2004 CHEVROLET BLAZER Owners Manual

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The jacking equipment you’ll need is stored along the
driver’s side inner rear quarter panel. In some cases, you
may have to remove the spare tire in order to reach the
jack. Your vehicle is also equipped with work gloves and
a plastic ground mat to assist in the changing of a at tire.
The following instructions explain how to remove the
spare tire, depending on where it is mounted on
your vehicle. SeeCompact Spare Tire on page 5-88
orSpare Tire on page 5-89.
1. To remove your jack cover, pull up on the latch(es)
on the cover (C). Remove the wheel blocks (D),
jack (G) and wheel wrench (F).Notice:If you remove or restow a tire from/to
the storage position under the vehicle when it is
supported by a jack, you could damage the tire
and/or your vehicle. Always remove or restow a
tire when the vehicle is on the ground.
2. To remove the
underbody-mounted
spare, insert the chisel
end of the wheel
wrench, on an angle,
into the hoist shaft hole
in the rear bumper.
Be sure the chisel end
of the wheel wrench
connects into the
hoist shaft.
3. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the spare tire. Keep turning the wheel wrench until
the spare 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.
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Notice:If you drive away before the spare tire or
secondary latch system cable has been reinstalled,
you could damage your vehicle. Always reinstall
this cable before driving your vehicle.
If you have an inside-mounted spare tire, the tire must
be removed in order to have access to the jack
storage.
To remove an inside-mounted spare tire, reach into your
tire’s cover and unscrew the wing nut at the center of
the wheel. Remove it and the retainer. Unhook the
tire from the mounting bracket and remove the cover.
To remove a rear-mounted spare tire, rst make
sure that the carrier arm is fully-latched to the tailgate.
Then remove the spare tire cover.If you have this feature,
the locking wheel nut can
be removed by snapping
the rubber weather
cover off the face of the
lock case.
Insert the key and pull the
lock case straight off. It is
not necessary to turn
the key.
Put the spare tire near the at tire.
5-78

The tools you’ll be using include the jack (A) and wheel
wrench (B). Your vehicle may also have an optional
hub cap removal tool.
Removing the Wheel Cover
Position the chisel end of your wheel wrench, or the hub
cap removal tool (if equipped), in the notch of the hub
cap and pry off the hub cap.
Some of the molded plastic hub caps have imitation
wheel nuts molded into them. The wheel wrench won’t
t these imitation nuts, so don’t try to remove them
with the socket end of the wheel wrench.
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If you have individual wheel nut caps that cover each
nut, they must be removed in order to get to the wheel
nuts. Use the socket end of the wheel wrench to
remove the wheel nut caps.
Your wheel nut caps may attach your hub cap to the
wheel. Remove these wheel nut caps before you take
off the hub cap.
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 handle clockwise to raise the jack
lift head.
3. Fit the jack into the appropriate hole nearest the
at tire.
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A. Front Frame Hole
B. Rear Frame Hole (2–Door) or Spring Hanger
Hole (4–Door)
{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.
5-81

{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 t 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 spare tire
to t underneath the wheel well.
5. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the at tire.
6. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
5-82

{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. Put the nuts on by
hand. Make sure
the rounded 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 wheel wrench and see your dealer as soon
as possible.
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9. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.10. Use the wrench to
tighten the wheel nuts
rmly 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
100 lb-ft (140Y).
5-84