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.

If you have a cargo van or a passenger van, the equipment you will need is located in the passenger side rear corner of the vehicle.

Remove the retaining wing bolt and lift it off the mounting bracket.

If you have a van with the 15-passenger seating arrangement, the equipment you will need is secured on the rear floor of the passenger side of the vehicle.

Remove the retaining wing bolt and lift it out of the mounting bracket.

The tools you will be using include the jack (A), jack handle extension (B), jack handle (C), wheel wrench (D) and the ratchet (E).

Your spare tire is stored underneath the rear of your vehicle. You will use the wheel wrench (D) and the ratchet (E) to lower the spare tire.

The ratchet has a DOWN side and an UP side.

Attach the wheel wrench and ratchet, with the DOWN side facing you. The wheel wrench has a socket end and a flat chisel end.

Put the flat chisel end of the wheel wrench on an angle through the hole between the body and the bumper. Be sure the flat end connects into the hoist shaft.

Turn the ratchet counterclockwise to lower the spare tire to the ground. If the spare tire does not lower to the ground, the secondary latch is engaged causing the tire not to lower. See "Secondary Latch System" later in this section.

When the tire has been lowered, pull the tire toward you so you can reach the tire retainer and pull it up through the wheel opening.

If you have a vehicle which was completed from a cab and chassis, refer to the information from the body supplier/installer.

The spare tire is a full-size tire, like the other tires on your vehicle.

Notice: If you drive away before the spare tire or secondary latch system cable has been reinstalled, you could damage your vehicle. Always reinstall this cable before driving your vehicle.

Your vehicle has an underbody mounted tire hoist assembly equipped with a secondary latch system. It is designed to stop the spare tire from suddenly falling off the vehicle if the cable holding the spare tire is damaged. For the secondary latch to work, the tire must be stowed with the valve stem pointing down.

See "Storing the Spare Tire and Tools" later in this section for instructions on storing the spare tire correctly.

Caution: Before beginning this procedure read all the instructions. Failure to read and follow the instructions could damage the hoist assembly and you and others could get hurt. Read and follow the instructions listed next.

To release the spare tire from the secondary latch, do the following:

Caution: Someone standing too close during the procedure could be injured by the jack. If the spare tire does not slide off the jack completely, make sure no one is behind you or on either side of you as you pull the jack out from under the spare.

1. Check under the vehicle to see if the cable end is visible.
2. If the cable is not visible, start this procedure at Step 6.
3. Turn the wrench counterclockwise until approximately 6 inches (15 cm) of cable is exposed.



4. Connect the jack handle (C) and jack handle extension (B) together and press the retention clip (arrow) so it engages.



5. Attach the jack handle/jack handle extension to the jack . With the UP mark facing you, slide the ratchet onto the end of the jack handle extension. The set-up should look like the picture above.



6. Place the jack under the vehicle, ahead of the rear bumper. Position the center lift point of the jack under the center of the spare tire and turn the handle clockwise to raise the jack until it lifts the secondary latch spring.
7. Keep raising the jack until the spare tire stops moving upward and is held firmly in place. this lets you know that the secondary latch has released. The spare tire isnow balancing on the jack.
8. Lower the jack by turning the ratchet counterclockwise. Keep lowering the jack until the spare tire slides off the jack or is hanging by the cable.
9. Disconnect the jack handle from the jack and carefully remove the jack. Use one hand to push against the spare while firmly pulling the jack out from under the spare tire with the other hand.

If the spare tire is hanging from the cable, slide the ratchet onto the wheel wrench and insert the wheel wrench into the hoist shaft hole above the bumper. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the spare the rest of the way. Be sure the DOWN mark on the ratchet is facing you.

10. Tilt the retainer at the end of the cable and pull it through the wheel opening. Pull the tire out from under the vehicle.
11. If the cable is hanging under the vehicle, turn the wheel wrench in the hoist shaft hole in the bumper clockwise to raise the cable back up.

Have the hoist assembly inspected as soon as you can. You will not be able to store a spare or flat tire using the hoist assembly until it has been repaired or replaced.

To continue changing the flat tire, return to Step 4 of "Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire" later in this section.

If your vehicle has plastic wheel nut caps, loosen them by turning the wheel wrench counterclockwise. The wheel nut caps are designed to remain with the center cap. Remove the center cap.

If the wheel has a smooth center piece, place the chisel end of the wheel wrench in the slot on the wheel and gently pry it out.

1. With the DOWN side facing you, use the ratchet and wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts. Do not remove them yet.
2. Assemble the jack and tools for a front or rear flat as follows:

Front Position




3. Front Flat: Assemble the jack (A) together with the jack handle (B) and ratchet (C) as shown. Be sure that the ratchet has the UP mark facing you.

Rear Position




4. Rear Flat: Assemble the jack (A) together with the jack handle (B), jack handle extension (C) and ratchet (D) as shown. Be sure that the ratchet has the UP mark facing you. To assemble the jack handle and jack handle extension, use the art and text following.



5. Connect the jack handle (B) and jack handle extension (C) together and press the retention clip (arrow) so it engages.

Front Position





Rear Position




6. Position the jack under the vehicle as shown.

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.




7. Raise the vehicle by turning the ratchet clockwise. Make sure the UP mark faces you. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there is enough room for the spare tire to fit.



8. Remove all the wheel nuts, and take off the flat tire.



9. 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.




10. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each wheel nut by hand until the wheel is held against the hub.
11. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.



12. Tighten the nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence as shown. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise.

Caution: Wheel nuts that are improperly or incorrectly tightened can cause the wheels to become loose or come off. The wheel nuts should be tightened with a torque wrench to the proper torque specification after replacing. Follow the torque specification supplied by the aftermarket manufacturer when using accessory locking wheel nuts. See Capacities and Specifications for original equipment wheel nut torque specifications.

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. Put the wheel cover back on, or put the center cap and plastic wheel nut caps back on. Remove any wheel blocks.

Remember that the jack, jacking equipment and tire must be properly stored in their original storage position before you begin driving again. The next part will show you how.

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.

1. Put the tire on the ground at the rear of the vehicle with the valve stem pointed down.



2. Pull the retaining bar through the center of the wheel, making sure it is properly attached.



3. Pull the wheel toward the rear of the vehicle, keeping the cable tight.
4. With the UP side facing you, attach the ratchet to the wheel wrench.
5. Put the flat end of the wheel wrench on an angle through the hole in the rear door frame, above the bumper.
6. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the vehicle. Continue turning the ratchet until the tire is secure and the cable is tight. The spare tire hoist cannot be overtightened.
7. Make sure the tire is stored securely. Push, pull, and then try to rotate or turn the tire. If the tire moves, use the ratchet to tighten the cable.

You will hear two clicks when the tire is up all the way.

Return the jacking equipment to the proper location. Secure the items and replace the jack cover.