spare wheel CHEVROLET BLAZER 2002 2.G Owners Manual

4-16 Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out.
For example, be sure to have all necessary maintenance
and service work done. Check to make sure all
underbody shields (if so equipped) are properly
attached. Be sure you read all the information about
your four
-wheel-drive vehicle in this manual. Is there
enough fuel? Is the spare tire fully inflated? Are the
fluid levels up where they should be? What are the local
laws that apply to off
-roading where you'll be driving?
If you don't know, you should check with law
enforcement people in the area. Will you be on
someone's private land? If so, be sure to get the
necessary permission.
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
There are some important things to remember about
how to load your vehicle.

The heaviest things should be on the load floor and
forward of your rear axle. Put heavier items as far
forward as you can.

Be sure the load is secured properly, so driving on
the off
-road terrain doesn't toss things around.
CAUTION:

Cargo on the load floor piled higher than
the seatbacks can be thrown forward
during a sudden stop. You or your
passengers could be injured. Keep cargo
below the top of the seatbacks.

Unsecured cargo on the load floor can be
tossed about when driving over rough
terrain. You or your passengers can be
struck by flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly.

Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle's
center of gravity, making it more likely to
roll over. You can be seriously or fatally
injured if the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy
loads inside the cargo area, not on the roof.
Keep cargo in the cargo area as far forward
and low as possible.
You'll find other important information in this manual.
See ªVehicle Loading,º ªLuggage Carrierº and ªTiresº
in the Index.

5-20 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The jacking equipment you'll need is stored along the
driver's side inner rear quarter panel. In some cases, you
may have to remove the spare tire in order to reach the
jack. Your vehicle is also equipped with work gloves
and a plastic ground mat to assist in the changing of a
flat tire.
The following instructions explain how to remove the
spare tire, depending on where it is mounted on your
vehicle. See ªSpare Tireº or ªCompact Spare Tireº later
in this section for more information about the spare.
1. To remove your jack
cover, pull up on the
latch(es) on the cover.
Remove the wheel
blocks, jack and
wheel wrench.
NOTICE:
Never remove or restow a tire from/to a stowage
position under the vehicle while the vehicle is
supported by a jack. Always tighten the tire
fully against the underside of the vehicle
when restowing.
2. To remove the
underbody
-mounted
spare, insert the chisel
end of the wheel
wrench, on an angle,
into the hoist shaft hole
in the rear bumper. Be
sure the chisel end of the
wheel wrench connects
into the hoist shaft.

5-21
3. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the spare tire. Keep turning the wheel wrench until
the spare tire has been completely lowered. 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:
To help avoid vehicle damage, do not drive the
vehicle before the cable is properly stored.
If you have an inside-mounted spare tire, the
tire must be removed in order to have access to the
jack storage.
To remove an inside
-mounted spare tire, reach into
your tire's cover and unscrew the wing nut at the
center of the wheel. Remove it and the retainer.
Unhook the tire from the mounting bracket and
remove the cover.
To remove a rear
-mounted spare tire, first make sure
that the carrier arm is fully
-latched to the endgate.
Then remove the spare tire cover.
The locking wheel nut
can be removed by
snapping the rubber
weather cover off the
face of the lock case.

5-22
Insert the key and pull
the lock case straight
off. It is not necessary
to turn the key.
Put the spare tire near the flat tire.
The tools you'll be using include the jack (A) and wheel
wrench (B). Your vehicle may also have an optional hub
cap removal tool.

5-24 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don't remove them yet.
2. Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the jack
lift head.
3. Fit the jack into the appropriate hole nearest the
flat tire.
A. Front Frame Hole
B. Rear Frame Hole (2
-Door) or Spring Hanger
Hole (4
-Door)

5-25
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 fit the jack
lift head into the proper location before raising
the vehicle.4. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough room for the spare
tire to fit underneath the wheel well.
5. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.

5-26
6. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
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.

5-27
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. Place the spare on the wheel mounting surface.
8. Put the nuts on by
hand. Make sure
the rounded end is
toward the wheel.
Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel is held
against the hub. If a nut can't be turned by hand,
use the wheel wrench and see your dealer as soon
as possible.

5-30 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.
NOTICE:
An aluminum wheel with a flat tire should always
be stored under the vehicle with the hoist.
However, storing it that way for an extended
period could damage the wheel. To avoid this,
have the wheel repaired as soon as possible.
Follow this
diagram to
store the
underbody
-mounted
spare.
A. Retainer
B. Valve Stem
(Pointed Down)
C. Spare or Flat Tire
D. SpringE. Wheel Wrench
F. Lower
G. Raise
H. Hoist Arm

5-31
1. Put the tire on the ground at the rear of the vehicle,
with the valve stem pointed down and to the rear.
2. Pull the retainer through the wheel.
3. Put the chisel end of the wheel wrench, on an angle,
through the hole in the rear bumper and into the
hoist shaft.
4. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the
vehicle. Continue turning the wheel wrench until the
tire is secure and the cable is tight. The spare tire
hoist cannot be overtightened.
5. Make sure the tire is stored securely. Push, pull, and
then try to rotate or turn the tire. If the tire moves,
use the wheel wrench to tighten the cable.