PONTIAC VIBE 2007 Owners Manual

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.
Tire Chains
Notice:Use tire chains only where legal and
only when you must. Use only SAE Class
“S” type chains that are the proper size for
your tires. Install them on the front tires
and 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.
341

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 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 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.
342

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 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 transaxle shift lever
in PARK (P), or shift a manual
transaxle to FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in
the vehicle.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
To be even more certain the vehicle will
not move, you should 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.
When you have a at tire, use the following
example as a guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks.
The following information will tell you how to use
the jack and change a tire.
343

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The jack, wheel wrench, jack handle and spare
tire are stowed in the rear of the vehicle,
underneath the oor of the cargo area. To remove
the spare tire and tools do the following:
1. Turn the two lock
knobs on the oor of
the cargo area to
UNLOCK.
2. Lift up the cargo area oor panel, remove the
hook attached to the bottom side of the panel
and hook it over the weatherstripping.
Notice:If you do not put the hook in the proper
location, you could damage your vehicle.
Always put the hook in the proper location in
order to avoid damaging the vehicle.
3. Remove the jack from the tray on the right
side of the compartment and the jack handle
and wheel wrench from the top side of the
compartment.
344

4. Remove the center retaining nut and lift up
the plastic tray to expose the compact
spare tire.
5. Remove the center bolt from the compact
spare tire and pull out the compact spare
tire. SeeCompact Spare Tire on page 354The tools you will be using include the jack (A),
jack handle (B) and wheel wrench (C).
345

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Attach the jack handle to the jack.
2. Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the lift
head a little.
3. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel
nuts. Do not remove them yet.4. Position the jack and raise the jack lift head to
t over the car ange between the two
notches.
346

{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.5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so there is enough room for
the compact spare tire to t underneath the
wheel well.
347

6. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the
at tire.
7. Install the spare tire.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts
to which it is fastened, can make the
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 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 needed, to
get all the rust or dirt off.
348

8. Remove any rust or
dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting
surfaces and spare
wheel.9. Place the compact spare tire on the
wheel-mounting surface.
{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.
349

10. 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.
11. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
{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. See
Capacities and Specifications on page 369
for wheel nut torque specication.
350