1. Do a safety check before proceeding. See Changing a Flat Tire for more information.



2. For models having aluminum wheels with a center wheel cover, use the flat end of the wheel wrench to gently pry the wheel covers off. Store the wheel cover and lug nut caps in the trunk until you have the flat tire repaired or replaced. Be careful not to scratch the aluminum wheel edge and do not try to remove it with your hands. Then loosen the wheel nuts with the wheel wrench. Do not remove them yet.



3. For models with exposed lug nuts, loosen them using the wheel wrench. Do not remove them yet.



4. Find the jacking location from the diagram above and use the corresponding cutouts located in the plastic molding.

The front location is (A) 8.5 inches (21 cm) from the rear edge of the front wheel well, and the rear location (B) is 3.5 inches (8.5 cm) from the front edge of the rear wheel well.

The notches may also be labeled JACK with an arrow pointing to the jacking location on the vehicle.

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.

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.

5. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to lower the jack lift head until the jack fits under the vehicle.



6. Raise the jack until the metal flange fits firmly into the channel of the jack head.
7. Put the spare tire near you.



8. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground for the spare tire to fit under the vehicle.
9. Remove all wheel nuts and the flat tire.




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

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 .

10. Place the spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.

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.




11. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel is held against the hub.



12. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.

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.

5-Wheel Nuts





8-Wheel Nuts




13. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence as shown.

If your vehicle is equipped with wheel nut covers, screw the nut covers on with your fingers, then tighten one-quarter turn with the wheel wrench.

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.