wheel BUICK LACROSSE 2007 Repair Manual

The tools you will need to change a tire include
the jack (A), extension and protection guide (B),
and wheel wrench (C).
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
You vehicle may have wheels with exposed wheel
nuts. If so, go to the Removing the Wheel Nuts
section. If the vehicle has steel wheel covers with
center caps, the wheel nuts are hidden behind the
cap. To remove the wheel cover, do the following:
1. Remove the center cap by using the at end
of the wheel wrench at the notch on the cap.
Removing the Center Cap
429

2. Use the wheel wrench to loosen the plastic
wheel nut caps, if the vehicle has them, in a
counterclockwise direction.
If needed, nish loosening them by hand.
The nut caps will not come off of the wheel
cover.
3. Use the at end of the wheel wrench and pry
along the edge of the cover until it comes off.
Pull off the wheel cover and set it aside.
The edge of the wheel cover could be sharp,
so do not try to remove the cover with your
bare hands. Do not drop the cap or lay it face
down, as it could become scratched or
damaged.
If the vehicle has aluminum wheels and wheel
center caps, the wheel nuts are hidden behind the
center cap. Remove the center cap by using
the at end of the wheel wrench at the notch.
Do not drop the cap or lay it facedown, as it could
become scratched or damaged.Once you have removed the wheel cover or
center cap, use the following procedure to remove
the at tire and install the spare tire.
1. Place the wheel wrench securely over
the wheel nut. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to loosen all the wheel
nuts, but do no remove them yet.
2. Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise
the jack lift head.
Removing the Wheel Nuts
430

3. Find the jacking location using the diagram
above and corresponding triangular-shaped
hoisting notches located on the underside
of the vehicle’s plastic molding.
The front location is about 6.5 inches (16.5 cm)
from the rear edge of the front wheel well.
The rear location is about 9 inches (22.8 cm)
from the front edge of the rear wheel well.
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.
431

5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground for the compact spare tire to
t under the vehicle.6. Remove all wheel
nuts and take off
the at tire.
432

{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts
to which it is fastened, can make the
wheel nuts become loose after time.
The wheel could come off and cause an
accident. When you change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt from the 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
needed, to get all the rust or dirt off.7. Remove any rust or
dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting
surfaces, and
spare wheel.
8. Install the compact spare tire.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
If you do, the nuts might come loose.
Your wheel could fall off, causing a
serious accident.
9. 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.
433

10. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the wheel
to come loose and even come off. This
could lead to an accident. Be sure to use
the correct wheel nuts. If you have to
replace them, be sure to get new GM
original equipment wheel nuts. Stop
somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specication. See
Capacities and Specifications on page 454
for wheel nut torque specication.
Notice:Improperly tightened wheel nuts can
lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage.
To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly
tighten the wheel nuts in the proper sequence
and to the proper torque specication. See
Capacities and Specifications on page 454for
the wheel nut torque specication.
434

11. Tighten the wheel
nuts rmly in a
crisscross sequence
as shown.
Notice:Wheel covers will not t on your
compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover
on the compact spare, you could damage
the cover or the spare.
Do not try to put the wheel cover on the compact
spare tire. It will not t. Store the wheel cover
in the trunk until you have the at tire repaired
or replaced.Storing a Flat or Spare 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 has been installed on
the vehicle, store 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.
435

To store a full-size tire, do the following:
1. Install the tools in their original location in
the trunk area and secure.
2. Place the tire valve stem facing down and
the protector/guide placed through a wheel
bolt hole.
3. Remove the protector and attach the retainer
securely.
4. Store the cover as far forward as possible.
When storing a compact spare tire in the trunk,
put the protector back in the foam holder.
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 437. Use the following as a guide
for storing the compact spare tire and tools.A. Cover
B. Retainer
C. Compact Spare Tire
D. Wing Nut
E. Jack
F. Wheel Wrench
G. Extension Protector
H. Foam Holder
I. Bolt Screw
Compact Spare Tire
436

A. Retainer
B. Full-Size Flat Tire
C. Protective Guide
D. Extension Bolt Screw
E. Wing Nut
F. Jack
G. Wheel Wrench
H. Protective Guide
I. Foam Holder
J. Bolt ScrewCompact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inated
when the vehicle was new, it can lose air after
a time. Check the ination pressure regularly.
It should be 60 psi (420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare on the vehicle,
stop as soon as possible and make sure the
spare tire is correctly inated. The compact
spare is made to perform well at speeds up to
65 mph (105 km/h) for distances up to 3,000 miles
(5 000 km), so you can nish your trip and have
the full-size tire repaired or replaced at your
convenience. Of course, it is best to replace the
spare with a full-size tire as soon as possible.
The spare tire will last longer and be in good
shape in case it is needed again.
Notice:When the compact spare is installed,
do not take your vehicle 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.
Do not use the compact spare on other vehicles.
Full-Size Flat Tire
437

And do not mix the compact spare tire or wheel
with other wheels or tires. They will not t.
Keep the spare tire and its wheel together.
Notice:Tire chains will not t your compact
spare. Using them can damage your vehicle
and can damage the chains too. Do not use
tire chains on your compact spare.
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Your vehicle’s interior will continue to look its
best if it is cleaned often. Although not always
visible, dust and dirt can accumulate on your
upholstery. Dirt can damage carpet, fabric, leather,
and plastic surfaces. Regular vacuuming is
recommended to remove particles from your
upholstery. It is important to keep your upholstery
from becoming and remaining heavily soiled.
Soils should be removed as quickly as possible.
Your vehicle’s interior may experience extremes
of heat that could cause stains to set rapidly.Lighter colored interiors may require more
frequent cleaning. Use care because newspapers
and garments that transfer color to your home
furnishings may also transfer color to your
vehicle’s interior.
When cleaning your vehicle’s interior, only use
cleaners specically designed for the surfaces
being cleaned. Permanent damage may result
from using cleaners on surfaces for which
they were not intended. Use glass cleaner only on
glass. Remove any accidental over-spray from
other surfaces immediately. To prevent over-spray,
apply cleaner directly to the cleaning cloth.
Notice:If you use abrasive cleaners when
cleaning glass surfaces on your vehicle, you
could scratch the glass and/or cause damage
to the integrated radio antenna and the rear
window defogger. When cleaning the glass on
your vehicle, use only a soft cloth and glass
cleaner.
438