instrument panel BUICK ENCORE 2016 Owner's Guide

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
130 Lighting
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
This feature controls the brightness
of the instrument panel controls and
infotainment display screen. The
thumbwheel is to the left of the
steering column on the instrument
panel.
D(Instrument Panel
Brightness) : Move the
thumbwheel up or down and hold, to
brighten or dim the instrument panel
controls and infotainment display
screen.
Courtesy Lamps
The courtesy lamps come on
automatically when any door is
opened and the dome lamp is in the
door position.
Dome Lamps
Front and Rear Dome Lamps
The front dome lamp controls are in
the overhead console.
((Dome Lamp Override) : Press
to turn the lamps off, even when a
door is open.
H(Door) : When the button is
returned to the middle position, the
lamps turn on automatically when a
door is opened.
'(On) : Press to turn on the
dome lamps.
The rear dome lamp controls are in
the headliner above the rear seats.
9(Dome Lamp Override) : Press
to turn the lamps off, even when a
door is open.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Climate Controls 135
The following are climate control
settings that use more fuel:
.Comfort air conditioning mode.
. The defrost mode.
. Extreme temperature settings,
such as LO or HI.
. High fan speed settings.
To help reduce fuel usage:
. Use the full automatic control as
described under “Automatic
Operation” following.
. Use eco air conditioning, instead
of the comfort air conditioning.
. Select a temperature setting that
is higher in hot weather and
lower in cold weather.
. Turn off the air conditioning
when it is not needed.
. Only use defrost to clear the
windows.
9(Fan Control) : Turn the knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the fan speed.
Turn the knob completely to 0 to
turn off the fan and air conditioning
compressor. Temperature Control :
Turn the
knob clockwise or counterclockwise
to increase or decrease the
temperature setting.
Air Delivery Mode Control :
Press
[,Y, orXto change the
direction of the airflow. Air delivery
mode settings can be combined. An
indicator light comes on in the
selected mode button.
[(Floor) : Air is directed to the
floor outlets.
Y(Vent) : Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
X(Defog) : Air is directed to the
windshield and side window vents.
0(Defrost) : Press to clear the
windshield of fog or frost more
quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield.
For best results, clear all snow and
ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
Air Conditioning
#(Air Conditioning) (For
Non-Stop/Start Vehicles) : Press
to turn the air conditioning on or off.
If the fan is turned off or the outside
temperature falls below freezing, the
air conditioner will not run and the
indicator light turns off.
#(Comfort/Eco Air Conditioning)
(For Stop/Start Vehicles) : Press
to cycle between the off, comfort,
and eco air conditioning modes. The
indicator will be lit in comfort and
eco modes and turns off when there
is no air conditioning function. If the
fan is turned off or the outside
temperature falls below freezing, the
air conditioning compressor will
not work.
For comfort a/c, press
#. The
indicator will turn amber. When the
indicator light is on, the air
conditioner runs automatically to
cool the air inside the vehicle or to
dry the air needed to defog the
windshield faster.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
138 Climate Controls
.Only use defrost to clear the
windows.
Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls
the fan speed, air delivery, air
conditioning, and recirculation in
order to heat or cool the vehicle to
the desired temperature.
When the AUTO indicator light is
on, the system is in full automatic
operation. If the air delivery mode or
fan setting is manually adjusted, the
auto indicator turns off and displays
will show the selected settings.
To place the system in automatic
mode do the following: 1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow the system time to stabilize. Then
adjust the temperature as
needed for best comfort.
To improve fuel efficiency and
to cool the vehicle faster,
recirculation may be
automatically selected in warm
weather. The recirculation light will not come on. Presshto
select recirculation; press it
again to select outside air.
English units can be changed to
metric units through the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
Driver Information Center
(DIC) 0113.
Manual Operation
9(Fan Control) : Press the
lower
9button to decrease the fan
speed. Pressing the lower button
longer turns the fan and cooling off.
Press the upper
9button to
increase the fan speed. The
selected fan speed is indicated by a
number on the display screen.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
Air Delivery Modes : Press
[,Y,
or
Xto change the direction of the
airflow. Air delivery mode settings
can be combined. An indicator light
comes on in the selected mode
button. Changing the mode cancels the
automatic operation and the system
goes into manual mode. Press
AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
[(Floor) :
Air is directed to the
floor outlets.
Y(Vent) : Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
X(Defog) : Air is directed to the
windshield and side window vents.
0(Defrost) : Press to clear the
windshield of fog or frost more
quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield.
For best results, clear all snow and
ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
#(Air Conditioning) (For
Non-Stop/Start Vehicles) : Press
to turn the air conditioning on or off.
If the fan is turned off or the outside
temperature falls below freezing, the
air conditioner will not run and the
indicator light turns off.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation. When the indicator light
is on, the air conditioner runs

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
140 Climate Controls
10 minutes. At higher speeds, the
rear window defogger may stay on
continuously.
For vehicles with heated outside
rearview mirrors, they turn on when
the rear window defogger button is
on and help to clear fog or frost from
the surface of the mirrors. See
Heated Mirrors036.
Caution
Do not try to clear frost or other
material from the inside of the
front windshield and rear window
with a razor blade or anything
else that is sharp. This may
damage the rear window
defogger grid and affect the
radio's ability to pick up stations
clearly. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
MorL(Heated Seats, If
Equipped) : Press to turn the
heated seats on or off. See Heated
Front Seats 047.
((Heated Steering Wheel, If
Equipped) : Press to turn the
heated steering wheel on or off. See
Heated Steering Wheel 095.
Remote Start Climate Control
Operation : For vehicles with the
remote vehicle start feature, the
climate control system may run
when the vehicle is started remotely.
The system uses the driver ’s
previous settings to heat or cool
the inside of the vehicle. The rear
defog may come on during remote
start based on cold ambient
conditions. The rear defog indicator
light does not come on during a
remote start. If the vehicle has front
heated seats, they may come on
during a remote start. The heated
seat indicator lights do not come on
during a remote start. See Remote
Vehicle Start 029 and Heated Front
Seats 047.Sensors
The solar sensor, located on top of
the instrument panel near the
windshield, monitors the solar heat.
The climate control system uses the
sensor information to adjust the
temperature, fan speed,
recirculation, and air delivery mode
for best comfort.
If the sensor is covered, the
automatic climate control system
may not work properly.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
150 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0163.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0168.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Vehicle Care 187
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 188
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 188
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 197
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 198
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 203
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Battery - North America . . . . . . 207
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 208
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 209
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 209
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 211
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 212
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 213
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 214
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 215
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 223
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 239
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 245

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
190 Vehicle Care
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, seeServicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 069.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records 0274.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage
to vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release handle
inside the vehicle. It is located
on the lower left side of the
instrument panel.
2. Go to the front of the vehicleand move the secondary hood
release lever toward the right
side of the vehicle.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Vehicle Care 215
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by
electrical problems.
To check a fuse, look at the
silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the band is broken or melted,
replace the fuse. Be sure to replace
a bad fuse with a new one of the
identical size and rating.
Fuses of the same amperage can
be temporarily borrowed from
another fuse location, if a fuse goes
out. Replace the fuse as soon as
possible.
To identify and check fuses, circuit
breakers, and relays, seeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block 0215,
Instrument Panel Fuse Block 0218,
and Rear Compartment Fuse
Block 0220.
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
To remove the fuse block cover,
squeeze the clip and lift it up.
Caution
Spilling liquid on any electrical
component on the vehicle may
damage it. Always keep the
covers on any electrical
component.
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
218 Vehicle Care
RelaysUsage
03 Cooling fan control 2
04 Trailer (N/A)
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block
The instrument panel fuse block is
on the underside of the driver side
instrument panel. To access the
fuses, remove the storage
compartment. To remove the
storage compartment, open the
compartment and pull it out.
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown. Mini Fuses Usage
1 Body control module 1
2 Body control module 2
3 Body control module 3
4 Body control module 4
5 Body control module 5
6 Body control module 6
7 Body control module 7
8 Body control module 8
9 Discrete logic ignition switch
10 Sensing diagnostic module battery
11 Data link connector
12 HVAC module/ICS
13 Liftgate relay

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Vehicle Care 219
Mini Fuses Usage14 Ultrasonic parking aid module
15 Lane departure warning module/
Interior rearview
mirror
16 Adaptive forward lighting module
17 Door power window switch
18 Rain sensor
19 Body control module regulated voltage
control
20 Steering wheel switch backlighting
21 A/C accessory power outlet/PRNDL
22 Cigar lighter/DC accessory power
outlet
23 –
24 –
25 – Mini Fuses Usage
26 Automatic occupant sensing display
27 Instrument panel cluster/PTC control/
Clutch switch
28 Headlamp switch/ Adaptive forward
lighting/DC converter
29 –
30 Transmission control module battery
31 Instrument panel cluster battery
32 Radio/Chime/ Auxiliary jack
33 Display/Faceplate
34 OnStar/UHP/DAB
S/B Fuses Usage 1 –
2 –
3 Power window motor –front S/B Fuses Usage
4 Power window motor –rear
5 Logistic mode relay
6 –
7 –
8 –
Circuit
Breaker Usage
CB1 –
Midi Fuse Usage M01 PTC
Relays Usage 01 Accessory/Retained accessory power
02 Liftgate
03 –
04 –
05 Logistic mode