
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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142 Infotainment System
technology or software incorporated in
receivers compatible with the SiriusXM
Satellite Radio System or that support the
SiriusXM website, the Online Service or any
of its content.
General Requirements:1. A License Agreement from SiriusXM is required for any product that
incorporates SiriusXM Technology and/or
for use of any of the SiriusXM marks to
be manufactured, distributed,
or marketed in the SiriusXM
Service Area.
2. For products to be distributed, marketed, and/or sold in Canada, a separate
agreement is required with Sirius XM
Canada Inc.
TouchSense Technology and TouchSense
System 1000 Series Licensed from
Immersion Corporation. TouchSense System
1000 is protected under one or more of the U.S. Patents at the following address
www.immersion.com/patent-marking.html
and other patents pending.
Bose
Bose AudioPilot and Bose Centerpoint
surround are registered trademarks of Bose
Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
Bluetooth
The Bluetooth word mark and logos are
owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any
use of such marks by General Motors is
under license. Other trademarks and trade
names are those of their respective owners.
Java
Java is a registered trademark of Oracle
and/or its affiliates.
MPEG4–AVC (H.264)
THIS PRODUCT IS LICENSED UNDER THE AVC
PATENT PORTFOLIO LICENSE FOR THE
PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE OF A
CONSUMER TO (i) ENCODE VIDEO IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE AVC STANDARD
(“AVC VIDEO”) AND/OR (ii) DECODE AVC
VIDEO THAT WAS ENCODED BY A
CONSUMER ENGAGED IN A PERSONAL AND
NON-COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND/OR WAS
OBTAINED FROM A VIDEO PROVIDERLICENSED TO PROVIDE AVC VIDEO. NO
LICENSE IS GRANTED OR SHALL BE IMPLIED
FOR ANY OTHER USE. ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED
FROM MPEG LA, LLC. SEE
HTTPS://WWW.MPEGLA.COM.
VC-1
THIS PRODUCT IS LICENSED UNDER THE VC-1
PATENT PORTFOLIO LICENSE FOR THE
PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE OF A
CONSUMER TO (i) ENCODE VIDEO IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE VC-1 STANDARD
(“VC-1 VIDEO”) AND/OR (ii) DECODE VC-1
VIDEO THAT WAS ENCODED BY A
CONSUMER ENGAGED IN A PERSONAL AND
NON-COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND/OR WAS
OBTAINED FROM A VIDEO PROVIDER
LICENSED TO PROVIDE VC-1 VIDEO. NO
LICENSE IS GRANTED OR SHALL BE IMPLIED
FOR ANY OTHER USE. ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED
FROM MPEG LA, LLC. SEE
HTTPS://WWW.MPEGLA.COM.
MPEG4–Visual
USE OF THIS PRODUCT IN ANY MANNER
THAT COMPLIES WITH THE MPEG-4 VISUAL
STANDARD IS PROHIBITED, EXCEPT FOR USE
BY A CONSUMER ENGAGING IN PERSONAL
AND NON-COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES.

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Driving and Operating 151
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Driving Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Vehicle Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 152
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 167Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . 168
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 169
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Adaptive Cruise Control (Camera) . . . . . . 177
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems . . . 187
Assistance Systems for Parking orBacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Automatic Parking Assist (APA) . . . . . . . . 191
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 193
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . 195
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . 204

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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152 Driving and Operating
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Driving Information
Driver Behavior
Driving is an important responsibility. Driver
behavior, the driving environment, and the
vehicle's design all affect how well a vehicle
performs.
Being aware of these factors can help in
understanding how the vehicle handles and
what can be done to avoid many types of
crashes, including a rollover crash.
Most serious injuries and fatalities to
unbelted occupants can be reduced or
prevented by the use of seat belts. In a
rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt. In addition,
avoiding excessive speed, sudden or abrupt
turns, impaired driving, and aggressive
driving can help make trips safer and avoid
the possibility of a crash.
Driving Environment
Be prepared for driving in inclement
weather, at night, or during other times
where visibility or traction may be limited, such as on curves, slippery roads, or hilly
terrain. Unfamiliar surroundings can also
have hidden hazards.
Vehicle Design
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
This is because they have a higher ground
clearance and a narrower track or shorter
wheelbase than passenger cars. While these
design characteristics provide the driver with
a better view of the road, these vehicles do
have a higher center of gravity than other
types of vehicles. A utility vehicle does not
handle the same as a vehicle with a lower
center of gravity, like a car, in similar
situations.
Safe driver behavior and understanding of
the environment can help avoid a rollover
crash in any type of vehicle, including utility
vehicles.
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here
are some driving tips to get the best fuel
economy possible.
.Set the climate controls to the desired
temperature after the engine is started,
or turn them off when not required.

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Driving and Operating 153
.On AWD vehicles, seeAll-Wheel Drive
0 171.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods
of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same
TPC Spec number molded into the tire's
sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments have
enacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area. To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.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 to always expect
the unexpected. The first step in driving
defensively is to wear a seat belt. See Seat
Belts 048.
.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
your vehicle and the vehicle in front
of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.

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158 Driving and Operating
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. SeeRoadside Assistance Program
0 301. To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
{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.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.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 0168.
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
174.
{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).
If equipped, select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode. See All-Wheel Drive 0171.
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

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162 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.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.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.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 breaking-in
guideline every time you get new
brake linings.
.Do not tow a trailer during break-in.
SeeTrailer Towing 0208 for the
trailer towing capabilities of the
vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load
can be gradually increased.
On new vehicles, the various mechanical and
electrical systems experience a “break-in”
period during the first 6 400 km (4,000 mi)
of routine driving. As the vehicle is driven,
the mechanical systems adjust to provide
optimal fuel economy and transmission shift
performance.
Electrical systems will adapt and calibrate
during the break-in period. A one-time
occurrence of clicks and similar vehicle
noises is normal during this process. Normal driving charges the vehicle’s battery
to achieve the best operation of the vehicle,
including fuel economy and the Stop/Start
System. See
Stop/Start System 0165.
Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an electronic keyless ignition
with pushbutton start.
The remote key must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the pushbutton
start is not working, the vehicle may be
near a strong radio antenna signal causing
interference to the Keyless Access system.
See Remote Key Operation 010.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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202 Driving and Operating
A camera blocked message may display if
the camera is blocked. Some driver
assistance systems may have reduced
performance or not work at all. An LKA or
LDW unavailable message may display if the
systems are temporarily unavailable. This
message could be due to a blocked camera.
The LKA system does not need service. Clean
the outside of the windshield behind the
rearview mirror.
LKA assistance and/or LDW alerts may occur
due to tar marks, shadows, cracks in the
road, temporary or construction lane
markings, or other road imperfections. This
is normal system operation; the vehicle does
not need service. Turn LKA off if these
conditions continue.
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel
GM recommends the use of TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline to keep the engine clean,
reduce engine deposits, and maintain
optimal vehicle performance. Look for the
TOP TIER Logo or see www.toptiergas.com
for a list of TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
marketers and applicable countries.
Recommended Fuel
Regular unleaded gasoline meeting ASTM
specification D4814 with a posted octane
rating (R+M)/2 of 87 or greater is
recommended. Do not use gasoline with a
posted octane rating of less than 87, as this
will result in reduced performance and
driveability. If heavy knocking is heard when
using gasoline rated at 87 or greater, the
engine needs service.Do not use any fuel labeled E85 or FlexFuel.
Do not use gasoline with ethanol levels
greater than 15% by volume.
Prohibited Fuels
Caution
Do not use fuels with any of the
following conditions; doing so may
damage the vehicle and void its
warranty:
.For vehicles that are not FlexFuel, fuel
labeled greater than 15% ethanol by
volume, such as mid-level ethanol
blends (16–50% ethanol), E85,
or FlexFuel.
.Fuel with any amount of methanol,
methylal, ferrocene, and aniline. These
fuels can corrode metal fuel system
parts or damage plastic and rubber
parts.
.Fuel containing metals such as
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT), which can damage
the emissions control system and
spark plugs.
(Continued)

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Driving and Operating 203
Caution (Continued)
.Fuel with a posted octane rating of
less than the recommended fuel. Using
this fuel will lower fuel economy and
performance, and may decrease the
life of the emissions catalyst.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico post fuel
octane ratings in anti-knock index (AKI). For
fuel not to use in a foreign country, see
Prohibited Fuels0202.
Fuel Additives
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is highly
recommended for use with your vehicle.
If your country does not have TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline, add ACDelco Fuel
System Treatment Plus−Gasoline to the
vehicle’s gasoline fuel tank at every oil
change or 15 000 km (9,000 mi), whichever
occurs first. TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline and
ACDelco Fuel System Treatment Plus
−Gasoline will help keep your vehicle’s
engine fuel deposit free and performing
optimally.
Filling the Tank
An arrow on the fuel gauge indicates which
side of the vehicle the fuel door is on. See
Fuel Gauge 098.
{Warning
Fuel vapors and fuel fires burn violently
and can cause injury or death.
Follow these guidelines to help avoid
injuries to you and others:
.Read and follow all the instructions on
the fuel pump island.
.Turn off the engine when refueling.
.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.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Before touching the fill nozzle, touch a
metallic object to discharge static
electricity from your body.
.Fuel can spray out if the fill nozzle is
inserted too quickly. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly full, and is
more likely in hot weather. Insert the
fill nozzle slowly and wait for any hiss
noise to stop before beginning to
flow fuel.
To open the fuel door, push and release the
rearward center edge of the door.