flat tire CADILLAC DTS 2008 1.G Owners Manual

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-74
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-75
Wheel Replacement......................................5-75
Tire Chains..................................................5-77
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-78
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-79
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-80
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire..........................................5-81
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools................5-87
Spare Tire...................................................5-89
Appearance Care............................................5-90
Interior Cleaning...........................................5-90
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-91
Leather.......................................................5-92
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces........................................5-93
Wood Panels...............................................5-93
Speaker Covers............................................5-93
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-93
Weatherstrips...............................................5-94
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-94
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-94Finish Care..................................................5-94
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................5-95
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated
Wheels and Trim.......................................5-96
Tires...........................................................5-97
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-97
Finish Damage.............................................5-97
Underbody Maintenance................................5-97
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-98
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-98
Vehicle Identication......................................5-99
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................5-99
Service Parts Identication Label.....................5-99
Electrical System..........................................5-100
Add-On Electrical Equipment.........................5-100
Headlamp Wiring........................................5-100
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-100
Power Windows and Other Power
Options..................................................5-100
Fuses and Circuit Breakers..........................5-101
Underhood Fuse Block................................5-101
Rear Underseat Fuse Block..........................5-104
Capacities and Specications........................5-109
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

(G) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit:Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
For information on recommended tire pressure
seeInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-60
andLoading the Vehicle on page 4-20.
(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. See
Spare Tire on page 5-89andIf a Tire Goes Flat on
page 5-78.
(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 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.
SeeInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-60
andLoading the Vehicle on page 4-20.
(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 5-60andSpare Tire on page 5-89.
(F) Tire Size
:A combination of letters and
numbers dene a tire’s width, height, aspect
ratio, construction type and service description.
The letter T as the rst character in the tire
size means the tire is for temporary use only.Compact Spare Tire Example
5-54

Vehicles that have the Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS) will need to have the sensors
reset after a tire rotation is performed. See
Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 5-63.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications on page 5-109.
{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 5-79.
When It Is Time for New Tires
Various factors, such as maintenance, temperatures,
driving speeds, vehicle loading, and road conditions
inuence when you need new tires.
One way to tell when it
is time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires
have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of
tread remaining.
5-70

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.
If your vehicle is a professional model, the wheels have
a unique offset and bolt hole diameter. Each of the
wheels on the professional vehicle have eight wheels
nuts. The wheels on the non-professional vehicle
have ve wheel nuts. SeeChanging a Flat Tire
on page 5-79for more information.
5-76

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.
5-78

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 vehicle’s
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 the shift lever in P (Park).
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 your vehicle has a at tire, use the following
example as a guide to assist you in the placement of
wheel blocks.
The following information tells you how to use the jack
and change a tire.
5-79

5. Remove the wheel wrench, jack and spare tire from
the trunk. SeeSpare Tire on page 5-89for more
information.
The tools to be used are the jack (A) and the wheel
wrench (B).Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check before proceeding. SeeChanging
a Flat Tire on page 5-79for more information.
2. For models having aluminum wheels with a center
wheel cover, use the at end of the wheel wrench to
gently pry the wheel covers off. Store the wheel
cover and lug nut caps in the trunk until you have the
at tire repaired or replaced. Be careful not to scratch
the aluminum wheel edge and do not try to remove it
with your hands. Then loosen the wheel nuts with the
wheel wrench. Do not remove them yet.
5-81

{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 5-79.
11. Place the spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on bolts or nuts.
Because the nuts might come loose. The
vehicle’s wheel could fall off, causing a crash.
12. Put the wheel nuts
back on with the
rounded end of the
nuts toward the wheel.
Tighten each nut by
hand until the wheel is
held against the hub.
5-85

14. Tighten the wheel nuts rmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown.
If your vehicle is equipped with wheel nut covers,
screw the nut covers on with your ngers, then
tighten one-quarter turn with the wheel wrench.
Notice:Wheel covers will not t on your vehicle’s
compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the
compact spare, the cover or the spare could be
damaged.
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.
After you have put the spare tire on your vehicle, store
the at tire in your trunk.
Store the at tire as far forward in the trunk as possible.
Store the jack and wheel wrench in their compartment
in the trunk. For storage, the jack must be raised
until the screw end is ush with the edge of the jack.
The compact spare is for temporary use only. Replace
the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon
as you can. 5-Wheel Nuts
8-Wheel Nuts
5-87

Spare Tire
Compact Spare Tire
Your vehicle may have a compact spare tire. Although
the compact spare tire was fully inated when the vehicle
was new, it can lose air after a time. Check the ination
pressure regularly. It should be 60 psi (420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare on the vehicle, stop as
soon as possible and make sure the spare tire is correctly
inated. The compact spare is made to perform well at
speeds up to 65 mph (105 km/h) for distances up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can nish your trip
and have the full-size tire repaired or replaced at your
convenience. Of course, it is best to replace the spare
with a full-size tire as soon as possible. The spare tire
will last longer and be in good shape in case it is needed
again.
Notice:When the compact spare is installed,
do not take your vehicle through an automatic car
wash with guide rails. The compact spare can
get caught on the rails. That can damage the tire
and wheel, and maybe other parts of your vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on other vehicles.
And do not mix the compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They will not t. Keep the
spare tire and its wheel together.Notice:Tire chains will not t your compact
spare. Using them can damage your vehicle and can
damage the chains too. Do not use tire chains on
your compact spare.Spare Tire
Your vehicle may have a spare tire, which, when new,
was fully inated. A spare tire may lose air over time, so
check its ination pressure regularly. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 5-60andLoading the Vehicle on
page 4-20for information regarding proper tire ination
and loading your vehicle. For instructions on how to
remove, install or store a spare tire, seeRemoving the
Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire on page 5-81.
After installing the spare tire on your vehicle, you should
stop as soon as possible and make sure the spare is
correctly inated. Have the damaged or at road tire
repaired or replaced as soon as you can and installed
back onto your vehicle. This way, a spare tire will be
available in case you need it again.
Your vehicle may have a different size spare tire
than the road tire originally installed on your vehicle.
This spare tire was developed for use on your vehicle,
so it is all right to drive on it.
If your vehicle has a spare tire that does not match your
vehicle’s original road tires and wheels in size and
type, do not include the spare in the tire rotation.
5-89