Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Lighting 147
|:Press to make the front and
rear turn signal lamps flash on and
off. This warns others that you are
having trouble.
Press
|again to turn the
flashers off.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
Move the lever all the way up or
down to signal a turn.
An arrow on the instrument cluster
will flash in the direction of the turn
or lane change. Raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to flash to signal a lane
change. Hold it there until the lane
change is complete. If the lever is
moved momentarily to the lane
change position, the arrow will flash
three times. It will flash six times if
Tow/Haul Mode is active.
The lever returns to its starting
position when it is released.
If after signaling a turn or lane
change, the arrow flashes rapidly or
does not come on, a signal bulb
may be burned out.
Have any burned out bulbs
replaced. If a bulb is not burned out,
check the fuse. See
Instrument
Panel Fuse Block 0341.
Fog Lamps
The fog lamps button is on the
instrument panel beside the steering
wheel.
To turn on the fog lamps, the ignition
and the headlamps or parking lamps
must be on.
#:If equipped, press to turn on or
off. An indicator light on the
instrument cluster comes on when
the fog lamps are on.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be on
along with the fog lamps.
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150 Lighting
The exterior lamps turn off
immediately by turning the exterior
lamp control off.
This feature can be changed. See
Vehicle Personalization0135.
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage
for best performance and extended
life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised slightly
to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the
voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed. The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all of the
power needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, rear
window defogger, climate control fan
at high speed, heated seats, engine
cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads
plugged into accessory power
outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a DIC message might
be displayed and it is recommended
that the driver reduce the electrical
loads as much as possible.
Battery Power Protection
This feature shuts off the interior
lamps if they are left on for more
than 10 minutes when the ignition is
off. This helps to prevent the battery
from running down.
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver
The exterior lamps turn off about
10 minutes after the ignition is
turned off, if the parking lamps or
headlamps have been manually left
on. This protects against draining
the battery. To restart the 10-minute
timer, turn the exterior lamp control
to the off position and then back to
the parking lamp or headlamp
position.
To keep the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, the ignition must be on
or in ACC/ACCESSORY.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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232 Driving and Operating
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.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 254.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode. See All-Wheel Drive 0250.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see
Towing the Vehicle 0374.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can carry.
This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the
weight of all occupants, cargo, and
all nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may show
how much weight it may properly
carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label and the
Certification/Tire label.
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Driving and Operating 259
automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control0254. When road
conditions allow ACC to be safely
used, ACC can be turned back on.
Disabling the TCS or StabiliTrak/
ESC system will disengage and
prevent engagement of ACC.
ACC may operate differently in a
sharp curve. It may reduce the
vehicle speed if the curve is too
sharp.
ACC can reduce the need for you to
frequently brake and accelerate,
especially when used on
expressways, freeways, and
interstate highways. When used on
other roads, you may need to take
over the control of braking or
acceleration more often.
{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability
and may not have time to slow
the vehicle down enough to avoid
a collision with another vehicle
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
you are following. This can occur
when vehicles suddenly slow or
stop ahead, or enter your lane.
Also see“Alerting the Driver” later
in this section. Complete attention
is always required while driving
and you should be ready to take
action and apply the brakes. See
Defensive Driving 0226
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for
children, pedestrians, animals,
or other objects.
Do not use ACC when:
. On winding and hilly roads
or when the camera sensor
is blocked by snow, ice,
or dirt. The system may not
detect a vehicle ahead.
Keep the windshield and
headlamps clean.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.When visibility is poor due
to rain, snow, fog, dirt,
insect residue, or dust;
when other foreign objects
obscure the camera’s view;
or when the vehicle in front
or oncoming traffic causes
additional environmental
obstructions, such as road
spray. ACC performance is
limited under these
conditions.
. On slippery roads where
fast changes in tire traction
can cause excessive
wheel slip.
. With extremely heavy cargo
loaded in the cargo area or
rear seat.
. When towing a trailer.
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Driving and Operating 269
{Warning
Camera visibility may be limited
and the ACC system may not
work properly if the windshield is
not clear. Do not use ACC if
moisture is present on the inside
of the windshield or the
windshield washer is used in cold
weather. Turn on the front
defroster and make sure the
windshield is clear before using
ACC. Before driving, check that
the windshield wipers are in good
condition and replace them
if worn.
Lighting Conditions
Affecting ACC
The ACC front camera can be
affected by poor lighting conditions,
and ACC may have limited
performance when:
.There are changes in brightness,
such as entering and exiting
tunnels, bridges, and
overpasses. .
Low sun angles cause the
camera to not detect objects,
or it is more difficult to detect
objects in the same traffic lane.
. Lighting is poor in the evening or
early morning
. There are multiple changes in
brightness or shadows along the
vehicle roadway.
. In a tunnel without the
headlamps on, or in a tunnel
when there is a vehicle in front
that does not have its
taillamps on.
. Subjected to strong light from
opposing lane traffic in the front
of the vehicle, such as
high-beam headlamps from
oncoming traffic.Accessory Installations and
Vehicle Modifications
Do not install or place any object
around the front camera windshield
area that would obstruct the front
camera view. Do not install objects on top of the
vehicle that overhang and obstruct
the front camera, such as a canoe,
kayak, or other items that can be
transported on a roof rack system.
See
Roof Rack System 096.
Do not modify the hood, headlamps,
or fog lamps, as this may limit the
camera’s ability to detect an object.
Cleaning the Sensing System
The camera sensor on the
windshield behind the rearview
mirror can become blocked by
snow, ice, dirt, mud, or debris. This
area needs to be cleaned for ACC
to operate properly.
The vehicle headlamps may need to
be cleaned due to dirt, snow, or ice.
Objects that are not illuminated
correctly may be difficult to detect.
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Driving and Operating 271
Warning (Continued)
Complete attention is always
required while driving, and you
should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes and/or steer
the vehicle to avoid crashes.
Audible Alert
Some driver assistance features
alert the driver of obstacles by
beeping. To change the volume of
the warning chime, see “Comfort
and Convenience” underVehicle
Personalization 0135.
Cleaning
Depending on vehicle options, keep
these areas of the vehicle clean to
ensure the best driver assistance
feature performance. Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages
may display when the systems are
unavailable or blocked.
. Front and rear bumpers and the
area below the bumpers
. Front grille and headlamps .
Front camera lens in the front
grille or near the front emblem
. Front side and rear side panels
. Outside of the windshield in front
of the rearview mirror
. Side camera lens on the bottom
of the outside mirrors
. Rear side corner bumpers
. Rear Vision Camera above the
license plate
This vehicle may be equipped with
driver assistance systems that
operate using radio frequency. See
Radio Frequency Statement 0416.
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing
If equipped, the Rear Vision Camera
(RVC), Rear Park Assist (RPA),
Front Park Assist (FPA), Surround
Vision, Front Vision Camera, and
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) may
help the driver park or avoid objects.
Always check around the vehicle
when parking or backing.
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Driving and Operating 279
FCA warnings will not occur unless
the FCA system detects a vehicle
ahead. When a vehicle is detected,
the vehicle ahead indicator will
display green. Vehicles may not be
detected on curves, highway exit
ramps, or hills, due to poor visibility;
or if a vehicle ahead is partially
blocked by pedestrians or other
objects. FCA will not detect another
vehicle ahead until it is completely
in the driving lane.
{Warning
FCA does not provide a warning
to help avoid a crash, unless it
detects a vehicle. FCA may not
detect a vehicle ahead if the FCA
sensor is blocked by dirt, snow,
or ice, or if the windshield is
damaged. It may also not detect a
vehicle on winding or hilly roads,
or in conditions that can limit
visibility such as fog, rain,
or snow, or if the headlamps or
windshield are not cleaned or in(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
proper condition. Keep the
windshield, headlamps, and FCA
sensors clean and in good repair.
Collision Alert
If Head-Up Display (HUD) is not
equipped, when your vehicle
approaches another detected
vehicle too rapidly, the red FCA
display will flash on the windshield.
If Head-Up Display (HUD) is
equipped and the screen is closed,
when your vehicle approaches
another detected vehicle too rapidly,
the HUD with the integrated RLAD
can display red spots reflected in
the windshield.
If Head-Up Display (HUD) is
equipped and the screen is open,
when your vehicle approaches
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Driving and Operating 281
.Clean the outside of the
windshield in front of the
rearview mirror.
. Clean the entire front of the
vehicle.
. Clean the headlamps.
Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB)
If the vehicle has Forward Collision
Alert (FCA), it also has AEB, 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 automatic emergency
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 0278.
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
AEB is an emergency crash
preparation feature and is not
designed to avoid crashes. Do
not rely on AEB to brake the
vehicle. AEB will not brake
outside of its operating speed
range and only responds to
detected vehicles.
AEB may not: . Detect a vehicle ahead on
winding or hilly roads.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Detect all vehicles,
especially vehicles with a
trailer, tractors, muddy
vehicles, etc.
. Detect a vehicle when
weather limits visibility, such
as in fog, rain, or snow.
. Detect a vehicle ahead if it
is partially blocked by
pedestrians or other objects.
Complete attention is always
required while driving, and you
should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes and/or steer
the vehicle to avoid crashes.
AEB may slow the vehicle to a
complete stop to try to avoid a
potential crash. If this happens, AEB
may engage the Electric Parking
Brake (EPB) to hold the vehicle at a
stop. Release the EPB or firmly
press the accelerator pedal.