2008 BUICK LUCERNE Owner's Manual

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you will need is located in the trunk.
1. If your vehicle has a
center retainer, turn it
counterclockwise
to remove it.
2. Lift and remove the compact spare tire cover.3. Remove the washer and retainer that holds down
the jack and wheel wrench.
4. Remove the jack container with the jack and the
wheel wrench.
5. Remove the spare tire from the vehicle. See
Compact Spare Tire on page 5-94for more
information.
5-85

The tools you will be using include the jack (A) and the
wheel wrench (B).
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check before proceeding. SeeChanging
a Flat Tire on page 5-84for more information.
2. 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.
5-86

3. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to lower the
jack lift head until it ts under the vehicle.
Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the jack
lift head.
{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.
Notice:If you position the jack under the rocker
molding and attempt to raise the vehicle, you could
break the molding and/or cause other damage to
your vehicle. Always position the jack so that when
the jack head is raised, it will t rmly in the
notch located inboard from the rocker molding.4. Put the jack into the ange in the frame which is
located near each wheel well. The anges are
accessible through openings in the plastic trim at
the bottom of the vehicle. The front opening is about
8 inches (20 cm) back from the front wheel well.
The rear opening is about 3 inches (8 cm) forward
from the rear wheel well.
5. Position the jack and raise the jack head until it ts
rmly on the ridge in the vehicle’s frame nearest the
at tire. Do not raise the vehicle yet.
5-87

6. Put the compact spare tire near the at tire.
{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.
7. 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.
5-88

8. Remove all wheel nuts
and take off the at tire.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become
loose after time. The wheel could come off and
cause an accident. When you change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt from 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 needed, to get all the rust or dirt off. See
Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-84.
9. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
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10. Install the compact spare tire.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
Because the nuts might come loose. The
vehicle’s wheel could fall off, causing a crash.
11. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by
hand until the wheel is held against the hub.
12. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
5-90

{CAUTION:
Incorrect or improperly tightened wheel nuts
can cause the wheel to come loose and even
come off. This could lead to a crash. If you
have to replace them, be sure to get new
original equipment wheel nuts. Stop
somewhere as soon as you can and have the
nuts tightened with a torque wrench to the
proper torque specication. SeeCapacities
and Specifications on page 5-113for wheel nut
torque specication.
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 specication. SeeCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-113for the wheel nut
torque specication.13. Tighten the wheel nuts
rmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown.
5-91

Storing a Flat or Spare 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 have put the compact spare tire on your
vehicle, you need to store the at tire in your trunk. Store
the at 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 lift head must be raised
until the screw end is even with the edge of the jack.To store the compact spare tire and tools:
5-92