2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Owners Manual

5-17
3. Then fill the coolant surge tank with the proper
mixture, to the FULL COLD mark.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 fan.
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 the FULL COLD mark.

5-18
5. Then replace the
pressure cap. Be
sure the pressure
cap is hand
-tight.
Check the level in the surge tank when the cooling
system has cooled down. If the coolant isn't at the
proper level, 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.

5-19
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. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transaxle shift lever in
PARK (P), or shift a manual transaxle to
FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R).
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.

5-20 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you'll
need is in the trunk.
1. Turn the center retainer nut on the compact spare
cover counterclockwise to remove it.
2. Lift and remove the cover. See ªCompact Spare
Tireº later in this section for more information about
the compact spare.

5-21
3. Turn the wing bolt
counterclockwise and
remove it. Then lift off
the adapter and remove
the compact spare tire.
4. Your vehicle's jack and wheel wrench are stored in a
foam tray. Remove the jack and wheel wrench from
the trunk. Remove the band around the jack.
The tools you'll be using include the jack (A) and
wheel wrench (B).

5-22 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. If your vehicle is equipped with wheel covers, use
the wheel wrench to begin loosening the plastic
wheel nut caps. Once you have loosened the plastic
wheel nut caps with the wheel wrench you can finish
loosening them with your fingers. Using the flat end
of the wheel wrench, pry along the edge of the wheel
cover until it comes off.
If your vehicle has alloy wheels, first remove the
decorative nut caps using the wheel wrench.2. Then use the wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel
nuts. Don't remove them yet.3. Near each wheel well is a notch in the frame which the
jack head fits in. The front notch is 9 inches (23 cm)
back from the front wheel well. The rear notch is
8 inches (20 cm) forward from the rear wheel well.
As is shown in the diagram above, if your vehicle has
flared side moldings, both front and rear notches are
18 inches (46 cm) from the wheel wells. 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.

5-23
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.4. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough room for the compact
spare tire to fit underneath the wheel well.
5. Remove all of the wheel nuts.

5-24
6. 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.
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.
7. Place the compact spare tire on the
wheel
-mounting surface.
8. Reinstall 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.