CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 2004 Owners Manual

Removing the Wheel Covers and the
Wheel Nut Caps
Removing the Center Wheel Cap
Your vehicle may have
center caps if equipped
with aluminum wheels.
To remove the wheel center cap use the at end of the
wheel wrench and pry them off at the pry off notch.
Do not drop the cap or lay it face down, as it could
become scratched or damaged. The wheel nuts are
hidden behind the center cap.
Removing the Wheel Covers
Your vehicle may be
equipped with wheel
covers.
To remove the steel wheel covers and wheel nut caps,
loosen the plastic nut caps with the wheel wrench in
a counterclockwise direction. If needed, you can nish
loosening them with your ngers. The plastic nut
caps will not come off. Use the at end of the wheel
wrench and pry along the edge of the cover until
it comes off. The edge of the wheel cover could be
sharp, so do not try to remove it with your bare hands.
Do not drop the cover or lay it face down, as it could
become scratched or damaged.
5-85

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don’t remove them yet.
{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 t the
jack lift head into the proper location before
raising the vehicle.
5-86

The diagram shows you where you should place
your jack to change a front tire. Use the bolts (A)
as a guide when positioning the jack lift head (C)
near the rear edge of the front wheel opening (B).
For jacking at the vehicle’s front location, put jack lift
head about 7.5 inches (19 cm) from the rear edge
of the front wheel opening in the cutout of the rocker
panel molding.The diagram shows you where to place your jack to
change a rear tire. Use the notch (B) as a guide
when positioning the jack lift head (A) near the front
edge of the rear wheel opening (C).
For jacking at the vehicle’s rear location, put the
jack lift head about 4 inches (10 cm) from the front
edge of the rear wheel opening in the cutout of
the rocker panel molding.
Put the compact spare tire near you. Jack placement for a front tire
Jack placement for a rear tire
5-87

2. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground for the compact spare tire to t underneath
the wheel well of the vehicle. Remove all wheel
nuts and take off the at tire.
{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.
3. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
5-88

{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.
4. Install the compact spare tire.
5. Reinstall the wheel nuts
with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each nut
by hand until the wheel
is held against the hub.6. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
5-89

7. 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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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.
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 the wheel cover on your compact
spare tire. It won’t t. Store the wheel cover and wheel
center cap, if applicable, 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.
5-90

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.
After you’ve put the compact spare tire on your vehicle,
you’ll need to store the at tire in your trunk. Use the
following procedure to secure the at tire in the trunk.
When storing a full-size tire, use the extension and
protector/guide located in the foam holder to help
prevent wheel surface damage.
To store a full-size tire do the following:
1. Place the tire in the trunk, valve stem facing down
with the protector/guide through a wheel bolt hole.
2. Remove the protector/guide and attach the retainer
securely. The cover will not t over a full-size tire,
so be sure to store the cover as far forward as
possible.
5-91

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. SeeCompact Spare Tire on page 5-93
To properly store the compact spare tire do the
following:
1. When you put the compact spare tire back in the
trunk, place the protector/guide back in the foam
holder.
2. Put the cover back over the compact spare tire and
tighten the center nut.A. Retainer
B. Cover
C. Compact Spare Tire
D. Nut
E. Jack
F. Wheel Wrench
G. Extension and
Protective Guide
H. Foam Holder
I. Bolt Screw
5-92

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. You must
calibrate the tire ination monitor system after installing
or removing the compact spare. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor System on page 5-73. The system may not work
correctly when the compact spare is installed on the
vehicle. 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.
5-93

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 Remover
They 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 5-100.
Here are some cleaning tips:
Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
Clean up stains as soon as you can — before
they set.
5-94