Page 208 of 372

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 st.eering 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.
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.
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Page 210 of 372

NOTICE:
Never remove or restore a tire frodto 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
.
L
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. and
chassis, refer
to the information from the body
supplier/installer.
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
passenger side corner
of the vehicle.
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 213 of 372
Jacking Tool Storage
A. Socket
B. Jack Handle
C. Ratchet
D. Jacking Tool Storage Box
c. Jack Handle Extension
J
.. ..I .. -.., .- - . , .. .. 7aasr . .... .. .. -. .. .
.
..
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 220 of 372
A CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightenea
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 N-m).
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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Page 223 of 372

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 kmh) as shown
on the speedometer.
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