2020 BUICK ENCORE GX check engine

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
296 Driving and Operating
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 Overheating0321.
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 0390. 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
0 321.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
(Continued)

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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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-
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Vehicle Care 311
1. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 322.
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0317.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0311.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0311.
5. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 317.
6. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0315.
7. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brakes 0323.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0372.
9. Battery - North America 0326.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0338.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0372Engine 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 0313.
. 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
0
308 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
checking a cold engine prior to
starting. Remove the dipstick
and check the level.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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312 Vehicle Care
.If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is
warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out
the dipstick, wipe it with a clean
paper towel or cloth, then push it
back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and
check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick and
the engine has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then recheck
the level. See “Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for
an explanation of what kind of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications 0403.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that you
have an oil level above the
operating range, i.e., the engine
has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the MAX mark, the
engine could be damaged. You
should drain out the excess oil or
limit driving of the vehicle and
seek a service professional to
remove the excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 308 for the location of the engine
oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range between the MIN and MAX
marks. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0399.
Specification
Use full synthetic engine oils that
meet the dexos1 specification.
Engine oils that have been
approved by GM as meeting the
dexos1 specification are marked
with the dexos1 approved logo. See
www.gmdexos.com.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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314 Vehicle Care
system might indicate that an oil
change is not necessary for up to a
year. The engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a year
and, at this time, the system must
be reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the proper
level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
system:1. Display the REMAINING OIL
LIFE on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0123 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0127. This display
shows an estimate of the oil’ s
remaining useful life. If 99% is
displayed, that means that 99%
of the current oil life remains.
2. Press and hold
lor the
thumbwheel while the Oil Life
display is active. The oil life will
change to 100%.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat
the procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, you should
have this done at your dealer.
Change the fluid at the intervals
listed in
Maintenance Schedule
0 390, and be sure to use the fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0399.
Engine Air Filter Life
System
When to Change Engine Air
Filter
If equipped, this feature provides an
indication of when to change the
engine air filter. It is based on
driving conditions, which can cause
when to change to vary greatly. It is
possible an air filter change may not
be indicated for up to four years.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 317
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which could damage it. Always
have the air cleaner/filter in place
when driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the
engine to maintain the correct
working temperature.
1.2L L3 Engine (LIH)
1.3L L3 Engine (L3T)
1. Engine Coolant Surge Tankand Pressure Cap
2. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can
start up even when the engine is
not running and can cause injury.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts.
They can be very hot and can
burn you. Do not run the engine if
there is a leak; all coolant could
leak out. That could cause an
engine fire and can burn you. Fix
any leak before driving the
vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for five years
or 240 000 km (150,000 mi),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating 0321.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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318 Vehicle Care
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts. .
Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard
GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause
damage to the engine cooling
system and the vehicle, which
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
It is normal to see coolant moving in
the upper coolant hose return line
when the engine is running.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down.