CHEVROLET MALIBU 2004 5.G Owners Manual

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire1. If your vehicle has a wheel cover or hubcap that
has plastic wheel nut caps, loosen the plastic nut
caps. You may need to use the wheel wrench
to loosen them. Do not pry off wheel covers
or center caps that have plastic wheel nut caps.
2. Then remove the wheel cover or center cap from
the wheel to nd the wheel nuts.
If your vehicle has a wheel cover or hubcap without
plastic wheel nut caps, gently pry on the edge of
the plastic wheel trim to remove it from the wheel
to nd the wheel nuts.
3. Use the wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don’t remove them yet.
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4. Position the lift head at the jack location nearest the
at tire. Make sure all of the jack lift head is touching
the jacking ange under the body. Do not place the
jack under a body panel. The lower body panel
has an arrow to aid in location the jacking location.
Put the compact spare tire near you.
{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.
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{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.
5. Raise the vehicle by turning the wrench clockwise.
Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there
is enough room for the compact spare tire to t.
6. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
7. Then take off the at tire.
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8. 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.
{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.
9. Install the compact spare tire. Put the wheel nuts
back on with the cone end of the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each nut by hand or with the wrench
until the wheel is held against the hub.
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10. Lower the vehicle by turning the wrench
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.11. Tighten the wheel nuts
rmly in a crisscross
sequence, as shown.
{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to come loose
and even come off. This could lead to an
accident. Be sure to use the correct wheel
nuts. If you have to replace them, be sure to
get new GM original equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to the
proper torque specication. See “Capacities
and Specications” in the Index for wheel nut
torque specication.
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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
specication. See “Capacities and Specications”
in the index for the wheel nut torque specication.
Don’t try to put a wheel cover on your compact spare
tire. It won’t t. Store the wheel cover and wheel
nut caps in the trunk until you have the at tire repaired
or replaced.
Notice:Wheel covers will not t on your compact
spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.Storing the Flat 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.
Store the at tire in the compact spare tire compartment.
Place the tire in the compartment, valve stem down,
then carefully place the jack inside the rim and secure
it with the larger wing nut.
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A. Cover
B. Wing Nut
C. JackD. Flat Tire
(Valve Stem Down)
E. Bolt
For the MAXX, also place the tire in the compartment,
valve stem down and carefully place the jack inside
the rim. Then remove the extension and yellow cap lug
from the jack and screw it onto the bolt. The extension
will come through the center hole in the cover and then
secure it with the larger wing nut.A. Wing Nut
B. Cover
C. Extension
D. JackE. Flat Tire
(Valve Stem Down)
F. Bolt Sedan Model
MAXX Model
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Storing the 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.
The compact spare tire is for temporary use only.
Replace the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as
soon as you can. See “Compact Spare Tire” following.
Store the compact spare tire and tools as shown in
the diagram.A. Cover
B. Wing Nut
C. Spare Tire
D. NutE. Jack (Plus Extension for
MAXX model only)
F. Bolt
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Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inated
when your 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 your vehicle, you
should stop as soon as possible and make sure your
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 your full-size tire repaired or
replaced where you want. Of course, it’s best to replace
your spare with a full-size tire as soon as you can. Your
spare will last longer and be in good shape in case you
need it again.Notice:When the compact spare is installed,
don’t 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.
Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel with other
wheels or tires. They won’t t. Keep your spare tire and
its wheel together.
Notice:Tire chains won’t t your compact spare.
Using them can damage your vehicle and can
damage the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on
your compact spare.
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Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into ames if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your
vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings
and instructions. And always open your doors or windows
when you are cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish RemoverThey can all be hazardous — some more than
others — and they can all damage your vehicle, too.
Do not use any of these unless this manual says
you can. In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and
loose dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather, plastic and painted
surfaces with a clean, damp cloth.
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet
Your dealer has cleaners for the cleaning of fabric and
carpet. They will clean normal spots and stains very well.
You can get GM-approved cleaning products from
your dealer. SeeVehicle Care/Appearance Materials
on page 5-84.
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