Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10999311) - 2018 - crc - 11/20/17
184 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 193
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 194
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 196
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 200
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 206 Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 210
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 218
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 219
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 222
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 226
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 234
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 235
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 245
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 247
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 250
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10999311) - 2018 - crc - 11/20/17
Driving and Operating 201
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the
pushbutton start is not working, the
vehicle may be near a strong radio
antenna signal causing interference
to the Keyless Access system. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation030.
To shift out of P (Park), the engine
must be running, and the brake
pedal must be applied.
Stopping the Engine/OFF (No
Indicator Lights) : When the
vehicle is stopped, press ENGINE
START/STOP once to turn the
engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0205.
If the vehicle is in R (Reverse), D
(Drive) or L (Low), the vehicle will
shift to P (Park), the ignition will turn
off, and Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) will remain active. If the vehicle is in N (Neutral), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the
message SHIFT TO PARK in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
When the vehicle is shifted into
P (Park), the ignition will turn off.
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), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop and shift to P (Park). 4. Set the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0218.
5. Press ENGINE START/STOP to turn the vehicle off.
{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,
press and hold ENGINE START/
STOP for longer than two seconds,
or press twice in five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber
Indicator Light) : This mode allows
some electrical accessories to be
used when the engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing the
button one time without the brake
pedal applied will place the ignition
system in ACC/ACCESSORY.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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202 Driving and Operating
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after
five minutes to prevent battery
rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator
Light) :This mode is for driving and
starting. With the ignition off, and
the brake pedal applied, pressing
the button once will place the
ignition system in ON/RUN/START.
Once engine cranking begins,
release the button. Engine cranking
will continue until the engine starts.
See Starting the Engine 0202. The
ignition will then remain on.
Service Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and
the brake pedal not applied,
pressing and holding the button for
more than five seconds will place
the vehicle in Service Mode. The
instruments and audio systems will
operate as they do in ON/RUN, but
the vehicle will not be able to be driven. The engine will not start in
Service Mode. Press the button
again to turn the vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Press the P (Park) button on the
shift lever or shift the vehicle to
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do 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.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeAdd-On Electrical Equipment
0 261.
Starting Procedure
1. With the Keyless Access
system, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the
brake pedal applied. When the
engine begins cranking, let go
of the button.
The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or if the RKE
battery is low, the Driver
Information Center (DIC) will
display a message.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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204 Driving and Operating
.The accelerator pedal is
pressed.
. The engine or transmission is
not at the required operating
temperature.
. The outside temperature is not
in the required operating range.
. The vehicle is in any gear other
than D (Drive).
. Tow/Haul Mode or other driver
modes have been selected.
. The vehicle is on a steep hill or
grade.
. The driver door has been
opened or driver seat belt has
been unbuckled.
. The hood has been opened.
. The Auto Stop has reached the
maximum allowed time.
Engine Heater
The engine heater can provide
easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up in
cold weather conditions at or below
0 °F (−18 °C). Vehicles with an engine heater should be plugged in
at least four hours before starting.
Some models may have an internal
thermostat in the cord which will
prevent engine heater operation at
temperatures above 0 °F (−18 °C).
To Use the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord. The bundled
cord is on the driver side of the
engine compartment, in front of
the battery. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0267. Check the heater cord for
damage. If it is damaged, do
not use it. See your dealer for
a replacement. Inspect the
cord for damage yearly.
3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord
or an extension cord can damage
the cord and may result in
overheating and fire.
. Plug the cord into a
three-prong electrical utility
receptacle that is protected
by a ground fault detection
function. An ungrounded
outlet could cause an
electric shock.
. Use a weatherproof,
heavy-duty, 15 amp-rated
extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the
recommended extension
cord in good operating
(Continued)
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 215
Manual Mode
Electronic Range Select (ERS)Caution
Driving with the engine at a high
rpm without upshifting while using
Manual Mode, could damage the
vehicle. Always upshift when
necessary while using
Manual Mode.
Electronic Range Select (ERS),
or Manual Mode, allows for the
selection of the range of gear positions. Use this mode when
driving downhill or towing a trailer to
limit the top gear and vehicle speed.
The shift position indicator within the
Driver Information Center (DIC) will
display a number next to the L
indicating the highest available gear.
To enter Electronic Range Select or
Manual Mode:
1. With the vehicle in D (Drive), pull back on the shift lever to
activate L (Low). The L in the
shift pattern will illuminate in
red, and the D will switch to
white.
2. Tap the left steering wheel control to reduce the highest
gear available, or the right
control to increase the highest
gear available.
3. To exit, pull back on the shift lever a second time. The D in
the shift pattern will illuminate
in red, and the L will switch to
white.
When shifting to L (Low), the
transmission will shift to a preset
lower gear range. For this preset range, the highest gear available
will be displayed next to the L in the
DIC. All gears below that number
are available to use. For example,
when 4 (Fourth) is shown next to
the L, 1 (First) through 4 (Fourth)
gears are shifted automatically. To
shift to 5 (Fifth) gear, tap the right
steering wheel control or shift into D
(Drive).
L (Low) will prevent shifting to a
lower gear range if the engine
speed is too high. If the vehicle
speed is not reduced within the time
allowed, the lower gear range shift
will not be completed. Slow the
vehicle, then tap the left steering
wheel control to the desired lower
gear range.
Cruise control can be used while
in ERS.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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222 Driving and Operating
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and
release
g. The Traction Off lighti
displays in the instrument cluster
and the appropriate DIC message
displays.
To turn TCS on again, press and
release
g. The Traction Off lighti
displayed in the instrument cluster
will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
g
is pressed, the system will not turn
off until the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold
guntil the Traction
Off light
iand StabiliTrak OFF light
gcome on and stay on in the
instrument cluster. The appropriate
DIC message displays. To turn TCS and StabiliTrak on
again, press and release
g. The
Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak
OFF light
gin the instrument cluster
turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 265.
Driver Mode Control
If equipped, the vehicle may have
the following modes: All-Wheel
Drive (AWD), Sport, Tow/Haul or
both Sport and Tow/Haul. Vehicles
with Sport & Tow/Haul will only have
one selectable button (Tow/Haul).
Selecting this option will engage
both the Sport features as well as
the Tow/Haul features. When not in
AWD, the vehicle is in Front-Wheel
Drive (FWD) which will provide
better fuel economy. All drive modes
will have display mode on message
except FWD.
Driver Mode Control attempts to add
a sportier feel, provide a more
comfortable ride, or assist in different weather conditions or
terrain. This system simultaneously
changes the software calibration of
various sub-systems. Depending on
the option package, available
features, and mode selected, the
suspension, steering, and
powertrain will change calibrations
to achieve the desired mode
characteristics.
AWD Mode
AWD Mode is intended for
conditions which demand more
traction. In AWD Mode, the AWD
system delivers power to all four
wheels and the system adjusts as
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 241
Following Distance Indicator
The following distance to a moving
vehicle ahead in your path is
indicated in following time in
seconds on the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0148 orDriver
Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 150. The minimum following time
is 0.5 seconds away. If there is no
vehicle detected ahead, or the
vehicle ahead is out of sensor
range, dashes will be displayed.
Unnecessary Alerts
FCA may provide unnecessary
alerts for turning vehicles, vehicles
in other lanes, objects that are not
vehicles, or shadows. These alerts
are normal operation and the
vehicle does not need service.
Cleaning the System
If the FCA system does not seem to
operate properly, this may correct
the issue: .
Clean the outside of the
windshield in front of the
rearview mirror.
. Clean the entire front of the
vehicle.
. Clean the headlamps.
Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB)
If the vehicle has Forward Collision
Alert (FCA), it also has FAB, which
includes Intelligent Brake
Assist (IBA). When the system
detects a vehicle ahead in your path
that is traveling in the same
direction that you may be about to
crash into, it can provide a boost to
braking or automatically brake the
vehicle. This can help avoid or
lessen the severity of crashes when
driving in a forward gear. Depending
on the situation, the vehicle may
automatically brake moderately or
hard. This forward automatic
braking can only occur if a vehicle is
detected. This is shown by the FCA vehicle ahead indicator being lit.
See
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0239.
The system works when driving in a
forward gear between 8 km/h
(5 mph) and 80 km/h (50 mph),
or on vehicles with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), above 4 km/h
(2 mph). It can detect vehicles up to
approximately 60 m (197 ft).{Warning
FAB is an emergency crash
preparation feature and is not
designed to avoid crashes. Do
not rely on FAB to brake the
vehicle. FAB will not brake
outside of its operating speed
range and only responds to
detected vehicles.
FAB may not: . Detect a vehicle ahead on
winding or hilly roads.
(Continued)
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 253
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer. Read
the entire section before towing a
trailer.
For towing a disabled vehicle, see
Towing the Vehicle0327. For
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0327.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Driving with a Trailer
When towing a trailer:
.
Become familiar with the state
and local laws that apply
specifically to trailer towing. .
Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 mi), to prevent
damage to the engine, axle or
other parts.
. Then, during the first 800 km
(500 mi) of trailer towing, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
. Vehicles can tow in D (Drive) but
Manual Mode is recommended.
See Manual Mode 0215. Use a
lower gear if the transmission
shifts too often. The Tow/Haul
Mode may be used in both
modes. See Tow/Haul Mode
0 216.
. For vehicles with Sport Mode,
use that mode when towing for
better shifting and weight
management.
. Turn off Parking Assist when
towing.
. Turn off Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
when towing. See Lane Keep
Assist (LKA) 0247. .
Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) when towing. See
Adaptive Cruise Control 0226.
. The Forward Automatic Braking
system should be set to Off
when towing. See Forward
Automatic Braking (FAB) 0241.
. The Front Pedestrian Braking
system should be set to Alert or
Off when towing. See Front
Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System 0243.
{Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
When towing a trailer:
. Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
(Continued)