2009 CADILLAC DTS Owners Manual

Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on the 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.
Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
Do not use tire chains. There is not enough
clearance. Tire chains used on a vehicle without
the proper amount of clearance can cause
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
damage to the brakes, suspension or other vehicle
parts. The area damaged by the tire chains could
cause you to lose control of the vehicle and you or
others may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for use on the
vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s instructions.
To help avoid damage to the vehicle, drive slowly,
readjust or remove the device if it is contacting the
vehicle, and do not spin the vehicle’s wheels. If
you do nd traction devices that will t, install
them on the front tires.
5-73

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. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, it 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. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, only use it 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.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on the hazard
warning ashers. SeeHazard Warning Flashers on
page 3-6.
5-74

{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 the shift lever in P (Park).
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.When the vehicle has a at tire (B), use the following
example as a guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks (A).
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains how to use the jack
and change a tire.
5-75

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment needed is in the trunk. To access
the equipment:
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 2-13for more
information.
2. Press the area at the
front of the handle
located on the cover
so that the back edge
raises.
3. Grab the handle and
remove the cover.4. Turn the wing nut to remove the retainer that holds
the wrench and jack.
5. Remove the wheel wrench, jack and spare tire from
the trunk. SeeSpare Tire on page 5-85for more
information.
5-76

The tools to be used are the jack (A) and the wheel
wrench (B).
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check before proceeding. SeeChanging
a Flat Tire on page 5-74for more information.
2. For models having aluminum wheels with a center
wheel cover, use the at end of the wheel wrench to
gently pry the wheel covers off. Store the wheel
cover and lug nut caps in the trunk until you have the
at tire repaired or replaced. Be careful not to scratch
the aluminum wheel edge and do not try to remove it
with your hands. Then loosen the wheel nuts with the
wheel wrench. Do not remove them yet.
5-77

3. For models with exposed lug nuts, loosen them using
the wheel wrench. Do not remove them yet.4. Find the jacking location from the diagram above
and use the corresponding cutouts located in the
plastic molding.
The front location is (A) 8.5 inches (21 cm) from the
rear edge of the front wheel well, and the rear
location (B) is 3.5 inches (8.5 cm) from the front
edge of the rear wheel well.
The notches may also be labeled JACK with an
arrow pointing to the jacking location on the vehicle.
5-78

{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.
Notice:If you position the jack under the rocker
molding and attempt to raise the vehicle, you could
break the molding and/or cause other damage to your
vehicle. Always position the jack so that when the
jack head is raised, it will t rmly in the notch
located inboard from the rocker molding.5. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to lower the
jack lift head until the jack ts under the vehicle.
6. Raise the jack until the metal ange ts rmly into
the channel of the jack head.
7. Put the spare tire near you.
5-79

8. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground for the spare tire to t under the vehicle.9. Remove all wheel nuts and the at tire.
10. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces, and
spare wheel.
5-80