BUICK RAINIER 2007 Owner's Manual

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
specied 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 inated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underination, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The tires and wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to give you
the longest tire life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and tire
balancing will not be necessary on a regular basis.
However, if you notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling to one side or the other, the
alignment may need to be checked. If you notice
your vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, your tires and wheels may need to be
rebalanced. See your dealer for proper diagnosis.
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Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly
rusted or corroded. 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
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.
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 to have the right wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts for your vehicle.{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels,
wheel bolts, or wheel nuts on your vehicle
can be dangerous. It could affect 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.
Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer or odometer calibration,
headlamp aim, bumper height, vehicle ground
clearance, and tire or tire chain clearance
to the body and chassis.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 436for more
information.
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Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has
been used or how far it has been driven. It
could fail suddenly and cause a crash. If
you have to replace a wheel, use a new
GM original equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
Do not use tire chains. There is not
enough clearance. Tire chains used on a
vehicle without the proper amount of
clearance can cause damage to the
brakes, suspension, or other vehicle
parts. The area damaged by the tire
chains could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle and you or others may be
injured in a crash. Use another type of
traction device only if its manufacturer
recommends it for use on your vehicle
and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to
your vehicle, drive slowly, re-adjust or
remove the device if it is contacting your
vehicle, and do not spin your wheels. If
you do nd traction devices that will t,
install them on the rear tires.
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Accessory Inator
Your vehicle has an accessory inator system. It
can also inate things like basketballs and
bicycle tires. It can also used to inate the tires to
the proper tire pressure. It is not designed to
inate large objects which will require more than
ve minutes to inate, such as an air mattress.
The accessory inator is
located in the rear
compartment on
the driver’s side of the
vehicle, behind an
access cover, and near
the liftgate opening.
To access the inator, push in on the tab to
remove the cover.You may also have an air inator kit that is
located in the rear oor storage compartment. It
includes a 22 ft (6.7 m) hose with three nozzle
adapters.
To use the accessory inator, do the following:
1. Attach the appropriate nozzle adapter
to the end of the hose if required.
{CAUTION:
Inating something too much can make it
explode, and you or others could be
injured. Be sure to read the inator
instructions, and inate any object only to
its recommended pressure.
2. Attach that end of the hose to the object you
wish to inate.
3. Attach the other end of the hose to the outlet.
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4. Press and release the switch to turn the air
inator on. The indicator light will remain on
when the inator is running.
The system has an internal clock to prevent
the system from overheating. The system
will allow about ve minutes of running time,
then the compressor will stop. The indicator
light will then begin to ash. When the indicator
is off, the inator can be started again by
pressing the switch. If the compressor is still
hot, it may only run for a short time before
shutting off again.
5. Press and release the switch to turn the
inator off.
Place the inator kit tools in the pouch and store it
in its proper location. Remove the inator hose
from the outlet during loading and unloading. Load
leveling will not function with the inator hose
attached to the inator outlet. SeeElectronically
Controlled Air Suspension System on page 337for
more information.
To reinstall the cover, line up the tabs at the back
of the cover, put it in place and latch the tabs.If the indicator light on the accessory inator
ashes continuously, it could indicate that there is
a malfunction in the air suspension system.
SeeElectronically Controlled Air Suspension
System on page 337for more information.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your vehicle’s
tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
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 at tire will create a drag
that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel rmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, and then gently brake to a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
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A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you would 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.
{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel
damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on
your vehicle’s hazard warning ashers. See
Hazard Warning Flashers on page 154for more
information.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The
vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over
or fall on you or other people. You and
they could be badly injured or even killed.
Find a level place to change your tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
CAUTION: (Continued)
436

CAUTION: (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in
the vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle will
not move, you should put blocks at the
front and rear of the tire farthest away
from the one being changed. That would
be the tire, on the other side, at the
opposite end of the vehicle.
When your vehicle has a at tire, use the following
example as a guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks.The following information will tell you next how to
use the jack and change a tire.
437

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The jacking equipment you will need is stored
under the rear seat on the passenger’s side of the
vehicle. SeeRear Seat Operation on page 16
for more information.
To release the jack from its holder, turn the
knob on the jack counterclockwise to lower the
jack head.The tools you will be using include the wheel
wrench (A), wheel blocks (B), extension(s), (socket
end) (C), handle (jack end) (D), and jack (E).
A. Wheel Wrench
B. Hoist Shaft
C. Extension
D. Retainer
E. Spare or Flat Tire
(Valve Stem
Pointed Up)
438

The following instructions explain how to remove
the underbody-mounted spare located underneath
your vehicle.
Notice:If you remove or restow a tire from/to
the storage position under the vehicle when
it is supported by a jack, you could damage the
tire and/or your vehicle. Always remove or
restow a tire when the vehicle is on the ground.
1. Open the liftgate. SeeLiftgate/Liftglass on
page 102for more information.
2. Attach the wheel wrench (A) to the
extension (C).
3. It is exposed when the rear gate is open and
is just above the rear bumper.
Be sure the socket end of the extension (C)
connects to the hoist shaft (B).4. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to
lower the spare tire. Keep turning the wheel
wrench until the spare tire can be pulled
out from under the vehicle.
If the spare tire does not lower to the ground,
the secondary latch is engaged causing
the tire not to lower. SeeSecondary Latch
System on page 446for more information.
439

5. Tilt the retainer at the end of the cable when
the tire has been completely lowered, and pull
it through the wheel opening.
6. Pull the tire out from under the vehicle.
Notice:If you drive away before the spare tire
or secondary latch system cable has been
reinstalled, you could damage your vehicle.
Always reinstall this cable before driving your
vehicle.
7. Put the spare tire near the at tire.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. If your vehicle has a wheel cap that covers
the wheel nuts, position the chisel end of the
wheel wrench in the notch and pry it off.
440