2004 BUICK RAINIER spare wheel

Operating Your All-Wheel-Drive
Vehicle Off Paved Roads
This off-road guide is for vehicles that have all-wheel
drive. If your vehicle does not have all-wheel drive, you
should not drive off-road unless you are on a level,
solid surface.
Many of the same design features that help make your
vehicle responsive on paved roads during poor
weather conditions — features like all-wheel
drive — help make it much better suited for off-road
use. Its higher ground clearance also helps your vehicle
step over some off-road obstacles. But your vehicle
does not have features like special underbody shielding
and a transfer case low gear range, things that are
usually thought necessary for extended or severe
off-road service.
Also, seeBraking on page 4-6.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have
some denite hazards. The greatest of these is
the terrain itself.“Off-roading” means you have left the North American
road system behind. Traffic lanes are not marked.
Curves are not banked. There are no road signs.
Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill.
In short, you have gone right back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that is
why it is very important that you read this guide. You will
nd many driving tips and suggestions. These will
help make your off-road driving safer and more
enjoyable.
Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out. For
example, be sure to have all necessary maintenance
and service work done. Check to make sure all
underbody shields (if so equipped) are properly
attached. Is there enough fuel? Is the spare tire fully
inated? Are the uid levels up where they should be?
What are the local laws that apply to off-roading
where you will be driving? If you do not know, you
should check with law enforcement people in the area.
Will you be on someone’s private land? If so, be
sure to get the necessary permission.
4-16

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...........................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-11
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-12
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-23
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-24
Engine Coolant.............................................5-27
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-29
Engine Overheating.......................................5-29
Cooling System............................................5-32
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-38
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-39
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-40Brakes........................................................5-41
Battery........................................................5-44
Jump Starting...............................................5-45
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-51
Rear Axle.......................................................5-51
Front Axle......................................................5-53
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-54
Headlamps..................................................5-54
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps...................5-54
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-55
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-56
Tires..............................................................5-59
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-67
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-68
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-70
Buying New Tires.........................................5-71
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-72
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-73
Wheel Replacement......................................5-74
Tire Chains..................................................5-75
Accessory Inator.........................................5-76
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-78
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-79
Spare Tire...................................................5-92
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inated even when they’re underinated. Check
the tire’s ination pressure when the tires are cold.
cold means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Press
the tire gage rmly onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire ination pressure matches
the recommended pressure on the tire and loading
information label, no further adjustment is necessary.
If the pressure is low, add air until you reach the
recommended amount.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Recheck the
tire pressure with the tire gage.
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 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 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. SeeWhen It Is Time for
New Tires on page 5-70andWheel Replacement on
page 5-74for more information.
Make sure the spare tire is stored securely. Push, pull,
and then try to rotate or turn the tire. If it moves, use the
wheel wrench to tighten the cable. For information on
storing or removing the spare tire, seeChanging a Flat
Tire on page 5-79.
5-68

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The jacking equipment you will need is stored under
the rear seat on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
SeeRear Seat Operation on page 1-5. To release
the jack from its holder, turn the knob on the jack
counterclockwise to lower the jack head.The tools you’ll be using include the wheel wrench (A),
wheel blocks (B), extension (socket end) (C), handle
(jack end) (D), and jack (E).
The following instructions explain how to remove the
spare tire mounted underneath your vehicle.
Notice:If you remove or restow a tire from/to
the storage position under the vehicle when it is
supported by a jack, you could damage the
tire and/or your vehicle. Always remove or restow
a tire when the vehicle is on the ground.
5-80

1. To remove the underbody-mounted spare, insert
the socket end of the extension on a 45° angle
downward into the hoist drive shaft hole. This will
be exposed when the rear gate is open and is
just above the rear bumper. Be sure the socket end
of the extension connects to the hoist shaft.2. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the spare tire. Keep turning the wheel wrench until
the spare tire can be pulled out from under the
vehicle.
If the spare tire does not lower to the ground,
the secondary latch is engaged causing the tire not
to lower. See “Secondary Latch System” following
this section.
When the tire has been completely lowered, tilt the
retainer at the end of the cable and pull it through
the wheel opening. Pull the tire out from under
the vehicle.
Notice:If you drive away before the spare tire or
secondary latch system cable has been reinstalled,
you could damage your vehicle. Always reinstall
this cable before driving your vehicle.
5-81

3. Put the spare tire near the at tire.
4. Position the chisel end of your wheel wrench in the
notch of the center cap and pry off the center cap.
See “Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire” later in this section to continue changing
the at tire.Secondary Latch System
Your vehicle has an underbody mounted tire hoist
assembly equipped with a secondary latch system.
It’s designed to stop the spare or at road tire
from suddenly falling off your vehicle if the cable holding
the spare tire is damaged. For the secondary latch to
work, the tire must be stowed with the valve stem
pointing up. See “Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools”
for instructions on storing the spare or at tire correctly.
{CAUTION:
Before beginning this procedure read all the
instructions. Failure to read and follow the
instructions could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get hurt. Read and
follow the instructions listed below.
5-82

{CAUTION:
Someone standing too close during the
procedure could be injured by the jack.
If the spare tire does not slide off the jack
completely, make sure no one is behind
you or on either side of you as you pull the
jack out from the spare.
To release the spare tire from the secondary latch,
do the following:
1. Check under the
vehicle to see if the
cable is visible.2. If it is not visible, proceed to Step 6.
If visible, rst try to tighten the cable by turning the
wheel wrench clockwise until you hear two clicks
or feel it skip twice. You cannot overtighten
the cable.
3. Loosen the cable by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise three or four turns.
4. Repeat this procedure at least two times.
If the spare tire lowers to the ground, continue with
Step 2 of “Removing the Spare Tire and Tools”
earlier in this section.
5. Turn the wrench counterclockwise until
approximately 6 inches (15 cm) of cable is exposed.
5-83

6. Attach the jack handle, extension and the wheel
wrench to the jack and place it under the vehicle
towards the front of the rear bumper. Position
the center lift point of the jack under the center of
the spare tire.7. Turn the wrench clockwise to raise the jack until it
lifts the end tting.
8. Continue raising the jack until the spare tire stops
moving upward and is held rmly in place. The
secondary latch has released and the spare tire is
balancing on the jack.
9. Lower the jack by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Keep lowering the jack until the
spare tire slides off the jack or is hanging by
the cable.
5-84