2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO Owners Manual

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The jacking equipment you’ll need is stored by your
vehicle’s rear doors, along the passenger’s side wall.
1. Remove the jack cover by pulling it away from
the side wall and down to release the tabs
securing the top of the cover.
2. Remove the wheel blocks by turning the top nut
counterclockwise. Remove the nut and washer,
then pull the wheel blocks
off the bolt.
3. Push down on the bolt and remove the hooked end
from the slot. Slide the jack toward the front of the
vehicle and lift it from the mounting. Remove
the extension and the ratchet from the pouch.
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Your compact spare tire is stored underneath the
rear
of your vehicle. You will use the ratchet
and extension to lower the compact spare tire. The
ratchet has an
UP side.
It also has a
DOWN side.
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4. Attach the ratchet to the extension, with the DOWN
side facing you. The extension has a socket end
and a flat chisel end.
5. Put the flat end of the extension on an angle through
the hole in the rear door frame, above the bumper.
Be sure the flat end connects into the hoist shaft.
6. Turn the ratchet counterclockwise to lower the
compact spare tire to the ground. Keep turning
the ratchet until the spare tire can be pulled out from
under the vehicle. 7.
When the tire has
been lowered, tilt the
retainer plate at
the end
of the cable
and pull it through
the wheel opening.
8. Pull the tire out from under the vehicle.
Notice: To help avoid vehicle damage, do not drive
the vehicle before the cable
is restored.
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B
Removing the Wheel Covers
YOU will have to take off the hub caps to reach the
wheel nuts.
The tools you’ll be using include the jack
(A), wheel
blocks
(B), extension (C) and ratchet (D).
To remove the hub cap from the aluminum wheel, fit the
flat end
of the extension into the notch. Then, remove
the center cap.
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Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1. Before you start, block the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
Then put your cor-xt spare tire near the flat tire.
I
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked .I 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.
Ra.,.ng your vehicle
..ICIm Lhe 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.
2. With the DOWN side facing you, turn the
ratchet and socket to loosen all the wheel nuts
counterclockwise. Don’t remove them yet.
3. The jack has a bolt on the end. Attach the socket
end of the extension to the jack bolt.
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4. Attach the ratchet to the extension with the UP side
5. Turn the ratchet clockwise. That will raise the jack
6. Position the jack under the vehicle.
facing you.
lift head a little.
I c B
Front Position
A. Front Jack Location
B. Jack
C. Ratchet and Extension
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B' C
Rear Position
A. Rear Jack Location
B. Jack
C. Ratchet and Extension
..
7. Raise the vehicle by turning the ratchet clockwise.
Make sure the
UP mark faces you. Raise the
vehicle far enough
off the ground so there is enough
room for the compact spare tire to fit underneath
the wheel well.
8. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
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9. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and spare wheel.
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.
10. Put on the compact spare tire. Put the nuts on by
hand. Make sure the cone-shaped end is toward
the wheel. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel
is held against the hub.
If a nut can’t be turned
by hand, use the extension and see your dealer as
soon as possible.
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.
-
11. Lower the vehicle by turning the ratchet
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
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