lock BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2002 Owner's Manual

4-40 Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires
Be sure your vehicle's tires are inflated to the upper
limit for cold tires. You'll find these numbers on the
Certification/Tire Label at the rear edge of the driver's
door, or see ªTire Loadingº in the Index. Then be sure
you don't go over the GVW limit for your vehicle,
including the weight of the trailer tongue.
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:

If you'll be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will
weigh more than 2, 000 lbs. (900 kg), be sure to use
a properly mounted, weight
-carrying hitch and sway
control of the proper size. This equipment is very
important for proper vehicle loading and good
handling when you're driving.

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 ªCarbon Monoxideº in the
Index. Dirt and water can, too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer to help prevent the tongue from contacting
the road if it becomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains may be provided by the
hitch manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow
the manufacturer's recommendation for attaching safety
chains and do not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack so you can turn with your rig.
Never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs. (450 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes
-- and they must be
adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes so you'll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly.
Because you have anti
-lock brakes, do not try to tap
into your vehicle's brake system. If you do, both brake
systems won't work well, or at all.

5-16 How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
NOTICE:
Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure could cause your
engine to overheat and be severely damaged.
1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when
the cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise
until it first stops. (Don't press down while turning
the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push
down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap.

5-20
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.
CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can 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 of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.

5-21 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you'll need is located in the storage
compartment at the rear of the vehicle, on the
passenger's side.
1. Open the jack storage compartment by lifting up the
tab and pulling the cover off.
A. Jack
B. Wing Nut and Screw
C. Jacking InstructionsD. Folding Wrench
E. Wing Nut
F. J
-Hook2. Remove the jack and jacking tools by turning the
wing nut counterclockwise.
3. Separate the jack by lifting up the jack from the
bracket tab and remove the folding wrench from
the jack.
The tools you'll be using include the jack (A), folding
wrench (B), wing nut (C), and J
-hook (D).

5-22
Removing the Spare Tire (Vehicles without the
Rear Convenience/Cargo Tray)
The compact spare tire is located under the vehicle,
ahead of the rear bumper. Use the spare tire hoist
to raise, lower and store the compact spare tire.
See ªCompact Spare Tireº later in this section for
more information about the compact spare.
A. Hoist Shaft
B. Folding Wrench
C. Hoist AssemblyD. Retainer
E. Compact Spare Tire1. Flip the rear cargo area carpet cut out to expose the
hoist shaft.
2. Attach the folding wrench into the hoist shaft.
3. Turn the folding wrench counterclockwise to lower
the spare tire to the ground. Continue turning the
wrench until the spare tire can be pulled out from
under the vehicle.
4. To remove the spare tire from the cable, tilt the
retainer and slip it through the wheel opening.

5-23
5. After removing the spare tire, turn the wrench
clockwise to raise the cable back up.
Do not store a full
-size or a flat road tire under the
vehicle. See ªStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Toolsº
later in this section.
To continue changing the flat tire see ªRemoving the Flat
Tire and Installing the Spare Tireº later in this section.
If the spare tire will not lower, the secondary latch may
be engaged and causing the tire not to lower.Do the following to check the cable:
1. Check under the vehicle to see if the cable is visible.
2. If not visible, see ªSecondary Latch Systemº
later in this section.
If visible, first try to tighten the cable by turning
the folding wrench clockwise until you hear two
clicks or feel it skip twice. You can not overtighten
the cable.
3. Loosen the cable by turning the wrench
counterclockwise three or four turns.
4. Repeat this procedure at least two times.
5. If you still cannot lower the spare tire to the ground,
see ªSecondary Latch Systemº later in this section.
6. If the spare tire did lower to the ground, continue with
Step 4 under ªRemoving the Spare Tire (Vehicles
without the Rear Convenience/Cargo Tray)º.

5-24
Removing the Spare Tire (Vehicles with the
Rear Convenience/Cargo Tray) (Optional)
The compact spare tire is located under the vehicle,
ahead of the rear bumper. See ªCompact Spare Tireº
later in this section for more information about the
compact spare.
A. Rear Convenience/
Cargo Tray
B. Folding Wrench
C. Storage
Compartment
Cap HoleD. Hoist Shaft
E. Compact Spare Tire
F. Retainer
G. Hoist Shaft
Assembly1. Open the storage compartment door of the
convenience/cargo tray that is nearest the
liftgate and remove the cap on the bottom of
the storage compartment.
2. Flip the cut out carpet that is located through the
hole of the storage compartment.
3. Attach the folding wrench into the hoist shaft.
4. Turn the folding wrench counterclockwise to lower
the spare tire to the ground. Continue turning the
wrench until the spare tire can be pulled out from
under the vehicle.

5-25
5. To remove the spare tire from the cable, tilt the
retainer and slip it through the wheel opening.
6. After removing the spare tire, turn the wrench
clockwise to raise the cable back up.
Do not store a full
-size or a flat road tire under the
vehicle. See ªStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Toolsº
later in this section.
To continue changing the flat tire see ªRemoving
the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tireº later in
this section.
If the spare tire will not lower, the secondary latch may
be engaged and causing the tire not to lower. Do the
following to check the cable:
1. Check under the vehicle to see if the cable is visible.
2. If not visible, see ªSecondary Latch Systemº later
in this section.
If visible, first try to tighten the cable by turning
the folding wrench clockwise until you hear two
clicks or feel it skip twice. You can not overtighten
the cable.

5-26
3. Loosen the cable by turning the wrench
counterclockwise three or four turns.
4. Repeat this procedure at least two times.
5. If you still cannot lower the spare tire to the ground,
see ªSecondary Latch Systemº later in this section.
6. If the spare tire did lower to the ground, continue
with Step 6 under ªRemoving the Spare Tire
(Vehicles with the Rear Convenience/Cargo Tray)º.
Secondary Latch System
Your vehicle has an underbody mounted tire hoist
assembly equipped with a secondary latch system. It's
designed to stop the compact spare tire from suddenly
falling off your vehicle if the cable holding the spare tire
is damaged. For the secondary latch to work, the tire
must be stowed with the valve stem pointing down. See
ªStoring the Spare Tire and Toolsº in the Index for
instructions on storing the spare tire correctly.
CAUTION:
Before beginning this procedure read all the
instructions. Failure to read and follow the
instructions could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get hurt. Read and
follow the instructions listed below.
To release the spare tire from the secondary latch,
do the following:
CAUTION:
Someone standing too close during the procedure
could be injured by the jack. If the spare tire does
not slide off the jack completely, make sure no one
is behind you or on either side of you as you pull
the jack out from under the spare.
1. If the cable is not visible, start this procedure
at Step 3.

5-27
2. Turn the wrench counterclockwise until
approximately 6 inches (15 cm) of cable is exposed.
3. Attach the folding wrench to the jack and raise the
jack at least 10 turns.
4. Place the jack under the vehicle, ahead of the rear
bumper. Position the center lift point of the jack
under the center of the spare tire.5. Turn the folding wrench clockwise to raise the jack
until it lifts the secondary latch spring.
6. Keep raising the jack until the spare tire stops
moving upward and is held firmly in place, this lets
you know that the secondary latch has released