Page 212 of 376

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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,  and 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. 
I 
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. ”urn 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. 
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        Page 214 of 376

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE: 
Never  remove  or  restore a tire  frondto  a  stowage 
position  under  the  vehicle  while  the  vehicle 
is 
supported  by a jack. Always  tighten  the  tire 
fully  against  the  underside  of  the  vehicle  when  restowing 
A flat rear tire reduces  clearance to remove  the spare 
tire.  If there is less than 
12 inches (30.48 cm)  between 
the ground and the rear bumper  or any  trailer hitch,  jack 
up  the vehicle 
until the  flat  tire  is off  the ground. 
(See  “Removing 
the Flat Tire” and “Installing the 
Spare  Tire,’’  Steps 
4 through 8, in this  section.) 
Unless your vehicle has  a  flat rear tire,  do not  remove 
or 
restore  a  tire from/to a stowage  position  under the 
vehicle while  the vehicle is  supported  by a  jack.  Always 
tighten the tire 
fully against the underside of the vehicle 
when  restowing. 
If you  have  a vehicle  which  was  completed from a cab 
and chassis,  refer to the information from the  body 
suppliedinstaller. 
The  spare  tire 
is a full size tire, like the  other tires on 
your vehicle. 
For cargo  vans, the jack 
is secured 
in the  rear 
Remove  the retaining  wing bolt and lift 
it off  the 
mounting bracket.  Set the jack  and jacking  equipment 
near the 
flat tire. 
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        Page 215 of 376
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine For  passenger vans, the jack  is secured  on the rear 
passenger  side  floor 
of the vehicle. 
Remove  the retaining  wing 
bolt and lift it  out  of the 
mounting  bracket.  Set  the jack  and jacking  equipment 
near the  flat tire. 
The ratchet  has an UP side  and a DOWN side. 
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        Page 217 of 376
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Jacking Tool Storage 
A. Socket 
B. Jack  Handle 
C. Ratchet 
D. Jacking Tool Storage Box 
E. Jack  Handle  Extension  The 
tools 
you’ll be using  include the jack (A), jack 
handle  extension 
(B), jack  handle (C), socket (D) and 
the ratchet 
(E). 
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        Page 224 of 376
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION: 
Incorrect wheel nuts  or  improperly tightened 
wheel  nuts can cause  the wheel  to become  loose 
and  even  come 
off. This could lead  to  an accident. 
Be  sure  to  use the  correct  wheel  nuts.  If  you  have 
to  replace them, be  sure  to get new 
GM original 
equipment  wheel nuts. 
Stop somewhere  as soon  as you  can and  have 
the  nuts  tightened with 
a torque wrench  to 
122 lb-ft (165 Nom). 
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. 
11. Put the wheel  cover back on, if you have  one. 
Remove  any wheel blocks. 
Remember  that the jack,  jacking  equipment and tire 
must  be properly stored in their original  storage 
position before 
you begin  driving  again. The next 
part  will show  you  how. 
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 5. Put the flat end of the extension  on an angle  through 
the 
hole in the rear  door  frame,  above  the bumper. 
Turn the ratchet  clockwise until the tire  is against  the 
underside 
of the vehicle. 
You  will hear two  “clicks” 
when the tire is up all the 
way.  Try 
to move  the tire with your hands to make 
sure 
it is  securely in place. 
Return the  jacking  equipment  to  the proper  location. 
Secure  the  items and replace the  jack cover. 
If You’re  Stuck: In Sand, Mud, 
Ice or Snow 
What you don’t want to  do when your vehicle is stuck  is 
to spin your wheels too fast.  The  method known as 
“rocking’’  can help you get out when  you’re  stuck,  but 
you must  use caution. 
If you let your  tires spin at high speed,  they can 
explode,  and you or others  could be injured. 
And,  the transmission  or  other  parts 
of the 
vehicle  can overheat.  That 
could cause an engine 
compartment  fire  or  other damage. When  you’re 
stuck,  spin  the  wheels 
as little as possible.  Don’t 
spin  the wheels  above 
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown 
on  the  speedometer. 
L 2t