2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE Owners Manual

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 5-65for more information.
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 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.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
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.
Service and Appearance Care 5-55

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while you are driving, especially if
you maintain the tires properly. See
Tires on page 5-36. 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 will
create 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 rearblowout, 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.
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place and stopping.
1. Turn on the hazard warning
ashers. SeeHazard Warning
Flashers on page 3-5.
2. Park the vehicle. Set the parking
brake rmly and put the shift
lever in P (Park).
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Inspect the at tire.{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.
This vehicle may come with a jack
and spare tire or a tire sealant and
compressor kit. To use the jack and
spare tire, seeChanging a Flat Tire
on page 5-65. To use the tire sealant
and compressor kit, seeTire Sealant
and Compressor Kit on page 5-57.
5-56 Service and Appearance Care

Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
{CAUTION
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed
area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust
contains Carbon Monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area that
has no fresh air ventilation. For
more information, seeEngine
Exhaust on page 2-30.
{CAUTION
Over-inating a tire could cause
the tire to rupture and you or
others could be injured. Be sure to
read and follow the tire sealant and
compressor kit instructions and
inate the tire to its recommended
pressure. Do not exceed the
recommended pressure.
{CAUTION
Storing the tire sealant and
compressor kit 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 the tire sealant and
compressor kit in its original
location.If this vehicle has a tire sealant and
compressor kit, there may not be a
spare tire, tire changing equipment,
and on some vehicles there may not
be a place to store a tire.
The tire sealant and compressor
can be used to temporarily seal
punctures up to
14inch (6 mm) in the
tread area of the tire. It can also be
used to inate an under inated tire.
If the tire has been separated from
the wheel, has damaged sidewalls,
or has a large puncture, the tire
is too severely damaged for the tire
sealant and compressor kit to be
effective. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 7-6.
Read and follow all of the tire
sealant and compressor kit
instructions.
Service and Appearance Care 5-57

This vehicle may have one of the
following tire sealant and
compressor kits. The kit includes:
A. Selector Switch (Sealant/Air or
Air Only)
B. On/Off Button
C. Pressure Gage
D. Pressure Deation Button
(If equipped)
E. Tire Sealant Canister
F. Sealant/Air Hose (Clear)
G. Air Only Hose (Black)
H. Power PlugTire Sealant
Read and follow the safe handling
instructions on the label adhered
to the sealant canister.
Check the tire sealant expiration date
on the sealant canister. The sealant
canister should be replaced before
its expiration date. Replacement
sealant canisters are available at
your local dealer/retailer. See
“Removal and Installation of the
Sealant Canister” following.
There is only enough sealant to seal
one tire. After usage, the sealant
canister and sealant/air hose
assembly must be replaced. See
“Removal and Installation of
the Sealant Canister” following.
5-58 Service and Appearance Care

Using the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit to
Temporarily Seal and Inate
a Punctured Tire
Follow the directions closely for
correct sealant usage.
When using the tire sealant
and compressor kit during cold
temperatures, warm the kit in a
heated environment for 5 minutes.
This will help to inate the tire faster.
Always do a safety check rst. SeeIf
a Tire Goes Flat on page 5-56.Do
not remove any objects that have
penetrated the tire.
1. Remove the tire sealant and
compressor kit from its storage
location. SeeTire Sealant and
Compressor Kit Storage on
page 5-64.
Service and Appearance Care 5-59

2. Unwrap the sealant/air hose (F)
and the power plug (H).
3. Place the kit on the ground.
Make sure the tire valve
stem is positioned close to the
ground so the hose will reach it.
4. Remove the valve stem cap from
the at tire by turning it
counterclockwise.
5. Attach the sealant/air hose (F)
onto the tire valve stem. Turn
it clockwise until it is tight.
6. Plug the power plug (H) into the
accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. Unplug all items from
other accessory power outlets.
SeeAccessory Power Outlet(s)
on page 3-17.
If the vehicle has an accessory
power outlet, do not use the
cigarette lighter.
If the vehicle only has a cigarette
lighter, use the cigarette lighter.
Do not pinch the power plug
cord in the door or window.7. Start the vehicle. The vehicle
must be running while using
the air compressor.
8. Turn the selector switch (A)
counterclockwise to the
Sealant + Air position.
9. Press the on/off (B) button to
turn the tire sealant and
compressor kit on.
The compressor will inject
sealant and air into the tire.
The pressure gage (C) will initially
show a high pressure while the
compressor pushes the sealant
into the tire. Once the sealant is
completely dispersed into the tire,
the pressure will quickly drop and
start to rise again as the tire
inates with air only.10. Inate the tire to the
recommended ination
pressure using the pressure
gage (C). The recommended
ination pressure can be
found on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure on
page 5-42.
The pressure gage (C) may
read higher than the actual tire
pressure while the compressor
is on. Turn the compressor
off to get an accurate pressure
reading. The compressor
may be turned on/off until the
correct pressure is reached.
5-60 Service and Appearance Care

Notice:If the recommended
pressure cannot be reached after
approximately 25 minutes, the
vehicle should not be driven
farther. The tire is too severely
damaged and the tire sealant and
compressor kit cannot inate the
tire. Remove the power plug from
the accessory power outlet and
unscrew the inating hose from
the tire valve. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 7-6.
11. Press the on/off button (B) to
turn the tire sealant and
compressor kit off.
The tire is not sealed and
will continue to leak air until
the vehicle is driven and the
sealant is distributed in the tire,
therefore, Steps 12 through 18
must be done immediately after
Step 11.
Be careful while handling the tire
sealant and compressor kit as it
could be warm after usage.12. Unplug the power plug (H) from
the accessory power outlet in
the vehicle.
13. Turn the sealant/air hose (F)
counterclockwise to remove it
from the tire valve stem.
14. Replace the tire valve stem cap.
15. Replace the sealant/air hose (F),
and the power plug (H) back in
their original location.
16. If the at tire was able to inate
to the recommended ination
pressure, remove the maximum
speed label from the sealant
canister (E) and place it in a
highly visible location. The
label is a reminder not to exceed
55 mph (90 km/h) until the
damaged tire is repaired or
replaced.17. Return the equipment to its
original storage location in
the vehicle.
18. Immediately drive the vehicle
5 miles (8 km) to distribute the
sealant in the tire.
19. Stop at a safe location and
check the tire pressure.
Refer to Steps 1 through 11
under “Using the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit without
Sealant to Inate a Tire
(Not Punctured).”
If the tire pressure has fallen
more than 10 psi (68 kPa) below
the recommended ination
pressure, stop driving the
vehicle. The tire is too severely
damaged and the tire sealant
cannot seal the tire. See
Roadside Assistance Program
on page 7-6.
If the tire pressure has not
dropped more than 10 psi
(68 kPa) from the recommended
ination pressure, inate the
tire to the recommended
ination pressure.
Service and Appearance Care 5-61

20. Wipe off any sealant from the
wheel, tire, and vehicle.
21. Dispose of the used sealant
canister (E) and sealant/air
hose (F) assembly at a
local dealer/retailer or in
accordance with local state
codes and practices.
22. Replace it with a new canister
available from your
dealer/retailer.
23. After temporarily sealing a tire
using the tire sealant and
compressor kit, take the vehicle
to an authorized dealer/retailer
within a 100 miles (161 km)
of driving to have the tire
repaired or replaced.
Using the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit without
Sealant to Inate a Tire
(Not Punctured)
To use the air compressor to inate
a tire with air only and not sealant:Always do a safety check rst. See
If a Tire Goes Flat on page 5-56.
1. Remove the tire sealant and
compressor kit from its storage
location. SeeTire Sealant and
Compressor Kit Storage on
page 5-64.
2. Unwrap the air only hose (G)
and the power plug (H).
3. Place the kit on the ground.
Make sure the tire valve
stem is positioned close to the
ground so the hose will reach it.
5-62 Service and Appearance Care