flat tire GMC SIERRA DENALI 2003 User Guide

Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are
not needed. However,
if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset.
If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the
wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired).
See your dealer
if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted
the same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any
of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM
original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to
have the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for your vehicle. Usin,
__ __ wrong replacement wheels,
whc
bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous.
It could affect the braking and
handling
of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you
lose control. You could have
a collision
in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts and wheel nuts
for replacement.
Notice: The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance and tire clearance to the
body and chassis.
See
Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-69 for more
information.
5-67

Used Replacement Wheels
-
Putting a used wheel your vehicle is
dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used
or how far
it’s been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash.
If you have to
replace a wheel, use a new
GM original
equipment wheel.
I I
Tire Chains
Don’t use lire chains. There’s not enough
clearance. Tire chains used on a vehicle
without the proper amount sf clearance can cause damage to the brakes, suspension or
other vehicle parts. The area damaged by the
CAUTION: (Continued) tire chains could cause
, -u to lose cc..-rol
of
your vehicle and you or others may be injured in
a crash. Use another type of traction device only
if its manufacturer recommends it for use on
your vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove the
device
if it’s contacting your vehicle, and don’t
spin your wheels.
If you do find traction devices
that will
fit, install them on the rear tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air
goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out
slowly. But
if you should ever have a “blowout”, here are
a few tips about what to expect and what
to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create 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 out of the traffic lane.
5-68

A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a Changing a Flat Tire
skid and may require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on your
steering
the way you want the vehicle to go. it may be hazard warning flashers.
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake
to a stop - well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how
to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
C..-nging a tire can cause
an injury. The
vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured. Find a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Put the wheel blocks at the front and rear
of the tire farthest away from the one
being changed. That
would be the tire on
the other side of the vehicle, at the
opposite end.
5-69

Follow these instructions to lower the spare tire:
1. If your vehicle is equipped with a hoist lock, open
the spare tire lock cover on the bumper and use
the ignition key to remove the lock.
2. Assemble the wheel wrench and the two jack
handle extensions as shown. Insert the hoist
end (open end) of the extension through the hole in
the rear bumper. Be sure the hoist end of the
extension connects into the hoist shaft.
3. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the spare tire to the ground. Continue to turn the
wheel wrench until the spare tire can be pulled out
from under the vehicle. The wheel wrench has a
hook that allows you to pull the hoist cable towards
you, to assist in reaching the spare tire.
If the spare tire does not lower to the ground, the
secondary latch is engaged causing the tire
not to lower. See Secondary Latch System next.
4. When the tire has been lowered, tilt the retainer at
the end of the cable
so it can be pulled up through
the wheel opening.
5. Put the spare tire near the flat tire. The
tools you’ll be using include the bottle jack
(A), the
wheel blocks
(B), the jack handle (C), the jack handle
extensions
(D), and the wheel wrench (E).
If the flat tire is on a rear tire of the vehicle, you’ll need
to use both jack handle extensions.
5-72

To remove the center cap place the chisel end of the
wheel wrench in the
slot on the wheel and gently
pry out.
Secondary Latch System
If your vehicle has this feature, your vehicle has an
underbody mounted tire hoist assembly equipped with a
secondary latch system. It’s designed to stop the
spare tire from falling
off your vehicle. For the secondary
latch to work, the spare must be installed with the
valve stem pointing down. See “Storing a Flat
or Spare
Tire and Tools” for instructions on storing the spare
or flat tire correctly.
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 below.
5-74

9. Turn the wrench clockwise to raise the jack until it
lifts the end fitting.
10. Continue raising the jack until the spare tire stops
moving upward and is held firmly in place. The
secondary latch has released and the spare tire is
balancing on the jack.
11. 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.
12. 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 with the other hand.
If the spare is hanging from the cable, insert the
hoist handle, extension and wheel wrench into the
hoist shaft hole in the bumper and turn the
wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the spare
the rest of the way.
13. Tilt the retainer at the end of the cable and pull it
through the wheel opening. Pull the tire out from
under the vehicle.
14. 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 replaced.
5-76

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1. Use the wheel wrench
to loosen all the wheel
nuts. Turn the wheel
wrench
counterclockwise to
loosen the wheel nuts.
Don’t remove
them yet.
la r Front Location RL.
Location
2. Position the jack under the vehicle. If the flat tire is
on the front of the vehicle, position the jack on the
frame behind the flat tire.
If the flat tire is on the rear, position the jack under
the rear axle between the spring anchor and the
shock absorber bracket.
Notice: If your vehicle is equipped with
QUADRASTEERTM avoid contact with tie rods and
tie rod boots when jacking the vehicle.
5-77

Rear Position
3. Make sure the jack head is positioned so that the
rear axle
is resting securely between the grooves
that are on the jack head. 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 under the wheel well.
4. Remove all the wheel
nuts and take
off the
flat tire.
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.
5-79

Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
--xing a jack, a --:e, or ---ier 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.
Notice: An aluminum wheel with a flat tire should
always be stored under the vehicle with the hoist. However, storing
it that way for an extended
period
of time could damage the wheel. To avoid
this, always stow the wheel properly with the valve
stem pointing down and have the wheel repaired
as soon as possible.
Return the bottle jack, wheel blocks, wheel wrench and
jack extensions to their location under the passenger’s
side second row seat. Secure the items in the vehicle as
shown.
Tu
A. Wing Nut F. Storage Bag
B. Wheel Blocks G. Bottle Jack Holder
C. Wheel Wrench and H. Bottle Jack
Extensions Retainer
I. Wheel Block
D. Gloves Retainer
E. Wheel Wrench and
Extensions
5-83

Store the tire under the rear of the vehicle in the spare
tire carrier. To store the tire, do the following:
1. Put the tire on the ground at the rear of the vehicle
with the valve stem pointed downward and to
the rear.
2. Tilt the retainer downward and through the wheel
opening. Make sure that the retainer is fully seated
across the underside of the wheel.
3. Attach the wheel wrench and extensions together.
Insert the hoist end through the hole in the rear
bumper and into the hoist shaft.
4. Raise the tire part of the way upward. When the tire
is almost in the stored position, adjust the tire
so
that the valve stem is toward the rear of the vehicle. A.
Hoist
B. Wheel Wrench
C. Extensions
D. Hoist Shaft
Assembly
E. Valve Stem,
Pointed Down
F. Flat or Spare Tire
G. Retainer
H. Hoist Cable
5. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the
vehicle by turning the wheel wrench clockwise
until you hear two clicks or feel it skip twice. The
cable cannot be overtightened.
5-84