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186 Driving and Operating
.Shift to a lower gear when going down
steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle on a
long downhill slope can cause brake
overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a loss of
braking. Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the brakes
on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. This can
cause overheating of the brakes and loss
of steering assist. Always have the engine
running and the vehicle in gear.
.Drive at speeds that keep the vehicle in
its own lane. Do not swing wide or cross
the center line.
.Be alert on top of hills; something could
be in your lane (e.g., stalled car, crash).
.Pay attention to special road signs (e.g.,
falling rocks area, winding roads, long
grades, passing or no-passing zones) and
take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or IceCaution
To avoid damage to the wheels and
brake components, always clear snow and
ice from inside the wheels and
underneath the vehicle before driving.
Snow or ice between the tires and the road
creates less traction or grip, so drive
carefully. Wet ice can occur at about 0 °C
(32 °F) when freezing rain begins to fall.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the
surface under the tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control. See Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control 0204.
.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) 0202.
.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 for
vehicles equipped with AWD. Select
Snow/Ice Mode for FWD only vehicles.
See Driver Mode Control 0208 and
All-Wheel Drive 0201.
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
0 326. To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
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Driving and Operating 187
{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.
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 0197. To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then shut
the engine off and partially close the
window. Moving about to keep warm also
helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive, when
running the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than
the idle speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to signal
for help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to
free the vehicle when stuck in sand, mud,
ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction system
to free the vehicle, turn the traction system
off and use the rocking method. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control
0
204.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle can
overheat, causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the wheels as
little as possible and avoid going above
56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to
clear the area around the front wheels. Turn
off any traction system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. To
prevent transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward and
reverse directions causes a rocking motion
that could free the vehicle. If that does not
get the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the vehicle
does need to be towed out, see Transporting
a Disabled Vehicle 0302.
Buick Envision Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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192 Driving and Operating
Stopping the Engine/OFF (No Indicator
Lights) :When the vehicle is stopped, press
ENGINE START/STOP once to turn the
engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the vehicle will
turn off, and Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) will remain active. See Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) 0195.
When the vehicle is stopped, press ENGINE
START/STOP to turn off the vehicle. The
transmission will shift to P (Park)
automatically.
Do not turn the engine off when the vehicle
is moving. This will cause a loss of power
assist in the brake and steering systems and
disable the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency: 1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes repeatedly. This
may deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the vehicle is moving.
After shifting to N (Neutral), firmly apply
the brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location. 3. Come to a complete stop, shift to
P (Park), and turn the vehicle off. The
vehicle must be in P (Park) to turn the
vehicle off.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake 0202.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while moving may
cause loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable the
airbags. While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over, and
must be shut off while driving, press and
hold ENGINE START/STOP for longer than
two seconds, or press twice in five seconds.
Accessory (Amber Indicator Light) : This
mode allows some electrical accessories to
be used when the engine is off.
With the vehicle off, pressing the button
one time without the brake pedal applied
will place the vehicle in accessory.
The vehicle will switch from accessory to
OFF after five minutes to prevent battery
rundown. ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator Light) :
This
mode is for driving and starting. With the
vehicle off, and the brake pedal applied,
pressing the button once will place the
vehicle in ON/RUN/START. Once engine
cranking begins, release the button. Engine
cranking will continue until the engine
starts. See Starting the Engine 0192. The
vehicle will then remain in ON/RUN.
Service Mode
This power mode is available for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction indicator lamp
as may be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and the
brake pedal not applied, pressing and
holding ENGINE START/STOP for more than
five seconds will place the vehicle in Service
Mode. The instruments and audio systems
will operate as they do in ON/RUN, but the
vehicle will not be able to be driven. The
engine will not start in Service Mode. Press
the button again to turn the vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the proper gear,
P (Park) or N (Neutral). To restart the engine
when the vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral).
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Driving and Operating 201
Manual Mode
Tap ShiftCaution
Driving with the engine at a high rpm
without upshifting while using Tap Shift,
could damage the vehicle. Always upshift
when necessary while using Tap Shift.
Vehicles with Tap Shift have controls on the
back of the steering wheel to manually shift
the automatic transmission. Permanent Tap Shift Mode
To enter Permanent Tap Shift Mode:
1. With the vehicle in D (Drive), press the M (Manual Mode) button.
2. Pull the steering wheel control toward you to shift. Pull the left control to
downshift, and the right control to
upshift.
To exit Permanent Tap Shift Mode, pull the
D (Drive) switch on the center console.
Temporary Tap Manual Shift Mode
To enter Temporary Tap Shift Mode: 1. With the transmission in D (Drive) and not in Permanent Tap Shift Mode, the
Tap Shift controls will activate a
Temporary Tap Shift Mode, allowing the
transmission to be manually shifted.
2. To deactivate, hold the right control briefly. Automatic shifts return after no
manual shifts have been done for seven
to 10 seconds.
While using Tap Shift, the vehicle will have
firmer, quicker shifting. This can be used for
sport driving or when climbing or
descending hills, to stay in gear longer,
or to downshift for more power or engine
braking. The transmission will only allow shifting
into gears appropriate for the vehicle speed
and engine revolutions per minute (rpm).
If shifting is prevented for any reason, the
M or D will flash in the instrument cluster.
The transmission will not automatically shift
to the next higher gear if the engine rpm is
too high. It will only automatically shift to
the next lower gear if the engine rpm is
much too low.
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature can operate in
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode. When the
AWD feature is active, the system transfers
engine power, if required, to all four wheels.
The system is fully automatic and adjusts to
road conditions for improved traction and
control. In FWD Mode engine power is
transferred to the front wheels only, and
the AWD feature is off.
The AWD feature is automatically activated
when certain modes are selected using the
Driver Mode Control switch. When an AWD
mode change is requested the light will
flash briefly while the system is engaging
and the AWD light will be displayed when
Buick Envision Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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202 Driving and Operating
the system is active. When a non-AWD
Mode is selected, the light will flash briefly
while the system disengages and a 2WD
light will be displayed when the AWD
system is off. SeeDriver Mode Control
0 208.
When a compact spare tire is installed on an
AWD vehicle, the system will automatically
detect the compact spare and reduce AWD
performance to protect the system. To
restore AWD operation and prevent
excessive wear on the system, replace the
compact spare with a full-size tire as soon as
possible. See Compact Spare Tire 0300.
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps
prevent a braking skid and maintain steering
while braking hard.
ABS performs a system check when the
vehicle is first driven. A momentary motor
or clicking noise may be heard while this
test is going on, and the brake pedal may
move slightly. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this warning
light stays on. See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light 0100.
ABS does not change the time needed to
get a foot on the brake pedal and does not
always decrease stopping distance. If you
get too close to the vehicle ahead, there will
not be enough time to apply the brakes if
that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room ahead to stop, even
with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down firmly. Hearing or feeling ABS
operate is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can
help even more than braking.
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. See Electric Parking Brake
Light 0100 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light 0100.
There are also parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.
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208 Driving and Operating
HDC can maintain vehicle speeds between
3 and 22 km/h (2 and 14 mph) on an incline
greater than or equal to a 10% grade.
A blinking HDC light indicates the system is
actively applying the brakes to maintain
vehicle speed.
When HDC is activated, the initial HDC
speed is set to the current driving speed.
It can be increased or decreased by pressing
+RES or–SET on the steering wheel or by
applying the accelerator or brake pedal. This
adjusted speed becomes the new set speed.
HDC will remain enabled between 22 and
60 km/h (14 and 37 mph); however vehicle
speed cannot be set or maintained in this
range. It will automatically disable if the
vehicle speed is above 80 km/h (50 mph) or
above 60 km/h (37 mph) for at least
30 seconds. Press
5again to re-enable HDC.
Driver Mode Control
Driver Mode Control (DMC) allows the driver
to adjust the overall driving experience to
better suit preference by adjusting multiple
subsystems. Driver Mode availability and
affected vehicle subsystems are dependent
upon vehicle trim level, region, and optional
features. If the vehicle is in Tour Mode or AWD
Mode, it will stay in that mode through
future ignition cycles. If the vehicle is in any
other mode, it will return to Tour Mode
when the vehicle is restarted. When a mode
is selected, an indicator will come on in the
instrument cluster.
Driver Mode Control Switch
To activate each mode, press the MODE
button on the center console.
Tour Mode : Use for normal city and
highway driving to provide a smooth ride.
This setting provides balance between
comfort and handling. This is the standard/ default mode. There is no persistent
indicator in the instrument cluster for
this mode.
AWD Mode :
AWD Mode provides drive
torque to all four wheels. Select AWD Mode
to improve traction and control on slippery
road surfaces, such as gravel, sand, wet
pavement, snow, and ice. When in AWD
Mode, the AWD Mode indicator light will be
on. For more information on AWD Mode,
see All-Wheel Drive 0201.
Sport Mode : Use where road conditions or
personal preference demand a more
controlled response.
Sport Mode improves vehicle handling and
acceleration on dry pavement. When active,
Sport Mode modifies steering efforts,
transmission shifting, AWD torque and
suspension tuning, if equipped.
Off-Road Mode : Use this mode for off-road
recreational driving. Off-Road Mode should
be used to improve driving at moderate
speeds, on grass, gravel, dirt, unpaved roads,
or snow-covered roads. The accelerator pedal
is tuned for off-road use. This mode modifies
pedal mapping, AWD, ABS, ESC, and TCS
Performance.
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214 Driving and Operating
.To increase vehicle speed in larger
increments, hold RES+. While holding
RES+, the vehicle speed increases to the
next 5 km/h (5 mph) step, then continues
to increase by 5 km/h (5 mph) at a time.
The set speed can also be increased while
the vehicle is stopped.
.If stopped with the brake applied, press
RES+ until the desired set speed is
displayed.
.If ACC is holding the vehicle at a stop and
there is another vehicle directly ahead,
pressing RES+ will increase the set speed.
.Pressing RES+ when there is no longer a
vehicle ahead or the vehicle ahead is
pulling away and the brake is not applied
will cause the ACC to resume.
When it is determined that there is no
vehicle ahead or the vehicle ahead is beyond
the selected following gap, then the vehicle
speed will increase to the set speed.
Reducing Speed While ACC is at a Set Speed
If ACC is already activated, do one of the
following:
.Use the brake to get to the desired lower
speed. Release the brake and press SET–.
The vehicle will now cruise at the lower
speed.
.Press and hold SET– down until the
desired lower speed is reached, then
release it.
.To decrease the vehicle speed in smaller
increments, press SET− down briefly. For
each press, the vehicle goes about 1 km/h
or (1 mph) slower.
.To decrease the vehicle speed in larger
increments, hold SET−. While holding
SET−, the vehicle speed decreases to the
next 5 km/h (5 mph) step, then continues
to decrease by 5 km/h (5 mph) at a time.
The set speed can also be decreased while
the vehicle is stopped.
.If stopped with the brake applied, press
or hold SET− until the desired set speed is
displayed.
Selecting the Follow Distance
When a slower moving vehicle is detected
ahead within the selected following gap,
ACC will adjust the vehicle's speed and
attempt to maintain the follow distance gap
selected.
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.
Far Gap Setting
Medium Gap Setting
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Driving and Operating 215
Near Gap Setting
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 0230. Courtesy Gap
Press and hold
[on the steering wheel
when vehicle is moving to temporarily
increase the gap with the vehicle ahead to
allow for merging traffic.
Press and hold
[when stopped to cancel
ACC from resuming automatically (if the
stop is brief) and remain stationary. This can
be used to allow traffic to merge between
you and the vehicle ahead. Press RES+ or
the accelerator pedal to resume ACC.
Following distance gap will return to the
original selection after hold.
Alerting the Driver
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 collision
alert symbol will flash on the windshield.
Either eight beeps will sound from the front,
or both sides of the Safety Alert Seat will
pulse five times. Touch the Settings icon on
the infotainment home page. Select
“Vehicle”
to display the list of available
options and select “Collision/Detection
Systems”.
See Defensive Driving 0182.
Approaching and Following a Vehicle
The vehicle ahead indicator is in the
instrument cluster and HUD display (if
equipped). It only displays when a vehicle is
detected in your vehicle’s path moving in
the same direction. If this symbol is not
displaying, ACC will not respond to or brake
for vehicles ahead.
ACC automatically slows the vehicle down
and adjusts vehicle speed to follow a
detected vehicle ahead at the selected
following gap. The vehicle speed increases or