spare tire CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER 2009 1.G Owners Manual

Off-roading can be great fun but has some denite
hazards. The greatest of these is the terrain itself. When
off-road driving, traffic lanes are not marked, curves are
not banked, and there are no road signs. Surfaces can be
slippery, rough, uphill, or downhill.
Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers. Failure to
operate the vehicle correctly off-road could result in loss
of vehicle control or vehicle rollover.
Off-roading involves some new skills. That is why it is
very important that you read these driving tips and
suggestions to help make off-road driving safer and
more enjoyable.Before You Go Off-Roading
Have all necessary maintenance and service
work done.
Make sure there is enough fuel, that uid levels are
where they should be, and that the spare tire, if the
vehicle has one, is fully inated.
Be sure to read all the information about
four-wheel-drive vehicles in this manual.
Make sure all underbody shields, if the vehicle has
them, are properly attached.
Know the local laws that apply to off-roading where
you will be driving or check with law enforcement
people in the area.
Be sure to get the necessary permission if you will
be on private land.
4-15

Tire Pressure Monitor Operation.....................5-69
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-73
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-74
Buying New Tires.........................................5-75
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-77
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-78
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-80
Wheel Replacement......................................5-80
Tire Chains..................................................5-81
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-82
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit....................5-83
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit Storage.........5-92
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-93
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-94
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire................................................5-97
Secondary Latch System..............................5-103
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...........5-106
Spare Tire.................................................5-109
Appearance Care..........................................5-109
Interior Cleaning.........................................5-109
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-111
Leather......................................................5-111
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-112Care of Safety Belts....................................5-112
Weatherstrips.............................................5-112
Washing Your Vehicle..................................5-113
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-113
Finish Care................................................5-114
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades.......5-114
Aluminum Wheels.......................................5-115
Tires.........................................................5-115
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-116
Finish Damage...........................................5-116
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-116
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-116
Vehicle Identication.....................................5-117
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)................5-117
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-117
Electrical System..........................................5-118
Add-On Electrical Equipment.........................5-118
Headlamps.................................................5-118
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-118
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-118
Fuses and Circuit Breakers..........................5-119
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-119
Rear Underseat Fuse Block..........................5-122
Capacities and Specications........................5-125
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

Ination - Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to
operate effectively.
Notice:Do not let anyone tell you that
under-ination or over-ination is all right.
It is not. If your tires do not have enough air
(under-ination), you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (over-ination),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazardsA vehicle specic Tire and Loading Information
label is attached to your vehicle. This label shows
your vehicle’s original equipment tires and the
correct ination pressures for your tires when they
are cold. The recommended cold tire ination
pressure, shown on the label, is the minimum
amount of air pressure needed to support your
vehicle’s maximum load carrying capacity.
For additional information regarding how much
weight your vehicle can carry, and an example of
the Tire and Loading Information label, seeLoading
the Vehicle on page 4-33. How you load your
vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride comfort.
Never load your vehicle with more weight than it
was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Do not forget to check the pressure of the spare
tire, if the vehicle has one. SeeSpare Tire on
page 5-109for additional information.
5-65

If your vehicle has P255/50R20 104V size tires installed
on the rear axle, they will require ination pressure
adjustment when driving your vehicle at speeds above
99 mph (160 km/h). Set the cold ination pressure, for the
rear tires only, to the maximum ination pressure shown
on the tire sidewall, or 38 psi (262 kPa), whichever is
lower. See the example following. When you end this
high-speed driving, return the tires to the cold tire ination
pressure shown on the Tire and Loading Information
label. SeeLoading the Vehicle on page 4-33.
Example:
You will nd the maximum load and ination pressure
molded on the tire’s sidewall, in small letters, near
the rim ange. It will read something like this: Maximum
load 690 kg (1521 lbs) 300 kPa (44 psi) Max. Press.
For this example, you would set the ination pressure for
high-speed driving at 38 psi (262 kPa).
The ination pressure for the front tires should be set to
the cold tire ination pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label.
Racing or other competitive driving may affect the
warranty coverage of your vehicle. See your warranty
booklet for more information.Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses radio
and sensor technology to check tire pressure levels.
The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure in
your vehicle’s tires and transmit tire pressure readings
to a receiver located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be
checked monthly when cold and inated to the ination
pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the vehicle placard or tire ination pressure label.
(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the
size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire ination
pressure label, you should determine the proper
tire ination pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one
or more of your tires is signicantly under-inated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inate them to the proper
pressure. Driving on a signicantly under-inated
tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-ination also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s
handling and stopping ability.
5-67

Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS). The TPMS is designed to warn the driver when
a low tire pressure condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel assembly, excluding
the spare tire and wheel assembly, if the vehicle has
one. The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure in the
vehicle’s tires and transmit the tire pressure readings to
a receiver located in the vehicle.
The TPMS is designed to alert the driver if a low tire
pressure condition exists. If your vehicle has the Driver
Information Center (DIC) steering wheel control buttons,
tire pressure levels may also be checked through the
DIC. See “Tire Pressures” underDIC Operation and
Displays on page 3-48.
When a low tire pressure
condition is detected, the
TPMS illuminates the low
tire pressure warning light
located on the instrument
panel cluster.At the same time a message to check the pressure in
a specic tire appears on the Driver Information Center
(DIC) display. The low tire pressure warning light and the
DIC warning message come on at each ignition cycle
until the tires are inated to the correct ination pressure.
Using the DIC, tire pressure levels can be viewed by the
driver. For additional information and details about the
DIC operation and displays seeDIC Operation and
Displays on page 3-48andDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-51.
The low tire pressure warning light may come on in
cool weather when the vehicle is rst started, and then
turn off as you start to drive. This could be an early
indicator that the air pressure in the tire(s) is low and
needs to be inated to the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information label, attached to
your vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle’s original
equipment tires and the correct ination pressure for
your vehicle’s tires when they are cold. SeeLoading the
Vehicle on page 4-33, for an example of the Tire and
Loading Information label and its location on your vehicle.
Also seeInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-65.
5-69

Your vehicle’s TPMS can alert you about a low tire
pressure condition but it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-73andTires on page 5-58.
Notice:Using non-approved tire sealants could
damage the Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
sensors. TPMS sensor damage caused by using
an incorrect tire sealant is not covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always use the GM approved
tire sealant available through your dealer/retailer.
Factory-installed Tire Inator Kits use a GM approved
liquid tire sealant. Using non-approved tire sealants
could damage the TPMS sensors. See Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit for information regarding the inator
kit materials and instructions.TPMS Malfunction Light and Message
The TPMS will not function properly if one or more of
the TPMS sensors are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the low tire warning light
ashes for about one minute and then stays on for the
remainder of the ignition cycle. A DIC warning message
is also displayed. The low tire warning light and DIC
warning message come on at each ignition cycle until
the problem is corrected. Some of the conditions that
can cause the malfunction light and DIC message to
come on are:
One of the road tires has been replaced with the
spare tire, if the vehicle has one. The spare tire does
not have a TPMS sensor. The TPMS malfunction
light and DIC message should go off once you
re-install the road tire containing the TPMS sensor.
The TPMS sensor matching process was started but
not completed or not completed successfully after
rotating the vehicle’s tires. The DIC message and
TPMS malfunction light should go off once the TPMS
sensor matching process is performed successfully.
See “TPMS Sensor Matching Process” later in this
section.
5-70

Tire Inspection and Rotation
We recommend that you regularly inspect your
vehicle’s tires, including the spare tire, if the
vehicle has one, for signs of wear or damage.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on page 5-74
for more information.
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km). SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.
The purpose of a regular tire rotation is to achieve
a uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. This
will ensure that your vehicle continues to perform
most like it did when the tires were new.
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 5-74andWheel Replacement on page 5-80.When rotating your tires, always use the correct
rotation pattern shown here.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front
and rear ination pressures as shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 5-65andLoading the Vehicle on
page 4-33.
5-73

Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor Operation on page 5-69.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications on page 5-125.
{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 5-93.
Make sure the spare tire, if the vehicle has one,
is stored securely. Push, pull, and then try to rotate
or turn the tire. If it moves, tighten the cable.
SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools on
page 5-106.
When It Is Time for New Tires
Various factors, such as maintenance, temperatures,
driving speeds, vehicle loading, and road conditions,
inuence when you need new tires.
One way to tell when it
is time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which appear
when your tires have only
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or less
of tread remaining. Some
commercial truck tires
may not have treadwear
indicators.
5-74

You need new tires if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge, or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that
cannot be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
The rubber in tires degrades over time, even if they are
not being used. This is also true for the spare tire, if your
vehicle has one. Multiple conditions affect how fast this
aging takes place, including temperatures, loading
conditions, and ination pressure maintenance. With
proper care and maintenance tires will typically wear out
before they degrade due to age. If you are unsure about
the need to replace your tires as they get older, consult
the tire manufacturer for more information.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched specic tires for
your vehicle. The original equipment tires installed
on your vehicle, when it was new, were designed
to meet General Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specication (TPC spec) system rating. If you need
replacement tires, GM strongly recommends that
you get tires with the same TPC Spec rating. This
way, your vehicle will continue to have tires that are
designed to give the same performance and vehicle
safety, during normal use, as the original tires.
GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system considers
over a dozen critical specications that impact the
overall performance of your vehicle, including brake
system performance, ride and handling, traction
control, and tire pressure monitoring performance.
GM’s TPC Spec number is molded onto the tire’s
sidewall near the tire size. If the tires have an
all-season tread design, the TPC spec number
will be followed by a MS, for mud and snow. See
Tire Sidewall Labeling on page 5-60for additional
information.
5-75

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates to the
system developed by the United States National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
which grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters
of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specied
government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and a half (1.5) times
as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices, and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
5-78