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If a 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 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.
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 a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
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.
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The equipment you’ll need is in the right (pasq-enger)
rear area behind the trim panel.
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and First you must remove the close-out panel. See
change a tire. “Close-Out Panel’’ in the Index.
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On convertible models, you must also remove the trunk
accem panel. It's at the upper back
of the trunk. Turn the
two screw knobs under the trunk edge a quarter
turn
counterclockwise to remove the panel. . 11.: '*
Use a coin or a key to turn the screw heads until the
slots poht fkont and back. Gently lift the trim panel and
move it out
of the way.
If you have speakers in the trim panel, the speaker wire
should be long enough to remove the trim panel without
disconnecting the wire.
I
To remove the jack and wheel wrench, lomen and
remove the bolt and remove the plastic cover.
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Remove the wing nut and adapter and pull out the spare. Start with the jack (A) and wheel wrench (B).
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The jack has a bolt at the end. Attach the wheel wrench
to the jack bolt.
If your wheel has a bolt-on center cap, loosen the plastic
caps using the wheel wrench.
Turn the wheel wrench to the right to raise the lift head a
little.
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Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don’t remove them yet.
, .i.. ,.
fl
Position the jack under the vehicle. There is a notch in
the vehicle’s rocker flange on the coupe model. Raise
the jack head until
it fits fiiy into the notch nearest the
flat tire.
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Stay away from the moldings or fender flanges to avoid
damaging them.
NOTICE:
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.
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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.
Lower the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Lower
the jack completely..
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