Buick Encore: Starting and Operating / Shifting Into Park

Buick Encore 2020-2024 Owner's Manual / Driving and Operating / Starting and Operating / Shifting Into Park

Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See Parking Brake.
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.
Turn the ignition off.

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). See Shifting Into Park.

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).

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)

When the ignition is turned from on to off, the following features (if equipped) will continue to function for up to 10 minutes, or until the driver door is opened...

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...

Other information:

Buick Encore 2020-2024 Owner's Manual: Where Are the Airbags?

The driver frontal airbag is in the center of the steering wheel. The front outboard passenger frontal airbag is in the passenger side instrument panel. The driver knee airbag (if equipped) is below the steering column. The front outboard passenger knee airbag (if equipped) is below the glove box...

Buick Encore 2020-2024 Owner's Manual: Charging System Light

The charging system light comes on briefly when the ignition is turned on, but the engine is not running, as a check to show the light is working. It should go out when the engine is started. If the light stays on, or comes on while driving, there may be a problem with the electrical charging system...