834) - 2017 - crc -
7/18/16
Driving and Operating 219
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious—or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time. Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.
Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort. See your dealer if
there is a problem.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time, power
assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.
Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9967834) - 2017 - crc -
7/18/16
Driving and Operating 221
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.-9967834) - 2017 - crc -
7/18/16
222 Driving and Operating
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 0240.
. 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) 0237.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9967834) - 2017 - crc -
7/18/16
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.-9967834) - 2017 - crc -
7/18/16
260 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0263.
2. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling
System 0264.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0260.
4. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0260.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brakes 0270.
6. Battery - North America 0271.
7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0264.
8. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer
Fluid 0269.
9. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0282.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil. Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0262.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially
prior to a long trip. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0259 for the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the
oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
. To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground.
Check the engine oil level after
the engine has been off for at
least two hours. Checking the
engine oil level on steep grades
or too soon after engine shutoff
can result in incorrect readings.
Accuracy improves when
checking a cold engine prior to
starting. Remove the dipstick
and check the level.
. If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is
warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out
Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9967834) - 2017 - crc -
7/18/16
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 0345.
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.-9967834) - 2017 - crc -
7/18/16
Vehicle Care 271
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
.Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the
fluid level goes back up.
. A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system. Have the
brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system.{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light 0104.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid
at the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0332.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0341.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove
the cap and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number
shown on the original battery label
when a new battery is needed. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0259 for battery location.