check oil BUICK ENCLAVE 2009 Owner's Manual

2. If the engine does not start after
5-10 seconds, especially in
very cold weather (below 0°F
or−18°C), it could be ooded with
too much gasoline. Try pushing
the accelerator pedal all the way
to the oor and holding it there as
you hold the key in START for up
to a maximum of 15 seconds.
Wait at least 15 seconds between
each try, to allow the cranking
motor to cool down. When the
engine starts, let go of the key
and accelerator. If the vehicle
starts briey but then stops again,
repeat these steps. 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.Notice:The engine is designed
to work with the electronics
in the vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer/retailer. If you do not, the
engine might not perform
properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Engine Coolant Heater
The engine coolant heater can
provide easier starting and better
fuel economy during engine
warm-up in cold weather conditions
at or below 0°F (−18°C). Vehicles
with an engine coolant heater should
be plugged in at least four hours
before starting. Some models
may have an internal thermostat
in the cord which will prevent engine
coolant heater operation at
temperatures above 0°F (−18°C).
To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord. The cord is
located on the driver side of the
engine compartment. It is
routed around the windshield
washer uid reservoir.
3. Plug the cord into a normal,
grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION
Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause an
electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could
overheat and cause a re. You
could be seriously injured. Plug
the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet.
If the cord will not reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least 15 amps.
Features and Controls 2-23

If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection for lack of OBD II
system readiness, your dealer/
retailer can prepare the vehicle for
inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
{CAUTION
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches re.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.The oil pressure light should come
on briey as the engine is started.
If it does not come on have the
vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not owing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem.
Security Light
This light ashes when the security
system is activated.
For more information, see
Theft-Deterrent Systems on
page 2-16.
Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp light comes on when
the fog lamps are in use.
The light goes out when the fog
lamps are turned off. SeeFog Lamps
on page 3-14for more information.
Instrument Panel 3-39

oil life system monitoring the oil life,
additional maintenance is
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule in this manual. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-3
for more information.
Remember, you must reset the OIL
LIFE display yourself after each
oil change. It will not reset
itself. Also, be careful not to reset
the OIL LIFE display accidentally at
any time other than when the oil
has just been changed. It cannot be
reset accurately until the next oil
change. To reset the engine oil life
system, seeEngine Oil Life
System on page 5-13.
PARK ASSIST
If your vehicle has the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system,
press the vehicle information
button until PARK ASSIST displays.
This display allows the system to
be turned on or off. Once in
this display, press the set/reset
button to select between ON
or OFF. If you choose ON, thesystem will be turned on. If you
choose OFF, the system will
be turned off. The URPA system
automatically turns back on
after each vehicle start. When the
URPA system is turned off and
the vehicle is shifted out of P (Park),
the DIC will display the PARK
ASSIST OFF message as a
reminder that the system has been
turned off. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-48and
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
(URPA) on page 2-34for more
information.
UNITS
Press the vehicle information button
until UNITS displays. This display
allows you to select between English
or Metric units of measurement.
Once in this display, press the
set/reset button to select between
ENGLISH or METRIC units. All
of the vehicle information will then
be displayed in the unit of
measurement selected.FRONT TIRES or REAR TIRES
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), the
pressure for each tire can be viewed
in the DIC. The tire pressure will
be shown in either pounds per
square inch (psi) or kilopascals
(kPa). Press the vehicle information
button until the DIC displays
FRONT TIRES PSI (kPa) LEFT ##
RIGHT ##. Press the vehicle
information button again until the
DIC displays REAR TIRES PSI
(kPa) LEFT ## RIGHT ##.
If a low or high tire pressure
condition is detected by the system
while driving, a message advising
you to check the pressure in a
specic tire will appear in the
display. SeeInflation - Tire Pressure
on page 5-42andDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-48
for more information.
Instrument Panel 3-43

message stays on, see your
dealer/retailer right away. See
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System on
page 4-7for more information.
AUTOMATIC LIGHT
CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the
automatic headlamps are turned off.
This message clears itself after
10 seconds.
AUTOMATIC LIGHT
CONTROL ON
This message displays when the
automatic headlamps are turned on.
This message clears itself after
10 seconds.
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
This message displays when
the system detects that the battery
voltage is dropping below
expected levels. The battery saver
system starts reducing certain
features of the vehicle that you may
be able to notice. At the point
that the features are disabled, thismessage is displayed. It means that
the vehicle is trying to save the
charge in the battery.
Turn off all unnecessary accessories
to allow the battery to recharge.
The normal battery voltage range is
11.5 to 15.5 volts.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when
the engine oil needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil,
be sure to reset the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message. See
Engine Oil Life System on
page 5-13for information on how to
reset the message. SeeEngine
Oil on page 5-11andScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-3for more
information.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the
vehicle’s tires needs to be checked.This message also displays LEFT
FRONT, RIGHT FRONT, LEFT
REAR, or RIGHT REAR to indicate
which tire needs to be checked.
You can receive more than one tire
pressure message at a time. To
read the other messages that may
have been sent at the same
time, press the set/reset button. If a
tire pressure message appears
on the DIC, stop as soon as
you can. Have the tire pressures
checked and set to those shown on
the Tire Loading Information
label. SeeTires on page 5-36,
Loading the Vehicle on page 4-16,
andInflation - Tire Pressure on
page 5-42. The DIC also shows the
tire pressure values. SeeDIC
Operation and Displays on
page 3-41. If the tire pressure is
low, the low tire pressure warning
light comes on. SeeTire Pressure
Light on page 3-36.
Instrument Panel 3-49

LEFT REAR DOOR OPEN
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the driver side rear
door is not fully closed and the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
Stop and turn off the vehicle, check
the door for obstructions, and
close the door again. Check to see
if the message still appears on
the DIC.
LIFTGATE OPEN
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the liftgate is open while
the ignition is in ON/RUN. Turn off
the vehicle and check the liftgate.
Restart the vehicle and check for the
message on the DIC display.
OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP
ENGINE
Notice:If you drive your vehicle
while the engine oil pressure
is low, severe engine damage
may occur. If a low oil pressure
warning appears on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), stop the
vehicle as soon as possible.
Do not drive the vehicle until the
cause of the low oil pressure
is corrected. SeeEngine Oil on
page 5-11for more information.
This message displays if low
oil pressure levels occur. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible
and do not operate it until the cause
of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check the oil as soon as
possible and have your vehicle
serviced by your dealer/retailer. See
Engine Oil on page 5-11.
PARK ASSIST OFF
If your vehicle has the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system,
after the vehicle has been started
and shifted out of P (Park), this
message displays to remind
the driver that the URPA system
has been turned off. Press the
set/reset button to acknowledge this
message and clear it from the
DIC display. To turn the URPA
system back on, seeUltrasonic Rear
Parking Assist (URPA) on
page 2-34.
PASSENGER DOOR OPEN
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the passenger door is
not fully closed and the vehicle is
shifted out of P (Park). Stop and turn
off the vehicle, check the door for
obstructions, and close the door
again. Check to see if the message
still appears on the DIC.
3-52 Instrument Panel

Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under your vehicle’s
tires so they actually ride on
the water. This can happen if the
road is wet enough and you
are going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or
no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is
to slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
Allow extra following distance.
Pass with caution.
Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
Keep the windshield washer uid
reservoir lled.
Have good tires with proper tread
depth. SeeTires on page 5-36.
Turn off cruise control.
Before Leaving on a
Long Trip
To prepare your vehicle for a long
trip, consider having it serviced
by your dealer/retailer before
departing.
Things to check on your own
include:
Windshield Washer Fluid:
Reservoir full? Windows
clean — inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:In good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:All
levels checked?
Lamps:Do they all work and are
lenses clean?
Tires:Are treads good? Are tires
inated to recommended
pressure?
Weather and Maps:Safe to
travel? Have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention
to your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, nd a
safe place to park your vehicle
and rest.
Other driving tips include:
Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
Keep interior temperature cool.
Keep your eyes moving — scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
4-12 Driving Your Vehicle

Parking on Hills
{CAUTION
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a at surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do
not shift into P (Park) yet.
Turn the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic
if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks
under the trailer wheels.3. When the wheel chocks are in
place, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and shift
the transmission into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake
pedal while you:
start the engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is
clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up
and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer.
SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 6-3for more information.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission uid, engine oil,
axle lubricant, belts, cooling system
and brake system. It is a good
idea to inspect these before and
during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-33

Service and
Appearance Care
Service
Service...............................5-3
Accessories and
Modications.....................5-3
California Proposition 65
Warning............................5-3
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own
Service Work....................5-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle......5-4
Fuel
Fuel....................................5-5
Gasoline Octane.................5-5
Gasoline Specications.......5-5
California Fuel....................5-5
Additives.............................5-5
Fuels in Foreign
Countries..........................5-6
Filling the Tank...................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container..........................5-8
Checking Things Under
the Hood
Checking Things Under
the Hood..........................5-9
Hood Release.....................5-9
Engine Compartment
Overview.........................5-10
Engine Oil.........................5-11
Engine Oil Life System.....5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. . . .5-14
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................5-15
Cooling System.................5-16
Engine Coolant.................5-17
Engine Overheating...........5-20
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
..............5-22
Power Steering Fluid.........5-22
Windshield Washer
Fluid................................5-23
Brakes..............................5-24
Battery..............................5-27
Jump Starting...................5-28
All-Wheel Drive
All-Wheel Drive.................5-32
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming..............5-33
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement.............5-33
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting..................5-33
Halogen Bulbs..................5-34
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps
..........5-34
License Plate Lamp..........5-35
Replacement Bulbs...........5-35
Windshield Replacement
Windshield
Replacement...................5-35
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement...................5-36
Tires
Tires.................................5-36
Tire Sidewall Labeling.......5-37
Service and Appearance Care 5-1

Also, your dealer/retailer has
additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related
problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol,
and reformulated gasolines might
be available in your area. We
recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with
the specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol)
and other fuels containing more
than 10% ethanol must not be used
in vehicles that were not designed
for those fuels.
Notice:This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under
the vehicle warranty.Some gasolines that are not
reformulated for low emissions
can contain an octane-enhancing
additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the
attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. We
recommend against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing
MMT can reduce the life of
spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system
could be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp might turn on. If
this occurs, return to your
dealer/retailer for service.Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If you plan on driving in another
country outside the United States or
Canada, the proper fuel might be
hard to nd. Never use leaded
gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text
on fuel. Costly repairs caused
by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask
an auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in
the country where you will be
driving.
5-6 Service and Appearance Care

Checking Things
Under the Hood
{CAUTION
An electric fan under the hood can
start up and injure you even when
the engine is not running. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION
Things that burn can get on hot
engine parts and start a re.
These include liquids like fuel, oil,
coolant, brake uid, windshield
washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to
drop or spill things that will burn
onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release handle with
this symbol on it. It is located
under the instrument panel on
the driver side of the vehicle.
2. At the front of the vehicle, pull up
on the bottom center of the grille,
and push the secondary hood
release to the left.3. After the lid has been partially
lifted, a gas strut automatically
lifts and holds the hood in
the fully open position.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
ller caps are on properly.
Pull the hood down to close. Lower
the hood until the lifting pressure of
the strut is reduced. Then allow the
hood to fall and latch into place
under its own weight. Check to make
sure the hood is closed. If the hood
does not fully latch, gently push the
hood down at the front and center
until it is completely latched.
Service and Appearance Care 5-9