wheel alignment BUICK ENCORE 2014 Owner's Manual

Black plate (2,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014813) - 2014 - crc - 10/22/13
10-2 Vehicle Care
Uniform Tire QualityGrading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-54
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-61
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Towing
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Recreational Vehicle
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems,
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, safety belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non‐dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and

Black plate (49,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014813) - 2014 - crc - 10/22/13
Vehicle Care 10-49
.The tire has a puncture, cut,
or other damage that cannot
be repaired well because of
the size or location of the
damage.
Tire Rotation
Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km (7,500 mi). See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-2.
Tires are rotated to achieve a
uniform wear for all tires. The
first rotation is the most
important.
Anytime unusual wear is
noticed, rotate the tires as soon
as possible, check for proper tire
inflation pressure, and check for
damaged tires or wheels. If the
unusual wear continues after the
rotation, check the wheelalignment. See
When It Is Time
for New Tires on page 10-50
and Wheel Replacement on
page 10-54.
Use this rotation pattern when
rotating the tires.
Do not include the compact
spare tire in the tire rotation.
Adjust the front and rear tires to
the recommended inflation
pressure on the Tire and Loading Information label after
the tires have been rotated. See
Tire Pressure on page 10-43
and
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9-10.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on
page 10-45.
Check that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” underCapacities
and Specifications on
page 12-2.{Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
(Continued)

Black plate (54,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014813) - 2014 - crc - 10/22/13
10-54 Vehicle Care
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all
passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and
A represent higher levels ofperformance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law. Warning: The
temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The tires and wheels were aligned
and balanced at the factory to
provide the longest tire life and best
overall performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire balancing
are not necessary on a regular
basis. Consider an alignment check
if there is unusual tire wear or the
vehicle is significantly pulling to one
side or the other. Some slight pull to
the left or right, depending on the
crown of the road and/or other road surface variations such as troughs
or ruts, is normal. If the vehicle is
vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels may need
to be rebalanced. See your dealer
for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked, or badly rusted or
corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and
wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it.
Some aluminum wheels can be
repaired. See your dealer if any of
these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of
wheel that is needed.
Each new wheel should have the
same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset, and be
mounted the same way as the one it
replaces.

Black plate (10,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014813) - 2014 - crc - 10/22/13
11-10 Service and Maintenance
the shocks and struts for signs
of leaking, blown seals,
or damage, and can advise
when service is needed.
Tires
Tires need to be properly inflated,
rotated, and balanced. Maintaining
the tires can save money and fuel,
and can reduce the risk of tire
failure.
.Signs that the tires need to be
replaced include three or more
visible treadwear indicators; cord
or fabric showing through the
rubber; cracks or cuts in the
tread or sidewall; or a bulge or
split in the tire.
.Trained dealer technicians can
inspect and recommend the right
tires. Your dealer can also
provide tire/wheel balancing
services to ensure smooth
vehicle operation at all speeds.
Your dealer sells and services
name brand tires. Vehicle Care
To help keep the vehicle looking like
new, vehicle care products are
available from your dealer. For
information on how to clean and
protect the vehicle’s interior and
exterior, see
Interior Care on
page 10-72 andExterior Care on
page 10-68.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is critical for
ensuring that the tires deliver
optimal wear and performance.
.Signs that the alignment may
need to be adjusted include
pulling, improper vehicle
handling, or unusual tire wear.
.Your dealer has the required
equipment to ensure proper
wheel alignment. Windshield
For safety, appearance, and the
best viewing, keep the windshield
clean and clear.
.Signs of damage include
scratches, cracks, and chips.
.Trained dealer technicians can
inspect the windshield and
recommend proper replacement
if needed.
Wiper Blades
Wiper blades need to be cleaned
and kept in good condition to
provide a clear view.
.Signs of wear include streaking,
skipping across the windshield,
and worn or split rubber.
.Trained dealer technicians can
check the wiper blades and
replace them when needed.

Black plate (11,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014813) - 2014 - crc - 10/22/13
INDEX i-11
TiresBuying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Compact Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Inflation Monitor System . . . . 10-45
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Pressure Monitor System . . . 10-44
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-54 Tires (cont'd)
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Towing General Information . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . 10-65
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7
Triangle, Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
U
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . . . 9-34
Underseat Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Uniform Tire QualityGrading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
V
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
IdentificationNumber (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . 5-17

Black plate (12,1)Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014813) - 2014 - crc - 10/22/13
i-12 INDEX
Vehicle CareTire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Vehicle Diagnostics OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
W
Warning Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Lane Departure (LDW) . . . . . . . 9-40
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Warning Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv Cautions and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . .iv
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17 Wheels
Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . 3-42
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Windshield
Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 10-22
Wipers Rear Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4