2021 BUICK ENCORE GX wheel

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
Driving and Operating 209
Electric Parking Brake
The Electric Parking Brake (EPB) can always
be applied, even if the vehicle is off. In case
of insufficient electrical power, the EPB
cannot be applied or released. To prevent
draining the battery, avoid unnecessary
repeated cycles of the EPB.
The system has a red parking brake status
light and an amber service parking brake
warning light. SeeElectric Parking Brake
Light 099 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light 099.
There are also parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages. Before leaving the vehicle, check the red
parking brake status 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 red parking brake status light will flash
and then stay on once the EPB is fully
applied. If the red parking brake status light
flashes continuously, 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 red parking brake status light
is flashing. See your dealer.
If the amber service parking brake warning
light is on, pull the EPB switch. Continue to
hold the switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber service
parking brake warning light is on, see your
dealer. If the EPB is applied 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.
The vehicle may automatically apply the EPB
in some situations when the vehicle is not
moving. This is normal, and is done to
periodically check the correct operation of
the EPB system, or at the request of other
safety functions that utilize the EPB.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the rear
wheels to prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/ ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The EPB is released when the red parking
brake status light is off.
If the amber service parking brake warning
light is on, release the EPB by pressing and
holding the EPB switch. Continue to hold the
switch until the red parking brake status
light is off. If either light stays on after
release is attempted, see your dealer.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
210 Driving and Operating
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake
system parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on a
hill, see Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0241.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if the
vehicle is running, placed into gear, and an
attempt is made to drive away. Avoid rapid
acceleration when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
Brake Assist
Brake Assist detects rapid brake pedal
applications due to emergency braking
situations and provides additional braking to
activate the Antilock Brake System (ABS) if
the brake pedal is not pushed hard enough
to activate ABS normally. Minor noise, brake
pedal pulsation, and/or pedal movement
during this time may occur. Continue to apply the brake pedal as the driving
situation dictates. Brake Assist disengages
when the brake pedal is released.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature. HSA does
not replace the need to pay attention
and drive safely. You may not hear or
feel alerts or warnings provided by this
system. Failure to use proper care when
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. See
Defensive Driving
0 188.
When the vehicle is stopped on a grade, Hill
Start Assist (HSA) prevents the vehicle from
rolling in an unintended direction during the
transition from brake pedal release to
accelerator pedal apply. The brakes release
when the accelerator pedal is applied. HSA
brake hold duration may be selectable.
Standard Hold automatically releases the
brakes after a few seconds. Extended Hold
applies the Electric Parking Brake if the
accelerator pedal is not applied within a few
minutes. If hold duration is selectable, see "Extended Hill Start Assist" in
Vehicle
Personalization 0114. The brakes may also
release under other conditions. Do not rely
on HSA to hold the vehicle.
HSA is available when the vehicle is facing
uphill in a forward gear, or when facing
downhill in R (Reverse). The vehicle must
come to a complete stop on a grade for HSA
to activate.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control System
(TCS) and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC), an electronic stability control
system. These systems help limit wheel slip
and assist the driver in maintaining control,
especially on slippery road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any of the
drive wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens, TCS
applies the brakes to the spinning wheels
and reduces engine power to limit
wheel spin.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
Driving and Operating 211
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the vehicle
senses a difference between the intended
path and the direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the vehicle
wheel brakes to assist the driver in keeping
the vehicle on the intended path.
If cruise control is being used and TCS or
StabiliTrak/ESC begins to limit wheel spin,
cruise control will disengage. Cruise control
may be turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on automatically when
the vehicle is started and begins to move.
The systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while performing
diagnostic checks. This is normal and does
not mean there is a problem with the
vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both systems on
for normal driving conditions, but it may be
necessary to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. SeeIf the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0193 and “Turning the
Systems Off and On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems is in the
instrument cluster. This light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting wheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is activated.
.Turn on and stay on when either system
is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on
and stays on to indicate that the system is
inactive and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is safe to
drive, but driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine. Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on and stays
on, the vehicle may need more time to
diagnose the problem. If the condition
persists, see your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off and On
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle
driveline could be damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and releaseg.
The traction off light
iilluminates in the
instrument cluster.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
212 Driving and Operating
To turn TCS on again, press and releaseg.
The traction off light
iin the instrument
cluster will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
gis
pressed, the system will not turn off until
the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC,
press and hold
guntil the traction off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC OFF lightgilluminate and stay on in the instrument
cluster.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again,
press and release
g. The traction off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC OFF lightgin the
instrument cluster turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the vehicle
performance. See Accessories and
Modifications 0252
Cruise Control
The cruise control lets the vehicle maintain a
speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more
without keeping your foot on the
accelerator. Cruise control does not work at
speeds below 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous where
you cannot drive safely at a steady
speed. Do not use cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could lose
control. Do not use cruise control on
slippery roads.
With the Traction Control System (TCS) or
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
the system may begin to limit wheel spin
while you are using cruise control. If this
happens, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. See Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control 0210. If a
collision alert occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is disengaged. See
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System 0229.
When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, cruise control can be turned
back on.
Cruise control will disengage if either TCS or
StabiliTrak/ESC is turned off. If the brakes are applied, cruise control
disengages.
If equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC), the cruise control system may
automatically brake to slow the vehicle
down to maintain the set following gap
between you and the vehicle in front of you
or while navigating a sharp turn.
5:
Press to turn the cruise control system
on and off. A white indicator comes on in
the instrument cluster when cruise is
turned on.
*: Press to disengage cruise control
without erasing the set speed from memory.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
Driving and Operating 215
Warning (Continued)
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.
5:Press to turn the system on or off. The
indicator turns white on the instrument
cluster when ACC is turned on.
RES+ : Press the control up briefly to
resume the previous set speed or to increase
vehicle speed if ACC is already activated. To
increase speed by about 1 km/h (1 mph),
press RES+ up briefly. To increase speed to
the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer, hold RES+.
SET− :Press the control down briefly to set
the speed and activate ACC or to decrease
vehicle speed if ACC is already activated. To
decrease speed by about 1 km/h (1 mph),
press SET– down briefly. To decrease speed
to the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer, hold SET–.
*: Press to disengage ACC without erasing
the selected set speed.
[: Press to select a following gap setting
for ACC of Far, Medium, or Near.
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See
Instrument Cluster 090. The increment
value used depends on the units displayed.
Switching Between ACC and Regular
Cruise Control
To switch between ACC and regular cruise
control, press and hold
**. A Driver
Information Display (DIC) message displays.
See Vehicle Messages 0113.
ACC IndicatorRegular Cruise Control
Indicator
When ACC is engaged, a green
oindicator
will be lit on the instrument cluster and the
following gap will be displayed. When the
regular cruise control is engaged, a green
Jindicator will be lit on the instrument
cluster; the following gap will not display.
When the vehicle is turned on, the cruise
control mode will be set to the last mode
used before the vehicle was turned off.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
218 Driving and Operating
Press[on the steering wheel to adjust
the following gap. Each press cycles the gap
button through three settings: Far, Medium,
or Near.
When pressed, the current gap setting
displays briefly on the instrument cluster
and HUD, if equipped. The gap setting will
be maintained until it is changed.
Since each gap setting corresponds to a
following time (Far, Medium, or Near), the
following distance will vary based on vehicle
speed. The faster the vehicle speed, the
further back your vehicle will follow a
vehicle detected ahead. Consider traffic and
weather conditions when selecting the
following gap. The range of selectable gaps
may not be appropriate for all drivers and
driving conditions.
Changing the gap setting automatically
changes the alert timing sensitivity (Far,
Medium, or Near) for the Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) feature. See Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) System 0229.Alerting the Driver
Without Head-Up Display
With Head-Up Display Screen Closed
With Head-Up Display Screen Open
If ACC is engaged, driver action may be
required when ACC cannot apply sufficient
braking because of approaching a vehicle
too rapidly.
When this condition occurs, the red collision
alert symbol will flash on the windshield or
on the HUD, if equipped. Eight beeps will
sound from the front.
See Defensive Driving 0188.
Approaching and Following a Vehicle
The vehicle ahead indicator is in the
instrument cluster. It only displays when a
vehicle is detected in your vehicle’s path

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
Driving and Operating 229
APA will instruct the vehicle to stop once a
large enough space is found.
Follow the displayed instructions.
Shift to R (Reverse) to engage automatic
steering. The steering wheel will vibrate
briefly as a reminder to remove hands from
the steering wheel. APA uses idle speed and
braking to park. If idle speed is not
sufficient, gently press the accelerator.
Check surroundings and be prepared to stop
to avoid vehicles, pedestrians, or objects not
detected by the system.
In case the driver brakes, APA will not
disengage. Manual steering by the driver
automatically disengages APA.
Vehicle speed is limited to a maximum of
5 km/h (3 mph) during the parking
maneuver.A progress arrow displays the status of the
parking maneuver. Depending on the space
size, additional maneuvers may be required,
and there will be additional instructions.
When changing gears, allow the automatic
steering to complete before continuing the
parking maneuver. APA will beep and
display a PARKING COMPLETE message.
Apply the brakes and place the vehicle in
P (Park).
APA may automatically disengage if:
.The steering wheel is used by the driver.
.The maximum allowed speed is exceeded.
.The parking brake is applied or the
vehicle is shifted into P (Park).
.There is a failure with the APA system.
.Electronic stability control or antilock
brakes are activated.
.A high priority vehicle message is
displayed in the DIC.
.The driver opens the door with an
unbuckled seat belt.
The brake holds the vehicle until the parking
brake or brake is applied, or the vehicle is
shifted into P (Park).
To cancel APA, press
Oagain.
When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
The APA system may require a short period
of driving along curves to calibrate.
Assistance Systems for Driving
If equipped, when driving the vehicle in a
forward gear, Forward Collision Alert (FCA),
Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep
Assist (LKA), Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA),
Lane Change Alert (LCA), Automatic
Emergency Braking (AEB), and/or the Front
Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System can help to
avoid a crash or reduce crash damage.
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System
If equipped, the FCA system may help to
avoid or reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes. When approaching a
vehicle ahead too quickly, FCA provides a
red flashing alert on the windshield and
rapidly beeps. FCA also lights an amber
visual alert if following another vehicle
much too closely.
FCA detects vehicles within a distance of
approximately 60 m (197 ft) and operates at
speeds above 8 km/h (5 mph).

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
Driving and Operating 231
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 another detected vehicle too
rapidly, the HUD can display indicator on
the screen as the FCA display.
Also, eight rapid high-pitched beeps will
sound from the front. When this Collision
Alert occurs, the brake system may prepare
for driver braking to occur more rapidly
which can cause a brief, mild deceleration.
Continue to apply the brake pedal as
needed. Cruise control may be disengaged
when the Collision Alert occurs.Tailgating Alert
The vehicle ahead indicator will display
amber when you are following a vehicle
ahead too closely.
Selecting the Alert Timing
The Collision Alert control is on the steering
wheel. Press
[to set the FCA timing to
Far, Medium, or Near. The first button press
shows the current setting on the DIC.
Additional button presses will change this
setting. The chosen setting will remain until
it is changed and will affect the timing of
both the Collision Alert and the Tailgating
Alert features. The timing of both alerts will
vary based on vehicle speed. The faster the
vehicle speed, the farther away the alert will
occur. Consider traffic and weather
conditions when selecting the alert timing.
The range of selectable alert timings may
not be appropriate for all drivers and driving
conditions. If your vehicle is equipped with Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC), changing the FCA
timing setting automatically changes the
following gap setting (Far, Medium,
or Near).
Following Distance Indicator
The following distance to a moving vehicle
ahead in your path is indicated in following
time in seconds on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level) 0104 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 107. The minimum following time is
0.5 seconds away. If there is no vehicle
detected ahead, or the vehicle ahead is out
of sensor range, dashes will be displayed.
Unnecessary Alerts
FCA may provide unnecessary alerts for
turning vehicles, vehicles in other lanes,
objects that are not vehicles, or shadows.
These alerts are normal operation and the
vehicle does not need service.
Cleaning the System
If the FCA system does not seem to operate
properly, this may correct the issue:
.Clean the outside of the windshield in
front of the rearview mirror.