towing BUICK ENCORE 2016 User Guide

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Vehicle Care 251
Caution
If the vehicle is towed with all four
wheels on the ground, the
drivetrain components could be
damaged. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not tow the vehicle
with all four wheels on the
ground.
The vehicle was not designed to be
towed with all four wheels on the
ground.
Dolly Towing (All-Wheel-Drive
Vehicles)
All-wheel-drive vehicles must not be
towed with two wheels on the
ground. To properly tow these
vehicles, they should be placed on
a platform trailer with all four wheels
off of the ground.
Dolly Towing
(Front-Wheel-Drive
Vehicles Only)
To tow a front-wheel-drive vehicle
from the front with two wheels on
the ground: 1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Move the shift lever to P (Park).
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position with a
clamping device designed for
towing.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
252 Vehicle Care
5. Remove the key from theignition.
6. Secure the vehicle to the dolly.
7. Release the parking brake.
Towing the Vehicle from
the Rear
Caution
Towing the vehicle from the rear
could damage it. Also, repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Never have the
vehicle towed from the rear.
Do not tow the vehicle from the rear.
Appearance Care
Exterior Care
Locks
Locks are lubricated at the factory.
Use a de-icing agent only when
absolutely necessary, and have the
locks greased after using. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0272.
Washing the Vehicle
To preserve the vehicle's finish,
wash it often and out of direct
sunlight.
Caution
Do not use petroleum-based,
acidic, or abrasive cleaning
agents as they can damage the
vehicle's paint, metal, or plastic
parts. If damage occurs, it would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Approved cleaning
products can be obtained from
(Continued)

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Service and Maintenance 263
frequent checks and services. The
Additional Required Services -
Normal are for vehicles that:
.Carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. See Vehicle Load
Limits 0151.
. Are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits.
. Use the recommended fuel. See
Fuel 0182.
Refer to the information in the
Maintenance Schedule Additional
Required Services - Normal chart.
The Additional Required Services -
Severe are for vehicles that are:
. Mainly driven in heavy city traffic
in hot weather.
. Mainly driven in hilly or
mountainous terrain. .
Frequently towing a trailer.
. Used for high speed or
competitive driving.
. Used for taxi, police, or delivery
service.
Refer to the information in the
Maintenance Schedule Additional
Required Services - Severe chart.
{Warning
Performing maintenance work can
be dangerous and can cause
serious injury. Perform
maintenance work only if the
required information, proper tools,
and equipment are available.
If they are not, see your dealer to
have a trained technician do the
work. See Doing Your Own
Service Work 0189.
Maintenance
Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.
Check the engine oil level. See
Engine Oil 0195.
Once a Month
. Check the tire inflation
pressures. See Tire
Pressure 0228.
. Inspect the tires for wear. See
Tire Inspection 0233.
. Check the windshield washer
fluid level. See Washer
Fluid 0204.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Customer Information 283
.Emergency Tow from a Public
Road or Highway: Tow to the
nearest Buick dealer for
warranty service, or if the vehicle
was in a crash and cannot be
driven. Assistance is not given
when the vehicle is stuck in
sand, mud, or snow.
. Flat Tire Change: Service to
change a flat tire with the spare
tire. The spare tire, if equipped,
must be in good condition and
properly inflated. It is the owner's
responsibility for the repair or
replacement of the tire if it is not
covered by the warranty.
. Battery Jump Start: Service to
jump start a dead battery.
. Trip Interruption Benefits and
Assistance: If your trip is
interrupted due to a warranty
event, incidental expenses may
be reimbursed within the
Powertrain warranty period.
Items considered are reasonable
and customary hotel, meals,
rental car, or a vehicle being
delivered back to the customer,
up to 805 km (500 mi).Services Not Included in
Roadside Assistance
. Impound towing caused by
violation of any laws.
. Legal fines.
. Mounting, dismounting,
or changing of snow tires,
chains, or other traction devices.
Service is not provided if a vehicle
is in an area that is not accessible
to the service vehicle or is not a
regularly traveled or maintained
public road, which includes ice and
winter roads. Off-road use is not
covered.
Services Specific to
Canadian-Purchased Vehicles
. Fuel Delivery: Reimbursement
is up to 7 liters. Diesel fuel
delivery may be restricted.
Propane and other fuels are not
provided through this service.
. Lock-Out Service: Vehicle
registration is required. .
Trip Interruption Benefits and
Assistance: Must be over
150 km from where your trip was
started to qualify.
Pre-authorization, original
detailed receipts, and a copy of
the repair orders are required.
Once authorization has been
received, the Roadside
Assistance advisor will help you
make arrangements and explain
how to receive payment.
. Alternative Service: If
assistance cannot be provided
right away, the Roadside
Assistance advisor may give
permission to get local
emergency road service. You will
receive payment, up to $100,
after sending the original receipt
to Roadside Assistance.
Mechanical failures may be
covered, however any cost for
parts and labor for repairs not
covered by the warranty are the
owner responsibility.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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286 Customer Information
Limited Warranty, and any vehicle
failure related to such parts is not
covered by that warranty.
Repair Facility
GM also recommends that you
choose a collision repair facility that
meets your needs before you ever
need collision repairs. Your dealer
may have a collision repair center
with GM-trained technicians and
state-of-the-art equipment, or be
able to recommend a collision repair
center that has GM-trained
technicians and comparable
equipment.
Insuring the Vehicle
Protect your investment in the GM
vehicle with comprehensive and
collision insurance coverage. There
are significant differences in the
quality of coverage afforded by
various insurance policy terms.
Many insurance policies provide
reduced protection to the GM
vehicle by limiting compensation for
damage repairs through the use of
aftermarket collision parts. Some
insurance companies will notspecify aftermarket collision parts.
When purchasing insurance, we
recommend that you ensure that the
vehicle will be repaired with GM
original equipment collision parts.
If such insurance coverage is not
available from your current
insurance carrier, consider switching
to another insurance carrier.
If the vehicle is leased, the leasing
company may require you to have
insurance that ensures repairs with
Genuine GM Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM) parts or
Genuine Manufacturer replacement
parts. Read the lease carefully, as
you may be charged at the end of
the lease for poor quality repairs.If a Crash Occurs
If there has been an injury, call
emergency services for help. Do not
leave the scene of a crash until all
matters have been taken care of.
Move the vehicle only if its position
puts you in danger, or you are
instructed to move it by a police
officer.
Give only the necessary information
to police and other parties involved
in the crash.
For emergency towing see
Roadside Assistance
Program
0282.
Gather the following information:
. Driver name, address, and
telephone number.
. Driver license number.
. Owner name, address, and
telephone number.
. Vehicle license plate number.
. Vehicle make, model, and
model year.
. Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN).
. Insurance company and policy
number.
. General description of the
damage to the other vehicle.
Choose a reputable repair facility
that uses quality replacement parts.
See “Collision Parts” earlier in this
section.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Index 313
G
GaugesEngine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Warning Lights and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 262
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 128
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
HeadlampsAiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Headlamps (cont'd)
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . .112
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 127
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . .112
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Heating and Air Conditioning . . . 134
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 148
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Indicator Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Instrument Panel
Storage Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 37
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
K
Keyless EntryRemote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . 26
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 223
Lamps Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 127
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Front Fog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Headlamps, Front TurnSignal, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Malfunction Indicator . . . . . . . . . 106

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
316 Index
Proposition65 Warning,
California . . . . . . . . . . . .188, 207, 246
R
Radio Frequency Statement . . . . 288
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . 173
Rear Window Washer/Wiper . . . . . 97
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Records
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 250
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Replacement Parts Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . . . 70 Replacing LATCH System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government . . . . . . . . 289
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Restraints Where to Put . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Reverse Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Ride Control Systems Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Roads
Driving, Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Roof Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . . 277
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
S
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Replacing after a Crash . . . . . . . . 58
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . 57
Safety Defects Reporting Canadian Government . . . . . . . . 289
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . 284
Seats Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Folding Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Heated Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . . 44
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . 44
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Underseat Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
318 Index
Tires (cont'd)Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Pressure Monitor Operation . . 230
Pressure Monitor System . . . . . 229
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Terminology and Definitions . . 226
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 239
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Towing General Information . . . . . . . . . . 185
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 250
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Transmission (cont'd)
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Transportation Program,
Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Triangle, Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
U
Underseat Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 237
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
Vehicle
Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Identification Number (VIN) . . . 275
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . 110 Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
W
Warning Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Caution and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Lane Departure (LDW) . . . . . . . 180
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Warning Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Warnings Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance . . 239
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . 76
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211