weight BUICK ENCORE GX 2020 Owner's Manual

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
24 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Falling Liftgate Detection
If the power liftgate automatically
closes after a power opening cycle,
it indicates that the system is
reacting to excess weight on the
liftgate or a possible support strut
failure. A repetitive chime will sound
while the falling liftgate detection
feature is operating. Remove any
excess weight. If the liftgate
continues to automatically close
after opening, see your dealer for
service before using the power
liftgate.
Interfering with the power liftgate
motion or manually closing the
liftgate too quickly after power
opening may resemble a support
strut failure. This could also activate
the falling liftgate detection feature.
Allow the liftgate to complete its
operation and wait a few seconds
before manually closing the liftgate.
Obstacle Detection Features
If the liftgate encounters an obstacle
during a power open or close cycle,
the liftgate will automatically reverse
direction and move a short distanceaway from the obstacle. After
removing the obstruction, the power
liftgate operation can be used again.
If the liftgate encounters multiple
obstacles on the same power cycle,
the power function will deactivate.
After removing the obstructions,
manually close the liftgate which will
allow normal power operation
functions to resume.
If the vehicle is locked while the
liftgate is closing, and an obstacle is
encountered that prevents the
liftgate from completely closing, the
horn will sound as an alert that the
liftgate did not close.
Pinch sensors are on the side
edges of the liftgate. If an object is
caught between the liftgate and the
vehicle and presses against this
sensor, the liftgate will reverse
direction and open fully. The liftgate
will remain open until it is activated
again or closed manually.
Setting the 3/4 Mode
To change the position the liftgate
stops at when opening:
1. Select MAX or 3/4 mode and power open the liftgate.
2. Stop the liftgate movement at the desired height by pressing
any liftgate switch. Manually
adjust the liftgate position if
needed.
3. Press and hold
lto the left
of the latch at the bottom of the
liftgate until the turn signals
flash and a beep sounds. This
indicates the setting has been
recorded.
The liftgate cannot be set below a
minimum programmable height.
If there is no light flash or sound,
then the height adjustment may be
too low.
Manual Operation
Select OFF to manually operate the
liftgate. See “Manual Liftgate” at the
beginning of this section.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 67
United States
Canada
The words ON and OFF, or the
symbols for on and off, will be
visible during the system check.
When the system check is
complete, either the word ON or
OFF, or the symbol for on or off, will
be visible. See Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator 0114.
The passenger sensing system
turns off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag and knee
airbag under certain conditions. No
other airbag is affected by the
passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part of
the front outboard passenger seat
and seat belt.
The sensors are designed to detect
the presence of a properly seated
occupant and determine if the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag,
and knee airbag, should be allowed
to inflate or not.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
secured in a rear seat in the correct
child restraint for their weight
and size.
Whenever possible, children aged
12 and under should be secured in
a rear seating position.
Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front. This is because the risk to
the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag inflates.
{Warning
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously injured
or killed if the passenger frontal
airbag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to
the inflating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the
passenger frontal airbag inflates
and the passenger seat is in a
forward position.
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger airbag(s), no
system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the
airbag(s) are off.
Never put a rear-facing child
restraint in the front seat, even if
the airbag is off. If securing a
forward-facing child restraint in
(Continued)

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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68 Seats and Restraints
Warning (Continued)
the front outboard passenger
seat, always move the seat as far
back as it will go. It is better to
secure child restraints in the rear
seat. Consider using another
vehicle to transport the child
when a rear seat is not available.
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag,
and knee airbag, if:
. The front outboard passenger
seat is unoccupied.
. The system determines an infant
is present in a child restraint.
. A front outboard passenger
takes his/her weight off of the
seat for a period of time.
. There is a critical problem with
the airbag system or the
passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag, and knee airbag, the OFF indicator
will light and stay lit as a reminder
that the airbags are off. See
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
0
114.
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn on the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag,
and knee airbag, anytime the
system senses that a person of
adult size is sitting properly in the
front outboard passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing
system has allowed the airbags to
be enabled, the ON indicator will
light and stay lit as a reminder that
the airbags are active.
For some children, including
children in child restraints, and for
very small adults, the passenger
sensing system may or may not turn
off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag, and knee airbag,
depending upon the person's
seating posture and body build.
Everyone in the vehicle who has
outgrown child restraints should wear a seat belt properly
—whether
or not there is an airbag for that
person.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness
Light 0113 for more information,
including important safety
information.
If the On Indicator Is Lit for a
Child Restraint
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag, if the system
determines that an infant is present
in a child restraint. If a child restraint
has been installed and the ON
indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 73
Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown
booster seats should wear the
vehicle’s seat belts.
The manufacturer instructions that
come with the booster seat state the
weight and height limitations for that
booster. Use a booster seat with a
lap-shoulder belt until the child
passes the fit test below:.
Sit all the way back on the seat.
Do the knees bend at the seat
edge? If yes, continue. If no,
return to the booster seat.
. Buckle the lap-shoulder belt.
Does the shoulder belt rest on
the shoulder? If yes, continue.
If no, try using the rear seat belt
comfort guide, if available. See
“Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides”
under Lap-Shoulder Belt 055.
If a comfort guide is not
available, or if the shoulder belt
still does not rest on the
shoulder, then return to the
booster seat.
. Does the lap belt fit low and
snug on the hips, touching the
thighs? If yes, continue. If no,
return to the booster seat.
. Can proper seat belt fit be
maintained for the length of the
trip? If yes, continue. If no,
return to the booster seat. Q: What is the proper way to
wear seat belts?
A: An older child should wear a
lap-shoulder belt and get the
additional restraint a shoulder
belt can provide. The shoulder
belt should not cross the face or
neck. The lap belt should fit
snugly below the hips, just
touching the top of the thighs.
This applies belt force to the
child's pelvic bones in a crash.
It should never be worn over the
abdomen, which could cause
severe or even fatal internal
injuries in a crash.
Also see “Rear Seat Belt Comfort
Guides” underLap-Shoulder Belt
0 55.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
restrained in a rear seating position.
In a crash, children who are not
buckled up can strike other people
who are buckled up, or can be
thrown out of the vehicle. Older
children need to use seat belts
properly.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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76 Seats and Restraints
Child restraints are devices used to
restrain, seat, or position children in
the vehicle and are sometimes
called child seats or car seats.
There are three basic types of
child restraints:
.Forward-facing child restraints
. Rear-facing child restraints
. Belt-positioning booster seats
The proper child restraint for your
child depends on their size, weight,
and age, and also on whether the
child restraint is compatible with the
vehicle in which it will be used. For each type of child restraint,
there are many different models
available. When purchasing a child
restraint, be sure it is designed to be
used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the
child restraint will have a label
saying that it meets federal motor
vehicle safety standards. The
instruction manual that is provided
with the child restraint states the
weight and height limitations for that
particular child restraint. In addition,
there are many kinds of child
restraints available for children with
special needs.
{Warning
To reduce the risk of neck and
head injury in a crash, infants and
toddlers should be secured in a
rear-facing child restraint until age
two, or until they reach the
maximum height and weight limits
of their child restraint.
{Warning
A young child's hip bones are still
so small that the vehicle seat belt
may not remain low on the hip
bones, as it should. Instead, it
may settle up around the child's
abdomen. In a crash, the belt
would apply force on a body area
that is unprotected by any bony
structure. This alone could cause
serious or fatal injuries. To reduce
the risk of serious or fatal injuries
during a crash, young children
should always be secured in an
appropriate child restraint.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
80 Seats and Restraints
Keep in mind that an unsecured
child restraint can move around in a
collision or sudden stop and injure
people in the vehicle. Be sure to
properly secure any child restraint in
the vehicle—even when no child is
in it.
Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children
(LATCH System)
The LATCH system secures a child
restraint during driving or in a crash.
LATCH attachments on the child
restraint are used to attach the child
restraint to the anchors in the
vehicle. The LATCH system is
designed to make installation of a
child restraint easier.
In order to use the LATCH system in
your vehicle, you need a child
restraint that has LATCH
attachments. LATCH-compatible
rear-facing and forward-facing child seats can be properly installed
using either the LATCH anchors or
the vehicle’
s seat belts. Do not use
both the seat belts and the LATCH
anchorage system to secure a
rear-facing or forward-facing
child seat.
Booster seats use the vehicle’s seat
belts to secure the child and the
booster seat. If the manufacturer
recommends that the booster seat
be secured with the LATCH system,
this can be done as long as the
booster seat can be positioned
properly and there is no interference
with the proper positioning of the
lap-shoulder belt on the child.
Make sure to follow the instructions
that came with the child restraint,
and also the instructions in this
manual. When installing a child restraint with
a top tether, you must also use
either the lower anchors or the seat
belts to properly secure the child
restraint. A child restraint must
never be attached using only the top
tether.
For a forward-facing 5-pt harness
child restraint where the combined
weight of the child and restraint are
up to 29.5 kg (65 lb), use either the
lower LATCH anchorages with the
top tether anchorage, or the seat
belt with the top tether anchorage.
Where the combined weight of the
child and restraint are greater than
29.5 kg (65 lb), use the seat belt with
the top tether anchorage only.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 81
Recommended Methods for Attaching Child RestraintsRestraint Type Combined
Weight of the Child + Child Restraint Use Only Approved Attachment Methods Show with an X
LATCH-Lower
Anchors Only Seat Belt Only LATCH-Lower
Anchors and Top Tether Anchor Seat Belt and
Top Tether Anchor
Rear-Facing
Child Restraint Up to
29.5 kg (65 lb)
X X
Rear-Facing
Child Restraint Greater than
29.5 kg (65 lb)
X
Forward-Facing
Child Restraint Up to
29.5 kg (65 lb)
X X
Forward-Facing
Child Restraint Greater than
29.5 kg (65 lb)
X
See Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the Front Seat) 088
or
Securing Child Restraints (With the
Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 086.
Child restraints built after March
2014 will be labeled with the
specific child weight up to which the
LATCH system can be used to
install the restraint. The following explains how to attach
a child restraint with these
attachments in the vehicle.
Not all vehicle seating positions
have lower anchors. In this case,
the seat belt must be used (with top
tether where available) to secure
the child restraint. See
Securing
Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt
in the Front Seat) 088 or
Securing Child Restraints (With the
Seat Belt in the Rear Seat) 086.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14018934) - 2020 - CRC - 2/27/20
232 Driving and Operating
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. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 254.
{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).
Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode. See All-Wheel Drive 0250.
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
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see
Towing the Vehicle 0374.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can carry.
This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the
weight of all occupants, cargo, and
all nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may show
how much weight it may properly
carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label and the
Certification/Tire label.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 233
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR), or either
the maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). This
can cause systems to break and
change the way the vehicle
handles. This could cause loss of
control and a crash. Overloading
can also reduce stopping
distance, damage the tires, and
shorten the life of the vehicle.Tire and Loading Information
Label
Example Label
A vehicle-specific Tire and Loading
Information label is attached to the
center pillar (B-pillar). The tire and
loading information label shows the
number of occupant seating
positions (1), and the maximum
vehicle capacity weight (2) in
kilograms and pounds.
The Tire and Loading Information
label also shows the size of the
original equipment tires (3) and the
recommended cold tire inflation
pressures (4). For more information on tires and inflation see
Tires
0 344 and
Tire Pressure 0351.
There is also important loading
information on the vehicle
Certification/Tire label. It may show
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for the front and
rear axle. See “Certification/Tire
Label” later in this section.
“Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit– 1. Locate the statement "The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lbs." on your
vehicle’s placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers
from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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234 Driving and Operating
example, if the "XXX" amount
equals 1400 lbs. and there will
be five 150 lb passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will
be transferred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to
determine how this reduces the
available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.”
See Trailer Towing 0296 for
important information on towing a
trailer, towing safety rules and
trailering tips.
Example 1
1. Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 1 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
2. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 2 =
136 kg (300 lbs).
3. Available Occupant and Cargo Weight = 317 kg
(700 lbs).
Example 2
1. Vehicle Capacity Weight forExample 2 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
2. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 5 =
340 kg (750 lbs).
3. Available Cargo Weight = 113 kg (250 lbs).