spare tire OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1996 Owners Manual

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you’ll need is in the storage
compartment at
the rear of the vehicle, on the
passenger’s side.
T
Open the jack storage compartment by sliding the latch
down and removing the compartment cover.
5-23
ProCarManuals.com

Remove the jack and jacking tools by loosening the
wing
nut and retainer bar.
Separate the plastic pouch from the jack and remove the
jacking
tools (folding wrench and shaft) from the pouch. The compact spare
tire is located under the vehicle,
behind the rear bumper. Insert the narrow end of the
shaft into the hole above the rear bumper. Then attach
the folding wrench to the shaft.
Rotate the folding wrench counterclockwise to lower the
compact spare tire until it can be pulled from under
the vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com

Slide the cable retainer through the center of the spare,
then place the compact spare tire near the flat tire.
1 1
The tools you'll be using include the jack (A), folding
wrench
(B) and shaft (C).
ProCarManuals.com

I
3. Attach the folding wrench to the jack, and rotate the
wrench clockwise to raise the jack head
a few inches.
4. Near each wheel, there is a notch in the vehicle’s
frame. Position the jack and raise the jack head until
it fits firmly into
the notch in the vehicle’s frame
(nearest the flat tire).
Do not raise the vehicle yet.
Put
the compact spare tire near you.
5-27
ProCarManuals.com

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.
NOTICE:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned will damage the vehicle
or may allow
the vehicle to fall
off the jack. Be sure to fit the
jack lift head into the proper location before
raising your vehicle.
‘1
5. Raise the vehicle by rotating the folding wrench
clockwise
in the -jack. 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 and take off the flat tire.
ProCarManuals.com

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.
Don’t try to put
a wheel cover on the compact spare tire.
It won’t fit.
NOTICE:
Wheel covers won’t fit on your compact spare. If
you try to put a wheel cover on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
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.
Lay the flat tire near the rear of the vehicle with the
valve stem down. Slide the cable retainer through the
center of the wheel and raise the flat tire until you hear
the hoist mechanism click twice. This means that the
wheel is firmly stored against the underside of the
vehicle. When storing the spare tire, be certain to turn the spare
so the valve stem is near the rear of the
vehicle. This will help you to check and maintain tire
pressure
in the spare.
Push against the tire to be certain it is stored firmly.
5-31
ProCarManuals.com

Replace all jacking tools as they were stored in the
’ storage compartment and replace the compartment
cover. Be sure to also store the nylon nut caps.
When you replace the compact spare tire with a full-size
tire, replace the nylon nut caps over the wheel nuts.
Tighten them “hand tight” using the folding wrench.
Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated
when your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time.
Check the inflation 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 inflated. The compact spare is
made to perform well at posted speed limits for
distances up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can
finish your trip and have your full-size tire repaired or
replaced where you want. 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 vehicle 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.
5-32
ProCarManuals.com

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 fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your Cbmpact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice
or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
A CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transaxle
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 kmk) as shown
on the speedometer.
ProCarManuals.com

Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The CertificationlTire label, which is on the rear edge 01
the driver’s door, shows the correct inflation pressures
for your tires when they’re cold. “Cold” means your
vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours or driven
no more than
1 mile (1.6 km).
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right. It’s not.
If your tires
don’t have enough
air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
0 Too much flexing
0 Too much heat
0 Tire overloading
0 Bad wear
0 Bad handling
0 Bad fuel economy.
NOTICE: (Continued)
NOTICE: (Continued) I
If your tires have too much air (overinflation).
you can get the following:
0 Unusual wear
0 Bad handling
0 Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 Wa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking
at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be
sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
6-36
ProCarManuals.com

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear.
If unusual wear is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When It’s Time for New
Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information. When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown
here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire
in your
tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the
,. ont and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the
CertificatiodTire label. Make certain that all wheel
nuts
are properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in
the Index.
/
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieTe 1yicsre
uniform wear for
all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services”
in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make 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 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. (See
“Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index.)
6-37
ProCarManuals.com