wheel BUICK CENTURY 1993 Service Manual

r- 9. Tighten the wheel nuts
firmly in a criss-cross
sequence
as shown.
)Y
I
I A CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can muse the wheel
to become
loose and
wen come off. This could lead to an
accident.
Be sure to use the correct wheel
nuts. If .you have to replace them, be sum to
get the right kind.
Stop somewhere
EIS soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench
to 100
pound-femt (140 Nnm).
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Don’t try to put a wheel cover on your compact spare
tire. It won’t fit. Store
the wheel cover in the trunk or, if
you have the wagon, in the rear cargo area, until you
have
the flat tire repaired or replaced.
Wheel covers won’t fit on your compact spare
Now put all the equipment back in the vehicle. Just
follow these drawings:
If you try to put a wheel cover on
compact spare, vo
or the spare.
Century Sedan
or Coupe
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Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare was fully inflated when your
vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time.
Check the
inflation pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi
(420 Wa). The compact spare is made to go up to 3,000
miles (5 0o0 km), so you can finish your trip and have
your full-size tire repaired or replaced where you want.
Of course, it’s best to replace your spare with a full-size
tire as soon as you can. Your spare will last longer and be
in good shape in case you need
it again.
on’t take your compact spare th
utomatic car wash with guide
ompact spare can get caught damage the tire and whe
her parts
of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare on some other vehicle.
And don’t
mix your compact spare or wheel with other
wheels or tires. They won’t
fit. Keep your spare and its
wheel together.
s too. Don’t us
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If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels. The method known as “rocking”
can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use
caution.
wneels can destr
If you let your tires spln at high spe& they
can aplode and you or others could be
Injured. And, the,transaxle or other parts of
the vehicle can &wheat. That could muse an
engine compartment fire or other damage.
When you’re stuck, spin the wheels 88 lltek adc
-pssSble. Don’t spln the whwls above 35 mph
(55 Wh) as shown on the speedometer.
Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your fiont wheels. Then
shift back
and forth between
“R” (Reverse) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the
accelerator
pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the
accelerator
pedal when the transaxle is in gear. If that
doesn’t get you out after a few tries, you may need to be
towed out.
If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing
Your Buick”
in the Index.
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Tire Inspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have them inspected and
rotated at the mileages recommended
in the Maintenance
Schedule. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the
Index.
Use this rotation pattern.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and rear
inflation pressure as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that -all wheel
nuts are
properly tightend. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” in the
Index.
1
I A CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which
It Is fastened, can make the’wheel nuts
become loose after a Qlme. 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
vehlcle.
In an emergency, you can use a cloth
or a paper towel to do this; but be sure to us8
a scraper or wire brush later, if you need to, to
get
all the rust or dirt off. (See “Changing a
Flat Tlre” in the Index.)
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*
I A CAUTION:
Mlxing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving.
If you mlx tires of different sizes
or types (radial and bias-belted tires) the
vehlcle may not handle
properly, and you
could have
a crash. Be sure to use the same
size and type
tires on all four wheels. It’s all
right to drive wlth your compact spare,
though.
It was developed far use on your
vehicle.
I
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system developed
by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration which grades tires by treadwear, traction
and temperature performance. (This applies only to
vehicles
sold in the United States.)
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(1%) times as well on the government course
as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in
driving habits, service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction-A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B,
and C. They represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
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Temperature-A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the generation of heat
and
its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material'of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade
C corresponds to a level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and
not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Those grades are molded on the sidewalls of'passenger
car tires.
While the tires available as standard or optional
equipment on General Motors vehicIes may vary with
respect to these grades, all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have been approved
for use
on General Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the, factory to give you the longest tire life and
best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have your wheels
aligned again. However, if you-notice unusual tire wear
or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need
to be reset. If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a
smooth road, your
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel'nuts should be replaced. If the wheel leaks air
out, replace it (except some aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your Buick dealer
if any of
these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind
of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset, and be mounted the same way as the one
it replaces.
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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
you have the
right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your Buick
model.
A CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous.
It could affecf 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.
Used Replacement Wheels
Tire Chains
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Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Don’t use strong soaps or chemical detergents. Use liquid
hand, dish or car washing (non-detergent) soaps. Don’t
use cleaning agents that contain acid or abrasives. All
cleaning agents should be flushed promptly and not
allowed to dry on the surface, or they could stain. Dry
the finish with a
soft, clean chamois or a 100% cotton
towel to avoid surfhce scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter your
vehicle.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your Buick may
be necessary to remove residue from the paint finish. You
can get
GM approved cleaning products from your
dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials” in the Index.)
Your Buick has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish. The
clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat.
Aluminum Wheels (If SO Equipped)
Your aluminum wheels have a protective coating similar
to the painted surface of your car. Don’t use strong soaps,
chemicals, chrome polish, or other abrasive cleaners on
them because you could damage this coating. After
rinsing thoroughly, a wax may be applied.
White Sidewall Tires
Your Buick dealer has a GM White Sidewall Tire
Cleaner. You can use a stiff brush with it.
Weatherstrips
These are places where glass or metal meets rubber.
Silicone grease there will make them last longer, seal
better, and not squeak. Apply silicone grease with a
clean cloth at least every six months.
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Vehicle Identification Number 0
1
0
SAMPLE4UXPM072675 (cml
This is the legal identifier. for your Buick. It appears on a
plate in the front comer
of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side.
You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside, your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service
Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The eighth character in your VIN is the engme code for
your
GM engine. This code will help you identify your
engine, specifications, and replacement parts
in this
section.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on your spare tire cover in the coupe
or sedan.
In the wagon, you’ll find the label on the wheel
well (remove the spare tire cover to expose the wheel
well). It’s very helpful
if you ever need to order parts.. On
this label is:
Your VIN.
Its model designation.
Paint information.
A list of all production options and special equipment.
Be sure that
this label is not. removed from. the vehicle.
Add-on Electrical Equipment
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