changing a tire BUICK LESABRE 2004 Owner's Manual

Wheel Replacement......................................5-71
Tire Chains..................................................5-72
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-73
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-74
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-83
Appearance Care............................................5-83
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-84
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-86
Weatherstrips...............................................5-87
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-87
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-89
Finish Damage.............................................5-89
Underbody Maintenance................................5-89
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-89
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-90Vehicle Identication......................................5-91
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................5-91
Service Parts Identication Label.....................5-91
Electrical System............................................5-91
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-91
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......5-92
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-92
Removing the Rear Seat Cushion...................5-95
Capacities and Specications..........................5-99
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........5-100
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear ination pressures as shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label.
Reset the check tire pressure system, if equipped. See
Check Tire Pressure System on page 5-66.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” underCapacities and
Specications on page 5-99.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make 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
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. See “Changing a Flat
Tire” in the Index.
When It Is Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires
have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of tread
remaining.
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
5-68

If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM
original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to
have the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could have
a collision in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts and wheel nuts for replacement.
Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-74for more
information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used
or how far it’s been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. If you have to
replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
Notice:Use tire chains only where legal and only
when you must. Use only SAE Class “S” type chains
that are the proper size for your tires. Install them
on the front tires and tighten them as tightly as
possible with the ends securely fastened. Drive
slowly and follow the chain manufacturer’s
instructions. If you can hear the chains contacting
your vehicle, stop and retighten them. If the contact
continues, slow down until it stops. Driving too
fast or spinning the wheels with chains on will
damage your vehicle.
5-72

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.
5-73

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
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 will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
5-74

Flat Tire........................................................5-73
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-74
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-21
Power Steering...........................................5-35
Windshield Washer......................................5-36
FM Stereo.....................................................3-79
Following Distance..........................................4-44
Footnotes................................................6-7, 6-13
Front Reading Lamps......................................3-19
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-45
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-4
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-5
System Inspection.......................................6-22
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-92
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-40
Fuel..........................................................3-45
Speedometer..............................................3-35Gage (cont.)
Tachometer.................................................3-35
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-38
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-4
Specications............................................... 5-5
Gate Operator and Canadian Programming........2-41
Glove Box.....................................................2-42
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-6
Headlamp
Aiming.......................................................5-47
Horizontal Aiming.........................................5-49
Vertical Aiming............................................5-50
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.................... 3-8
Headlamps....................................................5-52
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-52
Front Turn Signal Lamps..............................5-53
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-52
Headlamps On Reminder.................................3-14
Head-Up Display (HUD)...................................3-20
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-24
6

Tire Ination Check.........................................6-17
Tire Sidewall Labeling......................................5-58
Tire Size.......................................................5-62
Tire Terminology and Denitions........................5-62
Tires.............................................................5-58
Buying New Tires........................................5-69
Chains.......................................................5-72
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-74
Check Tire Pressure System.........................5-66
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-83
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-73
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-65
Inspection and Rotation................................5-67
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-70
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-71
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-71
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-68
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-24
Top Strap......................................................1-37
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-38
Torque Lock...................................................2-30
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires..................4-42
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-32
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-39
Your Vehicle...............................................4-31
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-9
Control System Warning Light.......................3-39Trailer Brakes.................................................4-43
Trailer Wiring Harness.....................................4-43
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-21
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-25
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual............................................7-11
Transportation Options...................................... 7-8
Trip Odometer................................................3-35
Trunk............................................................2-14
Trunk Lock Release........................................2-14
Trunk Security Override...................................2-15
Trunk-Mounted CD Changer.............................3-73
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-8
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-44
Twilight Sentinel
®............................................3-16
U
Underbody Flushing Service.............................6-20
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-79
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-70
United States – Customer Assistance.................. 7-4
Used Replacement Wheels..............................5-72
Using Cleaner on Fabric..................................5-85
Using HomeLink
®...........................................2-41
Using RDS....................................................3-58
14