1993 BUICK SKYLARK flat tire

Table of Contents
How to Use this Manual ................................................................. 10
Seats and Safety Belts
............................ .:. ................................... 13
FeaturesandControls
.................................................................. 61
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
..................................................... 119
YourDrivingandtheRoad
.............................................................. 137
ProblemsontheRoad
.................................................................. 185
This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safety and vehicle damage warnings & symbols.
This part tells you how
to use your seats and safety belts properly.
This part explains how to start and operate your Buick.
This part tells you how to adjust the ventilation
& comfort controls and how to operate your sound system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
This part tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine overheating.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running properly and looking good.
This part tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants
to use.
This part tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and how to get service publications. It also gives
you information on “Reporting Safety Defects.’’
Here’s an alphabetical listing
of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 215
Maintenanceschedule
.................................................................. 265
Customer Assistance Information
........................................................ 285
Index
........................................................................\
........ 293
9

start bralung. If you must brake on the through lane, and
if there
is traffic close behind you, you can allow a little
extra time and flash your brake lights (in addition to your turn signal) as extra warning that you are about to
slow down and exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense of
motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds,
you may tend to think you are going slower than you
actually are. For example,
40 mph (65 km/h) might
seem like only
20 mph (30 km/h). Obviously, this could
lead to serious trouble on a ramp designed for
20 mph
(30 krn/h)!
Driving a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are made on freeways,
there are still many made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular
highways is the same in some ways. The trip has to be
planned and the vehicle prepared, you drive at
higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns
behind the wheel. You’ll enjoy your trip more if you and
your vehicle are
in good shape. Here are some tips for a
successful long trip.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Buick dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
0 Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
WiDer Blades: Are they in good shape/
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
0 Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
0 Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for long-distance driving?
Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
168

Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain. If you
drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain
roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Don’t make your brakes do it all.
Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or
long hill. That way, you will slow down without
excessive use of your brakes.
I 170

Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total capacity
weight of your vehicle. The capacity weight includes the
curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in
it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. And
if you will tow a trailer, you must subtract the tongue load from your vehicle’s capacity weight because your
vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading
Your Vehicle” in the Index for more information about
your vehicle’s maximum load capacity. The trailer tongue (A) should weigh
10% of
the total
loaded trailer weight (B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the limit for
cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on the Certification
label at the rear edge of the driver’s door (or see “Tire
Loading” in the Index). Then be sure you don’t go over
the GVW limit for your vehicle.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by, and rough roads are
a
few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install a trailer hitch?
If you do,
then be sure to seal the holes later when you remove
the hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get into your
vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index).
Dirt
and water can, too.
181

Part 5 Problems on the Road
I
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .
Part 5 includes:
Hazard Warning Flashers
............................................................ 186
OtherWarningDevices
............................................................. 187
“Jump”Starting
................................................................... 188
TowingYourBuick
................................................................ 193
Engineoverheating
................................................................ 197
IfaTireGoesFlat
................................................................. 204
ChangingaFlatTire
................................................................ 204
CompactSpareTire
................................................................ 212
If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
.............................................. 214

.If a Tire Goes Flat Changing a Flat Tire
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain yourtires 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:
1
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 gentlv
I. - 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 from the
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.
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:
I 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
the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake K- Ay.
2. Put the shift lever in “P” (Park
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t mob
you can put chocks at the front and rear of t
tire farthest away from the one being changed,
I That would be the tire on the oP?r side of the
vehicle, the oppos’-
1 end.
CAUTION: (Continued)

is <.&,j ... ,- >? .... : ,;pi>@, '+ !, :: 1 :
Gse the vehicle by
Raise the vehicle
far enough off the ground so there is
enough room for the spare tire to fit.
Remove all the wheel nuts and take
off the flat tire.
.. . -, . . i .
Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces
or spare wheel. Place the spare on the wheel
mounting surface.
208

n Now put all the equipment back in the car.
Just follow this drawing:
/! CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become loose
and even come
off. This could lead to an
accident. Be sure to get the right kind.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with
a torque wrench. The
torque setting should be
140 N.m (1 00 ft. Ibs.)
Don’t try to put the wheel cover on your compact spare
tire.
It won’t fit. Store the wheel cover in the trunk until
you have the flat tire repaired or replaced.
I
Wheel covers won’t fit on your compact spare. ~~~~ ;q,yy+4
If you try to put a wheel cover on your cornp~~~~~~~
~~~~~,~~~
211