windshield wipers BUICK ENCORE GX 2021 Owner's Manual

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
84 Instruments and Controls
Windshield Wiper with Intermittent Wipes
(INT Shown, Rainsense Similar)
HI :Use for fast wipes.
LO : Use for slow wipes.
INT : Use for intermittent wipes or
Rainsense, if equipped and enabled. To
adjust wipe frequency, turn the band up for
more frequent wipes or down for less
frequent wipes. If Rainsense is enabled, see
“Rainsense” later in this section. OFF :
Use to turn the wipers off.
1X : For a single wipe, briefly move the
wiper lever down. For several wipes, hold
the wiper lever down.
Clear snow and ice from the wiper blades
before using them. If frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them.
Damaged blades should be replaced. See
Wiper Blade Replacement 0272. Heavy snow
or ice can overload the wiper motor.
Wiper Parking
If the ignition is turned off while the wipers
are on LO, HI, or INT, they will
immediately stop.
If the windshield wiper lever is then moved
to OFF before the driver door is opened or
within 10 minutes, the wipers will restart
and move to the base of the windshield.
If the ignition is turned off while the wipers
are performing wipes due to windshield
washing, the wipers continue to run until
they reach the base of the windshield. Rainsense
If equipped with Rainsense, a sensor located
near the top center of the windshield
detects the amount of water on the
windshield and automatically controls the
frequency of the windshield wiper.
When Rainsense is enabled, the normal
intermittent control operates as a sensitivity
control.
Keep this area of the windshield clear of
debris to allow for best system performance.
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.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
Instruments and Controls 85
.Move the windshield wiper lever out of
the AUTO position to deactivate
Rainsense.
To enable or disable this feature, see “Rain
Sense Wipers” underVehicle Personalization
0 114.
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
Fluid 0267 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 027.
The wipers will clear the rear window 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 front windshield wiper is

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
Lighting 123
This indicator light turns on in the
instrument cluster when the high-beam
headlamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
The flash-to-pass feature works with the low
beams or Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) on
or off.
To flash the high beams, pull the turn signal
lever toward you momentarily and then
release it.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others to see the
front of your vehicle during the day. Fully
functional DRL are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.
The DRL system comes on in daylight when
the following conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamp control is in AUTO.
.The light sensor determines it is daytime.When the DRL are on, the taillamps,
sidemarker lamps, instrument panel lights,
and other lamps will not be on.
The DRL turn off when the headlamps are
turned to
Oor the ignition is off. For
vehicles sold in Canada, this control only
works when the vehicle is parked.
The regular headlamp system should be
turned on when needed.
Automatic Headlamp System
When the exterior lamp control is set to
AUTO and it is dark enough outside, the
headlamps come on automatically.
There is a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Do not cover the sensor;
otherwise the headlamps will come on when
they are not needed.
The system may also turn on the headlamps
when driving through a parking garage or
tunnel.
When it is bright enough outside, the
headlamps will turn off or may change
to DRL.
The automatic headlamp system turns off
when the exterior lamp control is turned to
Oor the ignition is off.
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are activated in
daylight with the engine on, and the
exterior lamp control is in AUTO, the
headlamps, parking lamps, and other
exterior lamps come on. The transition time
for the lamps coming on varies based on
wiper speed. When the wipers are not
operating, these lamps turn off. Move the
exterior lamp control to
Oor;to disable
this feature.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
222 Driving and Operating
Driving in Narrow Lanes
Vehicles in adjacent traffic lanes or roadside
objects may be incorrectly detected when
located along the roadway.
Do Not Use ACC on Hills and When
Towing a Trailer
Do not use ACC when driving on steep hills
or when towing a trailer. ACC will not detect
a vehicle in the lane while driving on steep
hills.
Disengaging ACC
There are three ways to disengage ACC:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.Press5.
Erasing Speed Memory
The ACC set speed is erased from memory if
5is pressed or if the ignition is turned off.
Weather Conditions Affecting ACC
If the interior temperature is extremely
high, the instrument cluster may indicate
that ACC is temporarily unavailable. This can
be caused by extreme hot weather
conditions with direct sunlight on the front
camera. ACC will return to normal operation
once the cabin temperature is lower.
Conditions that are associated with low
visibility, such as fog, rain, snow, or road
spray, may limit ACC performance. Water
droplets from rain or snow that remain on
the windshield may also limit ACC’s ability
to detect objects.
{Warning
Camera visibility may be limited and the
ACC system may not work properly if the
windshield is not clear. Do not use ACC if
moisture is present on the inside of the
windshield or the windshield washer is
used in cold weather. Turn on the front
defroster and make sure the windshield is(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
clear before using ACC. Before driving,
check that the windshield wipers are in
good condition and replace them if worn.
Lighting Conditions Affecting ACC
The ACC front camera can be affected by
poor lighting conditions, and ACC may have
limited performance when:
.There are changes in brightness, such as
entering and exiting tunnels, bridges, and
overpasses.
.Low sun angles cause the camera to not
detect objects, or it is more difficult to
detect objects in the same traffic lane.
.Lighting is poor in the evening or early
morning
.There are multiple changes in brightness
or shadows along the vehicle roadway.
.In a tunnel without the headlamps on,
or in a tunnel when there is a vehicle in
front that does not have its taillamps on.
.Subjected to strong light from opposing
lane traffic in the front of the vehicle,
such as high-beam headlamps from
oncoming traffic.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
280 Vehicle Care
2. Disengage the bulb socket from the plugconnector by pressing the retaining lug.
3. Remove and replace the bulb socket with bulb and attach the plug connector.
4. Insert the bulb socket into the reflector and turn clockwise to engage.
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and
Back-Up Lamps (Uplevel)
Caution
Improper lamp assembly removal and
installation can cause leaks and water
intrusion which may cause damage to
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
the taillamp. Do not remove the taillamp
assembly to replace a bulb. Use the
tailgate opening to access the bulb.
The stoplamp/taillamp/turn signal lamp/side
marker lamp and tailgate inboard taillamp
are LEDs. To replace, see your dealer.
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload
The vehicle has fuses and circuit breakers to
protect against an electrical system
overload.
When the current electrical load is too
heavy, the circuit breaker opens and closes,
protecting the circuit until the current load
returns to normal or the problem is fixed.
This greatly reduces the chance of circuit
overload and fire caused by electrical
problems.
Fuses and circuit breakers protect power
devices in the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one of the
identical size and rating. If there is a problem on the road and a fuse
needs to be replaced, the same amperage
fuse can be borrowed. Choose some feature
of the vehicle that is not needed to use and
replace it as soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause the lamps
to go on and off, or in some cases to
remain off. Have the headlamp wiring
checked right away if the lamps go on and
off or remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to heavy
snow or ice, the windshield wipers will stop
until the motor cools and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected from
electrical overload, overload due to heavy
snow or ice may cause wiper linkage
damage. Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an electrical
problem and not snow or ice, be sure to get
it fixed.

Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
368 Index
Turn SignalBulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277, 280
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Updates Map Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
USB Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Using the Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Using the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
V
Vehicle
Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Identification Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Vehicle (cont'd)
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Vehicle Care Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . 348
Vehicle Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Voice Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
W
Warning Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Caution and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Warnings Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Windshield
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Winter Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Wipers Rear Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87