
Tighten the wheel nuts firmly
in a crisscross
sequence as shown. 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 NOTICE:
Wheel covers won’t fit on your compact spare. If
you try to put a wheel cover on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.
After you’ve put the compact spare tire on your vehicle,
you’ll need to store the flat tire
in your trunk. Use the
following procedure to secure
the flat tire in the trunk.
Put the flat tire
in the trunk so the side that faces out
when it is
on the vehicle is facing down. The full-size
tire will not fit down
into the well. Place it so the front is
in the well and the rear is out of the well.
Put the bolt through one
of the wheel nut holes, install
the retainer over the bolt, then install the wing
nut. Put
the spacer and
nut next to the tire in the well. Store the
cover
as far forward as possible.
The compact spare is for temporary use only. Replace
the compact spare tire
with a full-size tire as soon as
you can.
5-30
ProCarManuals.com

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). After installing the compact spare on your
vehicle, you should stop
as soon as possible and make
sure your spare tire
is correctly inflated. The compact
spare is made
to perform well at posted speed limits for
distances
up to 3,000 miles (5 000 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.
1 NOTICE:
Don’t take your compact spare through an
automatic
car wash with guide rails. The
compact spare can get caught on the rails. That
can damage the tire and wheel, and maybe other
parts
of your vehicle.
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.
NOTICE:
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 compact
spare.
5-32
ProCarManuals.com

Inflation - Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label which is inside the
trunk 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.
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right. It’s not.
If your tires
don’t have enough
air (underinflation) you can
get:
Too much flexing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Bad wear
Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards. 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.
6-31
ProCarManuals.com

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(I 0 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear.
If unusual wear is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When
it’s Time ,for New
Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” later
in this section for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services”
in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals. When
rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire
in your tire
rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures
as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” in the
Index.
6-32
ProCarManuals.com

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.
These 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.
6-35
ProCarManuals.com

Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
IMPORTANT:
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
.EVEL AND CHANGE AI
RECOMMENDED
This section covers the maintenance required for your
Buick. Your vehicle needs these services
to retain its
safety, dependability
and emission control performance.
Protection
Plan
ui
Introduction
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.
ProCarManuals.com

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which
should be performed at the intervals specified to help
ensure the safety, dependability and emission control
performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is inzportuntfor you or a service station attendant to
pecform these un,derlwocl clwcks at eaclz~fl~el~fi’ll.
Engine Oil Level
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See “Engine Oil” in the Index for further
details.
Engine Coolant Level
Check the engine coolant level and add the proper
coolant mix if necessary. See “Coolant”
in the Index for
further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the
windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if
necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in the Index
for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation
Check tire inflation. Make sure tires are inflated to the
pressures specified on the Tire-Loading Information
label. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index. See
“Tires”
in the Index for further details.
Cassette Deck
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
50 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems” in the Index
for further details.
Power Antenna
Clean power antenna mast. See “Audio Systems” in the
Index for further details.
7-36
ProCarManuals.com

n
Section 9 Index
ABS ......................................... 4-6
Accessory Outlet
............................... 2-39
Adding
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
..................... 6- 17
BrakeFluid
................................. 6-24
Electrical Equipment
............... 2- 12 . 3- 17. 6-47
Engine Coolant
.............................. 6- I8
Engineoil
................................... 6-9
Power Steering Fluid
......................... 6-22
Sound Equipment
............................ 3- 17
Windshield Washer Fluid ...................... 6-22
How Does It Restrain ......................... 1-22
How
It Works ............................... 1-20
Location
................................... 1-20
Readiness Light ........................ 1 - 19.2-46
Servicing
................................... 1-23
What Makes
It Inflate ......................... 1-21
What Will You See After It Inflates .............. 1-22
When Should It Inflate
........................ 1-21
AirCleane r
....................................... 13
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-58
AirBag
....................................... 1-18
Air Conditioning
with Electronic Controls ............ 3-1
Alignment and Balance. Tires
..................... 6-35
Antenna. Fixed Mast
............................ 3-19
Antenna. Power Mast Care
....................... 3-19
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-17
Anti-Lock Brake System Waning Light ......... 2-48.4-6
Anti-Lock Brakes
............................... 4-6
Appearance Care
............................... 6-38
Appearance Care and Materials
.................... 6-45
Armrest. Storage
............................... 2-37
Ashtrays. Front
................................. 2-41
Astroroof
..................................... 2-40
Audio System. Steering Wheel Touch Controls
....... 3-20
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-5
Auto-Down Window ............................ 2-24
Automatic Door Locks
............................ 2-4
Automatic Transaxle
............................ 2-15
First Gear
(1) Position ........................ 2-18
Neutral
(N) Position .......................... 2-16
Overdrive Position
........................... 2-17
Aluminum
Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-43
Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light
.............. 2-49
Ashtrays
. Rear ................................. 2-41
9-1
ProCarManuals.com