flat tire CHEVROLET EXPRESS CARGO VAN 2007 1.G Owners Manual

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 344
Tires............................................................ 346
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 347
Tire Terminology and Definitions............... 351
Inflation - Tire Pressure............................. 354
Dual Tire Operation................................... 355
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 356
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 358
Buying New Tires...................................... 358
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 360
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 361
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 362
Wheel Replacement.................................. 362
Tire Chains............................................... 364
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 365
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 366
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 367
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire....................................... 370
Secondary Latch System........................... 377
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 380
Spare Tire................................................. 382Appearance Care........................................ 382
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 382
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 384
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 385
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 385
Weatherstrips............................................ 385
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 386
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 386
Finish Care............................................... 386
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 387
Aluminum Wheels...................................... 388
Tires......................................................... 389
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 389
Finish Damage.......................................... 389
Underbody Maintenance............................ 390
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 390
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 391
Vehicle Identication.................................. 392
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)........... 392
Service Parts Identification Label............... 392
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
288

Radial tires may look properly inflated even when
they’re underinflated. Check the tire’s inflation
pressure when the tires are cold. Cold means your
vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem.
Press the tire gage firmly onto the valve to
get a pressure measurement. If the cold tire
inflation pressure matches the recommended
pressure on the tire and loading information label,
no further adjustment is necessary. If the
pressure is low, add air until you reach the
recommended amount.
If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on
the metal stem in the center of the tire valve.
Recheck the tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out
dirt and moisture.
Dual Tire Operation
When the vehicle is new, or whenever a wheel,
wheel bolt or wheel nut is replaced, check
the wheel nut torque after 100, 1,000 and
6,000 miles (160, 1 600 and 10 000 km) of driving.For proper wheel nut tightening information, see
“Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare
Tire” later in this section, underChanging a Flat
Tire on page 366. Also see “Wheel Nut Torque”
underCapacities and Specications on page 398.
The outer tire on a dual wheel setup generally
wears faster than the inner tire. Your tires will wear
more evenly and last longer if you rotate the
tires periodically. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation
on page 356. Also seeScheduled Maintenance
(Gasoline Engine) on page 405.
{CAUTION:
If you operate your vehicle with a tire
that is badly underinated, the tire can
overheat. An overheated tire can lose
air suddenly or catch re. You or
others could be injured. Be sure all tires
(including the spare) are properly inated.
SeeTires on page 346andInation - Tire
Pressure on page 354for more information on
proper tire inflation.
355

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your
tires as soon as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for damaged tires or wheels.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on page 358
andWheel Replacement on page 362for
more information.
Make sure the spare tire is stored securely. Push,
pull, and then try to rotate or turn the tire. If it
moves, use the ratchet/wheel wrench to tighten the
cable. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 366.
If your vehicle has dual rear wheels, also see
Dual Tire Operation on page 355.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The
first rotation is the most important. SeeScheduled
Maintenance (Gasoline Engine) on page 405.If your vehicle has single rear wheels, always use
the correct rotation patterns shown here when
rotating your vehicle’s tires. Do not include
the spare tire in the tire rotation, if the spare
tire/wheel assembly does not match your vehicle’s
road tires and wheels in size and type.
Single Rear Wheels
356

If your vehicle has dual rear wheels, always use
one of the correct rotation patterns shown
here when rotating your tires.
When you install dual wheels, be sure that vent
holes in the inner and outer wheels on each
side are lined up.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front
and rear inflation pressures as shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 261. Make certain that
all wheel nuts are properly tightened. See
“Wheel Nut Torque” underCapacities and
Specications on page 398.
{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 366.
Dual Rear Wheels
357

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.Whenever a wheel, wheel bolt or wheel nut is
replaced on a dual wheel setup, check the wheel
nut torque after 100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles
(160, 1 600 and 10 000 km) of driving. For proper
torque, see “Wheel Nut Torque” underCapacities
and Specications on page 398.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 366for more
information.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.
363

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 flat tire will create a drag
that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take
your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. 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 flat, the next part shows how to use
the jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
365

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel
damage by driving slowly to a level place.
Turn on your vehicle’s hazard warning flashers.
SeeHazard Warning Flashers on page 146
for 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 PARK (P).
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in
the vehicle.
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.
366

4. When the tire has been lowered, pull the tire
toward you so you can reach the tire retainer
and pull it up through the wheel opening.
If you have a vehicle which was completed from
a cab and chassis, refer to the information from
the body supplier/installer.
The spare tire is a full-size tire, like the other tires
on your vehicle.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
If your vehicle has plastic wheel nut caps,
loosen them by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. The wheel nut caps are
designed to remain with the center cap.
Remove the center cap.
If the wheel has a smooth center piece, place
the chisel end of the wheel wrench in the slot
on the wheel and gently pry it out.
1. Do a safety check before proceeding.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 366
for more information.
2. With the DOWN side facing you, use the
ratchet and wheel wrench to loosen all the
wheel nuts. Do not remove them yet.
370

Secondary Latch System
Your vehicle has an underbody-mounted tire
hoist assembly equipped with a secondary latch
system. It is designed to stop the spare tire
from suddenly falling off the vehicle if the cable
holding the spare tire is damaged. For the
secondary latch to work, the tire must be
stowed with the valve stem pointing down.
SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools on
page 380for instructions on storing the spare
tire correctly.
{CAUTION:
Before beginning this procedure read all
the instructions. Failure to read and follow
the instructions could damage the hoist
assembly and you and others could get
hurt. Read and follow the instructions
listed next.To release the spare tire from the secondary latch:
{CAUTION:
Someone standing too close during the
procedure could be injured by the jack.
If the spare tire does not slide off the jack
completely, make sure no one is behind
you or on either side of you as you pull
the jack out from the under spare.
1. Check under the vehicle to see if the cable
end is visible.
If the cable is not
visible, start this
procedure at Step 6.
377

9. 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:If you drive away before the spare tire
or secondary latch system cable has been
reinstalled, you could damage your vehicle.
Always reinstall this cable before driving
your vehicle.
10. If the cable is hanging under the vehicle,
turn the wheel wrench in the hoist shaft
hole in the bumper clockwise to raise the
cable back up.
Have the hoist assembly inspected as soon as
you can. You will not be able to store a spare or
flat tire using the hoist assembly until it has
been repaired or replaced.
To continue changing the flat tire, return to Step 4
ofRemoving the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire on page 370.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.
1. Put the tire on the ground at the rear of the
vehicle with the valve stem pointed down.
380