jacking OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1998 Owners Manual

If a Tire Goes Flat Changing a Flat Tire
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.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle
to go. It may be
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.
Air Inflator (Option)
Your vehicle may have an air inflator used to bring tires
up to the proper pressure. See “Accessory Inflator
System” in the Index for more details. If
a tire goes
flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place.
Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
/:1 CAUTION-
Changing 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. lhrn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move,
you can put 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.
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I JACK & TOOL STORAGE
Remove the jack and jacking tools by loosening the
wing nut and bracket.
Separate the plastic pouch from the jack and remove the
jacking tools (folding wrench and shaft) from the pouch.
HOIST
ASSEMBLY
EXTENSION
(CHISEL END)
(VALVE
STEM DOWN)
The compact spare tire is located under the vehicle,
ahead of 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 to the left
to lower the
compact spare tire until it can be pulled from under
the vehicle.
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NOTE: INSTALL BOlTOM OF BAG FIRST
TOOL STORAGE
’ BAG & TOOLS
Replace all jacking tools as they were stored in the jack
storage compartment and replace the compartment
cover.
To replace the cover, line up the tabs on the right
of the cover with the slots in the cover opening. Push the
cover
in place and push down the tab so that it rests in
the groove. This secures the cover in place. Unless
you have the plastic “bolt-on” wheel covers, be
sure to also store the center cap. When you replace the
compact spare with a full-size tire, replace the bolt-on
wheel covers and the center cap. Tighten them “hand
tight’’ over the wheel nuts, 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 speeds up to 65 mph
(105 km/h) 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.
5-34
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