- Do a safety check before proceeding. See Changing a Flat Tire .
- Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to loosen all the wheel nuts, but do no remove them yet.
- Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to lower the jack lift head until it fits under the vehicle.
- Put the jack into the flange in the frame which is located near each wheel well. The flanges are accessible through openings in the plastic trim at the bottom of the vehicle. The front opening is about 8 inches (20 cm) back from the front wheel well. The rear opening is about 3 inches (8 cm) forward from the rear wheel well.
- Position the jack and raise the jack head until it fits firmly on the ridge in the vehicle's frame nearest the flat tire. Do not raise the vehicle yet.
- Put the compact spare tire near the flat tire.
- Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground for the compact spare tire to fit under the vehicle.
- Remove all wheel nuts and remove the flat tire.
- Install the compact spare tire.
- Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of the nuts toward the wheel. Turn each nut clockwise by hand until the wheel is held against the hub.
- Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the jack lift head.
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 fit the jack lift head into the proper location before raising the vehicle.
Notice: If you position the jack under the rocker molding and attempt to raise the vehicle, you could break the molding and/or cause other damage to your vehicle. Always position the jack so that when the jack head is raised, it will fit firmly in the notch located inboard from the rocker molding.
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: Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose after time. The wheel could come off and cause an accident. When changing a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, use a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if needed, to get all the rust or dirt off. See Changing a Flat Tire .
Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces and spare wheel.
Caution: Never use oil or grease on bolts or nuts because the nuts might come loose. The vehicle's wheel could fall off, causing a crash.
Caution: Incorrect or improperly tightened wheel nuts can cause the wheel to come loose and even come off. This could lead to a crash. If you have to replace them, be sure to get new original equipment wheel nuts. Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to the proper torque specification. See Capacities and Specifications for wheel nut torque specification.
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. See Capacities and Specifications for the wheel nut torque specification.
Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence as shown.
