2007 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX Owners Manual

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your vehicle’s
tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly. But if you
should ever have a blowout, here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag
that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel rmly. 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 would 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.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
417

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel
damage by driving slowly to a level place.
Turn on your vehicle’s hazard warning ashers.
SeeHazard Warning Flashers on page 170
for more information.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The
vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over
or fall on you or other people. You and
they could be badly injured or even killed.
Find a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in
the vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle will
not move, you should 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, at the
opposite end of the vehicle.
418

When your vehicle has a at tire, use the following
example as a guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks.
The following information will tell you next how to
use the jack and change a tire.Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you will need is in the trunk or
cargo area.
1. Open the trunk for sedan models. SeeTrunk
(Sedan) on page 108for more information.
For MAXX models, open the liftgate. See
Liftgate (MAXX) on page 110.
2. For the sedan, lift the handle on the spare tire
cover. The handle may hook on the trunk
front edge weatherstrip to hold the cover out
of the way. For the MAXX, lift the handle
to release the latch on the spare tire cover.
3. For the MAXX, lift and remove the cover.
419

4. Turn the wing nut counterclockwise and
remove it. Then remove the compact
spare tire. SeeCompact Spare Tire on
page 434for more information.
5. Remove the wing nut holding the jack in
place.
6. Remove the extension bolt (MAXX models
and Sedan SS only) that is clipped to the
jack. You will need this later to store the
at tire.
7. Remove the jack and wheel wrench from the
trunk or cargo area.
Tire Changing Tools
The tools you will be using include the wheel
wrench (A) and jack (B). The MAXX and all
SS models include an additional extension.
Sedan shown, MAXX Models and Sedan SS similar
420

1. Turn the plastic wing nut counterclockwise to
loosen wheel wrench.
2. Unhook the wheel wrench from the jack.3. Extend the handle on the wheel wrench by
pressing the button with your index nger
and pulling on the end of the wrench.
You must do this before using the wheel
wrench.
421

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. It is recommended that you do a safety check
before preceding. SeeChanging a Flat Tire
on page 418for more information.
2. If your vehicle has a wheel cover or hubcap
that has plastic wheel nut caps, loosen the
plastic nut caps. You might need to use
the wheel wrench to loosen them. Do not pry
off wheel covers or center caps that have
plastic wheel nut caps.
3. Remove the wheel cover or center cap from
the wheel to locate the wheel nuts.
If your vehicle has a wheel cover or hubcap
without plastic wheel nut caps, gently pry on
the edge of the plastic wheel trim to remove it
from the wheel to locate the wheel nuts.
Store the wheel cover and wheel nut caps in
the trunk until you have the at tire repaired
or replaced.4. Use the wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts.
Do not remove them yet.
5. It is recommended that you do a safety check
before preceding. SeeChanging a Flat Tire
on page 418for more information.
422

6. Position the lift head at the jack location
nearest the at tire. Make sure all of the
jack lift head is touching the jacking ange
under the body. Do not place the jack under a
body panel. The lower body panel has an
arrow to aid in locating the jacking location.
7. Put the compact spare tire near the at tire
being changed.
{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.
423

{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.
8. Raise the vehicle by turning the wrench
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so there is enough room
for the compact spare tire to t.
424