Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146155) - 2019 - crc - 9/10/18
Driving and Operating 195
After operation in mud or sand,
have the brake linings cleaned and
checked. These substances can
cause glazing and uneven braking.
Check the body structure, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage and
check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance service
is required. SeeMaintenance
Schedule 0346.
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 Tires0299.
. Turn off cruise control.
. Activate All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
mode. See Driver Mode Control
0 223.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146155) - 2019 - crc - 9/10/18
196 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 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.
. Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode.
See Driver Mode Control 0223
and All-Wheel Drive 0218.
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 0222.
. 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) 0218.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146155) - 2019 - crc - 9/10/18
216 Driving and Operating
Car Wash Mode (Engine On–
Driver out of Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine on and the vehicle
unoccupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral), then release the brake pedal.
5. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, repeat
Steps 2–4.
6. Exit the vehicle and close the door. The vehicle is now ready
for the car wash.
7. The vehicle may automatically shift to P (Park) upon re-entry.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is needed for
passing, press the accelerator
pedal down. To shift into D (Drive):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. From the center position, move the shift lever back. If the
vehicle is in P (Park) press and
hold the shift lock release
button, continue holding it, and
move the shift lever back. D
will illuminate in red.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center
position.
To shift out of D (Drive): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center
position.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”under
Loss of Control 0190.Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If the vehicle
is stuck, do not spin the tires.
When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146155) - 2019 - crc - 9/10/18
Driving and Operating 257
If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle could show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run, preferably on
level ground, with the transmission
in P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating0280.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and
trailer on a level surface when
possible.
When parking your vehicle and your
trailer on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill. 2. Have someone place chocks
under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the
brake pedal to allow the chocks
to absorb the load of the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0346. It is
especially important to check the
automatic transmission fluid, engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before
and during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 280.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146155) - 2019 - crc - 9/10/18
Vehicle Care 267
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 268
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 269
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 274
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 276
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 280
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Battery - North America . . . . . . 284
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 285
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 285
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 286
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 287
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 289
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 290
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 291
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 327Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146155) - 2019 - crc - 9/10/18
268 Vehicle Care
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
{Warning
Most motor vehicles, including
this one, as well as many of its
service parts and fluids, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and
systems, many fluids, and some
component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these
chemicals. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See Battery - North America 0284
and Jump Starting - North America
0 328 and the back cover.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146155) - 2019 - crc - 9/10/18
270 Vehicle Care
If equipped with remote vehicle
start, open the hood before
performing any service work to
prevent remote starting the vehicle
accidentally. SeeRemote Vehicle
Start 036.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records 0356.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage
to vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release handle
with this symbol on it. It is
under the instrument panel on
the driver side of the vehicle.
2. At the front of the vehicle, pull
up on the center of the hood,
and push the secondary hood
release to the right.
3. After you have partially lifted the hood, gas struts will
automatically take over to lift
and hold the hood in the fully
open position. To close the hood:
1. Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are properly
installed.
2. Pull the hood down to close. Lower the hood until the lifting
pressure of the strut is
reduced. Then allow the hood
to fall and latch into place
under its own weight
3. Check to make sure the hood is closed. If the hood does not
fully latch, gently push the
hood down at the front and
center of the hood until it is
completely latched.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146155) - 2019 - crc - 9/10/18
272 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0276.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0272.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0272.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 277.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0283.
6. Battery - North America 0284.
7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0277.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0328.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 281.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0291.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0328.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 0274.
. 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
0271 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