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Problems on the Road
I Engine Overheating (CONT.)
6. Start the engine and let it run until
you can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine
fan.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside
the radiator filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add more of the
proper mix through the filler neck
until the level reaches the base of the
filler neck.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. Be
sure the arrows on the pressure cap
line up like this.
Ifa 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 1
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.
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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 your tire goes flat, the next section
shows how to use your jacking
equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Air lnflator Sysfem
Some vehicles have an air inflator for
use in bringing tires up to the proper
pressure. The air inflator is located in
the trunk. The
ON switch will work
even with the ignition off. The air
inflator comes with
a kit that
includes a 20-foot hose and an air
pressure gage, as well as instructions
and special adapters for inflating things
like an air mattress or basketball.
Inflating something too much
can make it explode, and
you
or others could be injured. Be sure
to read the inflator instructions,
and inflate any object only
to its
1 recommended pressure.
1
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Page 211 of 322
Problems on the Road
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.
I.. r -0
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The following steps will tell you how to
use the jack and change a tire.
The equipment
you’ll need is in the
trunk.
1. Turn the center retainer bolt on the
spare tire cover counterclockwise
to
remove it, then lift the tire cover.
2. Remove the spare tire from the trunk.
3. Open the jack storage cover by
twisting the knob % turn counter-
clockwise.
211 m..
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Problems on the Road
Changing a Flat Tire (CONT.)
4. Remove the jack and wheel wrench. 5. If you have wheel nut caps, remove
them. 6. If you have aluminum wheels, remove
the center cover that conceals the
wheel nuts by using the flat end
of
the wheel wrench to pry it off. Do
not drop the cover or lay it face
down, as it could be scratched or
damaged.
Do not use a hammer or mallet to
install the cover.
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7. If your wheel has the special locking
lug nut, use the special adapter
supplied with your vehicle to remove
the locking wheel
nut by turning
counterclockwise.
8. Use the wheel wrench to loosen the
wheel nuts, but don’t remove them. 9. Attach the wheel wrench to the jack,
and rotate the wrench clockwise to
raise the jack head a few inches.
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Problems on the Road
I
Changing a Flat lire (CONT.:)
10. Near each wheel well is a notch in
the frame into which
to put the jack
head. The front notch
is 10 inches
back from the front wheel well. The
rear notch
is 8 inches forward from
the rear wheel well. The wheel
wrench has these
8 and 10 inch
distances stamped on the handle.
Use the wheel wrench to measure to
the notch by flipping the socket into
the handle, then measuring from the
socket end of the wrench.
1 1. Position the jack and raise the jack
head until
it fits firmly on the ridge
in the vehicle's frame nearest the
flat tire.
Do not raise the vehicle
yet. Put the compact spare tire near
you.
1
I
I
1
2. Raise the vehicle by rotating the
wheel wrench clockwise in the jack.
Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground
so there is enough room for
the spare tire to fit.
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.
3. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
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Rust or dirt on the wheel, or
b on the parts to which it is
fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a 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 you need to, to get all the
rust or dirt off. II I
4. Remove any corrosion from the
wheel bolts, mounting surface
or
spare wheel.
5. Place the spare tire on the mounting
surface.
16. Replace the wheel nuts with the
rounded end of
the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each
nut by hand
until the wheel is held against the
hub.
A hTwer use oil or grease on
- aLdds or nuts. If you do, the
nuts might come loose. Your wheel
could fall off, causing a serious
accident.
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