2005 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER Owners Manual

To release the spare tire from the secondary latch,
do the following:
1. Check under the
vehicle to see if the
cable is visible. If it is
not visible, proceed
to Step 6.
2. If visible, rst 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 ofRemoving the Spare Tire and Tools on
page 5-67.
5. Turn the wrench counterclockwise until
approximately 6 inches (15 cm) of cable is exposed.6. Attach the jack handle, extension(s) and the wheel
wrench to the jack and place it under the vehicle
towards the front of the rear bumper. Position
the center lift point of the jack under the center of
the spare tire.
7. Turn the wrench clockwise to raise the jack until it
lifts the end tting.
8. Continue raising the jack until the spare tire stops
moving upward and is held rmly in place. The
secondary latch has released and the spare tire is
balancing on the jack.
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9. Lower the jack by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Keep lowering the jack until the
spare tire slides off the jack or is hanging by
the cable.
10. Disconnect the jack handle from the jack and
carefully remove the jack. Use one hand to push
against the spare while rmly pulling the jack out
from under the spare tire with the other hand.
If the spare tire is hanging from the cable, insert the
socket end of the extension connected to the wheel
wrench into the hoist shaft hole in the bumper on a
45 degree angle downward. 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.
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.
12. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the cable
back up if the cable is hanging under the vehicle.
Have the hoist assembly inspected as soon as you can.
You will not be able to store a spare tire using the
hoist assembly until it has been repaired or replaced.
5-76

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 needs to be
stored with the valve stem pointing up. If the
spare tire is stored with the valve stem
pointing downward, its secondary latch won’t
work properly and the spare 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 tire is stored with
its valve stem pointing up.
Notice:An aluminum wheel with a at tire should
always be stored under the vehicle with the hoist.
However, storing it that way for an extended period
could damage the wheel. To avoid this, always stow
the wheel properly with the valve stem pointing up
and have the wheel repaired as soon as possible.
Follow this diagram to store the underbody-mounted
spare.
5-77

F. Wheel Wrench
G. Hoist Shaft
H. Extension(s)
I. Retainer
J. 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 (D) through the wheel.
3. Put the socket end of the extension (C), on a
45 degree angle downward, through the hole in
the rear bumper and into the hoist shaft (B).
4. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the
vehicle. Continue turning the wheel wrench (A)
clockwise until you hear two clicks or feel it
skip twice. This indicates that the tire is secure and
the cable is tight. The spare tire hoist cannot be
overtightened.5. Make sure the tire is stored securely. Push, pull (A),
and then try to turn (B) the tire. If the tire moves,
use the wheel wrench and socket end of the
extension to tighten the cable.
6. Return the equipment to the proper location in the
vehicle as shown next. Attach the tools in the slots
provided. Roll up the instruction label and return
it to the slot in the tool kit. Assemble the wheel
blocks to the jack.
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For the TrailBlazer EXT, place the jack and wheel
blocks in the wire bale. Turn the knob on the jack
clockwise to raise the jack head.
A. Handle
B. Wheel Wrench
C. Instruction Label
D. Extension(s)E. Knob
F. Wheel Blocks
and JackA. Instruction Label
B. Handle
C. Knob
D. Extension(s)E. Wheel Blocks
and Jack
F. Wheel Wrench TrailBlazer
TrailBlazer EXT
5-79

Spare Tire
Your vehicle, when new, had a fully-inated spare tire.
A spare tire may lose air over time, so check its
ination pressure regularly. SeeInation - Tire Pressure
on page 5-56andLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-43
for information regarding proper tire ination and loading
your vehicle. For instruction on how to remove, install
or store a spare tire, seeRemoving the Flat Tire
and Installing the Spare Tire on page 5-69andStoring
a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools on page 5-77.
After installing the spare tire on your vehicle, you should
stop as soon as possible and make sure the spare is
correctly inated. Have the damaged or at road
tire repaired or replaced as soon as you can and
installed back onto your vehicle. This way, a spare tire
will be available in case you need it again.
Appearance Care
Cleaning products can be hazardous. Some are toxic.
Other cleaning products can burst into ames if a match
is struck near them or if they get on a hot part of the
vehicle. Some are dangerous if their fumes are inhaled in
an enclosed space. When anything from a container is
used to clean the vehicle, be sure to follow the
manufacturer’s warnings and instructions. Always
open the doors or windows of the vehicle when cleaning
the inside.Never use these to clean the vehicle:
Benzene
Naphtha
Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous — some more than
others —and they can all damage the vehicle, too.
Do not use any of these products unless this manual
says you can. In many uses, these will damage
the vehicle:
Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
Reducing Agents
5-80

Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Your vehicle’s interior will continue to look its best if
it is cleaned often. Although not always visible, dust and
dirt can accumulate on your upholstery. Dirt can
damage carpet, fabric, leather, and plastic surfaces.
Regular vacuuming is recommended to remove particles
from your upholstery. It is important to keep your
upholstery from becoming and remaining heavily soiled.
Soils should be removed as quickly as possible. Your
vehicle’s interior may experience extremes of heat
that could cause stains to set rapidly.
Lighter colored interiors may require more frequent
cleaning. Use care because newspapers and garments
that transfer color to your home furnishings may also
transfer color to your vehicle’s interior.
When cleaning your vehicle’s interior, only use cleaners
specically designed for the surfaces being cleaned.
Permanent damage may result from using cleaners on
surfaces for which they were not intended. Use glass
cleaner only on glass. Remove any accidental over-spray
from other surfaces immediately. To prevent over-spray,
apply cleaner directly to the cleaning cloth.
Notice:If you use abrasive cleaners when cleaning
glass surfaces on your vehicle, you could scratch
the glass and/or cause damage to the rear window
defogger. When cleaning the glass on your
vehicle, use only a soft cloth and glass cleaner.Many cleaners contain solvents that may become
concentrated in your vehicle’s breathing space. Before
using cleaners, read and adhere to all safety
instructions on the label. While cleaning your vehicle’s
interior, maintain adequate ventilation by opening
your vehicle’s doors and windows.
Dust may be removed from small buttons and knobs
using a small brush with soft bristles.
Your GM dealer has a product for cleaning your
vehicle’s glass. Should it become necessary, you can
also obtain a product from your GM dealer to remove
odors from your vehicle’s upholstery.
Do not clean your vehicle using the following cleaners
or techniques:
Never use a knife or any other sharp object to
remove a soil from any interior surface.
Never use a stiff brush. It can cause damage to
your vehicle’s interior surfaces.
Never apply heavy pressure or rub aggressively
with a cleaning cloth. Use of heavy pressure
can damage your interior and does not improve the
effectiveness of soil removal.
Use only mild, neutral-pH soaps. Avoid laundry
detergents or dishwashing soaps with degreasers.
Using too much soap will leave a residue that
leaves streaks and attracts dirt. For liquid cleaners,
about 20 drops per gallon (3.78 L) of water is a
good guide.
5-81

Do not heavily saturate your upholstery
while cleaning.
Damage to your vehicle’s interior may result from
the use of many organic solvents such as naptha,
alcohol, etc.
Fabric/Carpet
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment
frequently to remove dust and loose dirt. A canister
vacuum with a beater bar in the nozzle may only
be used on oor carpet and carpeted oor mats. For
soils, always try to remove them rst with plain water or
club soda. Before cleaning, gently remove as much
of the soil as possible using one of the following
techniques:
For liquids: gently blot the remaining soil with a
paper towel. Allow the soil to absorb into the
paper towel until no more can be removed.
For solid dry soils: remove as much as possible
and then vacuum.To clean, use the following instructions:
1. Saturate a lint-free, clean white cloth with water
or club soda.
2. Wring the cloth to remove excess moisture.
3. Start on the outside edge of the soil and gently rub
toward the center. Continue cleaning, using a clean
area of the cloth each time it becomes soiled.
4. Continue to gently rub the soiled area until the
cleaning cloth remains clean.
5. If the soil is not completely removed, use a mild
soap solution and repeat the cleaning process
that was used with plain water.
If any of the soil remains, a commercial fabric cleaner or
spot lifter may be necessary. When a commercial
upholstery cleaner or spot lifter is to be used, test a
small hidden area for colorfastness rst. If the locally
cleaned area gives any impression that a ring formation
may result, clean the entire surface.
After the cleaning process has been completed, a paper
towel can be used to blot excess moisture from the
fabric or carpet.
5-82