1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM spare wheel

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
Lift and remove the cover. See “Compact Spare Tire”
later in this section for more information about the
compact spare. Turn
the wing nut
counterclockwise and
remove it. Then lift off the
spacer 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. Remove the band around the jack.
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Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Remove the wheel nut caps (you may need to use the
wheel wrench to loosen and remove them, if your
fingers do not fit into this small area).
The tools you’ll be using include the
jack (A) and wheel
wrench
(B).
2. Then use the wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel
nuts. Don’t remove them yet.
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4. Raise the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground
so there is enough room for the spare
tire to
fit.
5. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
6. Remove the wheel cover from the wheel, if your flat
tire has one. Then take
off the flat tire.
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7. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and spare wheel.
A CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the pa
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.
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. 1
8. 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.
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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 plastic
cap nuts 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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Storing the Flat Tire and Tools
A CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the
passenger compartment
of the vehicle could
cause injury. In
a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store all these
in the proper place.
m H
Store the flat tire in the compact spare tire compartment.
Place the tire in the compartment, then secure the
adapter, extension (aluminum wheels only) and wing
bolt. Place the cover and nut on top
of the flat tire. Store
the jack and wheel wrench in the foam tray.
A. Wrench
B. Jack
C. Flat Road Tire
D. Adapter E.
Extension (Aluminum
E Wing Bolt
G. Cover
H. Nut
Wheels
Only)
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Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi
(420 Wa).
After installing the compact spare on your vehicle, you
should stop as soon as possible and make sure your
spare tire is correctly inflated. The compact spare
is
made to perform well at speeds up to 65 mph
(105 h/h) for distances up to 3,000 miles (5 000 km),
so you can finish your trip and have your full-size tire
repaired or replaced where you want. Of course, it’s best
to replace your spare with a full-size tire as soon as you
can. Your spare will last longer
and be in good shape in
case you need it again.
NOTICE:
When the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on
the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts
of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel with other wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.
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When to i- -- ~
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 Pa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure.
You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
.They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles (10
000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual wear,
rotate your tires as soon as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for damaged tires or wheels. See
“When It’s Time for New Tires” and “Wheel
Replacement” later in this section for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation
is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services’’ in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
0
I
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire
in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front
and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in
the Index.
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