wheel CHEVROLET TRACKER 2002 2.G Repair Manual

5-22
4. Using the wheel wrench, remove the wheel cover
nut. Gently pry the spare tire cover off the wheel.
Vinyl Cover
5. If your vehicle is equipped with a vinyl cover, unzip
the cover to find the wheel lock. Insert the key into
the wheel lock and pull it off.
6. Using the wheel wrench, remove the wheel nut under
the lock.

5-23
7. Remove the remaining wheel nuts with the
wheel wrench.
8. Remove the spare tire from the mounting bracket
and place it near your flat tire.
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. If your vehicle has wheel nut caps, loosen them by
turning the wheel wrench counterclockwise to find
the wheel nuts.

5-24
2. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts
but don't remove them yet.
Front Wheel Location
Rear Wheel Location

5-25
3. Under the vehicle near each wheel, there are knobs
in the vehicle's frame. Position the jack and raise
the jack lift head until it fits firmly onto the knobs
nearest to the flat tire.
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.

5-26
5. Remove all the wheel
nuts and take off the
flat tire.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. Reinstall the wheel nuts
with the cone
-shaped
end of the nuts toward
the wheel. Tighten each
nut by hand until the
wheel is held against
the hub.
9. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.

5-28
10. Tighten the wheel nuts
firmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown.
CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become 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
69 lb
-ft (95 N´m).
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.
When you reinstall the full-size wheel and tire, you
must also reinstall the plastic nut caps.
11. Tighten the plastic nut caps by hand. Then tighten
them one half turn with the wheel wrench. Do not
overtighten the nut caps or they may break.

5-29 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. Store your vehicle's flat or spare tire by mounting it
on the tailgate.
NOTICE:
Ensure that the wheel balance weight is on the
lower left section of the tire in order to allow
proper installation of the spare wheel cover.

5-30
2. Put the top two wheel nuts back on with the
wheel wrench.
3. Put the spare tire cover back on, if equipped. Using
the wheel wrench, put the wheel cover nut back on.
4. Put the spare wheel lock back on, if equipped and
lock it.
Put the jack, jack handle and wheel wrench back into
the storage area.
To stow the jack, place it in the storage bracket and
turn the shaft clockwise until the jack is securely held
in place. Reinstall the trim cover by inserting the cover
tabs into the slots. Push the cover closed and turn the
knob clockwise to secure the cover.
A. Wrench
B. Jack Handle
C. Jack
CAUTION:
Make sure the tire and carrier are secure.
Driving with the tire or carrier unlatched could
injure pedestrians or damage the vehicle.

5-31
If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you don't want to spin
your wheels too fast. The method known as ªrockingº
can help you get out when you're stuck, but you must
use caution.
CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transmission or other parts of the
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you're
stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don't
spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see ªTire Chainsº in the Index.