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5-18
3. Then fill the coolant surge tank with the proper
mixture, to the base of the filler neck.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 about 2.5 inches (6.4 cm)
below the base of the filler neck.
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5-19
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the arrow on
the pressure cap lines up like this.
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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5-20
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 300 of 426
5-21 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 located in your trunk.
To gain access to the instructions, spare tire and jacking
equipment, do the following:
1. Press the area at the
front of the handle
located on the cover so
that the back edge raises.
2. Grab the handle and
remove the cover.
3. Unscrew the wing nuts to remove the container that
holds the wrench and jack.
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5-22
4. Remove the wheel wrench, jack and compact spare
tire from the trunk. See ªCompact Spare Tireº later
in this section for more information about the
compact spare tire.
The tools you'll be using include the jack (A) and the
wheel wrench (B).
Removing the Wheel Cover
Models with Center Wheel Cover
For models having aluminum wheels with a center
wheel cover, use the flat end of the wheel wrench to
gently pry the wheel covers off. Be careful not to scratch
the aluminum wheel edge and don't try to remove it
with your hands.
For models having wheel nuts exposed, use the wheel
wrench to remove the wheel nut covers.
Page 302 of 426
5-23 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don't remove them yet.
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5-24
2. Find the jacking location from the diagrams above
and corresponding hoisting notches located in the
plastic molding. The front location is 8.5 inches
(21 cm) from the rear edge of the front wheel well,
and the rear location is 3.5 inches (8.5 cm) from the
front edge of the rear wheel well.
The notches may also be labeled ªJACKº with an
arrow pointing to the jacking location on the vehicle.
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.
3. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to lower the
jack lift head until the jack fits under the vehicle.
4. Raise the jack until the metal flange fits firmly into
the channel of the jack head.
5. Put the compact spare tire near you.
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5-25
6. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle clockwise.
Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground for the
compact 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.