1998 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
Each wheel has one locknut in place of the standard
wheel nut.
A special wheel lock key (removal tool) and
instructions are located in the center console. Attach
the wheel lock key to the socket of the wheel
wrench. Remove the locking wheel
nut by turning
to the left (counterclockwise).
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don’t remove them
yet.
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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 firmly into the notch nearest the
flat tire.
On convertible models, place the jack in a similar location.
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2. Stay away from moldings or fender flanges to avoid
damaging
them.
Put the compact 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.
A CAUTION:
I--
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned can damage the vehicle and even make
the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal injury and
vehicle damage, be sure to
fit the jack lift head inh
the proper location before raising the vehicle.
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3. Raise the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench to
the right (clockwise). Raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground so there is enough room for the spare
tire
to fit. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off
the flat tire.
4. 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 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.
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1 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.
5. 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.
6. Lower the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench to
the left (counterclockwise). Lower the jack
completely.
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7. Tighten the wheel nuts
firmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown.
/! 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 100 lb-ft
(140 N.m).
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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 center cap on your compact spare
tire. It won’t fit. Store the center cap in the rear area
until
you have the flat tire repaired or replaced.
I NOTICE:
Center caps won’t fit on your compact spare. If
you try to put a center cap on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.
Storing a Flat or Spare 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.
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Replace the jack, wheel wrench and flat tire using the
storage instructions. When
you replace the trim panel,
be sure to tuck it under the weatherstrip.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Trim Panel
Bolt
Cover
Jack
Wing Nut Adapter
Compact Spare Tire
Full-Size Tire Carpet
Flap
Tire Storage Bolt Convertible
Top Protection
Knob
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