2021 BUICK ENCORE check engine light

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Driving and Operating 199
Warning (Continued)
.Keep sparks, flames, and smoking
materials away from fuel.
.Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended.
.Avoid using electronic devices while
refueling.
.Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel.
.Keep children away from the fuel
pump and never let children
pump fuel.
.Before touching the fill nozzle, touch a
metallic object to discharge static
electricity from your body.
.Fuel can spray out if the fuel cap is
opened too quickly. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly full, and is
more likely in hot weather. Open the
fuel cap slowly and wait for any hiss
noise to stop, then unscrew the cap all
the way.
To open the fuel door, push and release the
rearward center edge of the door.
Turn the fuel cap counterclockwise to
remove. When refueling, hang the fuel cap
from the hook on the fuel door. Fully insert
and latch the fill nozzle, then begin fueling.
{Warning
Overfilling the fuel tank by more than
three clicks of a standard fill nozzle may
cause:
.Vehicle performance issues, including
engine stalling and damage to the fuel
system.
.Fuel spills.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Under certain conditions, fuel fires.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Wait five seconds
after you have finished pumping before
removing the fill nozzle. Clean fuel from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care 0258. Reinstall the cap by
turning it clockwise until it clicks. Push the
fuel door closed until it latches.
{Warning
If a fire starts while you are refueling, do
not remove the fill nozzle. Shut off the
flow of fuel by shutting off the pump or
by notifying the station attendant. Leave
the area immediately.
Caution
If a new fuel cap is needed, get the right
type of cap from your dealer. The wrong
type of fuel cap may not fit properly,
may turn on the malfunction indicator
lamp, and could damage the fuel system
and emissions system. See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) 081.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
200 Driving and Operating
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{Warning
Never fill a portable fuel container while
it is in the vehicle. Static electricity
discharge from the container can ignite
the fuel vapor. You or others could be
badly burned and the vehicle could be
damaged. To help avoid injury to you
and others:
.Dispense fuel only into approved
containers.
.Do not fill a container while it is
inside a vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, in
a pickup bed, or on any surface other
than the ground.
.Bring the fill nozzle in contact with
the inside of the fill opening before
operating the nozzle. Maintain contact
until filling is complete.
.Keep sparks, flames, and smoking
materials away from fuel.
.Avoid using electronic devices while
pumping fuel.
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information
{Warning
Never tow a trailer with your vehicle.
It was not designed or intended to tow a
trailer.
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) 081.
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 047 and
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 047.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Vehicle Care 201
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . 202
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 202
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 203
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 205
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 210
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . 224
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 227
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . 230
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 231
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 236
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 239 Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 240
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 243
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 245
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 245
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 247
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 253
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
218 Vehicle Care
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts with
new, approved replacement parts. If this is
not done, the brakes may not work
properly. The braking performance can
change in many ways if the wrong brake
parts are installed or if parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir is filled
with GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview 0205 for the
location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a level
surface, the brake fluid level should be
between the minimum and maximum marks
on the brake fluid reservoir. There are only two reasons why the brake
fluid level in the reservoir may go down:
.Normal brake lining wear. When new
linings are installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake hydraulic system.
Have the brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap
and the area around the cap before
removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid. Adding fluid
does not correct a leak. If fluid is added
when the linings are worn, there will be too
much fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it can
spill on the engine and burn, if the
engine is hot enough. You or others could
be burned, and the vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake fluid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system. When the brake fluid falls to a low level,
the brake warning light comes on. See
Brake
System Warning Light 082.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time which
degrades the effectiveness of the brake fluid.
Replace brake fluid at the specified intervals
to prevent increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0267.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid
from a clean, sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants 0275.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake fluid
could result in damage to the brake
system. This could result in the loss of
braking leading to a possible injury.
Always use the proper GM approved
brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the vehicle's
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Immediately wash off any
painted surface.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
254 Vehicle Care
1. Discharged Battery Negative GroundingPoint
2. Discharged Battery Positive Terminal
3. Good Battery Negative Terminal
4. Good Battery Positive Terminal
The jump start negative grounding point (1)
for the discharged battery is the engine
block or an engine mounting bolt. Connect
to a spot as far away from the discharged
battery as possible.
The jump start positive terminal (2) on the
discharged battery is in the engine
compartment on the driver side of the
vehicle. The jump start negative terminal (3) and
positive terminal (4) are on the battery of
the vehicle providing the jump start.
The positive jump start connection for the
discharged battery is under a trim cover.
Open the cover to expose the terminal.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative ground
system.
Caution
If the other vehicle does not have a
12-volt system with a negative ground,
both vehicles can be damaged. Only use
a vehicle that has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump starting.
2. Position the two vehicles so that they are not touching.
3. Set the parking brake firmly and put the shift lever in P (Park) with an automatic
transmission, or Neutral with a manual
transmission.
Caution
If any accessories are left on or plugged
in during the jump starting procedure,
they could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Whenever possible, turn off or
unplug all accessories on either vehicle
when jump starting.
4. Turn the ignition off. Turn off all lights and accessories in both vehicles, except
the hazard warning flashers if needed.
{Warning
An electric fan can start up even when
the engine is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood electric fan.
{Warning
Using a match near a battery can cause
battery gas to explode. People have been
hurt doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a flashlight if you need
more light.
(Continued)

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Service and Maintenance 273
.Trained dealer technicians have the
diagnostic equipment to test the battery
and ensure that the connections and
cables are corrosion-free.
Belts
.Belts may need replacing if they squeak
or show signs of cracking or splitting.
.Trained dealer technicians have access to
tools and equipment to inspect the belts
and recommend adjustment or
replacement when necessary.
Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are crucial to
safe driving.
.Signs of brake wear may include chirping,
grinding, or squealing noises, or difficulty
stopping.
.Trained dealer technicians have access to
tools and equipment to inspect the brakes
and recommend quality parts engineered
for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved fluids
protect the vehicle’s systems and
components. See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0275 for GM approved fluids.
.Engine oil and windshield washer fluid
levels should be checked at every fuel fill.
.Instrument cluster lights may come on to
indicate that fluids may be low and need
to be filled.
Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should be
regularly inspected to ensure that there are
no cracks or leaks. With a multi-point
inspection, your dealer can inspect the hoses
and advise if replacement is needed.
Lamps
Properly working headlamps, taillamps, and
brake lamps are important to see and be
seen on the road.
.Signs that the headlamps need attention
include dimming, failure to light, cracking,
or damage. The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure that they
light when braking.
.With a multi-point inspection, your dealer
can check the lamps and note any
concerns.
Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts help aid in control for a
smoother ride.
.Signs of wear may include steering wheel
vibration, bounce/sway while braking,
longer stopping distance, or uneven
tire wear.
.As part of the multi-point inspection,
trained dealer technicians can visually
inspect the shocks and struts for signs of
leaking, blown seals, or damage, and can
advise when service is needed.
Tires
Tires need to be properly inflated, rotated,
and balanced. Maintaining the tires can save
money and fuel, and can reduce the risk of
tire failure.
.Signs that the tires need to be replaced
include three or more visible treadwear
indicators; cord or fabric showing through
the rubber; cracks or cuts in the tread or
sidewall; or a bulge or split in the tire.
.Trained dealer technicians can inspect and
recommend the right tires. Your dealer
can also provide tire/wheel balancing
services to ensure smooth vehicle
operation at all speeds. Your dealer sells
and services name brand tires.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
302 Index
IndexA
About Driving the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Additional InformationOnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . 272
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Agreements Trademarks and License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . 161
Air Intake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . 42
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . 42
What Will You See after an AirbagInflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 41
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Airbags Adding Equipment to the Vehicle . . . . . . . 47 Airbags (cont'd)
Passenger Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . 47
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Alert Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183, 219
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109, 141
Antenna Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113, 144
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . 128, 153
Armrest Front Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Rear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Audio Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117, 147
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14607636) -
2021 - CRC - 8/18/20
Index 303
Automatic (cont'd)Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Shift Lock Control Function Check . . . . . . 220
Auxiliary Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116, 147
Avoiding Untrusted Media Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113, 144
B
BatteryExterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . 102
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219, 253
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Bluetooth
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123, 126, 149
Bluetooth Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117, 147
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Bulb Replacement
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, andParking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and Backup Lamps . . . . . . . 224
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
California Perchlorate Materials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202, 219, 253, Back Cover
Camera Rear Vision (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Carbon Monoxide (cont'd)
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Management System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Check Engine Light (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . 81
Child Restraints
Infants and Young Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62, 64
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288