Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/25/23
6 Introduction
1.Air Vents 0149.
2. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn and
Lane-Change Signals 0120.
IntelliBeam System Button (If Equipped).
See Exterior Lamp Controls 0117.
3. Instrument Cluster 097.
Driver Information Center (DIC) Display.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
0 109.
4. Windshield Wiper/Washer 089.
5. Infotainment System. See Overview
0 125.
6. Infotainment Screen. See Overview0125.
7. Light Sensor. See Automatic Headlamp
System 0119.
Anti-Theft Alarm System. See Vehicle
Alarm System 028.
8. Hazard Warning Flashers 0120.
9. Climate Control Systems 0144.
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
0 146.
Heated Front Seats 044. (If Equipped).
10. Power Outlets 092.
11. Wireless Charging 094 (If Equipped). 12. Auto Stop Disable Switch. See
Stop/Start
System 0165.
All-Wheel Drive Button. (If Equipped). See
All-Wheel Drive 0171.
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) 0200 (If
Equipped).
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0174.
13. Electric Parking Brake 0172.
14. Shift Lever. See Automatic Transmission
0 169.
15. USB Port 0130.
16. ENGINE START/STOP Button. (Out of View). See Ignition Positions 0162.
17. Steering Wheel Controls 0126.
18. Horn 089.
19. Steering Wheel Adjustment 089 (Out
of View).
20. Cruise Control 0176.
Adaptive Cruise Control (Camera) 0177
(If Equipped).
Heated Steering Wheel 089 (If
Equipped).
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System
0 193 (If Equipped). 21. Hood Release. See
Hood0216.
22. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light) 0102.
23. Instrument Panel Fuse Block 0245.
24. Exterior Lamp Controls 0117.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/25/23
8 Introduction
1.Air Vents 0149.
2. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn and
Lane-Change Signals 0120.
IntelliBeam System Button (If Equipped).
See Exterior Lamp Controls 0117.
3. Instrument Cluster 097.
Driver Information Center (DIC) Display.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
0 109.
4. Windshield Wiper/Washer 089.
5. Infotainment System. See Overview
0 125.
6. Infotainment Screen. See Overview0125.
7. Light Sensor. See Automatic Headlamp
System 0119.
Anti-Theft Alarm System. See Vehicle
Alarm System 028.
8. Hazard Warning Flashers 0120.
9. Climate Control Systems 0144.
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
0 146.
Heated Front Seats 044. (If Equipped).
10. Power Outlets 092.
11. Wireless Charging 094 (If Equipped). 12. Auto Stop Disable Switch. See
Stop/Start
System 0165.
All-Wheel Drive Button. (If Equipped). See
All-Wheel Drive 0171.
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) 0200 (If
Equipped).
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0174.
13. Electric Parking Brake 0172.
14. Shift Lever. See Automatic Transmission
0 169.
15. USB Port 0130.
16. ENGINE START/STOP Button. (Out of View). See Ignition Positions 0162.
17. Steering Wheel Controls 0126.
18. Horn 089.
19. Steering Wheel Adjustment 089 (Out
of View).
20. Cruise Control 0176.
Adaptive Cruise Control (Camera) 0177
(If Equipped).
Heated Steering Wheel 089 (If
Equipped).
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System
0 193 (If Equipped). 21. Hood Release. See
Hood0216.
22. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light) 0102.
23. Instrument Panel Fuse Block 0245.
24. Exterior Lamp Controls 0117.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
88 Instruments and Controls
Instruments and Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . 99
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . 101
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . 103 Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 104
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
All-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
Disabled Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Traction Control System (TCS)/ Electronic Stability Control Light . . . . . 106
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Auto Stop Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Adaptive Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 109
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . 109
Vehicle Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Engine Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Universal Remote System Operation . . . 116
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
122 Lighting
Rear Reading Lamps
If equipped with dual sunroof, the rear
reading lamps are over the rear seats.
Press the lamp lens to turn the rear
passenger reading lamps on or off.
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting
The interior lamps turn on when pressingK
on the remote key or opening any doors,
and the dome lamp control is in the door
position.
Some exterior lamps also turn on when
pressing
Kon the remote key or opening
any doors. Low-Beam lamps will only turn
on briefly at night, or in areas with limited
lighting. All lamps will gradually fade out after about
30 seconds.
Entry lighting can be disabled manually by
closing all doors, pressing
Qon the remote
key, or starting the vehicle.
This feature can be changed. On the
infotainment home page, select Settings
T
VehicleTVehicle Locator Lights.
Exit Lighting
Some exterior lamps and interior lamps turn
on when the driver door is opened after the
vehicle is turned off.
The exterior and interior lamps remain on
for a set amount of time, then automatically
turn off.
The interior lights turn on when the vehicle
is turned off.
The exterior lamps turn off immediately by
turning the exterior lamp control off.
This feature can be changed. On the
infotainment home screen, select Settings
T
VehicleTExit Lighting.
Battery Load Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management
(EPM) that estimates the battery's
temperature and state of charge. It then
adjusts the voltage for best performance
and extended life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge is low,
the voltage is raised slightly to quickly bring
the charge back up. When the state of
charge is high, the voltage is lowered
slightly to prevent overcharging. If the
vehicle has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information Center
(DIC), you may see the voltage move up or
down. This is normal. If there is a problem,
an alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the
electrical loads are very high. This is true for
all vehicles. This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all of the power
needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of
the following are on, such as: headlamps,
high beams, rear window defogger, climate
control fan at high speed, heated seats,
engine cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads
plugged into accessory power outlets.
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
164 Driving and Operating
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 the
button for more than five seconds will place
the vehicle in Service Mode. The instruments
and audio systems will operate when the
vehicle is on, 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
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start in any
other position. To restart the engine when
the vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could
damage the transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or accessories,
you could change the way the engine
operates. Any resulting damage would
not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeAdd-On Electrical Equipment 0213.
Gasoline Engine Starting Procedure
1. With the Keyless Access system, the
remote key must be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the brake pedal
applied. When the engine begins
cranking, let go of the button.
The idle speed will go down as the
engine gets warm. Do not race the
engine immediately after starting it.
If the remote key is not in the vehicle,
if there is interference, or if the remote
key battery is low, a Driver Information
Center (DIC) will display a message. See
Remote Key Operation 010.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by returning the ignition to the
START position immediately after
cranking has ended, can overheat and
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
damage the cranking motor, and drain
the battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the cranking
motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds, especially in very cold
weather (below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing the accelerator pedal all the way
to the floor and holding it there as you
press ENGINE START/ STOP. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try, to allow
the cranking motor to cool down. When
the engine starts, release the accelerator.
If the vehicle starts briefly but then
stops again, do the same thing. This
clears the extra gasoline from the
engine. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it. Operate
the engine and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
166 Driving and Operating
Engine Heater
{Warning
Do not plug in the engine block heater
while the vehicle is parked in a garage or
under a carport. Property damage or
personal injury may result. Always park
the vehicle in a clear open area away
from buildings or structures.
The engine heater, if available, can help in
cold weather conditions at or below −18 °C
(0 °F) for easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up. Plug in
the engine heater at least four hours before
starting the vehicle. An internal thermostat in the plug end of the cord will prevent
engine coolant heater operation at
temperatures above
−18 °C (0 °F).
To Use the Engine Heater 1. Turn off the engine.
2. Remove the heater cord from the rear compartment.
3. Check the heater cord for damage. If it is damaged, do not use it. See your dealer
for a replacement.
4. Plug the cord into the receptacle in the front fascia.
5. Plug the other end of the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord or an
extension cord can damage the cord and
may result in overheating and fire.
.Plug the cord into a three-prong
electrical utility receptacle that is
protected by a ground fault detection
function. An ungrounded outlet could
cause an electric shock.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Use a weatherproof, heavy-duty,
15 amp-rated extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the recommended
extension cord in good operating
condition, or using a damaged heater
or extension cord, could make it
overheat and cause a fire, property
damage, electric shock, and injury.
.Do not operate the vehicle with the
heater cord permanently attached to
the vehicle. Possible heater cord and
thermostat damage could occur.
.While in use, do not let the heater
cord touch vehicle parts or sharp
edges. Never close the hood on the
heater cord.
.Before starting the vehicle, unplug the
cord, reattach the cover to the plug,
and securely fasten the cord. Keep the
cord away from any moving parts.
The length of time the heater should remain
plugged in depends on several factors,
including where you park your vehicle. See
your local dealer for advice.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16897608) - 2024 - CRC - 1/23/23
Driving and Operating 167
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
When the vehicle is turned from on to off,
the following features (if equipped) will
continue to function for up to 10 minutes,
or until the driver door is opened. These
features will also work when the vehicle is
on or in accessory mode:
.Infotainment System
.Power Windows (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when any door
is opened)
.Sunroof (during RAP this functionality will
be lost when any door is opened)
.Auxiliary Power Outlet
.Audio System
.OnStar System
Shifting Into Park
{Warning
It can be dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set.
The vehicle can roll. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
To be sure the vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips 0205.
To shift into P (Park): 1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake
0 172
2. Hold the button on the shift lever and push the lever toward the front of the
vehicle into P (Park).
3. Turn the vehicle off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the Engine
Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle
with the engine running. It could
overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle
if the vehicle is not in P (Park) with the
parking brake set. The vehicle can roll. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine
is running. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and shift to
P (Park). SeeShifting Into Park 0167.
If you are towing a trailer, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips 0205.
If you have to leave the vehicle with the
engine running, the vehicle must be in
P (Park) and the parking brake set.
Release the button and check that the shift
lever cannot be moved out of P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of the
vehicle puts too much force on the parking
pawl in the transmission. This happens when
parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not done
properly and then it is difficult to shift out
of P (Park). To prevent torque lock, set the