Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-12461774) - 2019 -
CRC - 3/26/18
Instruments and Controls 115
Remember, the Remaining Oil Life
display must be reset after each oil
change. It will not reset itself. Also,
be careful not to reset the
Remaining Oil Life display
accidentally at any time other than
when the oil has just been changed.
It cannot be reset accurately until
the next oil change. To reset the
engine oil life system, press SET/
CLR while the Remaining Oil Life
display is active. SeeEngine Oil
Life System 0183.
Battery Voltage
This display shows the current
battery voltage. If the voltage is in
the normal range, the value will
display. For example, the display
may read Battery Voltage 15.0
Volts. The vehicle's charging system
regulates voltage based on the state
of the battery. The battery voltage
can fluctuate while viewing this
information on the DIC. This is
normal. See Charging System Light
0 104.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
. Seat Belts
. Airbag Systems
. Engine and Transmission
. Tire Pressure
. Battery
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's propulsion power is
reduced. Reduced propulsion power
can affect the vehicle's ability to
accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no observed reduction
in performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may
be reduced the next time the vehicle
is driven. The vehicle may be driven
Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-12461774) - 2019 -
CRC - 3/26/18
Driving and Operating 135
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 139
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 140
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 142
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 146
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 152
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 156
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 158
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 163
Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 164
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 170
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 171
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-12461774) - 2019 -
CRC - 3/26/18
Driving and Operating 137
.Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{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 while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-12461774) - 2019 -
CRC - 3/26/18
138 Driving and Operating
See 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.-12461774) - 2019 -
CRC - 3/26/18
Driving and Operating 139
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.
{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.
(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.-12461774) - 2019 -
CRC - 3/26/18
140 Driving and Operating
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 Tires0211.
. Turn off cruise control.
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 assist. 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, crash).
. 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 0158.
Buick Cascada Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-12461774) - 2019 -
CRC - 3/26/18
Driving and Operating 141
.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) 0155.
. 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 0273. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe: .
Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow 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 0151.
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.-12461774) - 2019 -
CRC - 3/26/18
146 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.Do not leave an
unsecured child restraint
in the vehicle.
.Secure loose items in the
vehicle.
.Do not leave a seat
folded down unless
needed.
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.