engine overheat BUICK ENCORE 2019 Owner's Manual

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
54 Seats and Restraints
Front Seat Armrest
There is an armrest on the inboard
side of the driver seat. To raise or
lower the armrest, push up or pull
down on the armrest.
Heated Front Seats
{Warning
If temperature change or pain to
the skin cannot be felt, the seat
heater may cause burns. To
reduce the risk of burns, use care(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
when using the seat heater,
especially for long periods of
time. Do not place anything on
the seat that insulates against
heat, such as a blanket, cushion,
cover, or similar item. This may
cause the seat heater to
overheat. An overheated seat
heater may cause a burn or may
damage the seat.
If equipped, the controls are on the
climate control panel. The engine
must be running to operate the
heated seats.
Press
MorLto heat the driver or
passenger seat cushion and
seatback.
Press the control once for the
highest setting. With each press of
the control, the heated seat will
change to the next lower setting,
and then the off setting. Three lights
indicate the highest setting and one
light the lowest.
The passenger seat may take
longer to heat up.
Remote Start Heated Seats
When it is cold outside, the heated
seats can be turned on
automatically during a remote
vehicle start. The heated seats will
be canceled when the ignition is
turned on. Press the heated seat
controls to use the heated seats
after the vehicle is started.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
116 Instruments and Controls
English Uplevel Shown
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the pointer moves toward the
warning area at the high end of the
gauge, the engine is too hot.
This reading indicates the same
thing as the warning light. It means
that the engine coolant has
overheated. If the vehicle has been
operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the
vehicle, and turn off the engine as
soon as possible. See Engine
Overheating 0218.
Seat Belt Reminders
Driver Seat Belt Reminder
Light
There is a driver seat belt reminder
light on the instrument cluster.
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind the driver to fasten
their seat belt. Then the light stays
on solid until the belt is buckled.
This cycle may continue several
times if the driver remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving.
If the driver seat belt is buckled,
neither the light nor the chime
comes on.
Passenger Seat Belt Reminder
Light
The vehicle may also have a
passenger seat belt reminder light.
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind passengers to fasten
their seat belt. Then the light stays
on solid until the belt is buckled.
This cycle continues several times if
the front passenger remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving.
If the front passenger seat belt is
buckled, neither the chime nor the
light comes on.
The front passenger seat belt
reminder light and chime may turn
on if an object is put on the seat
such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop, or other

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
Driving and Operating 161
.Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering assist. Always
have the engine running and the
vehicle in gear. .
Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, crash).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated. For Slippery Road Driving:
.
Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0181.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0179.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
162 Driving and Operating
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program 0299. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{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:
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.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
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0175.
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
0 181.
{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
(Continued)

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
Driving and Operating 169
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes.
With the vehicle off, and the brake
pedal not applied, pressing and
holding ENGINE START/STOP for
more than five seconds will place
the vehicle in Service Mode.
The instruments and audio system
will operate as they do in ON/RUN,
but the vehicle will not be able to be
driven. The engine will not start in
Service Mode.
Press ENGINE START/STOP again
to turn the vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). To restart the vehicle
when it is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeAdd-On Electrical Equipment
0 200.
Starting Procedure 1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the
brake pedal applied. When the
engine begins cranking, let go
of the button. The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or if the RKE
transmitter battery is low, the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
will display a message.
See
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Uplevel) 0127 orDriver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0125 andRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 027.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
Driving and Operating 171
.Tow/Haul Mode or other driver
modes have been selected.
. The vehicle is on a steep hill or
grade.
. The driver door has been
opened or driver seat belt has
been unbuckled.
. The hood has been opened.
. The Auto Stop has reached the
maximum allowed time.
Engine Heater
Vehicles may have an engine
heater. The engine heater can help
in cold weather conditions at or
below −18 °C (0 °F) for easier
starting and better fuel economy
during engine warm-up. Plug in the
heater at least four hours before
starting the vehicle. An internal
thermostat in the plug end of the
cord will prevent engine heater
operation at temperatures above
−18 °C (0 °F).
{Warning
Do not plug in the engine block
heater while the vehicle is parked
in a garage or under a carport.
Property damage or personal
injury may result. Always park the
vehicle in a clear open area away
from buildings or structures.
To Use the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The cord is in
the driver side of the engine
compartment, near the battery.
It is shipped from the factory
with a tie holding it in place.
Use care in removing the tie so
that the cord is not damaged.
Check the heater cord for
damage. If it is damaged, do
not use it. See your dealer for
a replacement. Inspect the
cord for damage yearly.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord
or an extension cord can damage
the cord and may result in
overheating and fire.
. Plug the cord into a
three-prong electrical utility
receptacle that is protected
by a ground fault detection
(Continued)

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
172 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
function. An ungrounded
outlet could cause an
electric shock.
. Use a weatherproof,
heavy-duty, 15 amp-rated
extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the
recommended extension
cord in good operating
condition, or using a
damaged heater or
extension cord, could make
it overheat and cause a fire,
property damage, electric
shock, and injury.
. Do not operate the vehicle
with the heater cord
permanently attached to the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
vehicle. Possible heater
cord and thermostat
damage could occur.
. While in use, do not let the
heater cord touch vehicle
parts or sharp edges. Never
close the hood on the
heater cord.
. Before starting the vehicle,
unplug the cord, reattach
the cover to the plug, and
securely fasten the cord.
Keep the cord away from
any moving parts.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine
parts. If you do not it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer in the
area where you will be parking the
vehicle for the best advice on this.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
Some vehicle accessories may be
used after the ignition is turned off.
The power windows and sunroof,
if equipped, will continue to work for
up to 10 minutes or until any door is
opened.
The infotainment system will
continue to work for 10 minutes,
until the driver door is opened,
or until the ignition is turned on or
placed in ACC/ACCESSORY.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake 0180.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pressing the button
on the shift lever and pushing
the lever all the way toward the
front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition off.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
Driving and Operating 173
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park 0172.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you have moved the shift lever into P (Park), hold the
brake pedal down. Then see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without first pressing the
button on the shift lever. If you can,
it means that the shift lever was not
fully locked into P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and do
not shift the transmission into
P (Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may find it difficult
to pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
This is called torque lock. To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park) properly
before you leave the driver seat. To
find out how, see
“Shifting Into Park”
previously in this section.
When you are ready to drive, move
the shift lever out of P (Park) before
releasing the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transmission, so you can pull
the shift lever out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with a shift
lock control. The shift lock control is
designed to prevent movement of
the shift lever out of P (Park) unless
the ignition is on and the brake
pedal is applied.
The shift lock control is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See
Jump Starting - North
America 0264.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition on.
3. Press the shift lever button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
Vehicle Care 201
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 202
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 203
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 211
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 213
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 218
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Battery - North America . . . . . . 222
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 223
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 223
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 224
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 225
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 227
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 230
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 231
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 231
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 240
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 257
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 258

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163005) - 2019 - crc - 9/17/18
Vehicle Care 215
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tankand Pressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can
start up even when the engine is
not running and can cause injury.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts.
They can be very hot and can
burn you. Do not run the engine if
there is a leak; all coolant could
leak out. That could cause an
engine fire and can burn you. Fix
any leak before driving the
vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), whichever
occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating 0218.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:
.
Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts.
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard
GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause
damage to the engine cooling
system and the vehicle, which
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.