flat tire BUICK CENTURY 1994 User Guide

UT WHEEL
WRENCH
FULL SIZE FLAT /
JACK
USE TOP HOLE WITH VALVE STEM OUTBOARD FOR STORAGE OF
FULL-SIZE FLAT
Wagon Spare Cover Replacement
To install the spare tire cover in your station wagon
when
you are finished changing the tire:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Wagon 5.
Put the front lower corner of the cover into the floor
track. Overlap the lower rear edge of the front panel
one to two inches.
Slide the cover to the front;. the tabs must go
under
the rear edge.
Insert the front upper corner into the track, at the
bottom of the glass.
Adjust the position
of the cover to fit over the
weatherstrip. Push the panel down into the track in
the floor.
Push the panel to lock it into the track
of the molding
at
the bottom of the glass.
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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 kPa). After installing the compact spare on your
vehicle, you should stop as soon as possible and make
sure your spare tire is correctly inflated. The compact
spare is made to perform well at posted speed limits for
distances up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km). The compact
spare is made to go up to
3,000 miles (5 000 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.
I NOTICE:
Don’t take your compact spare through an
automatic car wash with guide rails. The
compact spare can get caught on the rails. That
can damage the tire and wheel, and maybe other
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.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit yoUP-Cijimpct spare. Using
them will damage your vehicle and destroy the
chains too. Don’t use tire chains
on your
compact spare.
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Loading Your Vehicle
TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION

OCCUPANTS VEHICLE CAP. WT.
FRT. CTR. RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY WEIGHT
XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE RTG
PSI/KPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PSD28KPa
SEE OWNER‘S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION IlrmlI :$#
~
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on
the rear edge of the driver’s door tells you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires
on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number
of people that
can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight
and includes the weight
of all occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
DATE GVWR GAWR FRT GAWR RR
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI-
CABLE
U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION
STANDARDS
IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF
MANUFACTURE
SHOWN ABOVE.
The other label is the Certification label, found on the
rear edge of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle,
all occupants, fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear
axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it
out. Don’t carry more than
160 pounds (72 kg) in the
sedan
trunk or 300 pounds (136 kg) in the six-passenger
wagon rear area.
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Inflation - Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label which is on the rear
edge of the driver’s door shows the correct inflation
pressures for your tires, when they’re cold. “Cold”
means your vehicle has been sitting for at least three
hours or driven no more than a mile.
I NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation 911
overinflation is all right. It’s not. If your tires don’t
have enough air (underinflation) you can get:
Too much flexing
Too much heat
0 Tire overloading
Bad wear
Bad handling
0 Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60
psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. Simply looking at the tires will not tell you the
pressure, especially if you have radial tires
-- which
may look properly inflated even if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back
on. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
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Tire Inspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have them in
rotated at the mileages recommended in the spected and
Maintenance Schedule. See “Scheduled Maintenance
Services” in the Index.
FRONT
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 tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque’’ in the
Index.
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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.
These grades are molded
on the sidewalls of passenger
car tires.
While the tires available as standard or optional
equipment
on General Motors vehicles 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, 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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Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance
or the
removal of important components can significantly
affect the quality of the air
we breathe. Improper fluid
levels or even the wrong tire inflation can increase the
level of emissions from your vehicle.
To help protect
our environment, and to help keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
How This Part is Organized
The remainder of this part is divided into five sections:
“Section
A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows
what to have done and how often. Some of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary equipment,
you should
let your dealer’s service department or another qualified
service center do these jobs. If you
are skilled enough to do some work on your
vehicle, you will probably want to get the service
information
GM publishes. You will find a list of
publications and how
to get them in this manual. See
“Service Publications’’
in the Index.
“Section
B: Owner Checks and Services” tells you what
should be checked whenever
you stop for fuel. It also
explains what you can easily do to help keep
your
vehicle in good condition.
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At Least Once a Month
WHAT TO DO
Check tire inflation. Make sure they are
inflated
to the pressures specified on the
Tire-Loading Information label located
on the rear edge of the driver’s door. See
“Tires”
in the Index for further details.
Cassette Deck Clean
cassette deck. Cleaning should
be done every
15 hours of tape play. See
“Audio Systems”
in the Index for
further details.
At Least Once a Year
CHECK OR
SERVICE
Key Lock
Cylinders
L
Body Lubrication
WHAT TO DO
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with
the lubricant specified in Section D.
Lubricate all body door hinges. Also
lubricate all hinges and latches,
including those for the hood, rear
compartment, glove box door, console
door and any folding seat hardware.
Section
D tells you what to use.
CHECK OR
SERVICE
Starter Switch
WHAT TO DO
CAUTION: When you are doing this
check, the
vehicle could move
suddenly. If it does, you or others
could
be injured. Follow the steps
below.
1. Before you start, be sure you have
enough room around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake
(see “Parking Brake”
in the index if
necessary) and the regular brake.
NOTE: Do
not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready
to turn off the
engine immediately
if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear.
The starter should work
only in “P”
(Park) or
“N” (Neutral). If the starter
works
in any other position, your
vehicle needs service.
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System. Anti-lock Warning Light ................. 114
System Warning Light
......................... 113
Wear
....................................... 230
Brakes. Trailer
.................................. 168
Braking in Emergencies
........................... 147
Break-In. New Vehicle ............................ 74
Bulb Chart
...................................... 258
Bulb Replacement ....................... .232.233. 234
Bulbs. Halogen
.................................. 232
Braking
........................................ 144
Canadian Roadside Assistance
................... -286
Capacities and Specifications Chart
.............. 259. 260
Carbon Monoxide
................................ 86
Cargo Security Cover
............................. 105
Carrier. Luggage
................................ 106
Cassette Tape Player
............................. 125
Cassette Tape Player Care
......................... 136
Cautions. Safety
.................................. 10
CB Radio. Adding
............................... 126
Cellular Telephone. Adding
........................ 126
Chains. Tire
.................................... 244
Changing a Flat Tire
.............................. 194
Checking Brake Fluid
.................................. 228
Engine Coolant
............................... 223
Engineoil
................................... 213
Power Steering Fluid
.......................... 226
Restraint Systems
.............................. 63
Transaxle Fluid
............................... 220 Underhood
.................................. 212
Windshield Washer Fluid
....................... 227
Chemical Paint Spotting
........................... 251
Child Restraints
.................................. 50
Children and Safety Belts ......................... -48
Circuit Breakers and Fuses ........................ 254
City Driving
.................................... 156
Cleaner. Air .................................... 218
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
............................ 250
Antenna
..................................... 137
Cassette Player
............................... 136
Fabric
...................................... 245
Glass ....................................... 248
Inside Your Buick
............................. 245
Leather
..................................... 248
Outside Your Buick
........................... 249
Power Antenna
............................... 137
Safety Belts
.................................. 248
Instrumentpanel
.............................. 248
Underbody Maintenance
........................ 251
vinyl
....................................... 247
White Sidewall Tires
........................... 250
Windshield and Wiper Blades
.................... 249
Clock Setting
............................ 127.129. 132
Comfort Controls
................................ 121
Compact Disc Care
.............................. 136
Compact Spare Tire
.............................. 205
Compartment. Rear Locking Storage
................. 108
Control of a Vehicle
.............................. 144
Controls. Features and
............................. 65
Cigarette Lighter
................................ 109
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Fabric Cleaning ................................ 246
Features and Controls ............................. 65
Filling
the Fuel Tank ............................. 21 1
Filter. Oil ............................... 2 13.259. 260
Finish Care
..................................... 249
Finish Damage
.................................. 25 1
First Gear
....................................... 82
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......................... 172
Flat Tire
....................................... 193
FloodedEngine
.................................. 76
Fluid Brake
....................................... 228
Capacities
............................... 259. 260
Power Steering ............................... 226
Transaxle
.................................... 220
Windshield Washer
............................ 227
Fluids and Lubricants. Recommended
................ 277
Folding Rear Seats
................................ 17
Foreign Operation
............................... 2 10
Francais. Guide En ................................. 2
Freeway Driving
................................ 157
French Language Manual ........................... 2
Fuel
.......................................... 209
Capacity
................................ 259. 260
FillingYourTank
............................. 211
Gage
....................................... 112
In Foreign Countries
........................... 210
Fuse Usage Chart ................................ 255
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ........................ 254
Gage
Battery (Voltage Indicator)
...................... 119
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 116
Fuel ........................................ 112
Gasoline
....................................... 209
Gasoline Tank. Filling Your
........................ 211
Gear Positions
................................... 79
Glass Cleaning
.................................. 248
GloveBox
...................................... 73
Halogen Bulbs
................................. 232
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 172
Headlamp Bulb Replacement
....................... 232
High-Low Beam Changer
....................... 91
“On” Warning ................................. 99
Head Restraints
.................................. 17
Hearing Impaired Assistance
....................... 283
Heater
......................................... 123
Highway Hypnosis
............................... 159
Hill and Mountain Roads
.......................... 160
Hitches. Trailer .................................. 167
Hood Release
................................... 212
Hot Coolant Warning Light/Gage
............... 11 5. 116
Hot Engine Safety Warnings
....................... 184
Headlights
...................................... 98
Heater. Engine Block (Engine Coolant Heater)
.. ., ... 78, 218
Horn
........................................... 88
Hydroplaning ................................... 155
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