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5-17
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start
the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches at or above the fill mark at the
forward edge of the surge tank.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure
cap is hand
-tight.Start the engine and allow it to warm up. If the CHECK
COOLANT LEVEL message does not appear on the
Driver Information Center, coolant is at the proper fill
level. If a CHECK COOLANT LEVEL message does
appear, repeat Steps 1 to 3 and reinstall the pressure cap
or see your dealer.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblow outº 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 ªblowout,º 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.
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5-18
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.
CAUTION:
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. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
2. Set the parking brake firmly.
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.The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
Page 267 of 359
5-19 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you'll need is in the trunk. (Instructions
for changing your tires are on the inside of the tire cover.)
1. Lift the tire cover to gain access to the spare tire
and jacking equipment. To do this:
Press the area at the front
of the handle so that the
back edge raises.
Grab the handle and
remove the cover.
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5-20
2. Unscrew the wing nuts to remove the container that
holds the wrench and jack.
3. Remove the wheel wrench, jack and the spare tire
from the trunk. See ªCompact Spare Tireº later in this
section for more information about the compact spare.
The tools you'll be using include the jack (A) and the
wheel wrench (B).
Removing the Wheel Cover
SLS Wheel Shown
On the SLS, there is a center wheel cover on the aluminum
wheel. Using the flat end of the wheel wrench, gently pry
the wheel cover off. Be careful not to scratch the aluminum
wheel edge and don't try to remove it with your hands.
On the STS, the wheel nuts and wheel nut covers are
exposed. Use the wheel wrench to remove the wheel
nut covers.
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5-21 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
STS Wheel Shown
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don't remove them yet.
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5-22
2. Find the jacking location from the diagrams above
and corresponding cutouts in the plastic molding.
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.
CAUTION:
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 into the proper location before raising
the vehicle.
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5-23
3. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to lower the
jack lift head until the jack fits under the car.
4. Raise the jack until the metal flange fits firmly into
the channel of the jack head.
5. Put the compact spare near you.
6. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground for the spare tire to fit under the vehicle.
7. Remove all wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
8. 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.
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5-24
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.
9. Place the spare on the
wheel
-mounting surface.
10. 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.
11. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.