CADILLAC CTS 2004 1.G Owners Manual

Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
If you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling
one way or the other, the alignment may need to
be reset. If you notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, your wheels may need to
be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the
wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired).
See your dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted
the same way as the one it replaces.If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM
original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to
have the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
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 5-81for
more information.
5-77

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:
Don’t use tire chains. 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.
5-78

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to “blowout” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. See
Tires on page 5-58. If air goes out of a tire, it’s 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’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, and your vehicle has a spare tire,
seeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-81. This information
shows you how to use your vehicle’s tire changing
equipment and how to change a at tire safely.
{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.
5-79

Run-Flat Tires (CTS-V)
If your vehicle has run-at tires, there is no spare tire
and no tire changing equipment. Run-at tires can
operate effectively with no air pressure for a limited
distance and speed. These tires perform so well without
any air pressure that a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)
is used to alert you when there is a low tire condition.
{CAUTION:
When the low tire warning light is displayed on
the instrument panel cluster, your vehicle’s
handling capabilities will be reduced during
severe maneuvers. If you drive too fast, you
could lose control of your vehicle. You or
others could be injured. Don’t drive over
55 mph (90 km/h) when the low tire warning
light is displayed. Drive cautiously and check
your tire pressures as soon as you can.SeeRun-Flat Tires (CTS-V) on page 5-66andTire
Pressure Monitor System (CTS-V) on page 5-70,
for additional information.
{CAUTION:
Special tools and procedures are required to
service a run-at tire. If these special tools and
procedures aren’t used you or others could be
injured and your vehicle could be damaged.
Always be sure the proper tools and
procedures, as described in the service
manual, are used.
To order a service manual seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-11.
5-80

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 transmission shift lever in
PARK (P), or shift a manual transmission 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)
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, at the opposite end of the vehicle.
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
5-81

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you’ll need is in the trunk.
To gain access to the spare tire and jacking equipment,
do the following:
1. Turn the center nut on
the compact spare tire
cover counterclockwise
to remove it. Then
remove the cover.
2. Turn the nut holding the jack counterclockwise and
remove it. Then remove the jack and wheel wrench.
5-82

3. Remove the compact spare tire. SeeCompact
Spare Tire on page 5-91for more information
about the compact spare tire.4. The tools you’ll be using include the jack (A) and
the wheel wrench (B).
5-83

Removing Wheel Covers and
Wheel Nut Caps
If your vehicle has wheel covers, use the at end of the
wheel wrench to remove the covers. Turn the wheel
wrench clockwise to gently pry off the wheel cover.
Be careful not to scratch the aluminum wheel edge and
don’t try to remove the wheel cover with your hands.If your vehicle has wheel nut caps, turn the wheel
wrench counterclockwise to remove the caps.
5-84

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1. Place the wheel wrench (A) securely over the wheel
nut (B). Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to
loosen all the wheel nuts. Don’t remove them yet.2. Find the jacking location using the diagram above
and corresponding hoisting notches located in the
plastic molding. The notches in the plastic molding
are marked with a triangle shape to help you
nd them.
The front location (A) is about 14 inches (35.6 cm)
from the rear edge of the front wheel well, and
the rear location (B) is about 7 inches (17.8 cm)
from the front edge of the rear wheel well.
5-85

{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. Attach the wheel wrench to the jack.
4. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the
jack lift head until the jack ts under the vehicle.5. Raise the jack by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise until the slots in the jack head t into the
metal ange located behind the triangle on the
plastic molding as shown.
6. Put the compact spare tire near you.
7. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground for the compact spare tire to t under
the vehicle.
8. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the at tire.
5-86