flat tire PONTIAC G5 2008 Owners Manual

Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-62
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-64
Buying New Tires.........................................5-65
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-66
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-67
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-68
Wheel Replacement......................................5-68
Tire Chains..................................................5-70
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-71
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-72
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-73
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire................................................5-78
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-83
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-85
Appearance Care............................................5-86
Interior Cleaning...........................................5-86
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-87
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces........................................5-88
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-89
Weatherstrips...............................................5-89
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-89
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-90Finish Care..................................................5-90
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................5-91
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim..................................................5-92
Tires...........................................................5-93
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-93
Finish Damage.............................................5-93
Underbody Maintenance................................5-93
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-93
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-94
Vehicle Identication......................................5-95
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................5-95
Service Parts Identication Label.....................5-95
Electrical System............................................5-96
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-96
Headlamp Wiring..........................................5-96
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................5-96
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......5-96
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-97
Floor Console Fuse Block..............................5-97
Engine Compartment Fuse Block....................5-99
Capacities and Specications........................5-102
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG):Tire
manufacturers are required to grade tires based on
three performance factors: treadwear, traction and
temperature resistance. For more information see
Uniform Tire Quality Grading on page 5-67.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit
:Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.(A) Temporary Use Only
:The compact spare
tire or temporary use tire has a tread life of
approximately 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and should
not be driven at speeds over 65 mph (105 km/h).
The compact spare tire is for emergency use when
a regular road tire has lost air and gone at.
If your vehicle has a compact spare tire,
seeCompact Spare Tire on page 5-85andIf a
Tire Goes Flat on page 5-71.
(B) Tire Ply Material
:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(C) Tire Identication Number (TIN)
:The letters
and numbers following the DOT (Department
of Transportation) code is the Tire Identication
Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and date the tire
was manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both
sides of the tire, although only one side may have
the date of manufacture.
(D) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit
:Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
(E) Tire Ination
:The temporary use tire or
compact spare tire should be inated to 60 psi
(420 kPa). For more information on tire pressure
and ination seeInflation - Tire Pressure on
page 5-55. Compact Spare Tire Example
5-50

When rotating the vehicle’s tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern shown here.
Do not include the compact spare tire in the tire
rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the
front and rear ination pressures as shown
on the Tire and Loading Information label.
SeeInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-55and
Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-25.Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor Operation on page 5-58.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications on page 5-102.
{CAUTION:
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
you change a wheel, remove any rust or
dirt from 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 needed, to get all the rust or dirt
off. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-72.
5-63

If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts,
wheel nuts, or Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
sensors, replace them only with new GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts, wheel nuts, and TPMS
sensors for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could have
a collision in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts for replacement.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.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-72for more
information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has been
used or how far it has been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. If you have to
replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
5-69

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your vehicle’s tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if you should ever have a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire creates 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 would
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.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without
the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jack provided with your vehicle is
designed only for changing a at tire. If it is
used for anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. Use the jack provided with your
vehicle only for changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
5-71

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on the hazard
warning ashers. SeeHazard Warning Flashers
on page 3-6for more information.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over or fall on you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured or even killed. Find a level place to
change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle
from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift lever
in PARK (P), or shift a manual
transmission to FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R).
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the
vehicle.
To be certain the vehicle will not move, put
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, at the opposite
end of the vehicle.
5-72

Press the button and then pull on the end of the wheel
wrench to extend the handle.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. It is recommended that you do a safety check
before preceding. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on
page 5-72
2. If your vehicle has plastic wheel covers, use the
wheel wrench to loosen the plastic wheel nut caps.
Once you have loosened the plastic wheel nut caps
with the wheel wrench, you can nish loosening
them with your ngers. The plastic nut caps do not
come off.
5-78

3. Using the at end of the wheel wrench, pry along
the edge of the wheel cover until it comes off.
Store the wheel cover in the trunk until you have
the at tire repaired or replaced.
4. Use the wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts.
Do not remove them yet.
5. It is recommended that you do a safety check
before preceding. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on
page 5-72for more information.
Notice:Make sure that the jack lift head is in the
correct position or you may damage your vehicle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
6. Position the jack lift head at the jack location
nearest the at tire. The front location is about
8 inches (20 cm) behind the front wheel opening.
The rear location is about 4 inches (10 cm) in front
of the rear wheel opening.
5-79

{CAUTION:
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 you change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt from 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 needed, to get all the rust or dirt off. See
Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-72.
11. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces, and
spare wheel.12. Place the compact spare tire on the wheel-mounting
surface.{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
Because the nuts might come loose. The
vehicle’s wheel could fall off, causing a crash.
13. Reinstall the wheel nuts with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by
hand until the wheel is held against the hub.
14. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
5-81

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.A. Cover
B. Retainer
C. Jack and Wheel
Wrench
D. Stow Bolt
Extension Rod
E. Spare Tire
F. Bolt
Base Model
5-83