Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Climate Controls 219
3. Fan Controls
4. MAX Defrost
5. Rear Window Defogger
6. SYNC (SynchronizedTemperature)
7. Recirculation
8. Driver and Passenger Heated Seats (If Equipped)
9. Air Delivery Mode Controls
10. ON/OFF (Power)
11. A/C (Air Conditioning)
Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls
the fan speed, air delivery, air
conditioning, and recirculation in
order to heat or cool the vehicle to
the desired temperature.
When AUTO is lit, all four functions
operate automatically. Each function
can also be manually set and the
selected setting is displayed.
Functions not manually set will
continue to be automatically
controlled, even if the AUTO
indicator is not lit. For automatic operation:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow the system time to stabilize. Then
adjust the temperature as
needed for best comfort.
Driver and Passenger
Temperature Control : The
temperature can be adjusted
separately for the driver and the
passenger. Turn the knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the temperature.
SYNC : Press to link all climate
zone settings to the driver setting.
The SYNC indicator light will turn
on. When the passenger settings
are adjusted, the SYNC indicator
light turns off.
Manual Operation
ON/OFF : Press to turn the fan off
or on. When off, no air will flow into
the vehicle. Turning the fan on,
pressing any other button, or turning
a knob will turn the system back on
using the current setting.
9: Press to increase or decrease
the fan speed. The fan speed
setting appears on the main display.
Pressing either button cancels
automatic fan control and the fan is
controlled manually. Press AUTO to
return to automatic operation.
Air Delivery Mode Controls :
Press any combination of
z,Y,
or
6to change the direction of the
airflow. The indicator light in the
button will turn on. The current
mode appears in the display screen.
Pressing any of the three buttons
cancels automatic air delivery
control and the direction of the
airflow is controlled manually. Press
AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
To change the current mode, select
one or more of the following:
z: Clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield.
Y: Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Climate Controls 221
temperature is about 5 °C (41 °F)
and below. The Auto Rear Defogger
turns off automatically.
If the vehicle is equipped with
heated outside mirrors, they turn on
when the rear window defogger
button is on and help to clear fog or
frost from the surface of the mirror.
SeeHeated Mirrors 031
Caution
Do not try to clear frost or other
material from the inside of the
front windshield and rear window
with a razor blade or anything
else that is sharp. This may
damage the rear window
defogger grid and affect the
radio's ability to pick up stations
clearly. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
MorL:If equipped, pressMorLto heat the driver or passenger seat.
See Heated Front Seats 048. Remote Start Climate Control
Operation (If Equipped) :
If the
vehicle is equipped with the remote
start feature, the climate control
system may run when the vehicle is
started remotely. The system uses
the driver ’s previous settings to heat
or cool the inside of the vehicle. The
rear defog may come on during
remote start based on cold ambient
conditions. If the vehicle has heated
seats, they may come on during a
remote start. See Remote Vehicle
Start 015 and
Heated Front Seats 048.
Sensors
The solar sensor on top of the
instrument panel near the
windshield monitors the solar heat.
The climate control system uses the
sensor information to adjust the
temperature, fan speed,
recirculation, and air delivery mode
for best comfort.
Do not cover the sensor; otherwise
the automatic climate control system
may not work properly.
Air Vents
Use the louvers located on the air
vents to change the direction of the
airflow.
To open or close off the airflow:
.
Move slider knobs away from
the occupant for shut off closing.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow,
or leaves from air inlets at the
base of the windshield that could
block the flow of air into the
vehicle.
. Clear snow off the hood to
improve visibility and help
decrease moisture drawn into
the vehicle, which may improve
long term system performance.
. Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside of the
vehicle more effectively.
. Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Driving and Operating 231
.Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0254.
. 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) 0251.
. 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.
. Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode. See All-Wheel Drive
0 250.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 0410. 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.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
. 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 0246.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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294 Driving and Operating
.Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
If the transmission downshifts
too often, a lower gear may be
selected using Manual Mode
See Manual Mode 0249.
If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be
turned off when towing a trailer:
. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
. Super Cruise Control
. Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
. Park Assist
. Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
. Reverse Automatic
Braking (RAB)
If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be
turned to alert or off when towing a
trailer:
. Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB)
. Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA)
. Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) If equipped with Lane Change Alert
(LCA), the LCA detection zones that
extend back from the side of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed. Use caution
while changing lanes when towing a
trailer.
If equipped with Rear Cross Traffic
Alert (RCTA), use caution while
backing up when towing a trailer, as
the RCTA detection zones that
extend out from the back of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed.
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death
from carbon monoxide (CO),
when towing a trailer:
. Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air.
See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0246.
Towing a trailer requires experience.
The combination of the vehicle and
trailer is longer and not as
responsive as the vehicle itself. Get
used to the handling and braking of
the combination by driving on a
level road surface before driving on
public roads.
The trailer structure, the tires, and
the brakes must be all be rated to
carry the intended cargo.
Inadequate trailer equipment can
cause the combination to operate in
an unexpected or unsafe manner.
Before driving, inspect all trailer
hitch parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
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
306 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 015.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records 0401.
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
{Warning
For vehicles with auto engine
stop/start, turn the vehicle off
before opening the hood. If the
vehicle is on, the engine will start
when the hood is opened. You or
others could be injured.
{Warning
Components under the hood can
get hot from running the engine.
To help avoid the risk of burning
unprotected skin, never touch
these components until they have
cooled, and always use a glove or
towel to avoid direct skin contact.
Clear any snow from the hood
before opening. To open the hood:1. Pull the hood release handle
inside the vehicle. It is located
on the lower left side of the
instrument panel.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Vehicle Care 341
J-CaseFuses Usage
F63 N/A
M-case Fuses Usage
F04 FRT WPR
F30 STRTR SOL
F37 AUX OIL PUMP
F39 N/A
F43 PWR WNDW RT
F55 PWR WNDW LT
F60 DEF HTR
F61 N/A
Mini
Relays Usage
K03 RUN/CRNK
K04 REAR DEFOG
K06 STRTR PINION
K08 PT RLY
K09 FUEL HTR DSL HC Micro
Relays Usage
K01 N/A
K02 N/A
K05 STRTR SOL
K07 A/C CNTRL
K10 N/A
Ultra
Micro
Relays Usage
K11 N/AInstrument Panel Fuse
Block
The instrument panel fuse block is
on the underside of the driver side
instrument panel. To access the
fuses, open the fuse cover by
pulling out. To reinstall the cover,
insert the top tab first, then push the
cover back into its original location.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
386 Vehicle Care
Instrument Panel, Leather,
Vinyl, Other Plastic Surfaces,
Low Gloss Paint Surfaces, and
Natural Open Pore Wood
Surfaces
Use a soft microfiber cloth
dampened with water to remove
dust and loose dirt. For a more
thorough cleaning, use a soft
microfiber cloth dampened with a
mild soap solution.
Caution
Soaking or saturating leather,
especially perforated leather, as
well as other interior surfaces,
may cause permanent damage.
Wipe excess moisture from these
surfaces after cleaning and allow
them to dry naturally. Never use
heat, steam, or spot removers. Do
not use cleaners that contain
silicone or wax-based products.
Cleaners containing these
solvents can permanently change(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
the appearance and feel of
leather or soft trim, and are not
recommended.
Do not use cleaners that increase
gloss, especially on the instrument
panel. Reflected glare can decrease
visibility through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Caution
Use of air fresheners may cause
permanent damage to plastics
and painted surfaces. If an air
freshener comes in contact with
any plastic or painted surface in
the vehicle, blot immediately and
clean with a soft cloth dampened
with a mild soap solution.
Damage caused by air fresheners
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Cargo Cover and
Convenience Net
If equipped, wash with warm water
and mild detergent. Do not use
chlorine bleach. Rinse with cold
water, and then dry completely.
Care of Seat Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{Warning
Do not bleach or dye seat belt
webbing. It may severely weaken
the webbing. In a crash, they
might not be able to provide
adequate protection. Clean and
rinse seat belt webbing only with
mild soap and lukewarm water.
Allow the webbing to dry.