Page 306 of 394

Black plate (68,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
10-68 Vehicle Care
{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.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑4.
{WARNING
Changing a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over or fall
causing injury or death. Find a
level place to change the tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from
moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission in P (Park)
or a manual transmission
in 1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. For four-wheel-drive vehicles, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive
gear –not in N (Neutral).
4. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
5. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
6. Place wheel blocks on bothsides of the tire at the
opposite corner of the tire
being changed.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (B),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (A).
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to use the jack and change
a tire.
Page 309 of 394
Black plate (71,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-71
2. Insert the chiseled end of thejack handle at a slight angle
through the hole in the
rear bumper and into the
funnel-shaped guide. 3. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to lower
the spare tire to the ground.
Continue to turn the wheel
wrench until the spare tire can
be pulled out from under the
vehicle.
If the spare tire does not lower to
the ground, the secondary latch
is engaged causing the tire not
to lower. See Secondary Latch
System on page 10‑80.4. Tilt the retainer when the tire has been lowered, and slide it up
the cable so it can be pulled up
through the wheel opening.
5. Put the spare tire near the flat tire.
Page 310 of 394
Black plate (72,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
10-72 Vehicle Care
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
Use the following pictures and
instructions to remove the flat tire
and raise the vehicle.
A. Jack Handle Extensions
B. Jack
C. Jack Handle
D. Wheel Wrench
E. Wheel Blocks
1. Do a safety check beforeproceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat on page 10‑67 for more
information.
2. Remove the center cap by placing the chisel end of the
wheel wrench into one of the
slots on the wheel and gently
prying the cap out.3. Turn the wheel wrenchcounterclockwise to loosen all
the wheel nuts. Do not remove
the wheel nuts yet.
{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.
Page 311 of 394
Black plate (73,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-73
{WARNING
Raising the 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.
Front Position
4. Position the jack under the vehicle, as shown, for the front
or rear locations.Front Position
If the flat tire is on the front of
the vehicle, position the jack to
the rear of the front tire in the
pocket off of the frame.
Page 312 of 394
Black plate (74,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
10-74 Vehicle Care
Rear Position
If the flat tire is on the rear,
position the jack under the
rear axle and get as close as
possible to the shock absorber.
5. Make sure the jack head is positioned so that the rear axle
is resting securely between
the grooves that are on the
jack head. 6. Turn the wheel wrench
clockwise to raise the vehicle.
Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so there is enough
room for the spare tire to fit
under the wheel well.
7. Remove all the wheel nuts andthe flat tire.
{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, a cloth or a paper
towel can be used; however, use
a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
Page 315 of 394

Black plate (77,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-77
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{WARNING
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.
Notice: Storing an aluminum
wheel with a flat tire under your
vehicle for an extended period
of time or with the valve stem
pointing up can damage the
wheel. Always stow the wheel
with the valve stem pointing
down and have the wheel/tire
repaired as soon as possible. Store the tire under the rear of the
vehicle in the spare tire carrier.
1. Put the tire on the ground at the
rear of the vehicle with the valve
stem pointed down.
2. Tilt the retainer downwardand through the center wheel
opening. Make sure the retainer
is fully seated across the
underside of the wheel.
3. Assemble the wheel wrench, thejack handle extensions, and the
jack handle, as shown.
Page 318 of 394

Black plate (80,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
10-80 Vehicle Care
Crew Cab
A. Jack
B. Wheel Blocks
C. Wing Nut
1. Attach the wheel blocks (B) tothe jack (A) with the wheel block
retainer and the wing nut (C).
2. Reinstall the jack and wheel block assembly in the mounting
bracket. Make sure to position
the holes in the base of the jack
onto the pins in the mounting
bracket. 3. Turn the handle to raise the jack
until it is secure, but do not
overtighten the jack in the
bracket.
Secondary Latch System
This vehicle has an
underbody‐mounted tire hoist
assembly that has a secondary
latch system. It is designed to stop
the spare tire from suddenly falling
off the vehicle. For the secondary
latch to work, the spare must be
installed with the valve stem
pointing down. See “Storing a Flat
or Spare Tire and Tools” underTire
Changing on page 10‑69.
{WARNING
Before beginning this procedure
read all the instructions. Failure to
read and follow the instructions
could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get
hurt. Read and follow the
instructions listed next. To release the spare tire from the
secondary latch:
1. Check under the vehicle to see if
the cable end fitting is visible.
2. If the cable end fitting is not visible, proceed to Step 6.
If it is visible, first try to tighten
the cable by turning the wheel
wrench clockwise until you
hear two clicks or feel it skip
twice. The cable cannot be
overtightened.
Page 319 of 394

Black plate (81,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-81
3. Loosen the cable by turning thewheel wrench counterclockwise
three or four turns.
4. Repeat this procedure at least two times. If the spare tire
lowers to the ground, continue
with Step 5 under “Storing a Flat
or Spare Tire and Tools” under
Tire Changing on page 10‑69.
5. Turn the wrench counterclockwise until
approximately 15 cm (6 in) of
cable is exposed.
6. Stand the wheel blocks on their shortest ends, with the backs
facing each other.
A. Jack
B. Wheel Blocks
7. Place the bottom edge of the jack (A) on the wheel blocks (B).
Separate the wheel blocks so
that the jack is balanced
securely.8. Attach the jack handle,extension, and wheel wrench to
the jack and place it, with the
wheel blocks, under the vehicle
towards the front of the rear
bumper. Position the center lift
point of the jack under the
wheel.
9. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the jack
until it lifts the tire.
10. Continue raising the jack until the tire stops moving upward
and is held firmly in place.