wheel PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996 Service Manual

Each wheel has one locknut in place of the standard
wheel nut.
A special wheel lock key (removal tool) and
instructions are located in the center console. Attach
the wheel lock key to the socket
of the wheel wrench.
Remove the locking wheel nut by turning
counterclockwise.
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Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don’t remove them yet.
2. Position the jack under the vehicle. There is a notch
in the vehicle’s rocker flange on the coupe model.
Raise the jack head until it fits
firmly into the notch
nearest the flat tire.
On convertible models, place the jack in a similar
location.
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4. Raise the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench
clockwise. Raise the vehicle
far enough off the ground
SO there is enough room for the spare tire to fit.
Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
5. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
A CAUTION:’
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.
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A CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wh'eel could
fall off,
causing a serious accident.
6. Replace the wheel nuts with the rounded end of the
nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by hand
until
the wheel is held against the hub.
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7. Lower the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
a. Tighten the wheel
nuts firmly in a
criss-cross sequence
as shown.
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become loose
and even come
off. This could lead to an accident.
Be sure to 'use the correct wheel nuts.
If' you have
to replace them, be sure to get new
GM original
equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere
as soon as you can and have the
nuts tightened with a torque wrench to
100 lb-ft
(140 Nom).
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NOTICE:
L
ImproperIy 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 c'enter cap on your compact spare tire.
It won't fit. Store the center cap in the rear area until
you have the flat tire repaired or replaced.
NOTICE:
Center caps won't fit on your compact spare.
If you try to put a center cap on your compact
spare,
you could damage the cover or the spare.
Storing a Flat Tire or Spare Tire and Tools
Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment m 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.
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Replace the jack, wheel wrench and flat tire using the
storage instructions. When
you replace the trim panel,
be sure
to tuck it under the weatherstrip.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Trim Panel
Bolt
Cover
Jack
Wing Nut Adapter Compact
Spare Tire
Full-Size Tire
Carpet Flap
Tire Storage Bolt
Convertible Top Protection
Knob
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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 Wa).
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. When
the compact spare is
on the rear axle, the optional
traction control system will cycle and limit acceleration
for about the first
15 seconds of driving after each
engine start.
I NOTICE:
When the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through
an automatic car 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.
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NOTICE:
If the compact spare is used as a rear tire, do not
drive faster than
50 mph (80 km/h). Damage to
the rear axle may occur if the compact spare is
driven faster than 50 mph (80 km/h). This speed
limitation does not apply when the compact spare
is used as a front tire.
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 compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.
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If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
What you d0n’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.
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be
igjlared. And,
the transmission
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 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well
as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while
shifting your transmission back
and forth,
you can destroy your transmission.
For infomation about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. If your vehicle
I
has traction control, you should turn the system off. (See
“Traction Control System” in the Index.) Then shift
back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward
gear (or with a manual transmission, between
FIRST (1)
or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R)), spinning the
wheels
as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you
shift, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal
when the transmission is in gear. If that doesn’t
get you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed
out. If
you do-need to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Vehicle” in the Index. !-
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