Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
108 Instruments and Controls
Caution (Continued)
4. Restart the vehicle. If the engine oilpressure light stays on for more
than 10 seconds, turn the vehicle
back off. Do not restart the vehicle.
See your dealer for service.
This light should come on briefly when the
engine starts. When the engine is off and
the vehicle is on, the light should remain
illuminated. If it does not come on under
either condition, contact your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on when the
engine is running, it may not have adequate
oil pressure. The oil level may be low or
there may be some other oil system
problem. Turn the engine off when it is safe
to do so and contact your dealer.
Low Fuel Warning Light
A Low Fuel Warning Light near the fuel
gauge comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on as a check to show it is working.
It also comes on when the fuel gauge
indicator nears empty. The light turns off
when fuel is added. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced.
Auto Stop Indicator
This light comes on when the engine is in
an Auto Stop.
See Stop/Start System 0165.
Security Light
The security light should come on briefly as
the engine is started. If it does not come on,
have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off.
If the light stays on and the engine does
not start, there could be a problem with the
theft-deterrent system. See Immobilizer
Operation 029.
High-Beam On Light
This light comes on when the high-beam
headlamps are in use.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
Instruments and Controls 111
amber. SeeTire Pressure Monitor System
0 255 and
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation 0255.
Brake Pad Life : Shows an estimate of the
remaining life of the front and rear brake
pads. Messages are displayed based on
brake pad wear and the state of the system.
Reset the Brake Pad Life display after
replacing the brake pads. See Brake Pad Life
System 0231.
Air Filter Life : Shows an estimate of the
engine air filter’s remaining useful life and
the state of the system. Engine Air Filter Life
95% means 95% of the current air filter life
remains. Messages will display based on the
engine air filter life and the state of the
system. When the REPLACE AT NEXT OIL
CHANGE message displays, the engine air
filter should be replaced at the time of the
next oil change. When the REPLACE SOON
message displays, the engine air filter
should be replaced at the earliest
convenience.
The Air Filter Life display must be reset after
the engine air filter replacement. To reset,
see Engine Air Filter Life System 0224.
Oil Temperature : Shows the current oil
temperature in either degrees Celsius (°C) or
degrees Fahrenheit (°F).Vehicle Status
The following are all possible vehicle status
features.
To access the vehicle status menu touch
A
from the list of home page icons displayed
on the left side of the infotainment display.
Vehicle status content is shown on cards
that are grouped together in option tabs
that are displayed on the infotainment
display.
Touching a card on the infotainment display
opens up a dialog box for that card. To
select a desired option within a dialog box,
touch the option and follow any message or
alerts that may display. Some options may
be unavailable while driving.
Touch Show in Cluster to send the desired
card to the Driver Information Center (DIC)
on the instrument cluster. Touch Remove
from Cluster to remove the selected card
from the instrument cluster. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) 0109.
Options
Maintenance
Tire Pressure : Displays the approximate
pressures of all four tires. Tire pressure is
displayed in either kilopascal (kPa) or in
pounds per square inch (psi). If the pressure
is low, the value for that tire is shown in
amber. See Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 255 and
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation 0255.
When selected, the following options may
be chosen in the dialog: Relearn Tire
Pressure, Turn Off/On Leak Detection, Reset
Leak Detection, and Show in Cluster. When
enabled, you will receive alerts when a fast
and/or slow tire leak is detected. The Leak
Detection speeds shown are either Tire Leak
or Fast Leak. When disabled, you will still
receive low tire pressure alerts. However,
you will stop receiving additional alerts
when a tire is leaking air.
Brake Pad Life : Displays an estimate of the
remaining life of the front and rear brake
pads. Messages are displayed based on
brake pad wear and the state of the system.
When selected, the following options may
be chosen in the dialog: Turn Off/On, Reset
Front Brake Pads, Reset Rear Brake Pads, and
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
Infotainment System 141
Trademarks and License
Agreements
FCC Information
SeeRadio Frequency Statement 0306.
"Made for iPhone," means that an electronic
accessory has been designed to connect
specifically to iPhone, and has been certified
by the developer to meet Apple
performance standards. Apple is not
responsible for the operation of this device
or its compliance with safety and regulatory
standards. Please note that the use of this
accessory with iPhone may affect wireless
performance. iPhone are trademarks of
Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other
countries.
Trial length and service availability may vary
by model, model year or trim. Service will
automatically stop at the end of your trial
subscription period unless you decide to
continue service. If you do not wish to enjoy
your trial, you can cancel by calling the
number below. All SiriusXM services require
a subscription, each sold separately by
SiriusXM after the trial period. Service
subject to the applicable SiriusXM Customer
Agreement and Privacy Policy, visit
www.siriusxm.com (USA) or www.siriusxm.ca
(Canada) to see complete terms and how to
cancel which includes calling 1-866-635-2349
(USA) or 1-888-539-7474 (Canada). Some
services and features are subject to device
capabilities and location availability. Content
varies by SiriusXM subscription package. All
fees, content and features are subject to
change.
SiriusXM with 360L: Some features,
including streaming content and listening
recommendations, require an active OnStar Connected Access plan and may vary by
vehicle model. Content varies by SiriusXM
subscription plan. GM connected vehicle
services vary by vehicle model and require
active service plan, working electrical
system, cell reception and GPS signal. See
onstar.com for details and limitations.
SiriusXM, Pandora, Stitcher and all related
logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc.
and its respective subsidiaries.
SiriusXM satellite service is only available in
the 48 contiguous United States (and Puerto
Rico with limited availability) and Canada.
In Canada: Some deterioration of service
may occur in extreme northern latitudes.
This is beyond the control of SiriusXM.
Explicit Language Notice: Channels with
frequent explicit language are indicated with
an
“XL” after the channel name.
Family-friendly packages are available by
contacting SiriusXM:
.USA Customers —See www.siriusxm.com
or call 1-888-601-6296.
.Canada Customers —See
www.siriusxm.ca or call 1-877-438-9677.
It is prohibited to copy, decompile,
disassemble, reverse engineer, hack,
manipulate, or otherwise make available any
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
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-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
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.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
154 Driving and Operating
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and then
driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol or drugs. You can have a
serious—or even fatal —collision if you
drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Do not drive while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or ride with a driver
who has been drinking or is impaired by
drugs. Find alternate transportation
home; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will remain sober.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control a
vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time. Deciding to push the brake
pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that time, a
vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:
.Keep enough distance between you and
the vehicle in front of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is
being driven, brake normally but do not
pump the brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the engine
stops, there will be some power brake assist
but it will be used when the brake is
applied. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering system,
do not drive over curbs, parking barriers,
or similar objects at speeds greater than
3 km/h (1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused by
misuse of the vehicle is not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
Driving and Operating 157
.Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transmission.
.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.
.Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode. See
All-Wheel Drive0171.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Caution
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 0174.
.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) 0172.
.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. See
All-Wheel Drive 0171.
Cold Weather Mode
In very low temperatures, a cold weather
message may display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The engine speed,
transmission shift patterns, and cabin fan
speed may operate differently to enable the
vehicle to warm up quicker. You can
manually override the cabin fan speed in
cold weather mode.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
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