flat tire BUICK CENTURY 1994 Owners Manual

@ Table of Contents
How to Use this Manual ................................................................ 10
This part tells you how to use your manual and includes safet\
y and vehicle damage warnings and symbols.
Seats and Restraint Systems ............................................................. 13
This part tells you how to use your seats and safety belts p\
roperly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
This part explains how
to start and operate your Buick.
This part tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort \
controls and how to operate your sound system.
YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 139
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road\
and how to drive under different conditions.
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 171
This part tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine
overheating, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Buick running prop\
erly and looking good.
This part tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and wh\
at fluids and lubricants to use.
This part tells you how to contact Buick for assistance and h\
ow
to get service publications. It also
gives
you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 283.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something
you want to read.
FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 65
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... 121
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 207
Maintenanceschedule .................................................................. 261
Customer Assistance Information
........................................................ 281
Index
........................................................................\
........ 291
7
ProCarManuals.com

Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
0 Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel. Engine Oil. Other Fluids: Have you checked all
levels?
Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
0 Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along
your route? Should you delay your trip a short time
to avoid
a major storm system?
0 Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway
hypnosis”? Or is it
just plain falling asleep at the wheel?
Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness,
or
whatever. There
is something
about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it
happen to
you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the
road
in less than a second, and you could crash and be
injured.
What can you
do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
0 Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to
the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
0 If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service,
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
159
ProCarManuals.com

Hill and Mountain Roads
I.
. ...
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain. If you
drive regularly
in steep country, or if you're
planning
to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain
roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing
to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
160
ProCarManuals.com

Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total capacity
weight of your vehicle. The capacity weight includes the
curb weight of
the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in
it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. And
if you will tow a trailer, you must subtract the tongue
load from your vehicle’s capacity weight because your
vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading
Your Vehicle”
in the Index for more information about
your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
B I
If you’re using a “dead-weight” hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 10% of the total loaded trailer weight
(B). If you have a “weight-distributing” hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh
12% of the total loaded trailer
weight (B).
After
you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately,
to see if the weights are
proper. If
they aren’t, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some items around in
the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the limit for
cold tires, You’ll find these numbers
on the Certification
label at
the rear edge of the driver’s door or see
“Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index. Then be sure
you
don’t go over the GVW limit for your vehicle.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by, and rough roads are a
few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
0 Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when
you install a trailer hitch? If you do,
then be sure to seal
the holes later when you remove
the hitch. If
you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get into your
vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide”
in the Index). Dirt
and water can,
too.
167
ProCarManuals.com

@) Part 5 Problems on the Road
I
I
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .
Part 5 includes:
HazardWarningFlashers ............................................................ 172
OtherWarningDevices
............................................................. 173
“Jump”Starting
................................................................... 174
TowingYourBuick
................................................................ 178
Engineoverheating
................................................................ 184
IfaTireGoesFlat
................................................................. 193
ChangingaFlatTire
................................................................ 194
CompactSpareTire
................................................................ 205
If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow .............................................. 206
1 I1
ProCarManuals.com

10. Then replace the
pressure cap. At any
time during this
procedure if coolant
begins to flow
out of the
filler neck, reinstall the
pressure cap. Be sure
the arrows on pressure cap line up like this.
11. Check the coolant in the recovery tank. The level in
the coolant recovery tank should be at the
“HOT”
mark when the engine is hot or at the “ADD” mark
when the engine
is cold.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” 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 flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, 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.
If a tire goes flat, the next section shows how to use
your jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
193
ProCarManuals.com

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place.
Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
The following steps
will tell you how to use the jack and
change a
tire.
194
ProCarManuals.com

Wire Wheel Cover
Removing the wire wheel
cover requires this wire
wheel key wrench.
F1 Put the flat end into the
notch and carefully pry the
small center cover
off.
Remove the theft deterrent
wheel
nut by placing the
key end
of the wire wheel
wrench over the
nut and
turning
it to the left. Pull
off the wire wheel cover.
P
Next, attach the wheel wrench to the bolt on the end of
the jack. Raise the jack a little by rotating the wheel
wrench clockwise
(to the right).
Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don't remove them yet.
Position the jack under the
vehicle nearest the tire to be
changed. The jack location
should be approximately
five inches
(12.7 cm) from
the wheel well.
ProCarManuals.com

I NOTICE:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned will damage the vehicle or may
allow
the vehicle to fall off the jack. Be sure to fit the
jack lift head into the proper location before raising your vehicle.
Raise the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground
so there is
enough room for the spare tire to fit.
Remove all the wheel nuts and take
off the flat tire.
Remove any rust or dirt from
the wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces or spare wheel.
200
ProCarManuals.com

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.
I NOTICE:
Wheel covers won’t fit on your compact spare.
If you try to put a wheel cover on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.
Now put all the equipment back in the vehicle.
Sedan
BOLT
203
ProCarManuals.com