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 an automatic transmission shift lever in PARK (P), or shift a manual transmission to FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R).
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'll need is located in the trunk.

2.2 L4 Engine





2.0L Supercharged Engine




1. Lift the trunk liner and place the plastic hook in the lip of the trunk lid.

2.2 L4 Engine





2.0L Supercharged Engine




2. Remove the nut that holds down the spare tire. See Compact Spare Tire
3. Remove the spare tire by placing your hands at the four and eight o'clock positions. Gently pull it up and out of the trunk. For vehicles equipped with the 2.0L supercharged engine, complete Step 4 first, then Step 3.
4. Remove the wing nut that holds the jack and remove the jack and wheel wrench.

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

You will need to turn the plastic wheel nut counterclockwise to loosen the wheel wrench from the jack.

Press the button and then pull on the end of the wheel wrench to extend the handle.

1. If your vehicle is equipped with plastic wheel covers, use the wheel wrench to loosen 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. The plastic nut caps do not come off. Using the flat end of the wheel wrench, pry along the edge of the wheel cover until it comes off.

If your vehicle has aluminum wheels, first remove the center cap with your finger or the wheel wrench.

2. Then use the wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts. Don't remove them yet.



3. Position the jack lift head at the jack location nearest the flat tire. The front location is about 7 inches (17.8 cm) rearward from the front wheel opening. The rear location is about 2 inches (5.1 cm) forward of the rear wheel opening.

Make sure the jack head is touching the metal jacking flange under the body. Do not place the jack under the plastic body panel.

Notice: Make sure that the jack lift head is in the correct position or you may damage your vehicle. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.

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.

4. Put the compact spare tire near you.
5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there is enough room for the compact spare tire to fit under the vehicle.
6. Remove all of the wheel nuts.




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.

7. Place the compact spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.
8. 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.
9. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.



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

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.

Don't try to put a wheel cover on your compact spare tire. It won't 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.

1. Remove the stow bolt extension rod and sleeve from the jack.
2. Reattach the wheel wrench to the jack.
3. Screw the stow bolt extension rod and the sleeve into the existing spare tire hold-down bolt.
4. Place the flat tire face down into the spare tire hub. Avoid scraping the aluminum wheel on the hold-down bolt.
5. Place the jack into the center of the flat tire, being careful not to scratch the inside of the wheel.
6. Place the smaller jack hold-down nut in a safe place for use when you put the compact spare tire back into the trunk.
7. Remove the plastic sleeve from the stow bolt extension rod. Secure the jack and road wheel using the larger plastic retainer.

The compact spare tire is for temporary use only. Replace the compact spare with a full-size tire as soon as possible.