2010 Dodge Nitro User Guide - Page 47

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES • Locate the jack: • For the front tires, place it (rearward) of the notch on the body weld seam behind the wheel to be changed. • For the rear tires, place it under the axle by the wheel to be changed. • Raise the vehicle by turning the jack screw clockwise. Raise the vehicle only until the tire just clears the surface and enough clearance is obtained to install the spare tire. WARNING! Raising the vehicle higher than necessary can make the vehicle less stable and cause an accident. It could slip off the jack and hurt someone near it. Raise the vehicle only enough to remove the tire. • Remove the lug nuts, wheel cover (if equipped) and the wheel. • Position the spare wheel/tire on the vehicle and install the lug nuts with the cone-shaped end toward the wheel. Do NOT attempt to install a center cap or wheel cover on the compact spare. Lightly tighten the lug nuts clockwise. To avoid the risk of forcing the vehicle off the jack, do not tighten the nuts fully until the vehicle has been lowered. • Lower the vehicle by turning the jack screw to the left, and remove the jack and wheel blocks. • Finish tightening the lug nuts. Push down on the wrench while tightening for increased leverage. Alternate nuts until each one has been tightened twice. The correct wheel nut tightness is 95 ft lbs (130 N•m). If in doubt about the correct tightness, have them checked with a torque wrench by your authorized dealer or at a service station. WARNING! A loose tire or jack, thrown forward in a collision or hard stop, could endanger the occupants of the vehicle. Always stow the jack parts and the spare tire in the places provided. • Secure the tire, jack, and tools in their proper locations. 45