Page 203 of 308

If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out
of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if
you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what
to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off
the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer
to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a
stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot fromthe
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well
off the road if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the next section shows how to use
your jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
A CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured. Find
a level place to change your tire. TO help prevent
be
! licle from moving:
. the parking brake firmly.
L. Put the shift lever in “P” (Park).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move,
you can put chocks at the front and rear of
th
tire farthest away from the one being ehangec
That would be the tire
on the other side nG the
vehicle, at the
opposit- md. ;
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A CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the
passenger compartment
of the vehicle could
cause injury.
In a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store all these
in the p-per place.
I
Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare was fully inflated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi
(420 kPa). The compact spare is made to go up to 3,000
miles (5000 km), so you can finish your trip and have
your full-size tire repaired or replaced where you want.
Of course, it's best to replace your spare with a full-size
tire as
soon as you can. Your spare will last longer and
be in
good shape in case you need it again.
Your anti-lock brake system warning light may come
on
when you are driving with a compact spare. See
"Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light"
in the Index.
NOTICE:
' Don't take your compact spare through an
automatic car wash with guide rails. The
compact spare can get caught
on the rails. Tha
can damage the tire and wheel, and maybe other
parts of your vehicle.
. :s:; ?<,. $3 I "' .. x. , ., . ", ,**~. I , z .. . . ... . ." . ..--;i.~""*rSl~~,~"." ~.~=:~~~~;~~~~;~,.~:,,~~~~~
Don't use your compact spare on some other vehicle.
And don't mix your compact spare or wheel with other
wheels
or tires. They won't fit. Keep your spare and its
wheel together.
Tire chains won't fit your compact spare. Using
them will damage your vehicle and destroy the
chains too. Don't use tire chains on your
g g*
compact spare. :&
s,,.-T +.?;:a: I--- b i ,, 2s: 7,' : *&".;&&;< S? ,.:~ 'p *. . yp& '?gPS ..ar.,%: __ . .,., _, < . '*Y ., .: ~ ,
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/;1 CAUTION:
I
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of the vehicle could
equipment could strike someone. Store
all the$$
in the proper place.
3use
injury. In a sudden stop or collision,
loose
!-
1
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of you1
vehicle
as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transaxle back and
forth, you
can destroy your transaxle
Aocking your vehicle to get it out:
If - You’re Stuck: In Sand; Mud’ Ice Or First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
Snow clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift back
What
you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is and forth between “R” (Reverse) and a forward gear,
to spin your wheels. The method known as “rocking” spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the
can help you get out when you’re stuck, but you must accelerator pedal while
you shift, and press lightly
on
use caution. the accelerator pedal when the transaxle is in gear. If
that doesn’t get
you out after a few tries, you may need
to be towed out. If you do need to be towed out, see
“Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.
IT you let your tires spin at h I speea, they can
explode and you or others could be injured. And
the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle can
overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels as little
as possible. Don’t
spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as
shown on the speedometer.
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Part 6 Service And Appearance Care
vehicle, and a section devoted to its appearance care.
Part
6 includes:
ServiceTips
...................................................................... 214
Fuel ........................................................................\
.....
HoodRelease ..................................................................... 218
EngineOil ....................................................................... \
AirCleane r.. ..................................................................... 225
Automatic Transaxle Fluid ...........................................................
Enginecoolant .................................................................... 228
Power Steering Fluid .......................... % ....................................
Windshield Washer Fluid ............................................................ 232
Brakes ........................................................................\
...
Battery ........................................................................\
.. 235
BulbReplacement ................................................................. 236
LoadingYourVehicle ...............................................................
Tires ........................................................................\
....
Appearancecare ..................................................................
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) ..................................................
FusesandCircuitBreakers ........................................................... 257
Capacities and Specifications ......................................................... 263
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Page 240 of 308
I
4. Pull the bulb straight out to remove it from its
socket. The new bulb must be aligned properly, then
push it in the socket. Reinstall the socket, taillight,
and rear trunk trim.
Loading Your Vehicle
OCCUPANTS VEHICLE CAP. WT.
TIRE-LOADING
INFORMATION
FRT. CTR.
RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING
& GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY WEIGHT XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE RTG PSVKPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA. IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PSV28KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
ll]m' .$$;i#..:.
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the deck lid, tells you the proper size, speed
rating and recommended inflation pressures
for the tires
on your vehicle. It also gives you important information
about the number of people that can be in your vehicle
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I A CAUTION:
l Tires
We don’t make tires. Your new vehicle comes with high
quality tires made by a leading tire manufacturer. These
tires are warranted by the tire manufacturers and their
warranties are delivered with every
new Buick. If your
spare tire is
a different brand than your road tires, you
will have a tire warranty folder from each of these
manufacturers.
above the tops of the seats
vehicle, secure
it whenever you can.
When you carry something inside 1
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Page 243 of 308

A CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are
dangerous.
0
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result
of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. See “Loading Your
Vehicle”
in the Index.
Underinflated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut,
punctured, or broken by
a sudden impact,
such as when you
hit a pothole. Keep tires
at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents.
If your
tread
is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
Inflation - Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label which is on deck lid
shows the correct inflation pressures for your tires, when
they’re cold. “Cold” means your vehicle has been sitting
for at least three hours or driven
no more than a mile.
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Page 244 of 308
When to Check: Check your tires once a month or
more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60
psi (420 kPa).
How to Check: Use a good quality pocket-type gage to
check tire pressure. Simply looking at the tires will not
tell
you the pressure, especially if you have radial tires --
which may look properly inflated even if they’re
underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back
on.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
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.
I
I‘
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.
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