Buick 2016 Encore User manual

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2k16_CS6_Buick_Encore_23427373A.ai 1 9/4/2015 2:30:20 PM2k16_CS6_Buick_Encore_23427373A.ai 1 9/4/2015 2:30:20 PM

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - crc - 7/30/15
Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
In Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . 24
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Instruments and Controls . . . . . . . 94
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 134
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . . 144
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Service and Maintenance . . . . . 262
Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Customer Information . . . . . . . . . 279
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . . . 289
OnStar ........................ 293
Index .................... 310

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - crc - 7/30/15
2 Introduction
Introduction
The names, logos, emblems,
slogans, vehicle model names, and
vehicle body designs appearing in
this manual including, but not limited
to, GM, the GM logo, BUICK, the
BUICK Emblem, and ENCORE are
trademarks and/or service marks of
General Motors LLC, its
subsidiaries, affiliates, or licensors.
For vehicles first sold in Canada,
substitute the name “General
Motors of Canada Limited”for Buick
Motor Division wherever it appears
in this manual.
This manual describes features that
may or may not be on the vehicle
because of optional equipment that
was not purchased on the vehicle,
model variants, country
specifications, features/applications
that may not be available in your
region, or changes subsequent to
the printing of this owner manual.
Refer to the purchase
documentation relating to your
specific vehicle to confirm the
features.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for
quick reference.
Canadian Vehicle Owners
Propriétaires Canadiens
A French language manual can be
obtained from your dealer, at
www.helminc.com, or from:
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de
ce guide en français auprès du
concessionnaire ou à l'adresse
suivante:
Helm, Incorporated
Attention: Customer Service
47911 Halyard Drive
Plymouth, MI 48170
Using this Manual
To quickly locate information about
the vehicle, use the Index in the
back of the manual. It is an
alphabetical list of what is in the
manual and the page number where
it can be found.
About Driving the Vehicle
As with other vehicles of this type,
failure to operate this vehicle
correctly may result in loss of
control or an accident. Be sure to
read the driving guidelines in this
manual in the section called “Driving
and Operating”and specifically
Driver Behavior 0145,Driving
Environment 0145, and Vehicle
Design 0145.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 23427373 A First Printing ©2015 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Introduction 3
Danger, Warning, and
Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means “Do
Not,” “Do not do this,”or “Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M:Shown when the owner
manual has additional instructions
or information.
*:Shown when the service
manual has additional instructions
or information.
0:Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.”
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
%:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar
®
(if equipped)
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
`:Do Not Puncture
^:Do Not Service
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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4 Introduction
3:Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak
®
a:Under Pressure
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

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In Brief 5
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Initial Drive Information
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Liftgate .......................... 9
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 12
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Passenger Sensing System . . . 13
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . 14
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . 15
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Vehicle Features
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . 19
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Lane Departure
Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 20
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . . . 22
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . 22
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Roadside Assistance
Program ...................... 23

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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6 In Brief
Instrument Panel

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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In Brief 7
1. Air Vents 0142.
2. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn
and Lane-Change Signals
0130.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer 0128.
3. Instrument Cluster 0101.
4. Driver Information Center (DIC)
Display. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) 0113.
5. Windshield Wiper/Washer 095.
Rear Window Wiper/Washer
097.
6. Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0169.
Hazard Warning Flashers
0129.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator. See Passenger
Sensing System 065.
7. Light Sensor. See Automatic
Headlamp System 0129.
8. Infotainment 0134.
9. Instrument Panel Storage 089.
10. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission 0165.
11. Auxiliary Input Jack. See the
Infotainment Manual.
12. Power Outlets 098.
13. Parking Assist 0176 (If
Equipped).
Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) 0181 (If Equipped).
14. Climate Control Systems 0135
or Dual Automatic Climate
Control System 0138 (If
Equipped).
15. Ignition Positions 0156.
16. Steering Wheel Controls 095.
17. Horn 095.
18. Steering Wheel Adjustment
095.
19. Cruise Control 0171.
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0178 (If Equipped).
20. Instrument Panel Storage 089.
21. Data Link Connector (DLC)
(Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine
Light) 0106.
22. Hood Release. See Hood
0190.
23. Exterior Lamp Controls 0127.
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control 0131.
Front Fog Lamps 0130 (If
Equipped).

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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8 In Brief
Initial Drive
Information
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System
The RKE transmitter may work up to
30 m (98 ft) away from the vehicle.
Press the key release button to
extend the key blade. The key can
be used for the ignition and all
locks.
K:Press to unlock the driver door,
all doors, or, if equipped, the locking
fuel door. The hazard warning
flashers may flash.
Q:Press to lock the doors, or,
if equipped, the locking fuel door.
Lock and unlock feedback can be
personalized. See Vehicle
Personalization 0121.
7:If equipped, press and hold
briefly to initiate vehicle locator.
Press and hold for at least
three seconds to sound the panic
alarm. Press again to cancel the
panic alarm.
See Keys 024 and Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation 026.
Remote Vehicle Start
If equipped, the engine can be
started from outside of the vehicle.
Starting the Vehicle
1. Press and release Qon the
RKE transmitter.
2. Immediately press and hold /
for at least four seconds or until
the turn signal lamps flash.
3. Start the vehicle normally after
entering.
When the vehicle starts, the parking
lamps will turn on.
Remote start can be extended.
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do one of
the following:
.Press and hold /until the
parking lamps turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Turn the vehicle on and then off.
See Remote Vehicle Start 028.
Door Locks
To lock or unlock a door manually:
.From the inside, to lock the door,
use the lock knob on the top of
the door panel.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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In Brief 9
.From the outside, turn the key
toward the front or rear of the
vehicle, or press Kor Qon the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter.
Power Door Locks
K:Press to unlock the doors.
Q:Press to lock the doors.
See Power Door Locks 030.
Liftgate
To lock or unlock the liftgate from
inside, press Qor Kon the power
door locks. See Power Door Locks
030.
To lock or unlock the liftgate from
outside, press Qor Kon the
Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter. See Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 026.
To open the liftgate, press the touch
pad in the pull cup under the license
plate and lift manually.
See Liftgate 032.
Windows
Press the switch to lower the
window. Pull up on the front edge of
the switch to raise it. See Power
Windows 037.
The switches work when the vehicle
is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY, or when Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) is active.
See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0161.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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10 In Brief
Seat Adjustment
Manual Seats
To adjust a manual seat:
1. Pull the handle at the front of
the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired
position and release the
handle.
3. Try to move the seat back and
forth to be sure it is locked in
place.
See Seat Adjustment 043.
Power Seats
To adjust a power seat:
.Move the seat forward or
rearward by sliding the control
forward or rearward.
.Raise or lower the front part of
the seat cushion by moving the
front of the control up or down.
.Raise or lower the entire seat by
moving the rear of the control up
or down.
See Power Seat Adjustment 044.
Lumbar Adjustment
If available, press the front or rear of
the switch to increase or decrease
lumbar support. Release the switch
when the desired level of support is
reached.
See Lumbar Adjustment 044.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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In Brief 11
Reclining Seatbacks
Manual Seat Shown, Power Seat
Similar
To recline the seatback:
1. Lift the lever.
If necessary, move the safety
belt out of the way to access
the lever.
2. Move the seatback to the
desired position, then release
the lever to lock the seatback
in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback
to make sure it is locked.
To return the seatback to an upright
position:
1. Lift the lever fully without
applying pressure to the
seatback, and the seatback
returns to the upright position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback
to make sure it is locked.
See Reclining Seatbacks 044.
Memory Features
If available, the MEM, 1, and 2
buttons on the outboard side of the
driver seat are used to manually
store and recall the driver seat and
outside mirror positions. These
manually stored positions are
referred to as Button Memory
positions.
The vehicle will also automatically
store driver seat and outside mirror
positions to the current driver
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter when the ignition is
placed in OFF. These automatically
stored positions are referred to as
RKE Memory positions.
See Memory Seats 045 and
Vehicle Personalization 0121.
Second Row Seats
The rear seatbacks can be folded
down to increase cargo space.
See Rear Seats 049.

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12 In Brief
Heated Seats
If equipped, the controls are on the
climate control panel. The engine
must be running to operate the
heated seats.
Press Mor Lto 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.
See Heated Front Seats 047.
Head Restraint
Adjustment
Do not drive until the head restraints
for all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
To achieve a comfortable seating
position, change the seatback
recline angle as little as necessary
while keeping the seat and the head
restraint height in the proper
position.
See Head Restraints 042 and Seat
Adjustment 043.
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
safety belts properly:
.Safety Belts 053.
.How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly 054.
.Lap-Shoulder Belt 055.
.Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) 077.

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In Brief 13
Passenger Sensing
System
United States
Canada and Mexico
The passenger sensing system
turns off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag and knee
airbag (if equipped) under certain
conditions. No other airbag is
affected by the passenger sensing
system. See Passenger Sensing
System 065 for important
information.
The passenger airbag status
indicator will be visible on the
instrument panel when the vehicle is
started. See Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator 0105.
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior Mirrors
To adjust the mirrors:
1. Turn the selector switch to L
(Left) or R (Right) to choose
the driver or passenger mirror.
2. Move the control to adjust the
mirror.
3. Turn the selector switch to 9
to deselect the mirror.
Interior Mirror
Adjustment
Hold the rearview mirror in the
center and move it to view the area
behind the vehicle.
Manual Rearview Mirror
If equipped with a manual rearview
mirror, push the tab forward for
daytime use and pull it for nighttime
use to avoid glare from the
headlamps from behind. See
Manual Rearview Mirror 036.
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror
If equipped with an automatic
dimming rearview mirror, the mirror
will automatically reduce the glare
from the headlamps from behind.
The dimming feature comes on
when the vehicle is started.
See Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror 037.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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14 In Brief
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Pull the lever down.
2. Move the steering wheel up
or down.
3. Pull or push the steering wheel
closer or away from you.
4. Lift the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving.
Interior Lighting
Front and Rear Dome Lamps
The front dome lamp controls are in
the overhead console.
(:Press to turn the lamps off,
even when a door is open.
H:When the button is returned to
the middle position, the lamps turn
on automatically when a door is
opened.
':Press to turn on the dome
lamps.
The rear dome lamp controls are in
the headliner above the rear seats.
9:Press to turn the lamps off,
even when a door is open.
H:When the button is returned to
the middle position, the lamps turn
on automatically when a door is
opened.
R:Press to turn on the dome lamps.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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In Brief 15
Reading Lamps
The front reading lamps are in the
overhead console.
#or $:Press to turn each lamp
on or off.
For more information about interior
lighting, see Instrument Panel
Illumination Control 0131 or
Courtesy Lamps 0131.
Exterior Lighting
The exterior lamp control is to the
left of the steering column on the
instrument panel.
There are four positions:
O:Briefly turn to this position to
turn the automatic lamp control off
or on again.
AUTO : Turns the headlamps on
automatically at normal brightness,
together with the parking lamps,
taillamps, license plate lamps,
sidemarker lamps, and instrument
panel lights.
;:Turns on the parking lamps,
taillamps, license plate lamps,
sidemarker lamps, and instrument
panel lights.
5:Turns on the headlamps,
parking lamps, taillamps, license
plate lamps, sidemarker lamps, and
instrument panel lights. A warning
chime sounds if the driver door is
opened when the ignition switch is
off and the headlamps are on.
#:If equipped with fog lamps,
press to turn the lamps on or off.
See:
.Exterior Lamp Controls 0127
.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
0128
.Front Fog Lamps 0130
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The windshield wiper/washer lever
is on the right side of the steering
column.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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16 In Brief
Move the lever to one of the
following positions:
HI : Use for fast wipes.
LO : Use for slow wipes.
INT : Use this setting for intermittent
wipes or Rainsense™, if equipped.
For intermittent wipes, move the
windshield wiper lever to INT. Turn
the xINT band up for more
frequent wipes or down for less
frequent wipes.
If equipped with Rainsense,move
the windshield wiper lever to INT
and turn the xINT band to adjust
the sensitivity to moisture.
.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 INT position to
deactivate Rainsense.
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.
b:Pull the windshield wiper lever
toward you to spray windshield
washer fluid and activate the wipers.
Rear Window Wiper/Washer
The rear wiper/washer controls are
on the end of the windshield wiper
lever.
ON : Press the upper portion of the
button for continuous rear window
wipes.
OFF : The rear wiper turns off when
the button is returned to the middle
position.
INT : Press the lower portion of the
button to set a delay between
wipes.
m=REAR : Push the windshield
wiper lever forward to spray washer
fluid on the rear window. The lever
returns to its starting position when
released.
See Windshield Wiper/Washer 095
and Rear Window Wiper/Washer
097, if equipped.

Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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In Brief 17
Climate Controls
The heating, cooling, defrosting, and ventilation for the vehicle can be
controlled with these systems.
Climate Control System
1. Temperature Control
2. Air Delivery Modes
3. Fan Control
4. Defrost
5. Rear Window Defogger
6. Air Conditioning or Comfort/
Eco Air Conditioning
7. Recirculation
See Climate Control Systems 0135
(If Equipped).

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18 In Brief
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
1. Driver and Passenger Heated
Seats (If Equipped)
2. Driver and Passenger
Temperature Controls
3. Air Delivery Modes
4. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
5. Defrost
6. Rear Window Defogger
7. Fan Controls
8. Air Conditioning or Comfort/
Eco Air Conditioning
9. Recirculation
10. Heated Steering Wheel (If
Equipped)
See Dual Automatic Climate Control
System 0138 (If Equipped).
Transmission
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
DSC allows you to shift an
automatic transmission similar to a
manual transmission. To use the
DSC feature:
1. Move the shift lever from
D (Drive) rearward to
M (Manual Mode).
2. Press the + (plus) end of the
button on the top of the shift
lever to upshift, or press the −
(minus) end of the button to
downshift.
See Manual Mode 0166.

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In Brief 19
Vehicle Features
Infotainment System
See the infotainment manual for
information on the radio, audio
players, phone, navigation system,
and voice or speech recognition.
It also includes information on
settings.
Steering Wheel Controls
The infotainment system can be
operated by using the steering
wheel controls. See "Steering
Wheel Controls" in the infotainment
manual.
Cruise Control
o:Press to turn the cruise control
system on or off. A white indicator
comes in the instrument cluster
when cruise is turned on.
RES/+ : If there is a set speed in
memory, move the thumbwheel up
briefly to resume to that speed or
hold upward to accelerate. If cruise
control is already active, use to
increase vehicle speed.
SET/−:Move the thumbwheel down
briefly to set the speed and activate
cruise control. If cruise control is
already active, use to decrease
speed.
n:Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
See Cruise Control 0171.
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC display is in the instrument
cluster. It shows the status of many
vehicle systems. The controls for
the DIC are on the turn signal lever.
1. SET/CLR: Press to set or clear
the menu item displayed.
2. w x :Turn the band to scroll
through the menu items.