Tire Inspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have them inspected and
rotated at the mileages recommended in the
.
Maintenance Schedule. See “Scheduled Maintenance
Services’’ in the Index.
Use this rotation pattern. After
the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressure as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in the
Index.
I
A CAUTION:
Rust or dlrt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastetfed, can make wheel nuts become
loose after a time. The wheel could come off and
cause
an accident. When you change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches
to the vehicle. In an emergency,
you can use a cloth or a paper towel to do this;
but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if
you need to, to get all the rust or dirt off. (See
“Changing a FI; Tire’* On the Index.)
c:
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that can’t be repaired well because of the size or location
.
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires, get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way,
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating, traction, ride and other things during normal service on your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by a
“MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS
You need a new tire if:
you can see the indicators at three places around the
tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to show cord or fabric.
258
A CAUTION:
;
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving. If you mix tires of different sizes
or
types (radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle
may not handle properly, and you could have a
crash. Be sure to use the same size and type
tires
on all four wheels.
It’s all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It was developed for use on your vehicle.
I I
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example,
a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance
of tires depends
upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B,
and C. They represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions
on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based
on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Foreign Material
Calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting agents,
road oil and tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals from
industrial chimneys, and other foreign matter can
damage your vehicle’s finish if
they remain on painted
surfaces. Use cleaners that are marked
safe for painted
surfaces for
these stains.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop
into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and Scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody.
If these are not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the
underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and
exhaust system even though they have corrosion
protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect.
Dirt packed in closed areas of
the frame should be
loosened before being flushed. Your
dealer or an underbody vehicle washing system can do this
for
you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces
on your vehicle. This damage can
take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped discolorations,
and small irregular dark spots etched into the paint
surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Buick
will repair, at
no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever comes first.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
ENGINE A3 f ASSEMBLY
~ CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT
This is the legal identifier for your Buick. It appears on
a plate in the front corner
of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side. You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle.
The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates
of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code for
your
GM engine. This code will help you identify your
engine, specifications, and replacement parts in this
section.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on the rear edge of the driver’s
door.
It’s very helpful if you ever need to order parts. On
this label is:
Your VIN.
Its model designation.
Paint information.
A list of all production options and special
Be sure that this label is
not removed from the vehicle.
equipment.
Add-on
Electrical Equipment
unless you check with your dealer first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some
of it can just kee
from working as they should.
-..
I 7
GOOD FUSE
f7-7 6
FUSE
GM PART NO. RATING COLOR
IIU
12004003 ................... 3 AMP VIOLET
12004005
................... 5 AMP TAN
12004006
................... 7.5 AMP BROWN
12004007
................... 10 AMP RED
12004008
................... 15 AMP LIGHT BLUE
12004009
................... 20 AMP YELLOW
12004010
................... 25 AMP WHITE
12004011
................... 30 AMP LIGHT GREEN
This fuse chart shows how to tell a blown fuse from a
good fuse.
There are additional fuses located behind the right sound
insulator panel on the passenger side. If these require service, see your Buick dealer.
Maxifuse/Relay Center
To check the fuses in this underhood fuse center, turn
the two knobs 1/4 turn counterclockwise and remove the
cover. The inside
of the cover has a chart that explains
the features and controls governed by each fuse and
relay.
The PASS-Key fuse is located in the right side relay center.
Headlights
The headlight wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in
the light switch. An electrical overload will cause the
lights to go on and
off, or in some cases to remain off. If
this happens, have your headlight wiring checked right
away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and
a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavy
snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor cools. If
the overload is caused by
some electrical problem and
not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the.current
load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and closes,
protecting the circuit until the problem is fixed or goes
away.
272
This part covers the maintenance required for your Buick . Your vehicle needs these services to retain its safety.
dependability and emission control performance
.
Part 7 includes:
Introduction
...................................................................... 278
A Word About Maintenance
..................................................... 278
Your Vehicle and the Environment
................................................. 279
Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
............................................. 280
Using Your Maintenance Schedules
............................................... 280
Selecting the Right Schedule
.................................................... 281
Schedule1
................................................................... 282
Schedule11
.................................................................. 284
Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services ..................................... 286
Section
B: Owner Checks and Services ................................................. 288
AtEachFuelFill
.............................................................. 288
AtLeastOnceaMonth
......................................................... 289
AtLeastOnceaYear
.......................................................... 289
Section
C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections ............................................ 292
Section
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ......................................... 293
Section
E: Maintenance Record ....................................................... 295
How
This Part is Organized
..................................................... 279
277
* Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance or the
removal of important components can significantly
affect the quality
of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
levels or even the wrong tire inflation can increase the
level of emissions from your vehicle.
To help protect
our environment, and to help keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
How This Part is Organized
The remainder of this part is divided into five sections:
“Section
A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows
what
to have done and how often. Some of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary equipment,
you should
let your dealer’s service department or another qualified
service center do these
jobs.
A CAUTION:
1. *
._ 1. c
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can
be dangerous. In trying to do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured.
Do your own maintenance
work only if you have the required know-how and the proper tools and equipment for the
job. If you
have any doubt, have a qualified technician do
the work.
If you are skilled enough to do some work on your
vehicle, you will probably want to get the service
information
GM publishes. You will find a list of
publications and how to get them in this manual. See
“Service Publications’’ in the Index.
“Section
B: Owner Checks and Services” tells you what
should
be checked whenever you stop for fuel. It also
explains what you can easily do to help keep your
vehicle in good condition.
“Section
C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections” explains
important inspe.ctions that your Buick dealer’s service
department or another qualified service center should
perform.
279
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