2023 BUICK ENCORE GX stop start

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16263917) - 2023 - CRC - 2/24/22
Vehicle Care 249
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 250
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . 251
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 253
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 258
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . 259
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Headlamps and Sidemarker Lamps . . . . . 273
Front Turn Signal and Fog Lamps . . . . . . 274
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps (Base
Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps
(Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Where To Find Fuse Maps for YourVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Where To Find Fuse Maps for Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 280
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 284
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 289
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 292
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 293
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 297
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 299
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 299
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 300
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 307
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . 310
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . 311

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16263917) - 2023 - CRC - 2/24/22
Vehicle Care 251
GM Accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on the
vehicle. See your dealer to accessorize the
vehicle using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, seeAdding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 061.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on your
vehicle if you do not have the proper
knowledge, service manual, tools,
or parts. Always follow owner’s manual
procedures and consult the service
manual for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service work, use
the proper service manual. It tells you much
more about how to service the vehicle than
this manual can. To order the proper service
manual, see Publication Ordering
Information 0342. This vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work,
see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 60.
If equipped with remote vehicle start, open
the hood before performing any service
work to prevent remote starting the vehicle
accidentally. See Remote Vehicle Start 014.
Keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service
work performed. See Maintenance Records
0 330.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.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 263
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine parts can
burn you. Coolant contains ethylene
glycol and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific coolant fill
procedure could cause the engine to
overheat and could cause system
damage. If coolant is not visible in the
surge tank, contact your dealer.
If no problem is found, check to see if
coolant is visible in the coolant surge tank.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is
not at the indicated level mark, add a 50/
50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL coolant at the coolant surge tank,
but be sure the cooling system, including
the coolant surge tank pressure cap, is cool
before you do it.
1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling system, including
the coolant surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about one-quarter of a
turn. If you hear a hiss, wait for that to
stop. This will allow any pressure still
left to be vented out the discharge hose.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with theproper mixture to the indicated
level mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the engine and let it run until
you can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be lower. If the
level is lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge tank until
the level reaches the indicated
level mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16263917) - 2023 - CRC - 2/24/22
268 Vehicle Care
{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 0102.
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 0323.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid
from a clean, sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants 0327.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake fluid
could result in damage to the brake
system. This could result in the loss of
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove the cap
and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number shown on
the original battery label when a new
battery is needed. For replacement of the
battery, see your dealer.
Stop/Start System
If equipped, the Stop/Start system shuts off
the engine to help conserve fuel. See Stop/
Start System 0196. It has an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) 12-volt battery. Installation
of a standard 12-volt battery will result in
reduced 12-volt battery life.
When using a 12-volt battery charger on the
12-volt AGM battery, some chargers have an
AGM battery setting on the charger.
If available, use the AGM setting on the
charger to limit charge voltage to 14.8 volts.
{Warning
WARNING:
Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories can expose you to
chemicals including lead and lead
compounds, which are known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling. For more
information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
See the warning on the back cover.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 279
3. Use the fuse puller to remove the fusefrom the top or side, as shown above. 4. If the fuse must be replaced
immediately, borrow a replacement fuse
with the same amperage from the fuse
block. Choose a vehicle feature that is
not needed to safely operate the vehicle.
Repeat Steps 2-3.
5. Insert the replacement fuse into the empty slot of the blown fuse.
At the next opportunity, see your dealer to
replace the blown fuse.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause the lamps
to go on and off, or in some cases to
remain off. Have the headlamp wiring
checked right away if the lamps go on and
off or remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to heavy
snow or ice, the windshield wipers will stop
until the motor cools and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected from
electrical overload, overload due to heavy
snow or ice may cause wiper linkage
damage. Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers. If the overload is caused by an electrical
problem and not snow or ice, be sure to get
it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit breakers.
This greatly reduces the chance of damage
caused by electrical problems.
{Danger
Fuses and circuit breakers are marked
with their ampere rating. Do not exceed
the specified amperage rating when
replacing fuses and circuit breakers. Use
of an oversized fuse or circuit breaker can
result in a vehicle fire. You and others
could be seriously injured or killed.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16263917) - 2023 - CRC - 2/24/22
292 Vehicle Care
cold, meaning the vehicle has not been
driven for at least three hours or no
more than 1.6 km (1 mi).
Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve stem. Press the tire gauge firmly
onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire inflation
pressure matches the recommended
pressure on the Tire and Loading
Information label, no further adjustment
is necessary. If the inflation pressure is
low, add air until the recommended
pressure is reached. If the inflation
pressure is high, press on the metal
stem in the center of the tire valve to
release air.
Recheck the tire pressure with the tire
gauge.
Put the valve caps back on the valve
stems to keep out dirt and moisture.
Use only valve caps designed for the
vehicle by GM. TPMS sensors could be
damaged and would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
uses radio and sensor technology to check
tire pressure levels. The TPMS sensors
monitor the air pressure in your tires and
transmit tire pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a
different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label, you should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a
low tire pressure telltale when one or more
of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving
on a significantly under-inflated tire causes
the tire to overheat and can lead to tirefailure. Under-inflation also reduces energy
efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance, and
it is the driver's responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation
has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure
telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale
will flash for approximately one minute and
then remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists.
When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to
detect or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for
a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always

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Vehicle Care 293
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on
your vehicle to ensure that the replacement
or alternate tires and wheels allow the
TPMS to continue to function properly.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor Operation 0293.
See Radio Frequency Statement 0343.
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS). The TPMS is
designed to warn the driver when a low tire
pressure condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel
assembly, excluding the spare tire and
wheel assembly. The TPMS sensors monitor
the air pressure in the tires and transmit the
tire pressure readings to a receiver located
in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition is
detected, the TPMS illuminates the low tire
pressure warning light located on the instrument cluster. If the warning light
comes on, stop as soon as possible and
inflate the tires to the recommended
pressure shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits
0 191.
A message to check the pressure in a
specific tire may display in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The low tire
pressure warning light and the DIC warning
message, if equipped, come on at each
ignition cycle until the tires are inflated
to the correct inflation pressure. Using the
DIC, it may be possible to view the tire
pressure levels. For additional information
and details about the DIC operation and
displays, see Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0108 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 110.
The low tire pressure warning light may
come on in cool weather when the vehicle is
first started, and then turn off as the vehicle
is driven. This could be an early indicator
that the air pressure is getting low and
needs to be inflated to the proper pressure. A Tire and Loading Information label shows
the size of the original equipment tires and
the correct inflation pressure for the tires
when they are cold. See
Vehicle Load Limits
0 191, for an example of the Tire and
Loading Information label and its location.
Also see Tire Pressure 0291.
The TPMS can warn about a low tire
pressure condition, but it does not replace
normal tire maintenance. See Tire Inspection
0 296, Tire Rotation 0296, and Tires0285.
Caution
Tire sealant materials are not all the
same. A non-approved tire sealant could
damage the TPMS sensors. TPMS sensor
damage caused by using an incorrect tire
sealant is not covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use only the GM
approved tire sealant available through
your dealer or included in the vehicle.
TPMS Malfunction Light and Message
The TPMS will not function properly if one
or more of the TPMS sensors are missing or
inoperable. When the system detects a
malfunction, the low tire pressure warning
light, defined above, flashes for about
one minute and then stays on for the

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Vehicle Care 295
If the turn signal lamp does not flash within
15 seconds after starting to inflate the tire,
the tire fill alert has not been activated or is
not working.
If the hazard warning flashers are on, the
tire fill alert visual feedback will not work
properly.
The TPMS will not activate the tire fill alert
properly under the following conditions:
.There is interference from an external
device or transmitter.
.The air pressure from the inflation device
is not sufficient to inflate the tire.
.There is a malfunction in the TPMS.
.There is a malfunction in the horn or turn
signal lamps.
.The identification code of the TPMS
sensor is not registered to the system.
.The battery of the TPMS sensor is low.
If the tire fill alert does not operate due to
TPMS interference, move the vehicle about
1 m (3 ft) back or forward and try again.
If the tire fill alert feature is not working,
use a tire pressure gauge.
TPMS Sensor Matching Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. The identification code
needs to be matched to a new tire/wheel
position after rotating the vehicle’s tires or
replacing one or more of the TPMS sensors.
Also, the TPMS sensor matching process
should be performed after replacing a spare
tire with a road tire containing the TPMS
sensor. The malfunction light and the DIC
message, if equipped, should go off at the
next ignition cycle. The sensors are matched
to the tire/wheel positions, using a TPMS
relearn tool, in the following order: driver
side front tire, passenger side front tire,
passenger side rear tire, and driver side rear.
See your dealer for service or to purchase a
relearn tool. A TPMS relearn tool can also be
purchased. See Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor
Activation Tool at
www.gmtoolsandequipment.com or call
1-800-GM TOOLS (1-800-468-6657).
There are two minutes to match the first
tire/wheel position, and five minutes overall
to match all four tire/wheel positions. If it
takes longer, the matching process stops
and must be restarted.
The TPMS sensor matching process is: 1. Set the parking brake. 2. Turn the ignition on without starting the
vehicle or place the vehicle in Service
Mode. See Ignition Positions 0194.
3. Use SELECTor
o/pto select the
Vehicle in the Base Level Driver
Information Center (DIC). Or Use SELECT
or
o/pto select the Info page in the
Uplevel Driver Information Center (DIC).
4. Use the thumbwheel to scroll to the Tire Pressure Learn Menu Item (Base DIC) or
the Tire Pressure Menu Item screen
(Uplevel DIC).
5. Press and hold
lor the thumbwheel to
begin the sensor matching process.
A message requesting acceptance of the
process may display.
6. If requested, press
lor the
thumbwheel again to confirm the
selection. The horn sounds twice to
signal the receiver is in relearn mode
and the TIRE LEARN orTIRE LEARNING
ACTIVE message displays on the DIC
screen.
7. Start with the driver side front tire.
8. Place the relearn tool against the tire sidewall, near the valve stem. Then press
the button to activate the TPMS sensor.