2001 CHEVROLET TRACKER Owners Manual

5-21
3. The spare tire is
mounted on your
tailgate. Your vehicle
may be equipped with
a cover. To remove the
cover from the spare
tire, insert your key into
the wheel lock and pull
the wheel lock off.
4. Using the wheel wrench, remove the wheel cover
nut. Gently pry the spare tire cover off the wheel.

5-22
5. Remove the remaining wheel nuts with the
wheel wrench.
6. Remove the spare tire from the mounting bracket
and place it near your flat tire.
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts,
but don't remove them yet.

5-23
Front Wheel Location
Rear Wheel Location2. Under the vehicle near each wheel, there are knobs
in the vehicle's frame. Position the jack and raise the
jack lift head until it fits firmly onto the knobs
nearest to the flat tire.
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.

5-24
3. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle clockwise.
Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there is
enough room for the spare tire to fit underneath the
wheel well.
If your vehicle is equipped with running boards,
position the jack handle on an angle toward the front
tire so you can turn the handle (front tire only).

5-25
4. Use the jack handle at an angle until you can turn it
at the regular position.5. Remove all the wheel
nuts and take off the
flat tire.
6. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.

5-26
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 spare on the wheel mounting surface.
8. Reinstall the wheel nuts
with the cone
-shaped
end of the nuts toward
the wheel. Tighten each
nut by hand until the
wheel is held against
the hub.

5-27
9. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
10. 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 69 lb
-ft (95 N´m).

5-28
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.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
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.
1. Store your vehicle's flat or spare tire by mounting it
on the tailgate.