The vehicle tool kit, spare wheel or compact spare wheel may be in one of several places under the floor covering in the luggage compartment.
x If necessary, detach the luggage net.
x Lift the floor covering and secure it in the stops on either side of the luggage compartment
⇒ fig. 167 (small arrows).
NOTICE
Always guide the luggage compartment floor covering back down carefully. Dropping the floor covering could damage the vehicle trim and the floor covering itself.
Completely retract the jack after use. Otherwise it will not fit in its compartment and cannot be stowed safely.
Contents
Fig. 168 Contents of the vehicle tool kit.
8. If the luggage compartment is loaded: Remove the luggage.
9. Raise and secure the luggage compartment floor.
10. Unscrew the fastening screw with washer counterclockwise and remove.
11. Take the spare or compact spare wheel and the vehicle tool kit out of the luggage compartment.
12. Take off the wheel covers ⇒ Wheel trim.
WARNING
Disregarding the safety-related checklist may lead to accidents and serious personal injuries.
x Always review and follow the checklist. Follow accepted safety practices and use common sense.
Wheel bolts
Fig. 173 Changing a wheel: Loosening the wheel bolts.
Removing the wheel
x Review the checklist ⇒ Preparations for changing a wheel.
x Loosen the wheel bolts ⇒ Wheel bolts.
x Lift the vehicle ⇒ Lifting the vehicle with the vehicle jack.
x Completely unscrew and remove the previously loosened wheel bolts using the hexagonal socket
in the screwdriver handle ⇒ fig. 176. Place the wheel bolts on a clean surface.
x Remove the wheel.
Mounting a spare or compact spare wheel
If the tire is a unidirectional tire, be sure to install it in the proper rolling direction ⇒ Tires and wheels.
x Place the spare wheel or compact spare wheel on the axle.
x Screw in the wheel bolts clockwise and tighten them slightly using the hexagonal socket in the screwdriver handle.
x Lower the vehicle with the jack.
x Use the lug wrench to firmly tighten all wheel bolts (turn clockwise) ⇒ . Do not tighten them in sequence! Tighten any wheel bolt to begin, then tighten the wheel bolt diagonally opposite the first bolt, and so forth.
x Install the wheel bolt caps, center wheel hubcap, or wheel cover, if any ⇒ Wheel trim.
WARNING
Wheel bolts that are tightened or installed improperly can come loose, causing loss of vehi-cle control, a crash, and serious personal injury.
x Always keep wheel bolts and threads in the wheel hub clean and free of oil and grease. The wheel bolts must turn easily and must be tightened with the right torque.
x Use the hexagonal socket in the screwdriver handle only to turn the wheel bolts when they are loose, never to loosen them or tighten them firmly.
WARNING
Improper use of a compact spare wheel can cause loss of vehicle control, a crash or other accident, and serious personal injury.
x Never use a compact spare wheel if it is damaged or worn down to the wear indicators.
x Never drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h) with a compact spare wheel. Avoid full-throttle acceleration, heavy braking, and fast cornering!
x Never drive more than 125 miles (200 km) with a compact spare wheel that is installed on the front axle (drive axle).
x Replace the compact spare with a normal wheel and tire as soon as possible. Compact spare tires are designed for brief use only.
After changing a wheel
x Securely store the spare wheel, compact spare wheel, or the wheel you took off the vehicle in the luggage compartment.
x Have the wheel bolt tightening torque immediately checked with a torque wrench ⇒ Wheel bolt tightening torque.
x Have the damaged wheel replaced as soon as possible.
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System must be recalibrated after each tire change ⇒ Tire Pres-sure Monitoring System (TPMS).
