Jack BUICK CENTURY 2004 Owner's Manual

If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blowout” 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 “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’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.{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 your
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 the hazard
warning ashers.
{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 rmly.
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 tell how to use the jack and change
a tire.
5-75

3. Turn the nut holding the jack counterclockwise and
remove it. Then remove the jack and wrench.The tools you will be using include the jack (A),
extension and protection guide (B) and wheel
wrench (C).
5-77

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts,
but do not remove them yet.
2. Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the jack
lift head.3. For jacking at the vehicle’s front location, put the
jack lift head (C) about 6 inches (15 cm) from the
rear edge of the front wheel opening (B) or just
behind the two bolts (A) as shown.
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For jacking at the vehicle’s rear location, put the
jack lift head (B) about 5 inches (13 cm) from
the front edge of the rear wheel opening (C) or just
behind the off-set (A) as shown.
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.
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5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground for the spare compact tire to t underneath
the wheel well.
6. Remove all wheel nuts and take off the at tire.
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8. Install the compact spare tire.
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.
9. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
5-83

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 the compact spare tire is put on the vehicle, store
the at tire in the trunk. Use the following procedure
to secure the at tire in the trunk.
When storing a full-size tire, use the extension with the
protector, located in the foam holder, to help avoid
wheel surface damage. To store a full-size tire, place
the tire valve stem facing down, and then remove
the protector and attach the retainer securely. Store the
cover as far forward as possible.
5-85

Storing the Spare Tire and Tools
When storing a compact spare tire in the trunk, put the
protector/guide back in the foam holder.
{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.
The compact spare is for temporary use only. Replace
the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon
as you can. SeeCompact Spare Tire on page 5-87. See
the storage instructions label to return the compact
spare to the trunk properly.
Be sure to calibrate low tire ination system after you
replace the compact spare tire with a full-sized tire. See
Ination - Tire Pressure on page 5-64.A. Retainer
B. Cover
C. Compact Spare Tire
D. Nut
E. Jack
F. Wheel Wrench
G. Extension and Protector
H. Bolt Screw
I. Foam Holder
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