brakes BUICK ENCLAVE 2009 Owner's Manual

The following describes how the URPA display lights appear as the vehicle
gets closer to a detected object:
DescriptionEnglishMetric
amber light 8 ft2.5 m
amber/amber lights 40 in1.0 m
amber/amber/red lights 23 in0.6 m
amber/amber/red lights ashing 1 ft 0.3 m
The system can be disabled through
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See “Park Assist” under DIC
Operation and Displays on
page 3-41 for more information.
When the System Does
Not Seem to Work Properly
If the URPA system will not activate
due to a temporary condition, the
message PARK ASSIST OFF will be
displayed on the DIC and a red light
will be shown on the rear URPA display when the shift lever is
moved into R (Reverse). This may
occur under the following
conditions:
The driver disables the system.
The parking brake pedal is
depressed.
The ultrasonic sensors are not
clean. Keep the vehicle’s rear
bumper free of mud, dirt,
snow, ice and slush. For cleaning
instructions, see
Washing Your
Vehicle on page 5-86 .
A trailer was attached to the
vehicle, or a bicycle or an
object was hanging out of the
liftgate during the last drive cycle,
the red light may illuminate in
the rear display. Once the
attached object is removed,
URPA will return to normal
operation.
A tow bar is attached to the
vehicle.
The vehicle’s bumper is
damaged. Take the vehicle to
your dealer/retailer to repair
the system.
Other conditions may affect
system performance, such
as vibrations from a jackhammer
or the compression of air
brakes on a very large truck.
If the system is still disabled, after
driving forward at least 15 mph
(25 km/h), take the vehicle to your
dealer/retailer.
2-36 Features and Controls

Cruise Control
With cruise control, a speed of
about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more can
be maintained without keeping
your foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 25 mph (40 km/h).
When the brakes are applied, the
cruise control is disengaged.
{CAUTION
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.The cruise control buttons are
located on left side of the steering
wheel.
T(On/Off):Press to turn cruise
control on and off. The indicator
comes on when cruise control is on.
+ RES (Resume/Accelerate):
Press to make the vehicle
accelerate or resume to a previously
set speed.
SET–:Press to set the speed or
make the vehicle decelerate.
[(Cancel):Press to cancel cruise
control.Setting Cruise Control
Cruise control will not work if the
parking brake is set, or if the master
cylinder brake uid level is low.
The cruise control light on the
instrument panel cluster comes on
after the cruise control has been
set to the desired speed.
{CAUTION
If you leave your cruise control on
when you are not using cruise,
you might hit a button and go into
cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even
lose control. Keep the cruise
control switch off until you want to
use cruise control.
1. Press the
Ibutton.
2. Get up to the speed desired.
3-10 Instrument Panel

3. Press and release the
SET– button located on the
steering wheel.
4. Take your foot off the
accelerator.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
are applied, the cruise control is
disengaged. But it does not need to
be reset.
Once the vehicle speed is 25 mph
(40 km/h) or greater, press the +RES
button on the steering wheel. The
vehicle returns to the previously set
speed and stays there.Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to increase the
vehicle speed while using cruise
control:
Press and hold the +RES button
on the steering wheel until the
desired speed is reached,
then release it.
To increase vehicle speed in
small increments, press the
+RES button briey. Each time
this is done, the vehicle goes
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce the
vehicle speed while using cruise
control:
Press and hold the SET– button
on the steering wheel until the
lower speed desired is reached,
then release it.
To slow down in very small
amounts, press the SET– button
briey. Each time this is done,
the vehicle goes about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase vehicle speed. When you
take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the
previously set cruise speed.
Instrument Panel 3-11

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness
of the hills. When going up steep
hills, you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle speed. When going downhill,
you might have to brake or shift
to a lower gear to keep the vehicle
speed down. When the brakes
are applied the cruise control
is disengaged.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise
control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Press the[button.
Press theTbutton.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory
is erased when the cruise control or
the ignition is turned off.
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel to the left
of the steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Fog LampsThe exterior lamps control has
four positions:
9(Off):Briey turn to this
position to turn the automatic light
control off or on again.
AUTO (Automatic):Turns the
headlamps on automatically
at normal brightness, together with
the following:
Parking Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
;(Parking Lamps):Turns the
parking lamps on together with the
following:
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
3-12 Instrument Panel

If a short distance must be driven
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the
radio and air conditioner.
Voltmeter Gage
When the engine is not running, but
the ignition is on, this gage shows
the battery’s state of charge in
DC volts.
When the engine is running, this
gage shows the condition of
the charging system. The vehicle’s
charging system regulates
voltage based on the state of
charge of the battery. The voltmeter
may uctuate. This is normal.
Readings between the low and high
warning zones indicate the normal
operating range.Readings in the low warning zone
may occur when a large number
of electrical accessories are
operating in the vehicle and the
engine is left idling for an extended
period.
If there is a problem with the battery
charging system, a SERVICE
BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM
message appears in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) and/or the
charging system light comes on.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-48andCharging
System Light on page 3-32for more
information.
However, readings in either warning
zone can indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system.
Have the vehicle serviced as soon
as possible.
Brake System Warning
Light
This vehicle’s hydraulic brake
system is divided into two parts. If
one part is not working, the
other part can still work and stop
the vehicle. For good braking
both parts need to be working.
If the warning light comes on, there
is a brake problem. Have the
brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey
when the ignition key is turned
to ON/RUN. If it does not come on
then, have it xed so it will be
ready to warn if there is a problem.
This light may also come on due
to low brake uid. SeeBrakes
on page 5-24for more information.
United StatesCanada
Instrument Panel 3-33

When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will also
come on when the parking brake is
set. The light will stay on if the
parking brake does not release fully.
If it stays on after the parking
brake is fully released, it means
there is a brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully.
Make sure the parking brake is
fully released. The pedal may be
harder to push or, the pedal may go
closer to the oor. It may take
longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for
service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 4-21.{CAUTION
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning
light on can lead to a crash. If the
light is still on after the vehicle
has been pulled off the road and
carefully stopped, have the
vehicle towed for service.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
For vehicles with the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this light comes
on briey when the engine is started.That is normal. If the light does not
come on then, have it xed so it
will be ready to warn if there
is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the
ignition off. If the light comes
on while driving, stop as soon as it
is safely possible and turn the
ignition off. A chime may also sound
when the light comes on steady.
Then start the engine again to reset
the system. If the ABS light stays
on, or comes on again while driving,
the vehicle needs service. If the
regular brake system warning light
is not on, the vehicle still has
brakes, but not antilock brakes. If
the regular brake system warning
light is also on, the vehicle does not
have antilock brakes and there is
a problem with the regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-33.
For vehicles with a Driver
Information Center (DIC), seeDIC
Warnings and Messages on
page 3-48for all brake related DIC
messages.
3-34 Instrument Panel

Police records show that
almost 40 percent of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve
alcohol. In most cases, these deaths
are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years,
more than 17,000 annual motor
vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol,
with about 250,000 people injured.
For persons under 21, it is against
the law in every U.S. state to drink
alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental
reasons for these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the
leading highway safety problem
is for people never to drink alcohol
and then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol
in a person’s system can make crash
injuries worse, especially injuries to
the brain, spinal cord, or heart.This means that when anyone who
has been drinking — driver or
passenger — is in a crash, that
person’s chance of being killed or
permanently disabled is higher than
if the person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems
help to control the vehicle while
driving — brakes, steering,
and accelerator. At times, as when
driving on snow or ice, it is easy
to ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can
provide. Meaning, you can lose
control of the vehicle. See
StabiliTrak
®System on page 4-5.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect vehicle
performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-3.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-33.
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding
to push the brake pedal is
perception time. Actually doing
it is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about
three-fourths of a second. But that
is only an average. It might be
less with one driver and as long as
two or three seconds or more
with another. Age, physical
condition, alertness, coordination,
and eyesight all play a part. So
do alcohol, drugs, and frustration.
But even in three-fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph
(100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough
space between the vehicle
and others is important.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-3

And, of course, actual stopping
distances vary greatly with the
surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of
the road, whether it is wet, dry, or
icy; tire tread; the condition of
the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force
applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking.
Some people drive in
spurts — heavy acceleration
followed by heavy braking — rather
than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. The brakes might
not have time to cool between
hard stops. The brakes will wear out
much faster with a lot of heavy
braking. Keeping pace with
the traffic and allowing realistic
following distances eliminates a lot
of unnecessary braking. That
means better braking and longer
brake life.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. If the brakes are pumped,the pedal could get harder to push
down. If the engine stops, there
will still 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.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect vehicle’
performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-3.
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that will
help prevent a braking skid.
When the engine is started and the
vehicle begins to drive away,
ABS checks itself. A momentary
motor or clicking noise might
be heard while this test is going on,
and it might even be noticed that
the brake pedal moves a little. This
is normal.If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 3-34.
Let us say the road is wet and you
are driving safely. Suddenly, an
animal jumps out in front of you. You
slam on the brakes and continue
braking. Here is what happens
with ABS:
A computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work
the brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
4-4 Driving Your Vehicle

As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot
up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you
get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, there will not be enough
time to apply the brakes if that
vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up
ahead to stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down rmly and
let antilock work. The antilock pump
or motor operating might be
heard and the brake pedal might be
felt to pulsate, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help more
than even the very best braking.
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a Brake Assist
feature designed to assist the driver
in stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied
the brake pedal in an attempt to
quickly stop or slow down the
vehicle. The stability system
hydraulic brake control module
increases brake pressure at each
corner of the vehicle until the
ABS activates. Minor brake pedal
pulsations or pedal movement
during this time is normal and the
driver should continue to apply
the brake pedal as the drivingsituation dictates The Brake Assist
feature will automatically disengage
when the brake pedal is released
or brake pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has the StabiliTrak
system which combines antilock
brake, traction and stability control
systems and helps the driver
maintain directional control of the
vehicle in most driving conditions.
When you rst start the vehicle and
begin to drive away, the system
performs several diagnostic checks
to ensure there are no problems.
The system may be heard or
felt while it is working. This is normal
and does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle. The
system should initialize before the
vehicle reaches 20 mph (32 km/h).
In some cases, it may take
approximately two miles of driving
before the system initializes.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-5

necessary to turn off the system
when driving in extreme off-road
conditions where high wheel spin is
required. SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck
in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on
page 4-15.
Traction Control Operation
The traction control system is part of
the StabiliTrak system. Traction
control limits wheel spin by reducing
engine power to the wheels
(engine speed management) and by
applying brakes to each individual
wheel (brake-traction control)
as necessary.
The traction control system is
enabled automatically when the
vehicle is started. It will activate and
the StabiliTrak light will ash if it
senses that any of the wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction
while driving. If traction control is
turned off, only the brake-traction
control portion of traction control
will work. The engine speed
management will be disabled. In this
mode, engine power is not reducedautomatically and the driven wheels
can spin more freely. This can
cause the brake-traction control to
activate constantly.
Notice:If the wheel(s) of one axle
is allowed to spin excessively
while the StabiliTrak, ABS and
brake warning lights and any
relevant DIC messages are
displayed, the transfer case could
be damaged. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Reduce engine power
and do not spin the wheel(s)
excessively while these lights and
messages are displayed.
The traction control system may
activate on dry or rough roads
or under conditions such as heavy
acceleration while turning or
abrupt upshifts/downshifts of the
transmission. When this happens, a
reduction in acceleration may be
noticed, or a noise or vibration may
be heard. This is normal.If cruise control is being used when
the system activates, the StabiliTrak
light will ash and cruise control
will automatically disengage. Cruise
control may be reengaged when
road conditions allow. SeeCruise
Control on page 3-10.
StabiliTrak may also turn off
automatically if it determines that a
problem exists with the system.
If the problem does not clear itself
after restarting the vehicle, see your
dealer/retailer for service.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
System
If the vehicle has this feature,
engine power is sent to all four
wheels when extra traction is
needed. This is like four-wheel drive,
but there is no separate lever or
switch to engage or disengage the
front axle. It is fully automatic,
and adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-7