spare tire BUICK ENCORE 2018 User Guide

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
Vehicle Care 249
Check that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See“Wheel
Nut Torque” underCapacities
and Specifications 0290.
{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
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, a cloth or a paper
towel can be used; however, use
a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
Lightly coat the center of the
wheel hub with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel change or
tire rotation to prevent corrosion
or rust build-up. Do not get
grease on the flat wheel
mounting surface or on the
wheel nuts or bolts.
When It Is Time for New
Tires
Factors such as maintenance,
temperatures, driving speeds,
vehicle loading, and road conditions
affect the wear rate of the tires.
Treadwear indicators are one way to
tell when it is time for new tires.
Treadwear indicators appear when
the tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining.
See Tire Inspection 0248 andTire
Rotation 0248. The rubber in tires ages over time.
This also applies to the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple factors
including temperatures, loading
conditions, and inflation pressure
maintenance affect how fast aging
takes place. GM recommends that
tires, including the spare if
equipped, be replaced after six
years, regardless of tread wear. The
tire manufacture date is the last four
digits of the DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN) which is molded into
one side of the tire sidewall. The
first two digits represent the week
(01–52) and the last two digits, the
year. For example, the third week of
the year 2010 would have a
four-digit DOT date of 0310.Vehicle Storage
Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park
a vehicle that will be stored for at
least a month in a cool, dry, clean
area away from direct sunlight to
slow aging. This area should be free

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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252 Vehicle Care
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in
the United States. The grades
are molded on the sidewalls of
most passenger car tires. The
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG) system does not apply
to deep tread, winter tires,
compact spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production
tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they
must also conform to federalsafety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
All Passenger Car Tires Must
Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements In Addition To
These Grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test
course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and
one-half (1½) times as well on
the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and
differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from
highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on
specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
256 Vehicle Care
When the vehicle has a flat tire (2),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (1), if equipped.
1. Wheel Block (If Equipped)
2. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
The spare tire and tools are located
in the storage compartment in the
rear of the vehicle.
1. Center Retainer
2. Subwoofer
3. Wrench
4. Strap
5. Tow Eye (if equipped)
6. Jack
To access the spare tire and tools:1. Open the liftgate. See Liftgate
0 38.
2. Lift the trim cover.
3. Remove the subwoofer assembly on top of the spare
tire by turning the center
retainer clockwise. 4. Remove the spare tire, jack,
and tools and place them near
the tire being changed.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check before
proceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat 0254.
2. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to loosen the
wheel nuts. Do not remove
them yet.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 257
3. Place the jack at the positionmarked with a half circle.
4. Place the hex tube end of thewrench over the hex head of
the jack to attach it.
5. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise until the lift head is
firmly contacting the proper
lifting point nearest the flat tire.
{Warning
Getting under a vehicle when it is
lifted on a jack is dangerous.
If the vehicle slips off the jack,
you could be badly injured or
killed. Never get under a vehicle
when it is supported only by
a jack.
{Warning
Raising the vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can
damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall. To help
avoid personal injury and vehicle
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
damage, be sure to fit the jack lift
head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle.
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle and getting under
it to do maintenance or repairs is
dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.
6. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the vehicle
far enough off the ground so
there is enough room for the
spare tire to fit underneath the
wheel well.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
258 Vehicle Care
7. Turn the wheel nutscounterclockwise to
remove them.
8. Remove the flat tire.
{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
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, a cloth or a paper
towel can be used; however, use
a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
9. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces, and spare wheel.
10. Place the spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.
{Warning
Never use oil or grease on bolts
or nuts because the nuts might
come loose. The vehicle's wheel
could fall off, causing a crash. 11. Reinstall the wheel nuts. Turn
each nut clockwise, by hand,
until the wheel is held against
the hub.
12. Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Lower the
jack completely.
{Warning
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause
the wheels to become loose or
come off. The wheel nuts should
be tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specification
after replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when
using accessory locking wheel
nuts. See Capacities and
Specifications 0290 for original
equipment wheel nut torque
specifications.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
Vehicle Care 259
Caution
Improperly tightened wheel nuts
can lead to brake pulsation and
rotor damage. To avoid expensive
brake repairs, evenly tighten the
wheel nuts in the proper
sequence and to the proper
torque specification. See
Capacities and Specifications
0290 for the wheel nut torque
specification.
13. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly with the wheel wrench in a
crisscross sequence, as
shown.
Caution
Wheel covers will not fit on the
vehicle's compact spare. If you try
to put a wheel cover on the
compact spare, the cover or the
spare could be damaged.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{Warning
Storing a jack, a tire, or other
equipment in the passenger
compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or
collision, loose equipment could
strike someone. Store all these in
the proper place. Storing the Flat Tire and Tools
1. Return the jack and tools to their original storage location.
2. Replace the trim cover.
3. Place the flat tire, lying flat, in the rear storage compartment.
4. Attach one end of the strap to a cargo tie-down in the rear of
the vehicle.
5. Route the strap through the
wheel, as shown.
6. Attach the other end of the strap to the other cargo
tie-down in the rear of the
vehicle.
7. Tighten the strap.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
260 Vehicle Care
Storing the Compact Spare Tire
and Tools
Reverse the instructions for
removing the spare tire and tools to
store the spare tire.
The compact spare tire is for
temporary use only. Replace the
compact spare tire with a full-size
tire as soon as you can. See
Compact Spare Tire0260.
Compact Spare Tire
{Warning
Driving with more than one
compact spare tire at a time could
result in loss of braking and
handling. This could lead to a
crash and you or others could be
injured. Use only one compact
spare tire at a time.
If this vehicle has a compact spare
tire, it was fully inflated when new;
however, it can lose air over time. Check the inflation pressure
regularly. It should be 420 kPa
(60 psi).
Stop as soon as possible and check
that the spare tire is correctly
inflated after being installed on the
vehicle. The compact spare tire is
designed for temporary use only.
The vehicle will perform differently
with the spare tire installed and it is
recommended that the vehicle
speed be limited to 80 km/h
(50 mph). To conserve the tread of
the spare tire, have the standard tire
repaired or replaced as soon as
convenient and return the spare tire
to the storage area.
When using a compact spare tire,
the AWD (if equipped), ABS, and
Traction Control systems may
engage until the spare tire is
recognized by the vehicle,
especially on slippery roads. Adjust
driving to reduce possible
wheel slip.
Caution
When the compact spare is
installed, do not take the vehicle
through an automatic car wash
with guide rails. The compact
spare can get caught on the rails
which can damage the tire, wheel,
and other parts of the vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on
other vehicles.
Do not mix the compact spare tire or
wheel with other wheels or tires.
They will not fit. Keep the spare tire
and its wheel together.
Caution
Tire chains will not fit the compact
spare. Using them can damage
the vehicle and the chains. Do not
use tire chains on the compact
spare.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
Customer Information 297
.Lock-Out Service: Service to
unlock the vehicle if you are
locked out. A remote unlock may
be available if you have OnStar.
For security reasons, the driver
must present identification
before this service is given.
. 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 500 miles.
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,

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11354409) - 2018 - crc - 11/8/17
320 Index
Climate Control Systems (cont'd)Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 299
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Connections
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Control Traction and ElectronicStability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Coolant Engine Temperature Gauge . . .113
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145, 148
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Cover Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Text Telephone (TTY)Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Customer Information Service Publications
Ordering Information . . . . . . . . 301
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 299
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 3
Data CollectionInfotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 305
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 304
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Diagnostics
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .311
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Door
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 291
Drive Systems All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . 178, 219
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123, 125
Driving
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 24
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 160
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 162
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Driving the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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326 Index
Securing Child Restraints . . . . 92, 94
SecurityOnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 Accessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Climate Control System . . . . . . . 145
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 200
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 288
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Parts Identification Label . . . . . 289
Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 298
Services Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . 190 Sidemarker
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Spare Tire Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Special Application Services . . . . 283
Specifications and
Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Stoplamps and Back-Up Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Storage Areas Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Cargo Management System . . . . 99
Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Storage Areas (cont'd)
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Underseat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . . 97
Struts
Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System Forward CollisionAlert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144, 305
Roof Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Taillamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . 295
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . 40 Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 All-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250