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.)
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
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
B and
A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Those grades are molded on the sidewalls of passenger
car tires.
While the tires available as standard or optional
equipment on General Motors vehicles may vary with respect to these grades, all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have been approved
for use on General Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at
the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance. In most cases, you will not need
to have your wheels
aligned again. However, if you notice unusual tire wear
or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to be reset.
If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your
wheels may need
to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air
out, replace it (except some aluminum wheels, which
can sometimes be repaired). See your Buick dealer if
any
of these conditions exist.
Your dealer
will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset, and be mounted the
same way as
the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original
equipment
parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your Buick model.
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‘A CAUTION:
0
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts,
or whwl nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling
of your vehicle, make your tires lose air
and make you lose control.
You could have a
collision in which you or others could be injured.
Always use the correctwheel, wheel bolts, and
wheel
nuts for replacement.
NOTICE:
I
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometerlodometer calibration, headlight
aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clearance,
and tire
or tire chai
Used Rep1 Vheels - - -
’A CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used or
how many miles it’s been driven.
It could fail
suddenly and cause an accident. If you have to
replace a wheel use anew
GM original
equipment wheel.
I
Tire Chains
NOTICE
Use tire chains
SAE Class “S”
size for your
and tighten them as tightly as possible with
ends securely fastened. Drive
slowly and fol
the chain ma
hear the chai
retighten them.
If the contact continues, .elow
down until it stops. Driving ton fast with 4
on will damage your vehicle.
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Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Don’t use strong soaps or chemical detergents. Use liquid
hand, dish or car washing (non-detergent) soaps. Don’t
use cleaning agents that contain acid or abrasives. All
cleaning agents should
be flushed promptly and not
allowed to dry on the surface, or they could stain. Dry the
finish with a soft, clean chamois or a 100% cotton towel
to avoid surface scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter your
vehicle.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your Buick may
be necessary
to remove residue from the paint finish. You
can get
GM approved cleaning products from your dealer.
(See “Appearance Care and Materials”
in the Index.)
Your Buick has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish. The
clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat.
finish or leave swirl marks,
Aluminum Wheels (If So Equipped)
Your aluminum wheels have a protective coating similar
to the painted surface of your car. Don’t use strong
soaps, chemicals, chrome polish, or other abrasive
cleaners on them because
you could damage this
coating. After rinsing thoroughly, a wax may be applied.
If you have aluminum wheels, don’
automatic vehicle wash that has hard silico
carbide cleaning brushes. TheFm brushes can
White Sidewall Tires
Your Buick dealer has a GM White Sidewall Tire
Cleaner. You can use a stiff brush with
it.
Weatherstrips
These are places where glass or metal meets rubber.
Silicone grease there will make them last longer, seal
better, and not squeak. Apply silicone grease with a
clean cloth at least every six months.
LeSabre Dimensions
Inches Unless Otherwise Noted
Overall: Sedan
Length .......................... 200.0
Width ........................... 74.9
Height
........................... 55.7
Wheel Base ...................... 110.8
Front Tread
....................... 60.4
Rear Tread ........................ 60.2
Interior Front:
Leg Room ........................ 42.0
Head Room
....................... 39.3
Shoulder Room
.................... 59.1
Hip Room ........................ 55.0
Interior Rear: Sedan
Leg Room ........................ 40.9
Head
Room ....................... 37.8
Shoulder
Room .................... 58.9
Hip Room ........................ 54.4
Trunk Capacity . Cu . Ft .............. 17.1
Passengers:
Front ............................... 3
Rear ................................ 3
Base Curb Weight - Lbs .............. 3443
Scheduled Maintenance Services Schedule I1
Follow Schedule I1 ONLY if none of the driving conditions specified in Schedule I apply.
TO BE SERVICED
(See Explanation of
Scheduled Maintenance
Services Following Schedules
I and 11)
Item No.
1. Engine Oil Change"
Oil Filter Change"
2. Chassis Lubrication
3. Throttle Body Mounting Bolt Torque*
4. Tire & Wheel Inspection & Rotation
5. Engine Accessory Drive Belt(s) Inspection"
6. Cooling System Service*
7. Transaxle Service
WHEN TO PERFORM
Miles (kilometers) or
Months, Whichever
Occurs
First
MILES (000)
KILOMETERS (000)
I' I 12.5 I 25
Every
7 500 mi. (12 500 km) or 12 mos. 1.1.
At first and then every other oil change 1.1 ~~ ~
Every 7 500 mi. (12 500 km) or 12 mos.
I I
At 7 500 mi. (12 500 km) only 1.1
At 7 500 mi. (12 500 km) and then every
15
000 mi. (25 000 km) or as necessary
Every
30 000 mi. (50 000 km) or 24 mos.
H-
See Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance
Services Following Schedules
I and I1 I
284
Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance
Services
Below are explanations of the services listed in Schedule
I and Schedule 11.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Section
D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle
uses these. All parts should be replaced and all
necessary repairs done before
you or anyone else drives
the vehicle.
1. Engine Oil and Filter Change* -- Always use SG
Energy Conserving I1 oils of proper viscosity. The
“SG” designation may be shown alone or in
combination with others, such as “SG/CC”,
“SG/CD” or “SF, SG, CC,” etc. To determine the
preferred viscosity for your vehicle’s engine (e.g.,
SAE
5W-30 or SAE 10W-30), see “Engine Oil” in
the Index. If your vehicle has an Engine Oil Life
Monitor, the monitor will show
you when to change
the oil. See “Engine Oil Life Monitor” in the Index.
2. Chassis Lubrication -- Lubricate suspension and
steering linkage. Lubricate the transaxle shift linkage, and parking brake
cable guides, underbody
contact points and linkage.
3. Throttle Body Mounting Bolt Torque* -- Check
the torque of the mounting bolts and/or nuts.
4. Tire and Wheel Rotation and Inspection -- For
proper wear and maximum tire life, rotate your tires
following
the instructions in this manual. See “Tires,
Inspection
& Rotation” in the Index. Check the tires
for uneven wear or damage. If you see irregular or
premature wear, check the wheel alignment. Check
for damaged wheels also.
5. Engine Accessory Drive Belt(s) Inspection --
Inspect the belt(s) for cracks, fraying, wear and
proper tension. Replace as needed.
6. Cooling System Service” -- Drain, flush and refill
the system with new or approved recycled coolant
conforming to GM Specification 1825M. Keep
coolant at the proper mixture as specified. See
“Coolant” in
the Index. This provides proper freeze
protection, corrosion inhibitor level
and engine
operating temperature.
* An Emission Control Service.
3‘ The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the failure to perfonn this maintenance item will not nullify the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to thecompletion of vehicle
useful life. General Motors, however, urges that all recommended maintenance services be performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance be recorded in “Section E:Maintenance Record”.
286