CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2003 1.G Owners Manual

Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
See
Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-70for more
information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can't know how it's been used
or how far it's been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. If you have to
replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle is a 1500 Series, don't use tire
chains. They can damage your vehicle because
there's not enough clearance. Tire chains used
on a vehicle without the proper amount of
clearance can cause damage to the brakes,
suspension or other vehicle parts. The area
damaged by the tire chains could cause you to
lose control of your vehicle and you or others
may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for use on your
vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer's
instructions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove the
device if it's contacting your vehicle, and don't
spin your wheels.
If you do ®nd traction devices that will ®t,
install them on the rear tires.
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Notice:If your vehicle is a 2500 Series, use tire
chains only where legal and only when you must.
Use chains that are the proper size for your
tires. Install them on the tires of the rear axle. Don't
use chains on the tires of the front axle. Tighten
them as tightly as possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer's instructions. If you can hear the
chains contacting your vehicle, stop and retighten
them. If the contact continues, slow down until
it stops. Driving too fast or spinning the wheels with
chains on will damage your vehicle.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblowoutº while you're driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it's much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a ªblowout,º here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the ¯at tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel ®rmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you'd use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes ¯at, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a ¯at tire safely.
5-69

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes ¯at, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your
hazard warning ¯ashers.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The
vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured. Find a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake ®rmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear ±
not in NEUTRAL.
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Put the wheel 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 of the vehicle, at the
opposite end.The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The jack and the wheel blocks are located under a cover
near the passenger side rear seat.
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To remove the jack and wheel blocks, do the following:
1. Remove the jack cover by turning the two wing nuts
one-quarter turn counterclockwise and pulling the
jack cover off.
2. Release the bottle jack from its holder by turning
the knob on the jack counterclockwise to lower the
jack head from the bracket.
3. Remove the wheel blocks attached to the jack by
turning the top wing nut counterclockwise.
The tools for changing a ¯at tire are located in the
passenger's side Top-Box Storage unit. Rear Seat (Passenger Side) Jack Cover
5-71

To remove the tools, do the following:
1. Open the top door on the passenger's side Top-Box
Storage unit. Use the ignition/door key to unlock it if
it is locked. See
Top-Box Storage on page 2-77for more information on the Top-Box Storage unit.
2. Remove the black pouch from the storage box.
You now have all of the tools you will need to
lower the spare tire and change a ¯at.
You'll use the jack handle extensions and the wheel
wrench to remove the underbody-mounted spare tire.A. Spare Tire (Valve Stem Pointed Down)
B. Hoist Assembly
C. Hoist Cable
D. Tire Retainer
E. Hoist Shaft
F. Hoist End of Extension Tool
G. Hoist Shaft Access Hole
H. Wheel Wrench
I. Jack Handle Extensions
J. Hoist Lock (If Equipped) Top Box Storage Unit (Passenger Side)
5-72

Follow these instructions to lower the spare tire:
1. Your vehicle may be equipped with a hoist lock (J).
Open the spare tire lock cover on the bumper and
use the ignition key to remove the lock.
2. Assemble the wheel wrench (H) and the two jack
handle extensions (I) as shown.3. Insert the hoist end
(open end) (F) of the
extension through
the hole (G) in the rear
bumper.
Be sure the hoist end of the extension connects to
the hoist shaft (E). The ribbed square end of the
extension is used to lower the spare tire.
4. Turn the wheel wrench (H) 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 ªSecondary Latch Systemº later in
this section.
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5. The wheel wrench has
a hook that allows you
to pull the hoist
cable towards you to
assist in reaching
the spare tire.
6. When the tire has been
lowered, tilt the
retainer (D) at the end
of the cable so it
can be pulled up
through the wheel
opening.
7. Put the spare tire near the ¯at tire.Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
Use the following pictures and instructions to remove
the ¯at tire and raise the vehicle.
The tools you'll be using include the bottle jack (A), the
wheel blocks (B), the jack handle (C), the jack handle
extensions (D), and the wheel wrench (E).
5-74

1. If your vehicle has
wheel nut caps, loosen
them by turning the
wheel wrench
counterclockwise. If the
vehicle has a center
cap with wheel
nut caps, the wheel nut
caps are designed to
stay with the center cap
after they are
loosened. Remove the
entire center cap.
If the wheel has a smooth center cap, place the
chisel end of the wheel wrench in the slot on
the wheel and gently pry out.2. Use the wheel wrench
to loosen all the wheel
nuts. Turn the wheel
wrench
counterclockwise to
loosen the wheel nuts.
Don't remove the
wheel nuts yet.
These locations (A) front position, (B) rear position
are the general area of jack placement. See
text and art following for the exact jack placement.
Jack Positions (overall view)
5-75

{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.
3. Position the jack under the vehicle.Front Tire Flat:If the ¯at tire is on a front tire of
the vehicle, you'll need to use the jack handle (C)
and only one jack handle extension (D). Attach
the wheel wrench to the jack handle extension.
Attach the jack handle to the jack. Position the jack
on the frame behind the ¯at tire where the frame
sections overlap. 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 clear the ground.Front Position
5-76

Rear Tire Flat:If the ¯at tire is on a rear tire of the
vehicle, you'll need to use the jack handle (C)
and both jack handle extensions (D). Attach the
wheel wrench to the jack handle extensions. Attach
the jack handle to the jack.On all 1500 Series
vehicles, use the jacking pad provided on the rear
axle. On 2500 series vehicles, use the axle between
the spring and shock bracket. 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 clear the ground.
4. Remove all the wheel
nuts and take off the
¯at tire. Rear Position 1500
Series
Rear Position 2500
Series
5-77