2008 CHEVROLET COBALT flat tire

Tire Pressure Monitor Operation.....................5-59
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-63
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-65
Buying New Tires.........................................5-66
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-68
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-68
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-70
Wheel Replacement......................................5-70
Tire Chains..................................................5-72
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-73
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-74
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-75
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire (Sport Model).............................5-80
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire (All Models Except Sport)...........5-89
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-93
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-94
Appearance Care............................................5-95
Interior Cleaning...........................................5-95
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-96
Leather.......................................................5-97
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces........................................5-98
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-98
Weatherstrips...............................................5-98Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-99
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-99
Finish Care..................................................5-99
Windshield and Wiper Blades.......................5-100
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim................................................5-101
Tires.........................................................5-101
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-102
Finish Damage...........................................5-102
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-102
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-102
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-103
Vehicle Identication.....................................5-104
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)................5-104
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-104
Electrical System..........................................5-105
Add-On Electrical Equipment.........................5-105
Headlamp Wiring........................................5-105
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-105
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-105
Fuses and Circuit Breakers..........................5-106
Floor Console Fuse Block............................5-106
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-108
Capacities and Specications........................5-112
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

(D) Tire Identication Number (TIN):The letters
and numbers following DOT (Department of
Transportation) code is the Tire Identication
Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and date the tire
was manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both
sides of the tire, although only one side may
have the date of manufacture.
(E) Tire Ply Material
:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under
the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
:Tire manufacturers are required to grade tires
based on three performance factors: treadwear,
traction and temperature resistance. For more
information seeUniform Tire Quality Grading
on page 5-68.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit
:Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.(A) Temporary Use Only:The compact spare
tire or temporary use tire has a tread life of
approximately 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and should
not be driven at speeds over 65 mph (105 km/h).
The compact spare tire is for emergency use
when a regular road tire has lost air and gone at.
If your vehicle has a compact spare tire, see
Compact Spare Tire on page 5-94andIf a Tire
Goes Flat on page 5-73. Compact Spare Tire Example
5-51

Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate the tires
as soon as possible and check wheel alignment.
Also check for damaged tires or wheels. See
When It Is Time for New Tires on page 5-65and
Wheel Replacement on page 5-70.
When rotating the vehicle’s tires, always use
the correct rotation pattern shown here.
Do not include the compact spare tire in the
tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the
front and rear ination pressures as shown
on the Tire and Loading Information label.
SeeInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-56
andLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-27.Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System. See
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation on page 5-59.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications on page 5-112.
{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 5-74.
5-64

{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could
have a collision in which you or others could
be injured. Always use the correct wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for replacement.
Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-74for more
information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has been
used or how far it has been driven. It could
fail suddenly and cause a crash. If you have
to replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
5-71

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 creates 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.
5-73

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 hazard warning ashers.{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 an automatic transmission shift lever
in PARK (P), or shift a manual transmission
to FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R).
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.
5-74

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire (Sport Model)
Sport Model Only
The Sport Model has larger performance brakes than
the Base Model. The compact spare tire will not
clear the front brakes.
Do not use the compact spare tire in the event of a
front at tire.
You must use the rear tire to replace the front at tire.To change the rear road tire:
Rear Tire Changing Procedure
1. Do a safety check before proceeding. SeeChanging
a Flat Tire on page 5-74for more information.
2. If your vehicle has plastic wheel covers, use the
wheel wrench to loosen the plastic wheel nut caps.
Once the plastic wheel nut caps have been
loosened with the wheel wrench, you can nish
loosening them with your ngers. The plastic
nut caps do not come off.
5-80

{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 5-74.
10. 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 crash.11. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces,
and spare wheel.
Reinstall the wheel nuts with the rounded end
of the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by
hand until the wheel is held against the hub.
12. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
5-83