2008 CADILLAC SRX Owners Manual

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 tells you how to use the jack
and change a tire.Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment is located in the rear of the vehicle.
To access the equipment:
1. Remove the storage bin to access the jack if your
vehicle has the cargo management system.
If your vehicle has the third row seat, remove the
head rest storage tray to access the jack.
2. Turn the wing nut (A) holding the jack (B)
(and storage tray, if applicable) counterclockwise
and remove it.
3. Remove the jack and wheel wrench (C).
5-77

Removing the Spare Tire
The compact spare tire is located under the vehicle,
ahead of the rear bumper. SeeCompact Spare Tire on
page 5-90for more information about the compact spare.
To remove the spare tire from the vehicle, do the
following:
A. Wheel Wrench
B. CableC. Retainer
D. Compact Spare Tire
1. Open the liftgate. SeePower Liftgate on page 2-13
for more information.
2. Open the storage compartment door of the cargo
management system that is nearest the liftgate
and remove the container.3. Attach the wheel wrench (A) into the hoist shaft.
4. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to
lower the spare tire to the ground. Continue turning
the wrench until the spare tire (D) can be pulled
out from under the vehicle.
5. Tilt the retainer (C) and slip it through the wheel
opening to remove the spare tire from the cable (B).
5-78

6. Turn the wrench clockwise until you feel two slips
or hear two clicks after removing the spare tire to
raise the cable back up.
Do not store a full-size or a at road tire under
the vehicle. SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and
Tools on page 5-87.
To continue changing the at tire, seeRemoving the
Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire on page 5-80.
If the spare tire will not lower, the secondary latch
might be engaged causing the tire not to lower.
Do the following to check the cable:
1. Check under the
vehicle to see if
the cable is visible.
If it is not visible,
seeSecondary Latch
System on page 5-84.2. If it is 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
over-tighten the cable.
3. Loosen the cable then by turning the wrench
counterclockwise three or four turns.
4. Tighten the cable all the way and then loosen it at
least two times, if the spare tire has not lowered.
If the spare tire did lower to the ground, continue
with Step 4 underRemoving the Spare Tire
and Tools on page 5-77.
If you still cannot lower the spare tire to the ground,
seeSecondary Latch System on page 5-84.
5-79

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
To remove the at tire and install the spare:
1. Do a safety check before proceeding. SeeChanging
a Flat Tire on page 5-76for more information.
2. Loosen the wheel nuts, but do not remove them
yet, using the wheel wrench. Turn the handle
about 180 degrees, then ip the handle back to the
starting position. This avoids taking the wrench
off the lug nut for each turn.3. Find the jacking location using the V–shaped
notches located in the plastic molding.
4. Attach the wheel wrench to the jack.
{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.
5-80

{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.
{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.5. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the jack
lift head until the jack just ts under the vehicle.
6. Raise the jack by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise until the slots in the jack head t into the
metal ange located behind the triangle on the
plastic molding as shown.
Notice:Using a jack to raise the vehicle without
positioning it correctly could damage your vehicle.
When raising your vehicle on a jack, be sure to
position it correctly under the frame and avoid
contact with the plastic molding.
7. Put the compact spare tire near you.
5-81

8. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground for the compact spare tire to t under the
vehicle.9. Remove all the wheel
nuts and the at tire.
10. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces, and
spare wheel.
5-82

{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
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 needed, to get
all the rust or dirt off. SeeChanging a Flat Tire
on page 5-76.
{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 crash.11. Install the spare tire.
12. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end
of the nuts toward the wheel.
13. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel is held
against the hub.
14. Lower the vehicle by attaching the wheel wrench to
the jack and turning the wrench counterclockwise.
Lower the jack completely.
5-83

15. Tighten the wheel nuts
rmly in a crisscross
sequence, as shown.
{CAUTION:
Incorrect or improperly tightened wheel nuts
can cause the wheel to come loose and even
come off. This could lead to a crash. If you have
to replace them, be sure to get new original
equipment wheel nuts. Stop somewhere as
soon as you can and have the nuts tightened
with a torque wrench to the proper torque
specication. SeeCapacities and Specifications
on page 5-111for wheel nut torque
specication.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 specication.
16. Do not try to put a wheel cover on the compact
spare tire. It will not t. Store the wheel cover
securely in the rear of the vehicle until you have
the at tire repaired or replaced.
Secondary Latch System
Your vehicle has an underbody mounted tire hoist
assembly that has a secondary latch system. It is
designed to stop the compact spare tire from suddenly
falling off your vehicle if the cable holding the spare
tire is damaged. For the secondary latch to work, the tire
must be stowed with the valve stem pointing down.
SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools on page 5-87
for instructions on storing the spare tire correctly.
{CAUTION:
Before beginning this procedure read all the
instructions. Failure to read and follow the
instructions could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get hurt. Read and
follow the instructions listed next.
5-84