automatic transmission BUICK ENCORE GX 2020 Owner's Manual

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
6 Introduction
1.Air Vents 0221.
2. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn
and Lane-Change Signals
0 147.
IntelliBeam System Button (If
Equipped). See Exterior Lamp
Controls 0143.
3. Instrument Cluster 0107.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
Display. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 123 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0127.
4. Windshield Wiper/Washer 098.
5. Light Sensor. See Automatic
Headlamp System 0146.
6. Hazard Warning Flashers
0146.
7. Infotainment Controls. See Overview 0153.
8. Climate Control Systems
0216.
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System 0218. Heated Front Seats
048. (If
Equipped).
9. Power Outlets 0102.
10. Wireless Charging 0103 (If
Equipped).
11. Stop/Start Disable Switch (If Equipped). See Stop/Start
System 0239.
All-Wheel Drive Button (If
Equipped).
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) 0287
(If Equipped).
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0254.
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing 0271 (If
Equipped).
12. Electric Parking Brake 0252.
13. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission 0247.
14. USB Port 0162.
Auxiliary Jack 0165.
15. ENGINE START/STOP Button. SeeIgnition Positions 0236. 16.
Steering Wheel Controls 098.
17. Horn 098.
18. Steering Wheel Adjustment
098 (Out of View).
19. Cruise Control 0256.
Adaptive Cruise Control 0258
(If Equipped).
Heated Steering Wheel 098 (If
Equipped).
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0278 (If Equipped).
20. Head-Up Display (HUD) 0130
(If Equipped).
21. Hood Release. See Hood
0 306.
22. Exterior Lamp Controls 0143.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
100 Instruments and Controls
AUTO :Move the windshield wiper
lever to AUTO. Turn the band on the
wiper lever to adjust the sensitivity.
. Turn the band up for more
sensitivity to moisture.
. Turn the band down for less
sensitivity to moisture.
. Move the windshield wiper lever
out of the AUTO position to
deactivate Rainsense.
To enable or disable this feature,
see “Rain Sense Wipers” under
Vehicle Personalization 0135.
Wiper Arm Assembly Protection
When using an automatic car wash,
move the windshield wiper lever to
OFF. This disables the automatic
Rainsense windshield wipers and/or
manual windshield wipers.
With Rainsense, if the transmission
is in N (Neutral) and the vehicle
speed is very slow, the wipers will
automatically stop at the base of the
windshield. The wiper operations return to
normal when the transmission is no
longer in N (Neutral) or the vehicle
speed has increased.
Windshield Washer
e:
Pull the windshield wiper
lever toward you to spray windshield
washer fluid and activate the
windshield wipers. The wipers will
continue until the lever is released
or the maximum wash time is
reached. When the windshield wiper
lever is released, additional wipes
may occur depending on how long
the windshield washer had been
activated. See Washer Fluid0322
for information on filling the
windshield washer fluid reservoir.
Rear Window Wiper/
Washer
The ignition must be on or in ACC/
ACCESSORY to operate the rear
window wiper/washer.
Rear Wiper with Rainsense
Shown, without Rainsense Similar
Turn the end of the windshield wiper
lever to operate the rear window
wiper/washer.
OFF : Turns the wiper off.
INT : Intermittent wipes.
ON : Slow wipes.
f:Push the windshield wiper
lever forward to spray washer fluid
on the rear window and the Rear
Mirror Camera Lens. If equipped,
See Rear Camera Mirror 032. The
wipers will clear the rear window

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Instruments and Controls 101
and either stop or return to your
preset speed. For more washer
cycles, press and hold the lever.
The rear window wiper/washer will
not operate if the liftgate is open or
ajar. If the liftgate is opened while
the rear wiper is on, the wiper
returns to the parked position and
stops.
Rear Wiper Arm Assembly
Protection
When using an automatic car wash,
move the rear wiper control to OFF
to disable the rear wiper. In some
vehicles, if the transmission is in
N (Neutral) and the vehicle speed is
very slow, the rear wiper will
automatically park.
The wiper operations return to
normal when the transmission is no
longer in N (Neutral) or the vehicle
speed has increased.
Reverse Gear Wipes
If the rear wiper control is off, the
rear wiper will automatically operate
continuously when the vehicle is in
R (Reverse) and the frontwindshield wiper is performing low
or high speed wipes. If the rear
wiper control is off, the vehicle is in
R (Reverse), and the front
windshield wiper is performing
interval wipes, then the rear wiper
automatically performs interval
wipes.
This feature can be turned on or off.
See
Vehicle Personalization 0135.
The windshield washer reservoir is
used for the windshield and the rear
window. Check the fluid level in the
reservoir if either washer is not
working. See Washer Fluid 0322.
Rear Camera Washer
If equipped, push the windshield
wiper lever forward to spray washer
fluid on the rear camera lens. The lever returns to its starting position
when released. See
Rear Camera
Mirror 032.
Compass
The vehicle may have a compass
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). The compass receives
its heading and other information
from the Global Positioning
System (GPS) antenna, StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
and vehicle speed information.
The compass system is designed to
operate for a certain number of
miles or degrees of turn before
needing a signal from the GPS
satellites. When the compass
display shows CAL, drive the
vehicle for a short distance in an
open area where it can receive a
GPS signal. The compass system
will automatically determine when a
GPS signal is restored and provide
a heading again.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
202 Infotainment System
with a Teen Driver key, it will
automatically activate certain safety
systems, allow setting of some
features, and limit the use of others.
The Report Card will record vehicle
data about driving behavior that can
be viewed later. When the vehicle is
started with a registered key, the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
displays a message that Teen Driver
is active.
To access:1. Touch Settings on the Home Page, then touch Vehicle, and
then Teen Driver.
2. Create a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by choosing a
four-digit PIN. Re-enter the PIN
to confirm. To change the PIN,
touch Change PIN.
The PIN is required to:
. Register or unregister keys.
. Change Teen Driver settings.
. Change or clear the Teen
Driver PIN.
. Access or delete Report
Card data. Register keys to activate Teen
Driver and assign restrictions to
the key:
Any vehicle key can be registered,
up to a maximum of eight keys.
Label the key to tell it apart from the
other keys.
For a pushbutton start system:
1. Start the engine.
2. For automatic transmissions, the vehicle must be in P (Park).
For manual transmissions, the
vehicle must be stopped with
the parking brake set.
3. From the Settings menu, touch Vehicle and then Teen Driver.
4. Enter the PIN.
5. Place the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter key
you wish to register in the
transmitter pocket. The key
does not need to be the one
that started the vehicle. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation 08for
transmitter pocket location. 6. From the Teen Driver menu,
touch Setup Keys.
.If the transmitter key has
not previously been
registered, the option to
add the key displays. Touch
Setup and a confirmation
message displays. Teen
Driver restrictions will be
applied whenever this key
is used to operate the
vehicle.
. If the transmitter key has
already been registered, the
option to remove the key
displays. If Remove is
touched, the transmitter key
is no longer registered.
A confirmation message
displays, and Teen Driver
restrictions will not be
applied if this transmitter
key is used to operate the
vehicle.
In vehicles with a pushbutton start
system, if a Teen Driver and a
non-Teen Driver key are both
present at start up, the vehicle will

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Infotainment System 203
recognize the non-Teen Driver key
to start the vehicle. The Teen Driver
settings will not be active.
For a keyed ignition system:1. Start the engine.
2. For automatic transmissions, the vehicle must be in P (Park).
For manual transmissions, the
vehicle must be stopped with
the parking brake set.
3. From the Settings menu, touch Vehicle and then Teen Driver.
4. Enter the PIN.
5. Touch Setup Keys. The system displays instructions for
registering or unregistering a
key. A confirmation message
displays.
Manage Settings
Audio Volume Limit : Allows the
audio volume limit to be turned on
or off. Touch Set Audio Volume Limit
to choose the maximum allowable
audio volume level. Set Audio Volume Limit :
Allows a
maximum radio volume to be set.
Use the arrows to choose the
maximum allowable level for the
audio volume.
Teen Driver Speed Limiter : Limits
the maximum speed of the vehicle.
When the speed limiter is turned on
and the vehicle is started with a
Teen Driver key, the DIC displays a
message that the top speed is
limited.
On certain vehicles, when the
Speed Limiter is turned ON, the
vehicle’s maximum acceleration will
be limited. The DIC will display a
message that the acceleration is
limited.
Teen Driver Speed Warning :
Allows the speed warning to be
turned on or off. Touch Set Teen
Driver Speed Warning to set the
warning speed.
Set Teen Driver Speed Warning :
Displays a warning in the DIC when
exceeding a selectable speed.
Choose the desired speed warning
level. The speed warning does not
limit the speed of the vehicle. SiriusXM Explicit Content Filter (if
equipped) :
Allows the SiriusXM
Explicit Content Filter to be turned
ON or OFF. When ON, the teen
driver will not be able to listen to
SiriusXM stations that contain
explicit content, and the Explicit
Content Filter selection in the Audio
Settings will be unavailable for
change.
When Teen Driver is Active:
. If equipped with Buckle to Drive,
shifting out of P (Park) will be
prevented if the driver seat belt,
and in some vehicles the front
passenger seat belt, is not
buckled.
. The radio will mute when the
driver seat belt, and in some
vehicles the front passenger
seat belt, is not buckled. The
audio from any device paired to
the vehicle will also be muted.
. An object placed on the front
passenger seat, such as a
briefcase, handbag, grocery bag,
laptop, or other electronic
device, could cause the

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Driving and Operating 223
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Driving Environment . . . . . . . . . . 224
Vehicle Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 229
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 230
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 232
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 236
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 Winter Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 247
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 252
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 253
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 258
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 270
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 271
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 285
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 287
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 289
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 290
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
Driving and Operating 239
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
battery is low, a Driver
Information Center (DIC) will
display a message. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation08
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. 2. If the engine does not start
after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you press ENGINE START/
STOP. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try,
to allow the cranking motor to
cool down. When the engine
starts, release the accelerator.
If the vehicle starts briefly but
then stops again, do the same
thing. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. Do
not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Stop/Start System
The Stop/Start system will shut off
the engine to help conserve fuel.
It has components designed for the
increased number of starts.
{Warning
The automatic engine Stop/Start
feature causes the engine to shut
off while the vehicle is still on. Do
not exit the vehicle before shifting
to P (Park). The vehicle may
restart and move unexpectedly.
Always shift to P (Park), and then
turn the ignition off before exiting
the vehicle.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied and
the vehicle is at a complete stop,
the engine may turn off. When
stopped, the tachometer
displays AUTO STOP. See
Tachometer 0111. When the brake
pedal is released or the accelerator
pedal is pressed, the engine will
restart.
To maintain vehicle performance,
other conditions may cause the
engine to automatically restart
before the brake pedal is released.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
240 Driving and Operating
Auto Stops may not occur and/or
auto restarts may occur because:
.The climate control settings
require the engine to be running
to cool or heat the vehicle
interior.
. The vehicle battery charge
is low.
. The vehicle battery has recently
been disconnected.
. Minimum vehicle speed has not
been reached since the last
Auto Stop.
. The accelerator pedal is
pressed.
. The engine or transmission is
not at the required operating
temperature.
. The outside temperature is not
in the required operating range.
. The vehicle is in any gear other
than D (Drive).
. 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.
Auto Stop Disable Switch
If equipped, the automatic engine
stop/start feature can be disabled
and enabled by pressing the switch
with the
hsymbol. Auto Stop is
enabled each time you start the
vehicle. When
his illuminated, the system
is disabled.
Winter Cover
If equipped, the winter cover can be
used to enhance heater
performance in extremely cold
conditions below −0 °C (32 °F). The
winter cover installs over the grille
and restricts airflow to the engine
compartment.
Usage Guidelines
The winter cover should only be
used while operating the vehicle in
extremely cold temperatures or in
heavy snow for extended periods. In
these temperatures, the vehicle
does not need a large amount of air
to properly cool the engine. When
more airflow is required to cool the
vehicle, the winter cover should not
be used. The following usage
guidelines will allow adequate
airflow for proper radiator and air
cooler performance:

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 247
Warning (Continued)
.There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle: . Drive it only with the
windows completely down.
. Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation.
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to
be sure the vehicle will not move.
See Shifting Into Park 0244 and
Engine Exhaust 0246.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0293.
Automatic
Transmission
P : This position locks the front
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting
the engine because the vehicle
cannot move easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the transmission is not
in P (Park) with the parking brake
set. The vehicle can roll.
(Continued)

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
248 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If the engine
has been left running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
on fairly level ground, always set
the parking brake and place the
transmission into P (Park). See
Shifting Into Park0244 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0293.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. You must fully apply the
regular brake first and then press
the shift lever button before shifting
from P (Park) when the ignition is
on. If you cannot shift out of
P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever, then push the shift lever all
the way into P (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever into another
gear. See
Shifting out of Park 0245
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0232
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.