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Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
The wheel cover or hubcap needs to be removed
in order to reach the wheel bolts.
For steel wheels with full plastic covers and
aluminum wheels with large circular center caps,
do the following:
1. It is recommended that a safety check is done
before preceding. SeeChanging a Flat Tire
on page 386for more information.
2. Loosen all plastic
caps by turning the
wheel wrench
counterclockwise.
Do not try to remove
plastic caps from
the cover or
center cap.
3. Pull the cover or center cap away from the
wheel and place it in the trunk.When reinstalling full plastic covers or center
caps, tighten all the plastic caps hand snug, then
tighten with the wheel wrench an additional
one-quarter of a turn.
1. Use the wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel
nuts. Do not remove them yet.
2. Attach the wheel
wrench to the jack
bolt head and
rotate the wheel
wrench clockwise.
That will raise the lift
head a little.
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8. Remove any rust or
dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting
surfaces and
spare wheel.
9. Place the compact spare tire on the
wheel-mounting surface.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
Because the nuts might come loose. The
vehicle’s wheel could fall off, causing a
serious accident.
10. Reinstall the wheel nuts. Tighten each nut by
hand until the wheel is held against the hub.11. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise.
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{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the wheel
to come 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 the proper torque speci cation. See
Capacities and Specifications on page 414
for wheel nut torque speci cation.
Notice:Improperly tightened wheel nuts can
lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage.
To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly
tighten the wheel nuts in the proper sequence
and to the proper torque speci cation. See
Capacities and Specifications on page 414for
the wheel nut torque speci cation.12. Tighten the wheel
nuts rmly in a
crisscross sequence,
as shown.
13. Lower the jack all the way and remove the
jack from under the vehicle.
14. Tighten the bolts rmly with the wheel wrench.
Notice:Wheel covers will not t on your
vehicle’s compact spare. If you try to put a
wheel cover on the compact spare, the cover or
the spare could be damaged.
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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.
To store the at or spare tire and tools, do the
following:
1. Place the wheel wrench into the bag and use
the straps to secure the bag to the fully
collapsed jack.2. Install the jack in the
driver’s side panel of
the rear cargo
area and secure
with the wing bolt.
3. Remove the wheel stow rod from the upper
left side of the oor compartment.
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