2008 GMC SIERRA Owner's Manual

Secondary Latch System
Your vehicle has an underbody-mounted tire hoist
assembly equipped with a secondary latch system.
It is designed to stop the spare tire from suddenly falling
off your vehicle. For the secondary latch to work, the
spare must be installed with the valve stem pointing
down. SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
on page 5-108.
{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.To release the spare tire from the secondary latch:
1. Check under the
vehicle to see if the
cable end is visible.
If the cable is not
visible proceed
to Step 6.
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
overtighten the cable.
3. Loosen the cable by turning the 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 5 ofRemoving the Spare Tire and Tools
on page 5-93.
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5. If the spare does not lower, turn the wrench
counterclockwise until approximately 6 inches
(15 cm) of cable is exposed.
6. Stand the wheel blocks on their shortest ends, with
the backs facing each other.
7. Place the bottom edge
of the jack (A) on the
wheel blocks (B),
separating them so that
the jack is balanced
securely.
8. Attach the jack handle, extension, and wheel
wrench to the jack and place it (with the wheel
blocks) under the vehicle toward the front of the
rear bumper.
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9. Position the center lift point of the jack under the
center of the spare tire.
10. Turn the wrench clockwise to raise the jack until it
lifts the end tting.
11. 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.12. 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.
{CAUTION:
Someone standing too close during the
procedure could be injured by the jack. If the
spare tire does not slide off the jack
completely, make sure no one is behind you or
on either side of you as you pull the jack out
from under the spare.
13. 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
hoist end of extension, and wheel wrench into the
hoist shaft hole in the bumper and turn the wheel
wrench counterclockwise to lower the spare the rest
of the way.
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14. Tilt the tire retainer at the end of the cable and pull
it through the wheel opening. Pull the tire out from
under the vehicle.
15. Turn the wheel wrench in the hoist shaft hole in the
bumper 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 or at tire using
the hoist assembly until it has been replaced.
To continue changing the at tire, seeRemoving the
Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire on page 5-98.
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.
Notice:Storing an aluminum wheel with a at tire
under your vehicle for an extended period of time or
with the valve stem pointing up can damage the
wheel. Always stow the wheel with the valve stem
pointing down and have the wheel/tire repaired
as soon as possible.
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Store the tire under the rear of the vehicle in the spare
tire carrier.
A. Flat or Spare Tire
(Valve Stem Pointed
Down)
B. Hoist Assembly
C. Hoist CableD. Tire/Wheel Retainer
E. Hoist Shaft
F. Hoist End of
Extension ToolG. Hoist Shaft Access
Hole
H. Wheel WrenchI. Jack Handle
Extensions
J. Spare Tire Lock
(If Equipped)
1. Put the tire on the ground at the rear of the vehicle
with the valve stem pointed down, and to the rear.
2. Separate the tire/wheel retainer (D) from the
guide pin. Pull the pin through the center of
the wheel. Tilt the retainer down and through the
center wheel opening.
Make sure the retainer is fully seated across the
underside of the wheel.
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3. Attach the wheel wrench (H) and extensions (I)
together, as shown.
4. Insert the hoist end (F)
through the hole (G) in
the rear bumper and
onto the hoist shaft.
Do not use the chiseled
end of the wheel wrench.5. Raise the tire part way upward. Make sure the
retainer is seated in the wheel opening.
6. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the
vehicle by turning the wheel wrench clockwise
until you hear two clicks or feel it skip twice. You
cannot overtighten the cable.
7. 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 to tighten the cable.
8. Reinstall the spare tire lock, if the vehicle has one.
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To store the jack and jack tools:
A. Wing Nut
B. Wheel Blocks
C. Retaining Bracket
and Wing Nut
D. Wheel Wrench and
ExtensionsE. Tool Bag
F. Jack Mounting
Bracket
G. Jack
H. Retaining Bolt1. Put the tools (D) in the tool bag (E) and place them
in the retaining bracket (C).
2. Tighten down the wing nut (C).
3. Assemble the wheel blocks (B) and jack (G)
together with the wing nut (A) and retaining bolt (H).
4. Position the jack (G) in the mounting bracket (F).
Position the holes in the base of the jack (G) onto
the pin in the mounting bracket (F).
5. Return them to their original location in the vehicle.
For more information, refer toRemoving the Spare
Tire and Tools on page 5-93for more information.
5-111

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. SeeInflation - Tire Pressure
on page 5-74andLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-36
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 5-98andStoring a Flat
or Spare Tire and Tools on page 5-108.
Notice:If your vehicle has four-wheel drive and the
different size spare tire is installed on your vehicle,
do not drive in four-wheel drive until you can have
your at tire repaired and/or replaced. You could
damage your vehicle, and the repair costs would not
be covered by your warranty. Never use four-wheel
drive when the different size spare tire is installed on
your vehicle.
Your vehicle may have a different size spare tire than
the road tires originally installed on your vehicle.
This spare tire was developed for use on your vehicle,
so it is all right to drive on it. If your vehicle has
four-wheel drive and the different size spare tire is
installed, keep the vehicle in two-wheel drive.After installing the spare tire on your vehicle, you should
stop as soon as possible and make sure the spare tire
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, the spare tire will be
available in case you need it again.
Do not mix tires and wheels of different sizes, because
they will not t. Keep your spare tire and its wheel
together. If your vehicle has a spare tire that does not
match your vehicle’s original road tires and wheels
in size and type, do not include the spare in the
tire rotation.
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning
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.
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