1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you’ll need
is
in the trunk. Turn the
center retainer nut on the
compact spare cover to
the left to remove it.
Lift and remove the cover. (See “Compact Spare Tire”
later in
this section for more information about the
compact spare.) You will find the jacking instructions
label on the underside
of the tire cover. Turn
the wing nut to the left
and remove it. Then
lift off
the adapter and remove the
spare tire.
Remove the jack
and wheel wrench from the trunk.
Your vehicle’s jack and wheel wrench are stored in a
foam tray.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. On vehicles equipped with wheel covers, completely
loosen the wheel nut caps but
do not try to remove
the caps from the cover.
The tools you'll be using include the jack
(A) and the
wheel wrench
(B).
2. Give the cover a sharp pull or gently pry on the edge
of the cover to remove it from the wheel.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3. Some models are equipped with aluminum wneels.
Remove the cover plate
to find the wheel nuts.
Carefully use the wedge end
of the wheel wrench to
pry it
off.
4. Then use the wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel
nuts. Don’t remove them yet.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine -
18 (46cm)
w
18 146cm)
5. Position the jack and raise the jack head until it fits
firmly into the notch in the vehicle’s frame nearest
the flat tire.
Put the compact spare tire near you.
A CAUTION:
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous.
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed. Never get under
a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
Do not jack or lift the vehicle using the oil pan.
Pans could crack and begin to leak fluid. When
jacking
or lifting your vehicle, always place the
jack in the proper position.
NOTICE:
Do not jack or lift the vehicle using the
suspension components. Suspension components
can be damaged
by doing this. When jacking or
lifting your vehicle, always place the jack in the
proper position.
L
6. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench to the
right. Raise the vehicle
far enough off the ground so
there is enough room for the spare
tire to fit.
7. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
8. Then take off the flat tire.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 9. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
/! CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or 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.
5-27

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I A CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel could
fall off, causing a serious accident.
,, "
10. Replace the wheel nuts with the cone end
of
the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each nut
by hand or with the
wheel wrench until the
wheel is held against
the hub.
II
c
11. Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench to
the left. Lower the jack completely.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 12. Tighten the wheel nuts
firmly in a criss-cross
sequence, as shown.
A C’ uTION:
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 100 lb-ft
(140 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,
Don’t try to put a wheel cover on your compact spare
tire. It won’t fit. Store the wheel cover and wheel nut
caps in the trunk until you have the flat tire repaired
or replaced.
NOTICE:
Wheel covers won’t fit on your compact spare. If
you try to put a wheel cover on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.
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