2009 PONTIAC G8 Owners Manual

Tools
A. Jack Handle
B. Nut Cap Tool
C. Wheel Wrench
D. Jack
1. Turn the second retainer nut
counterclockwise and remove
the panel.
2. Remove the tools from the tool
container.
3. Place the tools next to the tire
being changed.
Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. If your vehicle has wheel bolt
caps, remove the caps. Store
the caps with the wheel cover.
2. Use the fully extended
wheel wrench to loosen all the
wheel nuts one-half turn
counterclockwise. Do not
remove them yet.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-77

Notice:Make sure that the jack
lift head is in the correct
position or you may damage your
vehicle. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty.
3. Position the jack lift head at the
jack location nearest the at
tire. The location is indicated by
a mark on the bottom edge
of the vehicle. The jack must not
be used in any other positions.
Raise the jack until it engages
with the jacking point.4. 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.5. Fit the jack handle onto the jack
by sliding the hook through the
end of the jack.
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The jack handle must be
unfolded at a right angle
before it is used.
6. Raise the vehicle by turning the
jack handle clockwise 180°.7. Pull the jack handle
towards you.
8. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 until the
vehicle is far enough off the
ground so there is enough room
for the compact spare tire to
t under the vehicle.9. Remove all of the wheel nuts
and place them in a dry, clean
place to avoid getting dirt in
the threads.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-79

{CAUTION
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
you change a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, you can use a cloth or
a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the rust
or dirt off. SeeChanging a Flat Tire
on page 9-75.10. Remove any rust or dirt from
the wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces and spare wheel.
11. Place the compact spare tire on
the wheel-mounting surface.
{CAUTION
Never use oil or grease on bolts
or nuts because the nuts might
come loose. The vehicle’s wheel
could fall off, causing a crash.
12. Reinstall the wheel nuts with the
rounded end of the nuts toward
the wheel. Tighten each nut as
much as possible using the
wheel wrench until the wheel is
held rmly against the hub.
Use your free hand to prevent
the wheel from turning while
you are tightening.
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13. Lower the vehicle by turning the
jack handle counterclockwise.
Lower the jack completely.
14. Tighten the wheel nuts rmly in
a crisscross sequence, as
shown.{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 10-2for 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 10-2for the wheel nut
torque specication.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-81

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.To store a at or spare tire and
tools, do the following:
A. Jack Handle
B. Nut Cap Tool
C. Wheel Wrench
D. Jack1. Replace the jack and tools as
shown.
2. Turn the retainer nut clockwise to
tighten.
3. Remove the wheel center cap by
pushing it from the back.
4. Place the at tire face up into the
spare tire hub.
5. Turn the retainer nut clockwise to
secure it into place.
6. Put the load oor back in place.
The compact spare tire is for
temporary use only. Replace the
compact spare with a full-size
tire as soon as possible.
9-82 Vehicle Service and Care

Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was
fully inated when the vehicle was
new, it can lose air after a time.
Check the ination pressure
regularly. It should be 60 psi
(420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare on
the vehicle, stop as soon as possible
and make sure the spare tire is
correctly inated. The compact spare
is made to perform well at speeds up
to 65 mph (105 km/h) for distances
up to 3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you
can nish your trip and have the
full-size tire repaired or replaced at
your convenience. Of course, it is
best to replace the spare with a
full-size tire as soon as possible.
The spare tire will last longer and
be in good shape in case it is
needed again.Notice:When the compact spare
is installed, do not take the
vehicle through an automatic car
wash with guide rails. The
compact spare can get caught on
the rails which can damage the
tire, wheel and other parts of
the vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on
other vehicles.
And do not mix the compact spare
tire or wheel with other wheels
or tires. They will not t. Keep the
spare tire and its wheel together.
Notice:Tire chains will not t the
compact spare. Using them can
damage the vehicle and can
damage the chains too. Do not use
tire chains on the compact spare.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-83

Jump Starting
If the battery has run down, try to
use another vehicle and some
jumper cables to start your vehicle.
Be sure to use the following
steps to do it safely.
{CAUTION
Batteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because:
They contain acid that can
burn you.
They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you.Notice:Ignoring these steps
could result in costly damage to
your vehicle that would not
be covered by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle
by pushing or pulling it will not
work, and it could damage
your vehicle.
9-84 Vehicle Service and Care