If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard warning flashers.

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 firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in P (Park).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.

The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and change a tire.

The equipment you will need is in the trunk.

Instructions for changing your tires are on the inside of the tire cover. You can rest the cover near you for easy reference while you change the tire.

1. Lift the tire cover to gain access to the compact spare tire and jacking equipment.
2. Remove the wingnut and washer and then remove the jack container.
3. Remove the wheel wrench and jack from the jack container.
4. Remove the compact spare tire from the trunk. See Compact Spare Tire for more information about the compact spare tire.

The tools you will be using include the jack (A) and wheel wrench (B).

1. If your vehicle is equipped with the 8 inch (20 cm) hubcap, use the wheel wrench to begin loosening the plastic wheel nut caps. Once you have loosened the plastic wheel nut caps with the wheel wrench, you can finish loosening them with your fingers. Once the plastic wheel nuts have been loosened, pull the hubcap off by hand.

If your vehicle is equipped with either the 2 1/2 inch (6 cm) or the 4 inch (10 cm) hubcap, first remove the decorative nut caps using the wheel wrench.

2. Then use the wheel wrench to loosen the wheel nuts, but do not remove them yet.



3. The jack has a bolt at the end. Attach the wheel wrench to the bolt to create a jack handle.
4. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the jack head until it fits under the vehicle.



5. Near each wheel well is a notch in the plastic trim panel to position the jack head. You will find the word JACK and an arrow stamped into the plastic near each notch. Position the jack under the vehicle and raise the jack head until it fits firmly against the sheet metal next to the word JACK. Do not raise the vehicle yet. 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 fit the jack lift head into the proper location before raising the vehicle.




6. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench clockwise in the jack. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there is enough room for the compact spare tire to fit underneath the wheel well.
7. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.



8. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces and spare wheel.

Caution: Rust or dirt on a wheel or other parts to which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts become loose and eventually the wheel could come off and cause a crash. Always remove all rust and dirt from wheels and other parts.

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.

9. Install the compact spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.



10. Then reinstall 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.



11. Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.



12. Using the wheel wrench, tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence.

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.

13. Do not try to put the wheel cover on the compact spare tire. It will not fit.

Store the wheel cover in the trunk until you have the flat tire repaired or replaced.

Notice: Wheel covers will not fit on your vehicle's compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the compact spare, the cover or the spare could be damaged.

Caution: 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.

After you have put the compact spare tire on your vehicle, you will need to store the flat tire in your trunk. Use the following procedure to secure the flat tire in the trunk.

Store the flat tire as far forward in the trunk as possible. Store the jack and wheel wrench in their compartment in the trunk.

Caution: 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.

Store the compact spare tire and tools as shown in the diagram.

1. 
   
   

   Wrench

2. Jack

3. Jack Container

4. Compact Spare Tire Cover

5. Washer and Retainer

The compact spare tire is for temporary use only. Replace the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon as you can. See "Compact Spare Tire" later in this section.