Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Seats and Restraints 89
{Warning
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously injured
or killed if the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag inflates.
This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating
airbag. A child in a forward-facing
child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
inflates and the passenger seat is
in a forward position.
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger airbag(s), no
system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the
airbag(s) are off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints
in a rear seat, even if the
airbag(s) are off. If you secure a(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
forward-facing child restraint in
the front outboard passenger
seat, always move the seat as far
back as it will go. It is better to
secure the child restraint in a
rear seat.
SeePassenger Sensing System
0 66 for additional information.
If the child restraint uses a top
tether, see Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) 080 for top tether anchor
locations.
Do not secure a child seat in a
position without a top tether anchor
if a national or local law requires
that the top tether be anchored, or if
the instructions that come with the
child restraint say that the top tether
must be anchored.
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether be
attached. When using the lap-shoulder belt to
secure the child restraint in this
position, follow the instructions that
came with the child restraint and the
following instructions:
1. Move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the
forward-facing child restraint.
Move the seat upward or the
seatback to an upright position,
if needed, to get a tight
installation of the child
restraint.
When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger frontal
airbag and knee airbag, the
OFF indicator on the
passenger airbag status
indicator should light and stay
lit when you start the vehicle.
See Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator 0114.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions
of the vehicle's seat belt
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
90 Seats and Restraints
through or around the child
restraint. The child restraint
instructions will show you how.
Tilt the latch plate to adjust the
belt if needed.
4. Push the latch plate into thebuckle until it clicks.
Position the release button on
the buckle, away from the child
restraint, so that the seat belt
could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.5. Pull the shoulder belt all theway out of the retractor to set
the lock. When the retractor
lock is set, the belt can be
tightened but not pulled out of
the retractor.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Seats and Restraints 91
6. To tighten the belt, push downon the child restraint, pull the
shoulder portion of the belt to
tighten the lap portion of the
belt, and feed the shoulder belt
back into the retractor. When
installing a forward-facing child
restraint, it may be helpful to
use your knee to push down on
the child restraint as you
tighten the belt.
Try to pull the belt out of the
retractor to make sure the
retractor is locked. If the
retractor is not locked, repeat
Steps 5 and 6. 7. Before placing a child in the
child restraint, make sure it is
securely held in place. To
check, grasp the child restraint
at the seat belt path and
attempt to move it side to side
and back and forth. When the
child restraint is properly
installed, there should be no
more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of
movement.
If the airbags are off, the OFF
indicator in the passenger airbag
status indicator will come on and
stay on when the vehicle is started.
If a child restraint has been installed
and the ON indicator is lit, see “If
the On Indicator Is Lit for a Child
Restraint” underPassenger Sensing
System 066.
To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle seat belt and
let it return to the stowed position.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
226 Driving and Operating
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
. Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint.
. Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the seat belt. See Seat Belts052. .
Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they may do and
be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
236 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Things inside the vehicle can
strike and injure people in a
sudden stop or turn, or in a crash.. Put things in the cargo area
of the vehicle. In the cargo
area, put them as far
forward as possible. Try to
spread the weight evenly.
. Never stack heavier things,
like suitcases, inside the
vehicle so that some of
them are above the tops of
the seats.
. Do not leave an unsecured
child restraint in the vehicle.
. Secure loose items in the
vehicle.
. Do not leave a seat folded
down unless needed.
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Caution
The vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will
perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
. Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the first 800 km (500 mi).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
. Avoid making hard stops for
the first 300 km (200 mi) or
so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an electronic
keyless ignition with pushbutton
start.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
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.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
434 Index
GuidanceProblems with the Route . . . . . . 181
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 146
HD Radio Technology . . . . . . . . . . 159
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Head-up Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Headlamps
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Front Turn Signal and Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 122
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 145
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 123
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216, 218 High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 230
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . 253
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
How to Wear Seat Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
HVAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216, 218
I
If the System Needs Service . . . . 181
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Indicator Pedestrian Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Information Publication Ordering . . . . . . . . . . 415
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . 419
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . 5
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 32
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 152
J
Jack
Auxiliary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
K
Keyless Entry
Remote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . 8
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 346
Lamps Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 145
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Headlamps and
Sidemarker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . 285
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . 287
Lane Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . 119
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Index 435
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
LATCH SystemReplacing Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Lighting
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 148
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Lights Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Antilock Brake System(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . .117
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . .118
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 121
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 145 Lights (cont'd)
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . .113
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Service Electric Parking
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Locks Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 122
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43M
Maintenance
Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
Maintenance and Care Additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . 390 Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . 115
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Map Data Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Media Avoiding Untrusted Devices . . 162
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Messages Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Vehicle Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Mirror Rear Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Mirrors Automatic DimmingRearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32