1. Do a safety check before proceeding. See If a Tire Goes Flat on page 10‑58 for more information.

2. If the vehicle has a wheel cover, loosen the plastic nut caps with the wheel wrench. They will not come off. Then, using the flat end of the wheel wrench, pry along the edge of the cover until it comes off. Be careful; the edges may be sharp. Do not try to remove the cover with your bare hands.

Store the wheel cover securely in the rear of the vehicle until you have the flat tire repaired or replaced.

If the vehicle has aluminum wheels, remove the wheel nut caps using the wheel wrench.

3. Loosen the wheel nuts — but do not remove them — using the wrench. For wheels with a wheel lock key, use the wheel lock key between the lock nut and wrench. The key is supplied in the front passenger door pocket.

Notice: If this vehicle has wheel locks and an impact wrench is used to remove the wheel nuts, the lock nut or wheel lock key could be damaged. Do not use an impact wrench to remove the wheel nuts if this vehicle has wheel locks.

4. To identify the appropriate jacking location, find the triangle (A) about 30.5 cm (12 in) from the front tire or (B) about 27 cm (10.5 in) from the rear tire.

The triangle is located near each wheel on the vehicle's exterior.

Notice: If a jack is used to raise the vehicle without positioning it correctly, the vehicle could be damaged. When raising the vehicle on a jack, avoid contact with the rear axle control arms.

5. Attach the wrench to the jack, and turn the wrench clockwise to raise the jack head 7.6 cm (3 in).

6. Do not raise the vehicle yet. Put the compact spare tire near you.

WARNING
Getting under a vehicle when it is lifted on a jack 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.

WARNING
Raising the 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 wrench clockwise in the jack.

Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so that there is enough room for the spare tire to fit under the wheel well.

8. Remove all the wheel nuts and the flat tire.

9. Remove the plastic spare tire heat shield by pulling the rubber latch. Store the plastic spare tire heat shield. See “Storing the Spare Tire” later in this section for more information.

WARNING
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, a cloth or a paper towel can be used;

however, use a scraper or wire brush later to remove all rust or dirt.

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

11. Place the spare tire on the wheel mounting surface.

12. Put the nuts on by hand by turning them clockwise until the wheel is held against the mounting surface. Make sure the rounded end is toward the wheel.

13. Lower the vehicle by attaching the wrench to the jack and turning the wrench counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.

WARNING
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 on page 12‑2 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 on page 12‑2 for the wheel nut torque specification.

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

Notice: Wheel covers will not fit on the vehicle's compact spare.

If you try to put a wheel cover on the compact spare, the cover or the spare could be damaged.