Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
122 Instruments and Controls
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem. See
your dealer.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light is near the fuel gauge and
comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on as a check to show it is
working.
It also comes on when the fuel tank
is low on fuel. The light turns off
when fuel is added. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced.
Security Light
The security light should come on
briefly as the engine is started. If it
does not come on, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off.
If the light stays on and the engine
does not start, there could be a
problem with the theft-deterrent
system. SeeImmobilizer Operation
0 29.
High-Beam On Light
This light comes on when the
high-beam headlamps are in use.
See Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer 0145.
IntelliBeam Light
This light comes on when the
IntelliBeam system, if equipped, is
enabled. See Exterior Lamp
Controls 0143.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
252 Driving and Operating
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle is equipped with an
Electronic Parking Brake (EPB),
which acts on the front axle. The
Electric Parking Brake (EPB) can
always be activated, even if the
ignition is off. To prevent draining
the battery, avoid repeated cycles of
the EPB when the engine is not
running.
The system has a
Yor PARK
Electric Parking Brake light, and a
8
Service Parking Brake light or message. See
Electric Parking
Brake Light 0118 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light
0 118.
There are also parking brake-related
Driver Information Center (DIC)
messages. In case of insufficient
electrical power, the EPB cannot be
applied or released.
Before leaving the vehicle, check for
the
Yor PARK light to ensure that
the parking brake is applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Pull the EPB switch momentarily.
The
Yor PARK light will flash and
then stay on once the EPB is fully
applied. If the
Yor PARK light
flashes continuously, then the EPB
is only partially applied or there is a
problem with the EPB. A DIC
message will display. Release the
EPB and try to apply it again. If the light does not come on, or keeps
flashing, have the vehicle serviced.
Do not drive the vehicle if the
Yor
PARK light is flashing. See your
dealer. See Electric Parking Brake
Light 0118.
If the
8Service Parking Brake light
or message is on or the
Yor
PARK light flashes when the ignition
is turned on, pull the EPB switch.
Continue to hold the switch until the
Yor PARK light remains on. If the
8Service Parking Brake light or
message remains on, see your
dealer.
If the EPB switch is pulled while the
vehicle is moving, the vehicle will
decelerate as long as the switch is
pulled. If the switch is pulled until
the vehicle comes to a stop, the
EPB will remain applied.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/ ACCESSORY.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
302 Driving and Operating
manufactured. Many trailer tire
manufacturers recommend
replacing tires more than six
years old.
Overloading is another leading
cause of trailer tire blow-outs. Never
load your trailer with more weight
than the tires are designed to
support. The load rating is located
on the trailer tire sidewall.
Always know the maximum speed
rating for the trailer tires before
driving. This may be significantly
lower than the vehicle tire speed
rating. The speed rating may be on
the trailer tire sidewall. If the speed
rating is not shown, the default
trailer tire speed rating is 105 km/h
(65 mph).Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0115.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check
with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 071 and
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 071.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 303
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 304
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 305
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 313
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 315
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 321
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . 324 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Battery - North America . . . . . . 326
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 328
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 328
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 330
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . 331
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Headlamps and Sidemarker Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Front Turn Signal and Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and
Back-Up Lamps (Uplevel) . . . 334
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and
Back-Up Lamps (Base
Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 337
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 338
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 346
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Vehicle Care 325
reservoir cap. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview 0308 for
the location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a
level surface, the brake fluid level
should be between the minimum
and maximum marks on the brake
fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
. Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the
fluid level goes back up.
. A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system. Have the
brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light 0117.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid
at the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0390. What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See
Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0399.{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 373
3. Good Battery Negative (-)Terminal
4. Good Battery Positive (+) Terminal
The jump start negative grounding
point (1) for the discharged battery
is the engine block or an engine
mounting bolt. Connect to a spot as
far away from the discharged
battery as possible.
The jump start positive terminal (2)
on the discharged battery is in the
engine compartment on the driver
side of the vehicle.
The jump start negative terminal (3)
and positive terminal (4) are on the
battery of the vehicle providing the
jump start.
The positive jump start connection
for the discharged battery is under a
trim cover. Open the cover to
expose the terminal.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery
with a negative ground system.
Caution
If the other vehicle does not have
a 12-volt system with a negative
ground, both vehicles can be
damaged. Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump starting.
2. Position the two vehicles so that they are not touching.
3. Set the parking brake firmly and put the shift lever in
P (Park) with an automatic
transmission, or Neutral with a
manual transmission.
Caution
If any accessories are left on or
plugged in during the jump
starting procedure, they could be
damaged. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Whenever possible, turn
off or unplug all accessories on
either vehicle when jump starting. 4. Turn the ignition off. Turn off all
lights and accessories in both
vehicles, except the hazard
warning flashers if needed.
{Warning
An electric fan can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
{Warning
Using a match near a battery can
cause battery gas to explode.
People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded.
Use a flashlight if you need more
light.
Battery fluid contains acid that
can burn you. Do not get it on
you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush
the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
396 Service and Maintenance
Additional
Maintenance and Care
Your vehicle is an important
investment and caring for it properly
may help to avoid future costly
repairs. To maintain vehicle
performance, additional
maintenance services may be
required.
It is recommended that your dealer
perform these services—their
trained dealer technicians know
your vehicle best. Your dealer can
also perform a thorough
assessment with a multi-point
inspection to recommend when your
vehicle may need attention.
The following list is intended to
explain the services and conditions
to look for that may indicate
services are required. Battery
The 12-volt battery supplies power
to start the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.
To avoid break-down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
. Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion-free.
Belts
. Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the belts and
recommend adjustment or
replacement when necessary. Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.
Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0399 for GM approved
fluids.
. Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
. Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Index 429
IndexA
About Driving the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 3
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . 258
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 302
Additional Information
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Agreements
Trademarks and License . . . . . 205
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 315
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . 216, 218
Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Passenger Sensing System . . . . 66 Airbag System (cont'd)
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 62
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Passenger Status Indicator . . . .114
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Servicing Airbag-Equipped
Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Alert Lane Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . 285
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 250, 327
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Antenna Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 251 Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118