warning BUICK LACROSSE 2011 Owner's Manual

Black plate (70,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-70 Vehicle Care
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout,
especially if the tires are maintained
properly. See Tires. If air goes out
of a tire, it is much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if there is ever a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
creates 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,
and then gently brake to a stop,
well off the road, if possible.
AA rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction
as used in a skid. Stop pressingthe accelerator pedal and steer
to straighten the vehicle. It may
be very bumpy and noisy. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.
{WARNING
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has
been driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause
a blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely underinflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon
as possible.
{WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance or
repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑4.

Black plate (71,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-71
{WARNING
Changing a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can
slip off the jack and roll over
or fall causing injury or death.
Find a level place to change the
tire. To help prevent the vehicle
from moving:1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift lever in
P (Park), or shift a manual
transmission to 1 (First) or
R (Reverse).
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and donot restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks on both sides of the tire at the
opposite corner of the tire
being changed.
This vehicle may come with a jack
and spare tire or a tire sealant and
compressor kit. To use the jacking
equipment to change a spare
tire safely, follow the instructions
below. Then see Tire Changing on
page 10‑79. To use the tire sealant
and compressor kit, see Tire
Sealant and Compressor Kit on
page 10‑72. When the vehicle has a flat tire (B),
use the following example as a
guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks (A).
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.

Black plate (72,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-72 Vehicle Care
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
{WARNING
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed
area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust
contains Carbon Monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area
that has no fresh air ventilation.
For more information, seeEngine
Exhaust on page 9‑27.
{WARNING
Overinflating a tire could cause
the tire to rupture and you
or others could be injured.
Be sure to read and follow the
tire sealant and compressor kit
instructions and inflate the tire
to its recommended pressure.
Do not exceed the recommended
pressure.
{WARNING
Storing the tire sealant and
compressor kit 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 the tire
sealant and compressor kit in
its original location. If this vehicle has a tire sealant and
compressor kit, there may not be a
spare tire, tire changing equipment,
and on some vehicles there may not
be a place to store a tire.
The tire sealant and compressor
can be used to temporarily seal
punctures up to 6 mm (¼ in) in the
tread area of the tire. It can also be
used to inflate an under inflated tire.
If the tire has been separated from
the wheel, has damaged sidewalls,
or has a large puncture, the tire is
too severely damaged for the tire
sealant and compressor kit to be
effective. See
Roadside Assistance
Program (U.S. and Canada) on
page 13‑8 orRoadside Assistance
Program (Mexico) on page 13‑10.
Read and follow all of the tire
sealant and compressor kit
instructions.

Black plate (74,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-74 Vehicle Care
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑4.
See If a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑70 for other important
safety warnings.
Do not remove any objects that
have penetrated the tire.
1. Remove the tire sealant and compressor kit from its storage
location. See Storing the Tire
Sealant and Compressor Kit on
page 10‑79.
2. Unwrap the sealant/air hose (F) and the power plug (G).
3. Place the kit on the ground. Make sure the tire valve stem is
positioned close to the ground
so the hose will reach it.
4. Remove the valve stem cap from the flat tire by turning it
counterclockwise. 5. Attach the sealant/air hose (F)
onto the tire valve stem. Turn it
clockwise until it is tight.
6. Plug the power plug (G) into the accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. Unplug all items from
other accessory power outlets.
See Power Outlets on page 5‑7.
If the vehicle has an accessory
power outlet, do not use the
cigarette lighter.
If the vehicle only has a cigarette
lighter, use the cigarette lighter.
Do not pinch the power plug
cord in the door or window.
7. Start the vehicle. The vehicle must be running while using the
air compressor.
8. Turn the selector switch (B) clockwise to the Sealant + Air
position. 9. Press the on/off (A) button
to turn the tire sealant and
compressor kit on.
The compressor will inject
sealant and air into the tire.
The pressure gauge (D) will
initially show a high pressure
while the compressor pushes the
sealant into the tire. Once the
sealant is completely dispersed
into the tire, the pressure will
quickly drop and start to rise
again as the tire inflates with
air only.
10. Inflate the tire to the recommended inflation
pressure using the pressure
gauge (D). The recommended
inflation pressure can be
found on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tire
Pressure on page 10‑54.

Black plate (76,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-76 Vehicle Care
19. Stop at a safe location andcheck the tire pressure.
Refer to Steps 1 through 11
under “Using the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit without
Sealant to Inflate a Tire (Not
Punctured).”
If the tire pressure has fallen
more than 68 kPa (10 psi)
below the recommended
inflation pressure, stop
driving the vehicle. The tire
is too severely damaged and
the tire sealant cannot seal the
tire. See Roadside Assistance
Program (U.S. and Canada) on
page 13‑8 orRoadside
Assistance Program (Mexico)
on page 13‑10.
If the tire pressure has not
dropped more than 68 kPa
(10 psi) from the recommended
inflation pressure, use the
compressor kit to inflate the
tire to the recommended
inflation pressure. 20. Wipe off any sealant from the
wheel, tire, and vehicle.
21. Dispose of the used sealant canister and sealant/air
hose (F) assembly at a local
dealer or in accordance with
local state codes and practices.
22. Replace it with a new canister available from your dealer.
23. After temporarily sealing a tire using the tire sealant
and compressor kit, take
the vehicle to an authorized
dealer within 161 km (100 mi)
of driving to have the tire
repaired or replaced.Using the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit without
Sealant to Inflate a Tire
(Not Punctured)
To use the air compressor to inflate
a tire with air only and not sealant:
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑4.

Black plate (77,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-77
SeeIf a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑70 for other important
safety warnings.
1. Remove the tire sealant and compressor kit from its storage
location. See Storing the Tire
Sealant and Compressor Kit on
page 10‑79.
2. Unwrap the air only hose (E) and the power plug (G).
3. Place the kit on the ground. Make sure the tire valve stem is
positioned close to the ground
so the hose will reach it.
4. Remove the tire valve stem cap from the flat tire by turning it
counterclockwise.
5. Attach the air only hose (E) onto the tire valve stem by turning it
clockwise until it is tight. 6. Plug the power plug (G) into the
accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. Unplug all items from
other accessory power outlets.
See Power Outlets on page 5‑7.
If the vehicle has an accessory
power outlet, do not use the
cigarette lighter.
If the vehicle only has a cigarette
lighter, use the cigarette lighter.
Do not pinch the power plug
cord in the door or window.
7. Start the vehicle. The vehicle must be running while using the
air compressor.
8. Turn the selector switch (B) counterclockwise to the Air
Only position.
9. Press the on/off (A) button to turn the compressor on.
The compressor will inflate the
tire with air only. 10. Inflate the tire to the
recommended inflation
pressure using the pressure
gauge (D). The recommended
inflation pressure can be
found on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tire
Pressure on page 10‑54.
The pressure gauge (D) may
read higher than the actual tire
pressure while the compressor
is on. Turn the compressor
off to get an accurate reading.
The compressor may be turned
on/off until the correct pressure
is reached. If the tire is inflated
higher than the recommended
pressure, press the pressure
relief button (C), if equipped,
until the proper pressure
reading is reached. This option
is only functional when using
the air only hose (E).

Black plate (81,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-81
Coin/Pierce Jack Shown,Hex Head Jack Similar
5. If you have a coin/pierce jack, attach the jack handle extension
to the jack by sliding the hook
through the end of the jack.
If you have a hex head jack,
attach the jack lift assist tool
to the jack by fitting both ends
of the jack and tool over one
another.
{WARNING
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.
{WARNING
Raising the 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 fit the jack
lift head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle.
{WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance or
repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.

Black plate (82,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-82 Vehicle Care
Hex Head Jack Shown,
Coin/Pierce Jack Similar
6. Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground for the compact
spare to fit under the vehicle.7. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
8. Remove the flat tire.
{WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
In an emergency, 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. SeeIf a Tire Goes Flat
on page 10‑70.
9. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces,
and spare wheel.

Black plate (83,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-83
10. Install the compact spare tire.
{WARNING
Never use oil or grease on bolts
or nuts because the nuts might
come loose. The vehicle's wheel
could fall off, causing a crash.
11. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of the
nuts toward the wheel. Turn
each nut clockwise by hand
until the wheel is held against
the hub.
12. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower
the jack completely.
{WARNING
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause
the wheels to become loose or
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
come off. The wheel nuts should
be tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specification
after replacing. Follow the
torque specification supplied by
the aftermarket manufacturer
when using accessory locking
wheel nuts. SeeCapacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2 for
original equipment wheel nut
torque specifications.
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 specification.
See Capacities and Specifications
on page 12‑2 for the wheel nut
torque specification.
13. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly
in a crisscross sequence, as
shown.
14. Lower the jack all the way and remove the jack from under the
vehicle.
15. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly with the wheel wrench.
Notice: Wheel covers will not fit
on the vehicle's compact spare.
If you try to put a wheel cover on
the compact spare, the cover or
the spare could be damaged.

Black plate (84,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-84 Vehicle Care
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{WARNING
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.
To store the flat or spare tire and
tools:
1. If the flat tire is larger than the spare tire, use the longer
mounting bolt.
2. Slide the shorter bolt to remove
it from the floor and insert the
longer one.
3. Replace the jack and tools in their original storage location. 4. Place the tire, lying flat, facing
up in the spare tire well.
Secure it with the retainer nut.
Place the floor cover over the
tire even though it may not lay
flat if the tire is larger than the
spare.
The compact spare is for temporary
use only. Replace the compact
spare tire with a full-size tire as
soon as you can.