2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Owners Manual

7. Turn the nut holding the jack counterclockwise and
remove it. Then remove the jack and wrench.8. The tools you will be using include the jack (A),
extension and protector/guide (B) and the wheel
wrench (C).
5-99

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
Your vehicle may have aluminum wheels. If so, you will
see exposed stainless steel wheel nuts. Use the wheel
wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts. Do not remove
them yet.
Or, your vehicle may have steel wheel covers.To remove the steel wheel covers and wheel nut caps,
loosen the plastic nut caps with the wheel wrench in a
counterclockwise direction. If needed, you can nish
loosening them with your ngers. The plastic nut caps will
not come off.
Use the at end of the wheel wrench and pry along the
edge of the cover until it comes off. The edge of the
wheel cover could be sharp, so do not try to remove it
with your bare hands. Do not drop the cover or lay it
face down, as it could become scratched or damaged.
Store the wheel cover in the trunk until the at tire is
repaired or replaced.
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Once you have removed the wheel cover, use the
following procedure to remove the at tire and install the
spare tire.
1. It is recommended that you do a safety check
before preceding. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on
page 5-96for more information.
2. Set the park brake
rmly.
3. Turn the wheel wrench
once on each wheel
nut to loosen them. Do
not remove them yet.
4. Find the jacking location located on the underside
of the rocker trim using the diagram. For jacking at
the vehicle’s front location, put the jack lift head (C)
about 6 inches (15 cm) from the rear edge of the
front wheel opening (B). Line up the jack with the
arrow (A) as shown.
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For jacking at the vehicle’s rear location, put the
jack lift head (B) about 9 inches (23 cm) from the
front edge of the rear wheel opening (C). Line up the
jack with the arrow (A) as shown.
5. Put the compact spare tire near you.
{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.
{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.
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{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.
6. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground for the compact spare tire to attach to the
vehicle.
7. Remove all wheel nuts and take off the at tire.
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{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel or other parts to which
it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose and eventually the wheel could
come off and cause a crash. Always remove all
rust and dirt from wheels and other parts.8. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
9. Install the compact spare tire.
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{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.
10. 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.
11. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
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{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 5-128for 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. SeeCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-128for the wheel nut
torque specication.12. Tighten the wheel nuts
rmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown.
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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