CHEVROLET CRUZE 2012 1.G Owners Manual
Manufacturer: CHEVROLET, Model Year: 2012, Model line: CRUZE, Model: CHEVROLET CRUZE 2012 1.GPages: 400, PDF Size: 6.88 MB
Page 331 of 400

Black plate (77,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-77
{WARNING
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
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, a cloth or a
paper towel can be used;
however, use a scraper or wire
brush later to remove all rust
or dirt.
12. Remove any rust or dirt fromthe wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces, and spare wheel.
13. Place the compact spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.
{WARNING
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.
14. Reinstall the wheel nuts. Tighten each nut by hand until
the wheel is held against
the hub.
15. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise.
Page 332 of 400

Black plate (78,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
10-78 Vehicle Care
{WARNING
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause
the wheels to become loose or
come off. The wheel nuts should
be tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specification
after replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when
using accessory locking wheel
nuts. SeeCapacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2 for
original equipment wheel nut
torque specifications.
Notice: Improperly tightened
wheel nuts can lead to brake
pulsation and rotor damage. To
avoid expensive brake repairs,
evenly tighten the wheel nuts in
the proper sequence and to the
proper torque specification. See
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2 for the wheel nut
torque specification.
16. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as
shown.
17. Lower the jack all the way and remove the jack from under the
vehicle.
18. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly with the wheel wrench.Front Jack Cover Shown, Rear
Jack Cover Similar
19. If this vehicle is the RS model, snap the jack cover back into
place.
20. Remove the wheel blocks and return them to their proper
storage location.
When reinstalling the wheel cover or
center cap on the full-size tire,
tighten all five plastic caps hand
snug with the aid of the wheel
wrench and tighten them with the
wheel wrench an additional
one‐quarter of a turn.
Page 333 of 400

Black plate (79,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-79
Notice:Wheel covers will not fit
on the 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
{WARNING
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.
Storing the Flat Tire and Tools
1. Replace the wheel wrench and wheel blocks in the tool bag.
2. Remove the foam container from the rear storage compartment.
Coin/Pierce Jack Shown, Hex
Head Jack Similar
3. Place the flat tire in the storage compartment with the valve
stem down.
4. Place the jack and jack handle extension, if the vehicle has one,
in the foam container.
5. Place the foam container inside the flat tire. Align the hole with
the stow rod. 6. Place the tool bag tether over
the stow rod and the tool bag
rear of the flat tire.
7. Turn the retainer nut clockwise until tight.
8. Replace the load floor.
The load floor may not lay flat.
The compact spare is for temporary
use only. Replace the compact
spare tire with a full-size tire as
soon as you can.
Storing the Compact Spare Tire
and Tools
Reverse the instructions for
removing the spare tire and tools to
store the compact spare tire.
Page 334 of 400

Black plate (80,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
10-80 Vehicle Care
Compact Spare Tire
{WARNING
Driving with more than one
compact spare tire at a time could
result in loss of braking and
handling. This could lead to a
crash and you or others could be
injured. Use only one compact
spare tire at a time.
If this vehicle has a compact spare
tire, it was fully inflated when the
vehicle was new; however, it can
lose air after a time. Check the
inflation pressure regularly.
It should be 420 kPa (60 psi).
After installing the compact spare
on the vehicle, stop as soon as
possible and make sure the spare
tire is correctly inflated. The
compact spare is made to perform
well at speeds up to 105 km/h
(65 mph) for distances up to
5 000 km (3,000 mi), so you can
finish 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 the
vehicle through an automatic car
wash with guide rails. The
compact spare can get caught on
the rails which can damage the
tire, wheel, and other parts of the
vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on
other vehicles.
Do not mix the compact spare tire or
wheel with other wheels or tires.
They will not fit. Keep the spare tire
and its wheel together.
Notice: Tire chains will not fit the
compact spare. Using them can
damage the vehicle and can
damage the chains too. Do not
use tire chains on the compact
spare.
Jump Starting
For more information about the
vehicle battery, see Battery on
page 10‑25.
If the battery has run down, try to
use another vehicle and some
jumper cables to start your vehicle.
Be sure to use the following steps to
do it safely.
{WARNING
Batteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because:
.They contain acid that can
burn you.
.They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
.They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you.
Page 335 of 400

Black plate (81,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-81
Notice:Ignoring these steps
could result in costly damage to
the vehicle that would not be
covered by the warranty.
Trying to start the vehicle by
pushing or pulling it will not
work, and it could damage the
vehicle.
The jump start positive post (B) is
located in the engine compartment
on the driver side of the vehicle. The jump start negative grounding
point (D) is the engine block or an
engine mounting bolt. Connect to a
spot as far away from the
discharged battery as possible.
These locations are used instead of
a direct connection to the battery.
The positive jump start connection
is under a trim cover. Open the
cover door to expose the terminal.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must
have a 12-volt battery with a
negative ground system.
Notice: Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump
starting. If the other vehicle does
not have a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles
can be damaged.
2. Position the two vehicles so that they are not touching.
3. Set the parking brake firmly and put the shift lever in P (Park)
with an automatic transmission,
or Neutral with a manual transmission. See
Shifting Into
Park (Automatic Transmission)
on page 9‑24 with an automatic
transmission, or Parking on
page 9‑27 with a manual
transmission.
Notice: If the radio or other
accessories are left on during the
jump starting procedure, they
could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by the
warranty. Always turn off the
radio and other accessories when
jump starting the vehicle.
4. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF. Turn off all lights and
accessories in both vehicles,
except the hazard warning
flashers if needed.{WARNING
An electric fan can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
Page 336 of 400

Black plate (82,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
10-82 Vehicle Care
{WARNING
Using a match near a battery can
cause battery gas to explode.
People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded.
Use a flashlight if you need
more light.
Be sure the battery has enough
water. You do not need to add
water to the battery installed in
your new vehicle. But if a battery
has filler caps, be sure the right
amount of fluid is there. If it is low,
add water to take care of that
first. If you don't, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that
can burn you. Do not get it on
you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush
the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
{WARNING
Fans or other moving engine
parts can injure you badly. Keep
your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
5. Connect one end of the redpositive (+) cable to the jump
start positive (+) post (B).
6. Connect the other end of the red positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal of the
good battery (A). 7. Connect one end of the
black negative (–) cable to the
negative (–) terminal of the
good battery (C).
8. Connect the other end of the black negative (–) cable to the
negative (–) grounding point (D).
9. Start the engine in the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine at idle speed for at
least four minutes.
10. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If it will not
start after a few tries, it
probably needs service.
Notice: If the jumper cables are
connected or removed in the
wrong order, electrical shorting
may occur and damage the
vehicle. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always connect and remove the
jumper cables in the correct
order, making sure that the
cables do not touch each other or
other metal.
Page 337 of 400

Black plate (83,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-83
Jumper Cable Removal
A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote Negative (–)
Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Remote
Negative (–) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) Terminal To disconnect the jumper cables
from both vehicles:
1. Disconnect the black
negative (−) cable from the
vehicle that had the dead
battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the vehicle with the
good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the other vehicle.
5. Return the covers over the positive (+) and negative (–)
terminals to their original
positions.
Towing
Towing the Vehicle
Notice: To avoid damage, the
disabled vehicle should be towed
with all four wheels off the
ground. Care must be taken with
vehicles that have low ground
clearance and/or special
equipment. Always flatbed on a
car carrier.
Consult your dealer or a
professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be towed.
See Roadside Assistance Program
on page 13‑6.
To tow the vehicle behind another
vehicle for recreational purposes,
such as behind a motor home, see
“Recreational Vehicle Towing” in
this section.
Page 338 of 400

10-84 Vehicle Care
Recreational Vehicle
Towing
Recreational vehicle towing refers to
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle–such as behind a motor
home. The two most common types
of recreational vehicle towing are
known as dinghy towing and dolly
towing. Dinghy towing is towing the
vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground. Dolly towing is towing the
vehicle with two wheels on the
ground and two wheels up on a
device known as a dolly. Here are some important things to
consider before recreational
vehicle towing:.The towing capacity of the
towing vehicle. Be sure to read
the tow vehicle manufacturer's
recommendations.
.How far the vehicle will be
towed. Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how
long they can tow.
.The proper towing equipment.
See your dealer or trailering
professional for additional
advice and equipment
recommendations.
.If the vehicle is ready to be
towed. Just as preparing the
vehicle for a long trip, make sure
the vehicle is prepared to be
towed.
Dinghy Towing
(With Automatic Transmission)
Notice:
If the vehicle is towed
with all four wheels on the
ground, the drivetrain
components could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do not
tow the vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground.
Page 339 of 400

Vehicle Care 10-85
Vehicles with an automatic
transmission should not be
towed with all four wheels on the
ground. If the vehicle must be
towed, a dolly should be used.
See“Dolly Towing” that follows for
more information.
Dinghy Towing
(With Manual Transmission)
To dinghy tow the vehicle from the
front with all four wheels on the
ground:
1. Position the vehicle to tow and then secure it to the towing
vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission to Neutral.
3. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY.
4. To prevent the battery from draining while the vehicle is
being towed, remove fuse 22,
23, 24, and 25 from the
instrument panel fuse block.
See Instrument Panel Fuse
Block on page 10‑40 for more
information. Remember to reinstall the fuses
once the destination has been
reached.
Notice:
If 105 km/h (65 mph) is
exceeded while towing the
vehicle, it could be damaged.
Never exceed 105 km/h (65 mph)
while towing the vehicle.
Page 340 of 400

Black plate (86,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
10-86 Vehicle Care
Dolly Towing
Tow the vehicle with the two rear
wheels on the ground and the front
wheels on a dolly:
To tow the vehicle with two wheels
on the ground and a dolly:
1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Shift the automatic transmissioninto P (Park) or a manual
transmission into 1 (First) gear.
3. Set the parking brake. 4. Clamp the steering wheel in a
straight-ahead position with a
clamping device designed for
towing.
5. Remove the key from the ignition.
6. Secure the vehicle to the dolly.
7. Release the parking brake.
Notice: Towing the vehicle from
the rear could damage it. Also,
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Never have
the vehicle towed from the rear.
Appearance Care
Exterior Care
Washing the Vehicle
To preserve the vehicle's finish,
wash it often and out of direct
sunlight.
Notice: Do not use petroleum
based, acidic, or abrasive
cleaning agents as they can
damage the vehicle's paint, metal,
or plastic parts. If damage
occurs, it would not be covered
by the vehicle's warranty.
Approved cleaning products can
be obtained from your dealer.
Follow all manufacturer
directions regarding correct
product usage, necessary safety
precautions, and appropriate
disposal of any vehicle care
product.