2007 BUICK LACROSSE Owner's Manual

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your vehicle’s
tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
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:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag
that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel rmly. 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 would 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.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to
do maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to
use the jacking equipment to change a at
tire safely.
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Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel
damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on
your vehicle’s hazard warning ashers. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 150for more
information.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The
vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over
or fall on you or other people. You and
they could be badly injured or even killed.
Find a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain
in the vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle will
not move, you should 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, at the
opposite end of the vehicle.
When your vehicle has a at tire, use the following
example as a guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks.
426

The following information will tell you next how to
use the jack and change a tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you will need is located in the trunk.
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 100for
more information.
2. Remove the convenience net if the vehicle
has one.
3. Lift the handle on the spare tire cover. The
handle may hook on the front edge of the
trunk’s weatherstrip to hold the cover out of
the way.
427

4. Turn the wing nut counterclockwise and
remove it.
5. Remove the compact spare tire.6. Turn the nut holding the jack counterclockwise
and remove it. Then remove the jack and
wrench.
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The tools you will need to change a tire include
the jack (A), extension and protection guide (B),
and wheel wrench (C).
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
You vehicle may have wheels with exposed wheel
nuts. If so, go to the Removing the Wheel Nuts
section. If the vehicle has steel wheel covers with
center caps, the wheel nuts are hidden behind the
cap. To remove the wheel cover, do the following:
1. Remove the center cap by using the at end
of the wheel wrench at the notch on the cap.
Removing the Center Cap
429

2. Use the wheel wrench to loosen the plastic
wheel nut caps, if the vehicle has them, in a
counterclockwise direction.
If needed, nish loosening them by hand.
The nut caps will not come off of the wheel
cover.
3. Use the at end of the wheel wrench and pry
along the edge of the cover until it comes off.
Pull off the wheel cover and set it aside.
The edge of the wheel cover could be sharp,
so do not try to remove the cover with your
bare hands. Do not drop the cap or lay it face
down, as it could become scratched or
damaged.
If the vehicle has aluminum wheels and wheel
center caps, the wheel nuts are hidden behind the
center cap. Remove the center cap by using
the at end of the wheel wrench at the notch.
Do not drop the cap or lay it facedown, as it could
become scratched or damaged.Once you have removed the wheel cover or
center cap, use the following procedure to remove
the at tire and install the spare tire.
1. Place the wheel wrench securely over
the wheel nut. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to loosen all the wheel
nuts, but do no remove them yet.
2. Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise
the jack lift head.
Removing the Wheel Nuts
430

3. Find the jacking location using the diagram
above and corresponding triangular-shaped
hoisting notches located on the underside
of the vehicle’s plastic molding.
The front location is about 6.5 inches (16.5 cm)
from the rear edge of the front wheel well.
The rear location is about 9 inches (22.8 cm)
from the front edge of the rear wheel well.
4. Put the compact spare tire 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 t the jack lift head
into the proper location before raising
the vehicle.
431

5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground for the compact spare tire to
t under the vehicle.6. Remove all wheel
nuts and take off
the at tire.
432