
Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-11373983) - 2018 -
CRC - 7/10/17
134 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating Driving Information Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 138
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 139
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 141
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Starting and Operating New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 145
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Engine Exhaust Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Automatic Transmission Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 151
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Brakes Antilock Brake
System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 155
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 157
Ride Control Systems Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Cruise Control Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Driver Assistance Systems Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 162
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Lane Departure
Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Fuel Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
California Fuel
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 169
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Trailer Towing General Towing
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Conversions and Add-Ons Add-On Electrical
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-11373983) - 2018 -
CRC - 7/10/17
Driving and Operating 137See your dealer if there is a
problem.
Curve Tips .
Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
.
Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
.
Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
.
Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies .
There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
.
Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
.
The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) allows steering while
braking. Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and
then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about
one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge. 3. Turn the steering wheel to go
straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control Skidding There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.
Braking Skid — wheels are not
rolling.
.
Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
.
Acceleration Skid — too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-11373983) - 2018 -
CRC - 7/10/17
138 Driving and Operating If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.
Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.
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.
{ WarningWet 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.
(Continued) 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.

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-11373983) - 2018 -
CRC - 7/10/17
140 Driving and Operating .
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) 0 154 .
.
Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
.
Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0 270 . To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe: .
Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.
Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{ WarningSnow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
.
Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
.
Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
.
Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
(Continued) Warning (Continued) .
Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “ Climate
Control Systems. ”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0 150 .
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-11373983) - 2018 -
CRC - 7/10/17
146 Driving and Operating CautionUsing 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.
The key must be fully extended to
start the vehicle.
To shift out of P (Park), turn the
ignition on and apply the brake
pedal.
0 : When the vehicle is stopped,
turn the ignition off to turn the
engine off. Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) will remain active. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
0 148 .
This is the only position from which
the key can be removed. This locks
the ignition and automatic
transmission. 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.
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), continue to
firmly apply the brakes and
steer the vehicle to a safe
location.
3. Come to a complete stop. Shift
to P (Park). Turn the
ignition off.
4. Set the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0 155 .{ WarningTurning 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.
1 : This position provides power to
some of the electrical accessories.
To move the key from ACC/
ACCESSORY to off, push in the key
and then turn the ignition to off.
2 : The ignition switch stays in this
position when the engine is running.
This position can be used to operate
the electrical accessories, including
the ventilation fan and 12-volt power
outlet, as well as to display some
warning and indicator lights. This
position can also be used for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-11373983) - 2018 -
CRC - 7/10/17
Driving and Operating 147malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. The transmission is also
unlocked in this position.
The battery could be drained if the
key is left in the ACC/ACCESSORY
or on position with the engine off.
The vehicle might not start if the
battery is allowed to drain for an
extended period of time.
3 : This position starts the engine.
When the engine starts, release the
key. The ignition switch will return to
on for normal driving.
A warning tone sounds when the
driver door is opened if the ignition
is still in ACC/ACCESSORY and the
key is in the ignition.
If the ignition becomes difficult to
turn, see Keys 0 21 .
Key Lock Release
The vehicle is equipped with an
electronic key lock release. The key
lock release is designed to prevent
ignition key removal unless the shift
lever is in P (Park). The key lock release is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery. If the vehicle has an
uncharged battery or a battery with
low voltage, try charging or jump
starting the battery. See Jump
Starting - North America 0 235 .
If charging or jump starting the
battery does not work, locate the
hole below the ignition lock. Insert a
flat bladed tool or another key from
the key chain into the opening.
When the lever can be felt, actuate
the lever toward the driver, and
remove the key from the ignition. Starting the Engine Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). To restart the vehicle
when it is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
CautionDo not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
CautionIf you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment
0 172 .

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-11373983) - 2018 -
CRC - 7/10/17
Driving and Operating 149
Shifting Into Park To shift into P (Park):
1. Hold the brake pedal down and
set the parking brake.
See Electric Parking Brake
0 155 .
2. Hold the button on the shift
lever and push the lever toward
the front of the vehicle into
P (Park).
3. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{ Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
(Continued) Warning (Continued) Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park 0 149 .
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, the vehicle must
be in P (Park) and the parking
brake set.
Release the button and check that
the shift lever cannot be moved out
of P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of
the vehicle puts too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. This happens when
parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not done properly; then it is difficult to
shift out of P (Park). To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park). To find
out how, see “ Shifting Into Park ”
previously in this section.
If torque lock does occur, the
vehicle may need to be pushed
uphill by another vehicle to relieve
the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. The shift lock control
system is designed to:
.
Prevent ignition key removal
unless the shift lever is in
P (Park).
.
Prevent movement of the shift
lever out of P (Park), unless the
ignition is on and the brake
pedal is applied.

Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S-11373983) - 2018 -
CRC - 7/10/17
150 Driving and Operating The shift lock is always functional
except in the case of an uncharged
or low voltage (less than 9-volt)
battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See Jump Starting - North
America 0 235 .
If the shift lever cannot be moved
out of P (Park):
1. Apply and maintain the regular
brakes.
2. Turn the ignition on. See
Ignition Positions 0 145 .
3. Let up on the shift lever and
make sure the shift lever is
pushed all the way into
P (Park). 4. Press the shift lever button.
5. Move the shift lever into the
desired gear.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), consult your
dealer or a professional towing
service.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{ WarningThings that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn. Engine Exhaust
{ WarningEngine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO), which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.
The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation
(parking garages, tunnels,
deep snow that may block
underbody airflow or tail
pipes).
.
The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
.
The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
.
The vehicle exhaust system
has been modified,
damaged, or improperly
repaired.
(Continued)