SATURN ION 2006 Owners Manual

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your vehicle’s tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it is 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 at tire will create a drag that pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel rmly.
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 would
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.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without
the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jack provided with your vehicle is
designed only for changing a at tire. If it is
used for anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. Use the jack provided with your
vehicle only for changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
5-75
ProCarManuals.com

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning ashers.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over or fall on you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured or even killed. Find a level place to
change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle
from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put an automatic transaxle shift lever in
PARK (P), or shift a manual transaxle to
FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the
vehicle.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
To be even more certain the vehicle will not
move, you should 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, at the opposite end of the vehicle.
When you have a at tire, use the following example as
a guide to assist you in the placement of wheel blocks.
The following information will tell you how to use the
jack and change a tire.
5-76
ProCarManuals.com

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you will need is located in the trunk.
Models with a 2.2L L4 or 2.4L Engine
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 2-11for
more information.
2. Lift the trunk liner to access the spare tire and tools.
5-77
ProCarManuals.com

A. Cover
B. Retainer
C. Spare Tire
D. Wing Nut
E. Jack and Wheel Wrench
F. Bolt
3. Remove the retainer (B) that holds down the spare
tire. SeeCompact Spare Tire on page 5-90.
4. Remove the spare tire (C) by placing your hands at
the four and eight o’clock positions. Gently pull it up
and out of the trunk.
5. Remove the wing nut (D) that holds the jack and
remove the jack and wheel wrench (E).
5-78
ProCarManuals.com

Models with a 2.0L L4 Supercharged
Engine
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 2-11for more
information.
2. Lift the trunk liner to access the spare tire and tools.
5-79
ProCarManuals.com

A. Retainer
B. Jack and Wheel Wrench
C. Spare Tire
D. Foam Support
E. Bolt
3. Remove the retainer (A) that holds down the jack,
wheel wrench (B) and spare tire (C).
4. Remove the spare tire by placing your hands at the
four and eight o’clock positions. Gently pull it up
and out of the trunk.
The tools you will be using include the jack (A) and
wheel wrench (B).
5-80
ProCarManuals.com

You will need to turn the plastic wheel nut
counterclockwise to loosen the wheel wrench from
the jack.Press the button and then pull on the end of the wheel
wrench to extend the handle.
5-81
ProCarManuals.com

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. If your vehicle is equipped with plastic wheel
covers, use the wheel wrench to loosen the plastic
wheel nut caps.
Once you have loosened the plastic wheel nut caps
with the wheel wrench, you can nish loosening
them with your ngers. The plastic nut caps do not
come off. Using the at end of the wheel wrench,
pry along the edge of the wheel cover until it
comes off.
If your vehicle has aluminum wheels, rst remove
the center cap by pulling it out with the wheel
wrench.
2. Use the wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts.
Do not remove them yet.
Notice:Make sure that the jack lift head is in the
correct position or you may damage your vehicle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
5-82
ProCarManuals.com

3. Position the jack lift head at the jack location
nearest the at tire. The front location is about
7 inches (17.8 cm) rearward from the front wheel
opening. The rear location is about 2 inches
(5.1 cm) forward of the rear wheel opening.
Make sure the jack head is touching the metal
jacking ange under the body. Do not place the jack
under the plastic body panel.
4. Put the compact spare tire near you.
{CAUTION:
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.
{CAUTION:
Raising your 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 t the
jack lift head into the proper location before
raising the vehicle.
5-83
ProCarManuals.com

5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough room for the compact
spare tire to t under the vehicle.6. Remove all of the
wheel nuts.
5-84
ProCarManuals.com