2009 CADILLAC SRX Owners Manual

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.
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 the hazard
warning ashers. SeeHazard Warning Flashers
on page 3-6.
{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).
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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).
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A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains 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). The
wrench is in a bag.
5-75

Removing the Spare Tire
The compact spare tire is located under the vehicle,
ahead of the rear bumper. SeeCompact Spare Tire on
page 5-88for more information about the compact spare.
To remove the spare tire from the vehicle, do the
following:
A. Wheel Wrench
B. Cable
C. Retainer
D. Compact Spare Tire
1. Open the liftgate. SeePower Liftgate on page 2-12
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).
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 5-85.
To continue changing the at tire, seeRemoving the
Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire on page 5-78.
5-76

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, see
Secondary Latch
System on page 5-82.2. 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 5-75.
If you still cannot lower the spare tire to the ground, see
Secondary Latch System on page 5-82.
5-77

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 5-74for 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.
5-78

{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. 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.
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.
5-79

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.
5-80