flat tire GMC SAVANA 2012 Owner's Guide

Black plate (72,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
10-72 Vehicle Care
For Cutaway models with LT245/
75R16, LT225/75R16 or LT215/
85R16 size single or dual rear tires,
use Low Profile Z-Chain or
SAE Class S cables.
For Cargo or Passenger models
with P245/70R17, LT225/75R16 or
LT245/75R16 size tires, use Low
Profile Z-Chain cables. SAE Class S
chains are not recommended.
If the vehicle has dual rear tires, do
not use individual tire chains. Use
tire chains that fit across both dual
tires.If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out
while driving, especially if the tires
are maintained properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it is much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if there ever is a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
creates 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 off the
road, if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction as
used in a skid. Stop pressing the
accelerator pedal and steer to
straighten the vehicle. It may be
very bumpy and noisy. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.{WARNING
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has
been driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely underinflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as
possible.

Black plate (73,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
Vehicle Care 10-73
{WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance or
repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑4.
{WARNING
Changing a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over or fall
causing injury or death. Find a
level place to change the tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from
moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks on both sides of the tire at the
opposite corner of the tire
being changed. When the vehicle has a flat tire (B),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (A).
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.

Black plate (76,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
10-76 Vehicle Care
4. When the tire has been lowered,pull it closer to reach the tire
retainer and pull it up through
the wheel opening.
For a vehicle that 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 the
vehicle.
5. Put the spare tire near the flat tire.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
If the 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 beforeproceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat on page 10‑72 for more
information.
2. Loosen all the wheel nuts with the wheel wrench. Do not
remove them yet.
A. Jack
B. Jack Handle
C. Hoist Extension
D. Jack Handle Extension
E. Wheel Wrench
3. Assemble the jack and tools:
Front Flat: Assemble the
jack (A) together with the jack
handle (B), one or two jack
handle extensions (D), and the
wheel wrench (E).

Black plate (78,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
10-78 Vehicle Care
If the exhaust system interferes
in the jack location in the rear
axle, such as in Diesel vehicles,
place the jack (A) on the rear
axle between the axle housing
and the shock absorber
bracket in order to avoid any
interference with the exhaust
pipe (B).
{WARNING
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.
{WARNING
Raising the 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.
5. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the vehicle.
Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so there is enough
room for the spare tire to fit.
6. Remove all the wheel nuts.
7. Take flat tire off of the mountingsurface.
{WARNING
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
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
(Continued)

Black plate (81,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
Vehicle Care 10-81
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{WARNING
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.
2. Pull the retaining bar through thecenter of the wheel, making sure
it is properly attached.
3. Pull the wheel toward the rear of the vehicle, keeping the cable
tight.
4. Put the chisel end of the hoist extension on an angle through
the hole in the rear door frame,
above the bumper.
5. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the vehicle.
Continue turning the wheel
wrench until the tire is secure
and the cable is tight. The spare
tire hoist cannot be
overtightened.
6. Make sure the tire is storedsecurely. Push, pull (A), and then
try to turn (B) the tire. If the tire
moves, use the wheel wrench to
tighten the cable.
Two clicks mean the the tire is
up all the way.
7. Return the jacking equipment to the proper location. Secure the
items and replace the jack cover.

Black plate (82,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
10-82 Vehicle Care
Secondary Latch System
This 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.
See“Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools” underTire Changing on
page 10‑74 for instructions on
storing the spare tire correctly.
{WARNING
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:
{WARNING
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
under the 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.
2. Turn the hoist extension counterclockwise until
approximately 15 cm (6 in) of
cable is exposed.

Black plate (83,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
Vehicle Care 10-83
3. Attach the jack handle/jackhandle extension and wheel
wrench to the jack.
4. Place the jack under the vehicle,ahead of the rear bumper.
Position the center lift point of
the jack under the center of the
spare tire and turn the handle
clockwise to raise the jack until it
lifts the secondary latch spring. 5. Keep raising the jack until the
spare tire stops moving upward
and is held firmly in place. This
lets you know that the secondary
latch has released. The spare
tire is now balancing on the jack.
6. Lower the jack by turning the wheel wrench counterclockwise.
Keep lowering the jack until the
spare tire slides off the jack or is
hanging by the cable.
7. Disconnect the jack handle from the jack and carefully remove
the jack. Use one hand to push
against the spare while firmly
pulling the jack out from under
the spare tire with the
other hand.
If the spare tire is hanging from
the cable, assembly the wheel
wrench onto the hoist extension
and insert the chisel end of the
hoist extension into the hoist
shaft hole above the bumper.
Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to lower the
spare the rest of the way. 8. 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 the
vehicle. Always reinstall this
cable before driving the vehicle.
9. 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 of “Storing a Flat or
Spare Tire and Tools” underTire
Changing on page 10‑74.

Black plate (84,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
10-84 Vehicle Care
Full-Size Spare Tire
This vehicle, when new, may have
had a fully-inflated spare tire.
A spare tire may lose air over time,
so check its inflation pressure
regularly. SeeTire Pressure on
page 10‑57 andVehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑10 for information
regarding proper tire inflation and
loading the vehicle. For instruction
on how to remove, install or store a
spare tire, see “Removing the Flat
Tire and Installing the Spare Tire”
and “Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools” underTire Changing on
page 10‑74. After installing the spare tire on the
vehicle, you should stop as soon as
possible and make sure the spare is
correctly inflated. The spare tire is
made to perform well at speeds
up to 112 km/h (70 mph) at the
recommended inflation pressure, so
you can finish your trip.
Have the damaged or flat road tire
repaired or replaced as soon as you
can and installed back onto the
vehicle. This way, a spare tire will
be available in case you need it
again. Do not mix tires and wheels
of different sizes, because they will
not fit. Keep the spare tire and its
wheel together.
Jump Starting
For more information about the
vehicle battery, see
Battery on
page 10‑30.
If the vehicle battery has run down,
you may want to use another
vehicle and some jumper cables to
start your vehicle. Be sure to use
the following steps to do it safely.
{WARNING
Batteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because:
.They contain acid that can
burn you.
.They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
.They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you.

Black plate (3,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
Service and Maintenance 11-3
Maintenance
Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.Check the engine oil level. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑7.
Once a Month
.Check the tire inflation
pressures. See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑57.
.Inspect the tires for wear. See
Tire Inspection on page 10‑63.
.Check the windshield washer
fluid level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑26.
Engine Oil Change
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message displays, have the
engine oil and filter changed within
the next 1 000 km/600 mi. If driven
under the best conditions, the
engine oil life system might not
indicate the need for vehicle service
for more than a year. The engine oil
and filter must be changed at least
once a year and the oil life system
must be reset. Your trained dealer
technician can perform this work.
If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 mi since the
last service. Reset the oil life
system when the oil is changed.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑10.
Tire Rotation and Required
Services Every 12 000 km/
7,500 mi
Rotate the tires, if recommended for
the vehicle, and perform the
following services. See Tire
Rotation on page 10‑63.
.Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed,
change engine oil and filter, and
reset oil life system. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑7 andEngine Oil
Life System on page 10‑10.
.Check engine coolant level. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑19.
.Check windshield washer fluid
level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑26.
.Visually inspect windshield wiper
blades for wear, cracking,
or contamination. See Exterior
Care on page 10‑92. Replace
worn or damaged wiper blades.
See Wiper Blade Replacement
on page 10‑36.

Black plate (4,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
11-4 Service and Maintenance
.Check tire inflation pressures.
SeeTire Pressure on
page 10‑57.
.Inspect tire wear. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑63.
.Visually check for fluid leaks.
.Inspect engine air cleaner filter.
See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑17.
.Inspect brake system.
.Visually inspect steering,
suspension, and chassis
components for damaged, loose,
or missing parts or signs of
wear. See Exterior Care on
page 10‑92.
.Check restraint system
components. See Safety System
Check on page 3‑17.
.Visually inspect fuel system for
damage or leaks.
.Visually inspect exhaust system
and nearby heat shields for
loose or damaged parts.
.Lubricate body components. See
Exterior Care on page 10‑92.
.Check starter switch. See Starter
Switch Check on page 10‑34.
.Check automatic transmission
shift lock control function. See
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function Check on
page 10‑34.
.Check ignition transmission lock.
See Ignition Transmission Lock
Check on page 10‑35.
.Check parking brake and
automatic transmission park
mechanism. See Park Brake and
P (Park) Mechanism Check on
page 10‑35.
.Check accelerator pedal for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed.
.Visually inspect gas strut for
signs of wear, cracks, or other
damage. Check the hold open
ability of the strut. See your
dealer if service is required.