CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2004 Owners Manual

3. Turn the ratchet counterclockwise to lower the
spare tire to the ground. 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 5-77.4. When the tire has been lowered, pull the tire toward
you so you can reach the tire retainer and pull it up
through the wheel opening.
If you have a vehicle which was completed from a cab
and chassis, refer to the information from the body
supplier/installer.
The spare tire is a full-size tire, like the other tires on
your vehicle.
5-71

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
If your vehicle has plastic wheel nut caps, loosen them
by turning the wheel wrench counterclockwise. The
wheel nut caps are designed to remain with the center
cap. Remove the center cap.
If the wheel has a smooth center piece, place the chisel
end of the wheel wrench in the slot on the wheel and
gently pry it out.
1. With the DOWN side facing you, use the ratchet
and wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts.
Do not remove them yet.
2. Assemble the jack and tools for a front or rear at
as follows:
Front Flat:Assemble the jack (A) together with the
jack handle (B) and ratchet (C) as shown. Be
sure that the ratchet has the UP mark facing you.Rear Flat:Assemble the jack (A) together with the
jack handle (B), jack handle extension (C) and
ratchet (D) as shown. Be sure that the ratchet has
the UP mark facing you. To assemble the jack
handle and jack handle extension, use the art and
text following.
Front Position
Rear Position
5-72

Connect the jack handle (B) and jack handle
extension (C) together and press the retention
clip (arrow) so it engages.
Front Position
5-73

3. Position the jack under
the vehicle as shown.
{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.
Rear Position
5-74

4. Raise the vehicle by turning the ratchet clockwise.
Make sure the UP mark faces you. Raise the
vehicle far enough off the ground so there is enough
room for the spare tire to t.5. Remove all the wheel
nuts, and take off the
at tire.
5-75

{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
the places where the wheel attaches to the
vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a cloth
or a paper towel to do this; but be sure to use
a scraper or wire brush later, if you need to, to
get all the rust or dirt off.
6. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If
you do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel
could fall off, causing a serious accident.
7. Put the wheel nuts
back on with the
rounded end of the
nuts toward the wheel.
Tighten each wheel
nut by hand until
the wheel is held
against the hub.
8. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
5-76

{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to come loose
and even come off. This could lead to an
accident. Be sure to use the correct wheel
nuts. If you have to replace them, be sure to
get new GM original equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to the
proper torque specication. SeeCapacities
and Specifications on page 5-97for wheel nut
torque specication.
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 specication. SeeCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-97for the wheel nut
torque specication.9. Tighten the nuts rmly in a crisscross sequence as
shown. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise.
10. Put the wheel cover or the center cap and plastic
wheel nut caps back on. Remove any wheel
blocks.
Secondary Latch System
Your vehicle has an underbody mounted tire hoist
assembly equipped with a secondary latch system. It is
designed to stop the spare tire from suddenly falling
off the vehicle if the cable holding the spare tire is
damaged. For the secondary latch to work, the tire must
be stowed with the valve stem pointing down.
5-77

SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools on page 5-80
for instructions on storing the spare tire correctly.
{CAUTION:
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 below.
To release the spare tire from the secondary latch, do
the following:
{CAUTION:
Someone standing too close during the
procedure could be injured by the jack. If the
spare tire does not slide off the jack
completely, make sure no one is behind you or
on either side of you as you pull the jack out
from the spare.1. Check under the vehicle to see if the cable end is
visible.
If the cable is not visible, start this procedure at
Step 6.
2. Turn the wrench counterclockwise until
approximately 6 inches (15 cm) of cable is exposed.
5-78

3. Connect the jack handle (C) and jack handle
extension (B) together and press the retention
clip (arrow) so it engages.
4. Attach the jack handle/jack handle extension to the
jack. With the UP mark facing you, slide the ratchet
onto the end of the jack handle extension. The
set-up should look like the picture above.5. Place the jack under the vehicle, ahead of the rear
bumper. Position the center lift point of the jack
under the center of the spare tire and turn the
handle clockwise to raise the jack until it lifts the
secondary latch spring.
6. Keep raising the jack until the spare tire stops
moving upward and is held rmly in place. This lets
you know that the secondary latch has released. The
spare tire is now balancing on the jack.
7. Lower the jack by turning the ratchet
counterclockwise. Keep lowering the jack until the
spare tire slides off the jack or is hanging by
the cable.
5-79

8. Disconnect the jack handle from the jack and
carefully remove the jack. Use one hand to push
against the spare while rmly pulling the jack out
from under the spare tire with the other hand.
If the spare tire is hanging from the cable, slide the
ratchet onto the wheel wrench and insert the
wheel wrench into the hoist shaft hole above the
bumper. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to
lower the spare the rest of the way. Be sure the
DOWN mark on the ratchet is facing you.
9. Tilt the retainer at the end of the cable and pull it
through the wheel opening. Pull the tire out from
under the vehicle.
Notice:If you drive away before the spare tire or
secondary latch system cable has been reinstalled,
you could damage your vehicle. Always reinstall
this cable before driving your vehicle.
10. If the cable is hanging under the vehicle, turn the
wheel wrench in the hoist shaft hole in the bumper
clockwise to raise the cable back up.
Have the hoist assembly inspected as soon as you can.
You will not be able to store a spare or at tire using
the hoist assembly until it has been repaired or replaced.
To continue changing the at tire, return to Step 4 of
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire on
page 5-72.Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{CAUTION:
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.
1. Put the tire on the ground at the rear of the vehicle
with the valve stem pointed down.
5-80