2010 CHEVROLET IMPALA Owners Manual

Changing a Flat TireIf a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. SeeHazard Warning Flashers
on page 4-3.
{
WARNING:
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 firmly.
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.
WARNING: (Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)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 flat 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.
6-75

Removing the Spare Tire and ToolsThe equipment you will need is located in the trunk.
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 3-12.
2. Remove the convenience net if the vehicle has one.
3. Remove the spare tire cover.
4. Turn the wing nut counterclockwise and remove it.
5. Remove the compact spare tire.6. Turn the nut holding the jack counterclockwise and
remove it. Then remove the jack and wrench.6-76

The tools you will need to change a tire include the
jack (A), extension and protection guide (B), and wheel
wrench (C).
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare TireThis vehicle may have aluminum wheels with exposed
wheel nuts. Use the wheel wrench to loosen all the
wheel nuts. Do not remove them yet.
Or, this vehicle may have steel wheels with plastic
covers.
To remove the plastic covers and wheel nut caps,
loosen the plastic nut caps with the wheel wrench in a
counterclockwise direction. If needed, finish loosening
them with your fingers. The plastic nut caps will not
come off.
6-77

If needed, use the flat 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 flat tire is repaired or
replaced.
Once you have removed the wheel cover, use the
following procedure to remove the flat tire and install the
spare tire.
1. Do a safety check before proceeding. SeeChanging
a Flat Tire on page 6-75
2. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise once on
each wheel nut to loosen them. Do not remove
them yet.6-78

3. For all wheel types, find the jacking location using
the diagram above and the corresponding jacking
notches located on the bottom side of the plastic
molding. The notches in the plastic molding are
marked with a triangle shape to help you find them.
The front location is about 7.0 inches (17.7 cm) from
the rear edge of the front wheel well. The rear
location is about 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) from the front
edge of the rear wheel well.
4. Put the compact spare tire near you.
{
WARNING:
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.{
WARNING:
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 fit the jack lift
head into the proper location before raising the
vehicle.
6-79

{
WARNING:
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 flat 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 flat tire.
5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground to install the compact spare tire.
6. Remove all wheel nuts and the flat tire.
6-80

{
WARNING:
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 changing a wheel, remove any rust
or dirt from places where the wheel attaches to the
vehicle. In an emergency, 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 6-75.
7. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces, and
spare wheel.
8. Install the compact spare tire.
{
WARNING:
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.
9. Reinstall the wheel nuts
with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each nut
clockwise by hand until
the wheel is held
against the hub.
6-81

10. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
{
WARNING:
Wheel nuts that are improperly or incorrectly
tightened can cause the wheels to become loose
or come off. The wheel nuts should be tightened
with a torque wrench to the proper torque
WARNING: (Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)specification after replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the aftermarket
manufacturer when using accessory locking
wheel nuts. SeeCapacities and Specifications
on page 6-100for original equipment wheel nut
torque specifications.
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
specification. SeeCapacities and Specifications on
page 6-100for the wheel nut torque specification.
11. Tighten the wheel nuts
firmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown.
6-82