Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
8 In Brief
Initial Drive
Information
This section provides a brief
overview about some of the
important features that may or may
not be on your specific vehicle.
For more detailed information, refer
to each of the features which can be
found later in this owner’s manual.
Stop/Start System
The vehicle may have a fuel saving
Stop/Start system to shut off the
engine and help conserve fuel.
When the brakes are applied and
the vehicle is at a complete stop,
the engine may turn off. When the
brake pedal is released or the
accelerator pedal is pushed, the
engine will restart. The engine may
restart even while the brake is
applied. SeeStarting the Engine
0 168.
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter may work up to 60 m
(197 ft) away from the vehicle.
To remove the key, press the button
on the back of the RKE transmitter,
and pull the key out. Never pull the
key out without pressing the button.
The key can be used for all locks.
K:Press to unlock the driver door
or all doors, depending on the
vehicle personalization settings.
Q: Press to lock all doors. Lock and unlock feedback can be
personalized. See
Vehicle
Personalization 0128.
7:Press and release one time to
initiate vehicle locator. Press and
hold for at least three seconds to
sound the panic alarm. Press again
to cancel the panic alarm.
See Keys 026 and Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation 027.
Remote Vehicle Start
If equipped, the engine can be
started from outside of the vehicle.
Starting the Vehicle
1. Press and releaseQon the
RKE transmitter.
2. Immediately press and hold
/
for at least four seconds or until
the turn signal lamps flash.
Start the vehicle normally after
entering.
When the vehicle starts, the parking
lamps will turn on.
Remote start can be extended.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
26 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Keys, Doors, and
Windows
Keys and Locks
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . 33
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . 36
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Doors
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Vehicle Security
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . 39
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Immobilizer Operation . . . . . . . . . 40
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Reverse Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Interior Mirrors
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . 42
Manual Rearview Mirror . . . . . . . . 42
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Windows
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Roof
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Keys and Locks
Keys
{Warning
Leaving children in a vehicle with
a Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter is dangerous and
children or others could be
seriously injured or killed. They
could operate the power windows
or other controls or make the
vehicle move. The windows will
function with the RKE transmitter
in the vehicle, and children or
others could be caught in the path
of a closing window. Do not leave
children in a vehicle with an RKE
transmitter.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
28 Keys, Doors, and Windows
With Remote Start Shown
The following may be available:
Q: Press to lock all doors and,
if equipped, the locking fuel door.
The hazard warning flashers may
flash and/or the horn may sound on
the second press to indicate locking.
See Vehicle Personalization 0128.
If the driver door is open when
Qis
pressed and the feature is enabled
through vehicle personalization, all
doors will lock and then the driver
door will unlock. See Vehicle
Personalization 0128. Pressing
Qmay also arm the
theft-deterrent system. See Vehicle
Alarm System 039.
K:Press to unlock the driver door.
Press again within five seconds to
unlock all doors. The RKE
transmitter can be programmed to
unlock all doors on the first button
press. See Vehicle Personalization
0 128.
The hazard warning flashers will
flash to indicate unlocking. See
Vehicle Personalization 0128.
Pressing
Kwill disarm the
theft-deterrent system. See Vehicle
Alarm System 039.
If equipped
Kwill also unlock the
fuel door.
7: Press and release one time to
initiate vehicle locator. The exterior
lamps flash and the horn chirps
three times.
Press and hold
7for at least
three seconds to sound the panic
alarm. The horn sounds and the turn signals flash for 30 seconds,
or until
7is pressed again or the
vehicle is started.
/: If equipped, pressQand then
press and hold
/for at least
four seconds to start the engine
from outside the vehicle using the
RKE transmitter. See Remote
Vehicle Start 033.
Keyless Access Operation
The Keyless Access system lets
you lock and unlock the doors and
access the liftgate without removing
the RKE transmitter from your
pocket, purse, briefcase, etc. The
RKE transmitter must be within 1 m
(3 ft) of the liftgate or door being
opened. If the vehicle has this
feature, there will be a button on
each door handle.
Keyless Access can be
programmed to unlock all doors on
the first lock/unlock press from the
driver door. See Vehicle
Personalization 0128.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
Keys, Doors, and Windows 39
Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not make
the vehicle impossible to steal.
Vehicle Alarm System
If equipped with an anti-theft alarm
system, the indicator light, on the
instrument panel near the
windshield, shows the status of the
system.
Off :Alarm system is disarmed.
On Solid : Vehicle is secured
during the delay to arm the system. Fast Flast :
Vehicle is unsecured.
A door, the liftgate, or the hood
is open.
Slow Flash : Alarm system is
armed.
Arming the Alarm System
1. Turn off the vehicle.
2. Lock the vehicle in one of two ways:
.Use the RKE transmitter.
. With a door open, press
Q
on the interior of the door.
3. After 30 seconds the alarm system will arm, and the
indicator light will begin to
slowly flash indicating the
alarm system is operating.
Pressing
Qon the RKE
transmitter a second time will
bypass the 30-second delay
and immediately arm the alarm
system.
The vehicle alarm system will not
arm if the doors are locked with
the key. If any door or the hood is opened
without first unlocking with the RKE
transmitter, the horn will chirp and
the lights will flash to indicate
pre-alarm. If the vehicle is not
started, or the door is not unlocked
by pressing
Kon the RKE
transmitter during the 10-second
pre-alarm, the alarm will be
activated.
The alarm will also be activated if
any door or the the hood is opened
without first disarming the system.
When the alarm is activated, the
turn signals flash and the horn
sounds for about 30 seconds. The
alarm system will then re-arm to
monitor for the next unauthorized
event.
Disarming the Alarm System
To disarm the alarm system or turn
off the alarm if it has been activated:
. Press
Kon the RKE transmitter.
. Start the vehicle.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
40 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Avoid setting off the alarm by
accident:
.Lock the vehicle after all
occupants have exited and all
doors are closed.
. Always unlock the vehicle with
the RKE transmitter.
Unlocking the driver door with the
key will not disarm the system or
turn off the alarm.
How to Detect a Tamper
Condition
IfKis pressed and the horn chirps
and the lights flash three times, an
attempted break-in has occurred
while the system was armed.
Immobilizer
See Radio Frequency Statement
0 302.
Immobilizer Operation
This vehicle has a passive
theft-deterrent system. The system does not have to be
manually armed or disarmed.
The vehicle is automatically
immobilized when the transmitter
leaves the vehicle.
The immobilization system is
disarmed when ENGINE START/
STOP is pressed and a valid
transmitter is found in the vehicle.
The security light in the instrument
cluster comes on when there is a
problem with arming or disarming
the theft-deterrent system.
The system has one or more
transmitters matched to an
immobilizer control unit in your
vehicle. Only a correctly matched
transmitter will start the vehicle.
If the transmitter is ever damaged,
you may not be able to start your
vehicle.When trying to start the vehicle, the
security light comes on briefly when
the ignition is turned on.
If the engine does not start and the
security light stays on, there is a
problem with the system. Turn the
vehicle off and try again.
If the RKE transmitter appears to be
undamaged, try another transmitter.
Or, you may try placing the
transmitter in the front cupholder.
See
“Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 027.
If the engine does not start with the
other transmitter or when the
transmitter is in the pocket in the
front cupholder, the vehicle needs
service. See your dealer who can
service the theft-deterrent system
and have a new transmitter
programmed to the vehicle.
Do not leave the transmitter or
device that disarms or deactivates
the theft-deterrent system in the
vehicle.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
308 OnStar
Security
If equipped, OnStar provides these
services:
.With Stolen Vehicle Assistance,
OnStar Advisors can use GPS to
pinpoint the vehicle and help
authorities quickly recover it.
. With Remote Ignition Block,
if equipped, OnStar can block
the engine from being restarted.
. With Stolen Vehicle Slowdown,
if equipped, OnStar can work
with law enforcement to
gradually slow the vehicle down.
Theft Alarm Notification
If equipped, if the doors are locked
and the vehicle alarm sounds, a
notification by text, e-mail, or phone
call will be sent. If the vehicle is
stolen, an OnStar Advisor can work
with authorities to recover the
vehicle.
Navigation
OnStar navigation requires a
specific OnStar service plan.
Press
Qto receive Turn-by-Turn
directions or have them sent to the
vehicle’s navigation screen,
if equipped.
Turn-by-Turn Navigation
1. PressQto connect to an
Advisor.
2. Request directions to be downloaded to the vehicle.
3. Follow the voice-guided commands.
Using Voice Commands
During a Planned Route
Functionality of the Voice Command
button may vary by vehicle and
region. For some vehicles, press
=
to open the OnStar app on the
infotainment display. For other
vehicles press
=as follows. Cancel Route
1. Press
=. System responds:
“OnStar ready,” then a tone.
2. Say “Cancel route.” System
responds: “Do you want to
cancel directions?”
3. Say “Yes.”System responds:
“OK, request completed, thank
you, goodbye.”
Route Preview
1. Press
=. System responds:
“OnStar ready,” then a tone.
2. Say “Route preview.” System
responds with the next three
maneuvers.
Repeat
1. Press
=. System responds:
“OnStar ready,” then a tone.
2. Say “Repeat.” System
responds with the last direction
given, then responds with
“OnStar ready,” then a tone.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
318 Index
IndexA
About Driving the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 2
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 197
Additional Information
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 210
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . 145, 148
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Air Intake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
How Does an AirbagRestrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Passenger Sensing System . . . . 72
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Airbag System (cont'd)
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 67
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Passenger Status Indicator . . . .115
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Alert Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . 190
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 178, 219
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 178 Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Armrest Front Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Rear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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326 Index
Securing Child Restraints . . . . 92, 94
SecurityOnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 Accessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Climate Control System . . . . . . . 145
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 200
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 288
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Parts Identification Label . . . . . 289
Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 298
Services Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . 190 Sidemarker
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Spare Tire Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Special Application Services . . . . 283
Specifications and
Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Stoplamps and Back-Up Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Storage Areas Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Cargo Management System . . . . 99
Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Storage Areas (cont'd)
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Underseat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . . 97
Struts
Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System Forward CollisionAlert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144, 305
Roof Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Taillamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . 295
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . 40 Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 All-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250