2002 Oldsmobile Bravada flat tire

5-18
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.
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 the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Put the wheel 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.

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2. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the
spare tire. Keep turning the wheel wrench until the
spare tire can be pulled out from under the vehicle.
If the spare tire does not lower to the ground,
the secondary latch is engaged causing the tire
not to lower. See ªSecondary Latch Systemº later
in this section.
When the tire has been completely lowered, tilt the
retainer at the end of the cable and pull it through the
wheel opening. Pull the tire out from under the vehicle.
NOTICE:
To help avoid vehicle damage, do not drive the
vehicle before the cable is properly stored.
3. Put the spare tire near the flat tire.
4. Position the chisel end
of your wheel wrench
in the notch of the
center cap and pry off
the center cap.
See ªRemoving the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tireº later in this section to continue changing
the flat tire.

5-22
Secondary Latch System
The spare tire hoist assembly is equipped with a
secondary latch system. It's designed to stop the spare
tire from suddenly falling off your vehicle. For the
secondary latch to work, the spare tire must be stored
with the valve stem pointing up. See ªStoring a Flat or
Spare Tire and Toolsº in the Index for instructions on
storing the spare tire correctly.
CAUTION:
Before beginning this procedure read all the
instructions. Failure to read and follow the
instructions could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get hurt. Read and
follow the instructions listed below.
To release the spare tire from the secondary latch
do the following:
1. Check under the
vehicle to see if the
cable is visible.
2. If it is not visible, proceed to Step 6.
If visible, first try to tighten the cable by turning the
wheel wrench clockwise until you hear two clicks or
feel it skip twice. You cannot overtighten the cable.
3. Loosen the cable by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise three or four turns.
4. Repeat this procedure at least two times.
If the spare tire lowers to the ground, continue with
Step 2 of ªRemoving the Spare Tire and Toolsº
earlier in this section.
5. Turn the wrench counterclockwise until
approximately 6 inches (15 cm) of cable is exposed.

5-24
10. Disconnect the jack handle from the jack and
carefully remove the jack. Use one hand to push
against the spare while firmly pulling the jack out
from under the spare tire with the other hand.
If the spare tire is hanging from the cable, insert
the jack handle, extension and wheel wrench into
the hoist shaft hole in the bumper, on an angle,
and turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to
lower the spare the rest of the way.11. Tilt the retainer at the end of the cable and pull it
through the wheel opening. Pull the tire out from
under the vehicle.
12. If the cable is hanging under the vehicle, turn the
wheel wrench in the hoist shaft hole in the bumper
clockwise to raise the cable back up.
Have the hoist assembly inspected as soon as you can.
You will not be able to store a spare or flat tire using the
hoist assembly until it has been repaired or replaced.
To continue changing the flat tire, return to Step 2
of ªRemoving the Spare Tire and Toolsº earlier in
this section.

5-25 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1. Using the wheel wrench,
loosen all the wheel
nuts. Don't remove
them yet.
2. Turn the jack adjusting knob clockwise by hand to
raise the jack lift head.
3. Place the handle, extension and wheel wrench onto
the jack.
Front
Rear
A. Frame
B. Jack
C. HandleD. Extension
E. Wheel Wrench

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4. Place the jack in the appropriate position nearest
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. 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.
6. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.

5-29 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.
CAUTION:
The underbody-mounted spare tire or flat
road tire needs to be stored with the valve stem
pointing up. If the tire is stored with its valve
stem pointing downward, its secondary latch
won't work properly, and the spare tire or flat
road tire could loosen and suddenly fall from
your vehicle. If this happened when your vehicle
was being driven, the tire might contact a
person or another vehicle, causing injury and,
of course, damage to itself as well. Be sure the
underbody
-mounted spare or flat road tire is
stored with its valve stem pointing up.

5-30
NOTICE:
An aluminum wheel with a flat tire should
always be stored under the vehicle with the hoist.
However, storing it that way for an extended
period could damage the appearance of the
wheel. To avoid this, always stow the wheel
properly with the valve stem pointing up and
have the tire repaired as soon as possible.
Follow this diagram to store the underbody-mounted spare.
A. Wheel Wrench
B. Hoist Shaft
C. Extension
D. Retainer
E. Spare or Flat Tire
(Valve Stem Pointed Up)
1. Put the tire on the ground at the rear of the vehicle,
with the valve stem pointed up and to the rear.
2. Pull the retainer through the wheel.
3. Put the socket end of the extension, on an angle,
through the hole in the rear bumper and into the
hoist shaft.