1999 BUICK RIVIERA spare wheel

yellowblue
5-19
2. Remove the wheel wrench and jack from the jack
container. Turn the spare tire retainer bolt
counterclockwise and remove the retainer assembly.
3. Remove the spare tire from the trunk.
The tools you'll be using include the jack (A) and wheel
wrench (B).
Removing the Wheel Cover
Your vehicle has a wheel cover which must be taken off
to reach the wheel nuts. Insert the flat end of the wrench
into the notch in the center cover. Pry carefully, so the
center cover is not scratched.

yellowblue
5-20 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Position the wheel wrench securely over the wheel
nuts to loosen, but don't remove them yet.
2. Attach the wheel wrench to the bolt on the end of the
jack to create a jack handle.
3. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the jack lift head until it fits under the vehicle.

yellowblue
5-21
4. Near each wheel well is a notch in the frame to
position the jack head. You'll find the word JACK
and an arrow stamped into the plastic near each
notch. Position the jack under the vehicle and raise
the jack head until it fits firmly against the sheet
metal next to the word JACK. Do not raise the
vehicle yet. Put the compact spare near you.
CAUTION:
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed. Never get under
a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
CAUTION:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned can damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal
injury and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the jack
lift head into the proper location before raising
the vehicle.

yellowblue
5-22
5. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough room for the spare
tire to fit.
6. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
7. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the 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 the 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.

yellowblue
5-23
CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could
fall off, causing a serious accident.
8. Place the spare on the
wheel
-mounting surface.
9. Replace the wheel nuts
with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each nut
by hand until the wheel
is held against the hub.
If a nut cannot be
tightened by hand,
use the wheel wrench
and see your dealer
right away.

yellowblue
5-25
NOTICE:
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to
brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specification.
12. Store the wheel cover in the trunk until you have
the flat tire repaired or replaced.
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.
When the flat tire has been repaired or replaced,
install the wheel cover. Be sure to position the
alignment pin on the cover with the notch in the
wheel. Apply pressure around the edge of the cap to
snap it in place.
Storing the Flat Tire and Tools
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 proper place.
After you've put the compact spare tire on your vehicle,
you'll need to store the flat tire in the trunk.
Store the flat tire as far forward in the trunk as possible.
Store the jack and wheel wrench in their compartment in
the trunk. For storage, the jack must be raised until the
screw end is flush with the edge of the jack.

yellowblue
5-27
Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire 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 speeds up to 65 mph (105
km/h) 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.
NOTICE:
When the compact spare is installed, don't take
your vehicle 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 other vehicles.
And don't mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won't fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won't fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don't use tire chains on your
compact spare.

yellowblue
6-41
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. You can't tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they're underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles (10 000 to
13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your
tires as soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also
check for damaged tires or wheels. See ªWhen It's Time for
New Tiresº and ªWheel Replacementº 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 ªScheduled
Maintenance Servicesº 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 ªWheel
Nut Torqueº in the Index.