2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU Owners Manual

Black plate (73,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-73
Removal and Installation of the
Sealant Canister
To remove the sealant canister:
1. Remove the plastic cover.
2. Unscrew the connector (B) fromthe canister (A). 3. Pull up on the canister (A) to
remove it.
4. Replace with a new canister which is available from your
dealer.
5. Push the new canister into place.
6. Screw the connector (B) to the canister (A).
7. Slide the plastic cover back on.
Storing the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit
The tire sealant and compressor kit
is located in the trunk.
1. Open the trunk. See Trunk on
page 2‑9.
2. Lift the cover.
3. Turn the retainer clockwise and remove the tire sealant and
compressor kit.
To store the tire sealant and
compressor kit, reverse the steps.

Black plate (74,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
10-74 Vehicle Care
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools
The equipment you will need is in
the trunk.
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on
page 2‑9 for more information.
2. Remove the spare tire cover.
3. Turn the wing nut counterclockwise and remove it.
Then remove the compact spare
tire. See Compact Spare Tire on
page 10‑82 for more information. 4. Remove the wing nut holding the
jack in place.
5. Remove the jack and wheel wrench from the trunk.
Tire Changing Tools
A. Wheel Wrench
B. Jack
The tools you will be using include
the wheel wrench (A) and jack (B).
1. Turn the wing nutcounterclockwise to loosen
wheel wrench.
2. Unhook the wheel wrench from the jack.

Black plate (75,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-75
3. Extend the handle on the wheelwrench by pressing the button
and pulling on the end of the
wrench. You must do this before
using the wheel wrench.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check beforeproceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat on page 10‑65.
2. If the vehicle has a wheel cover or hubcap that has plastic wheel
nut caps, loosen the plastic nut
caps. You might need to use the
wheel wrench to loosen them.
Do not pry off wheel covers or
center caps that have plastic
wheel nut caps.
3. Remove the wheel cover or center cap from the wheel to
locate the wheel nuts.
If the vehicle has a wheel cover
or hubcap without plastic wheel
nut caps, gently pry on the edge
of the plastic wheel trim to
remove it from the wheel to
locate the wheel nuts.
4. Use the wrench to loosen all thewheel nuts. Do not remove
them yet.

Black plate (76,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
10-76 Vehicle Care
5. Position the lift head at the jacklocation nearest the flat tire.
Make sure all of the jack lift
head is touching the jacking
flange under the body. Do not
place the jack under a body
panel.
6. Put the compact spare tire near the flat tire.
{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 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.7. Raise the vehicle by turning thewrench clockwise. Raise the
vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough room
for the compact spare tire to fit.

Black plate (77,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-77
8. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
9. Remove the 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.
10. Remove any rust or dirt fromthe wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces and spare wheel.
11. 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.

Black plate (78,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
10-78 Vehicle Care
12. Put the wheel nuts back onwith the rounded end toward
the wheel. Tighten each nut by
hand or with the wrench until
the wheel is held against
the hub.
13. Lower the vehicle by turningthe wrench 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 specification
after replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when
using accessory locking wheel
nuts. See Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2 for
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.
See Capacities and Specifications
on page 12‑2 for the wheel nut
torque specification.
14. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as
shown, with the wheel wrench.
Notice: Wheel covers will not fit
on the vehicle's compact spare.
If you try to put a wheel cover on
the compact spare, the cover or
the spare could be damaged.
Do not try to put a wheel cover on
the compact spare tire. It will not fit.
Store the wheel cover and wheel
nut caps in the trunk until you have
the flat tire repaired or replaced.

Black plate (79,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-79
Storing a Flat 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.
To store the flat tire and jack in the
compact spare tire compartment:
1. Open the trunk. See Trunk on
page 2‑9.
2. Remove the bolt extension (in the yellow sleeve) from the
jack and remove the center cap
from the wheel.
3. Collapse the wrench using thesame button used to extend it.
4. Attach the wrench to the jack by placing the tab on the wrench
into the hole on the side of the
jack. Then place the wrench
handle over the tab on the side
of the jack.5. Raise the jack to the heightshown and lock the wrench onto
the jack.

Black plate (80,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2012
10-80 Vehicle Care
6. Place the jack over the bolt (A)on the floor, making sure it
contacts the bolt. Thread the
jack retainer nut until it contacts
the jack. 7. With the valve stem up, place
the tire on the compartment floor
with the rear of the tire under the
trim panel. The tire may not lay
completely flat.
8. Line up the bolt with the wheel center.
9. With the yellow cap in place to prevent the wheel from being
scratched, screw the bolt
extension onto the bolt through
the wheel center hole.
10. Remove the yellow cap from the bolt extension.
11. Secure the tire and wheel with the larger wing nut.A. Cover
B. Wing Nut
C. Extension
D. Flat Tire (valve stem up)
E. Nut
F. Jack
G. Bolt