2002 BUICK RANDEZVOUS flat tire

5-
5-1
Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you'll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5
-2 Hazard Warning Flashers
5
-2 Other Warning Devices
5
-3 Jump Starting
5
-9 Towing Your Vehicle
5
-9 Engine Overheating5
-12 Cooling System
5
-19 If a Tire Goes Flat
5
-20 Changing a Flat Tire
5
-40 Compact Spare Tire
5
-41 If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow

5-19
9. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the
FULL COLD mark.
10. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblow outº 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 ªblowout,º 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, and 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 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 a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.

5-20
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.
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 the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.

5-23
5. After removing the spare tire, turn the wrench
clockwise to raise the cable back up.
Do not store a full
-size or a flat road tire under the
vehicle. See ªStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Toolsº
later in this section.
To continue changing the flat tire see ªRemoving the Flat
Tire and Installing the Spare Tireº later in this section.
If the spare tire will not lower, the secondary latch may
be engaged and causing the tire not to lower.Do the following to check the cable:
1. Check under the vehicle to see if the cable is visible.
2. If not visible, see ªSecondary Latch Systemº
later in this section.
If visible, first try to tighten the cable by turning
the folding wrench clockwise until you hear two
clicks or feel it skip twice. You can not overtighten
the cable.
3. Loosen the cable by turning the wrench
counterclockwise three or four turns.
4. Repeat this procedure at least two times.
5. If you still cannot lower the spare tire to the ground,
see ªSecondary Latch Systemº later in this section.
6. If the spare tire did lower to the ground, continue with
Step 4 under ªRemoving the Spare Tire (Vehicles
without the Rear Convenience/Cargo Tray)º.

5-25
5. To remove the spare tire from the cable, tilt the
retainer and slip it through the wheel opening.
6. After removing the spare tire, turn the wrench
clockwise to raise the cable back up.
Do not store a full
-size or a flat road tire under the
vehicle. See ªStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Toolsº
later in this section.
To continue changing the flat tire see ªRemoving
the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tireº later in
this section.
If the spare tire will not lower, the secondary latch may
be engaged and causing the tire not to lower. Do the
following to check the cable:
1. Check under the vehicle to see if the cable is visible.
2. If not visible, see ªSecondary Latch Systemº later
in this section.
If visible, first try to tighten the cable by turning
the folding wrench clockwise until you hear two
clicks or feel it skip twice. You can not overtighten
the cable.

5-28
7. Lower the jack by turning the folding wrench
counterclockwise. Keep lowering the jack until
the spare tire is resting on the folding wrench.8. Grasp the spare tire with both hands and pull it out
from under the vehicle.
9. Reach under the vehicle and remove the folding
wrench and jack.
10. When the spare tire has been completely lowered,
tilt the retainer and slip it through the wheel opening.
11. If the cable is hanging, turn the wrench clockwise
to raise the cable back up.
Have the hoist assembly inspected as soon as you can.
You will not be able to store a spare or flat tire using the
hoist assembly until it has been repaired or replaced.

5-29 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1. If there is a wheel cover, loosen the plastic nut caps
with the wheel wrench. They won't come off. Then,
using the flat end of the wheel wrench, pry along the
edge of the cover until it comes off. Be careful; the
edges may be sharp. Don't try to remove the cover
with your bare hands.
If your vehicle has aluminum wheels, remove the
wheel nut caps using the wheel wrench.
2. Loosen the wheel
nuts
-- but do not
remove them
-- using
the folding wrench.
(Turn the handle about
180 degrees, then flip
the handle back to
the starting position.
This avoids taking the
wrench off the lug nut
for each turn.)For wheels with a wheel lock key, use the wheel lock
key between the lock nut and folding wrench. The key
is supplied in the front passenger door pocket.
NOTICE:
To help avoid damage to lock nut or wheel lock
key, do not use an impact wrench with this key.
3. Near each wheel,
there is a notch in
the vehicle's body.
Position the jack and
raise the jack head
until it fits firmly
into the notch in the
vehicle's frame nearest
the flat tire.

5-31
4. Attach the folding wrench
to the jack, and turn
the wrench clockwise
to raise the jack head
3 inches (7.6 cm).
5. Raise the vehicle by turning the folding wrench
clockwise in the jack. Raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground so that there is enough room for the
spare tire to fit under the wheel well.
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.
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.