Fixing a Flat

Knowing how to change and repair it can mean the difference between making your appointment and running hours late. And technologies like tires that run even when flat and flat-fixers you can store in your trunk make fixing that flat easier than you might think!

Check out all the services and tips for Tires that GM Goodwrench has to offer. Visit our Tires page.

Consult your Owners Manual
Know where to locate your spare, tire iron & jack
Pull off the road to a safe, hard and flat location
Place the car in park or 1st (if manual transmission)
Activate your hazard lights
Apply the parking brake
Remove the keys from the ignition
Request all your passengers exit the vehicle during the change
Use tire blocks on tire opposite to one being changed
Use the floor mat for a kneeling pad
Loosen the lug nuts before raising the car with the jack - the weight of car will help keep the wheel from moving
Proper placement of the jack is important - fit the jack head securely
Lift high enough to remove tire, take off nuts, clean away any dirt/rust
Put on spare and hand tighten the lugnuts
Lower the jack carefully
With weight of the car back on the tire, finish tightening the nuts with the tire iron in a criss cross pattern
Pick up all your tools, reinstall the floor mat and store the flat correctly
Go to a GM Goodwrench service centre to have the lugnuts tightened with a torque wrench
GM Goodwrench can also diagnose why the flat occurred and advise you if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced

Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road you can't stop, accelerate or turn as well because your tire to road traction isn't as good as on dry roads. If your tires don't have much tread left, you'll get even less traction.

That portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road. It is distinguished by the design of its ribs and grooves.

It's always wise to go slower and be cautious if it starts to rain while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.

The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper blades are good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road, and even people walking. Road spray can often be worse for vision than rain, especially if it comes from a dirty road.

So it is wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled. Keep your windows clean inside. This will make them less likely to fog up. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts.

Driving too fast through large water puddles, or even going through some car washes, can cause problems too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles, but if you can't, try to slow down before you hit them.

Hydroplaning

Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that your vehicle can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.

You might not be aware of hydroplaning. You could drive along for some time without realizing your tires aren't in constant contact with the road. You could find out the hard way; when you have to slow, turn, move out to pass - or if you get hit by a gust of wind. You could suddenly find yourself out of control.

Hydroplaning doesn't happen often. But it can if your tires haven't much tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone poles, or other vehicles and raindrops "dimple" the water's surface, there could be hydroplaning. Hydroplaning usually happens on higher speed roads. There just isn't a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.

The best advice is to slow down when it is raining, and be careful.

Some Other Rainy Weather Tips

Turn on your headlights - not just your parking lights - to help make you more visible to others.
Look for hard-to-see vehicles coming from behind. What you see through the rearview mirrors may be distorted by raindrops on the outside mirror and rear window. You may want to use your headlights even in daytime if it's raining hard.
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by road spray. If the road spray is so heavy you are actually blinded, drop back. Don't pass until conditions improve. Going more slowly is better than having an accident.
Use your defogger if it helps.
Have good tires with proper tread depth.

The Goodwrench Oil Change

Goodwrench technicians at your GM dealer are GM-trained to understand how your GM vehicle uses its oil and how it monitors oil life. So a Goodwrench Oil Change from a GM-trained technician not only gives you great service, convenience and a great price. The Goodwrench Oil Change also gives you the added value of our expertise on the particular GM make and model that you drive.

The GM Oil Life System

Most GM vehicles are now equipped with the GM Oil Life System. This system actually senses your vehicle's speed and engine temperature and can continuously monitor operating conditions. This helps determine when it's time to change the oil.

This system can actually monitor your personal driving habits and your area's climate condition to let you know precisely when to come in for a Goodwrench Oil Change. When the light comes on, you come in. It's that simple. It'll will save you money and help reduce oil waste.

Your Goodwrench Technician will reset your Oil Life Monitor System after an Oil change. Ask your Goodwrench technician how, or consult your Owners Manual if necessary.

Always consult your Owners Manual for the proper procedure to check your oil level. You'll get a more accurate dipstick reading by following those instructions.

How to know when it's time for an oil change

Your Owners manual recommends you check oil level each time you refuel.
To check oil must be warm and car on level round
Turn the engine off
Wait a few minutes for oil to drain back into pan
Remove the Dipstick and wipe clean
Reinsert stick and remove to take the reading

Goodwrench Brake Service

Stopping power is crucial to a safe and successful driving experience. Need a set of brakes? Then you'll want a great set of brakes that are always available down the Goodwrench lane at any GM dealer. You can have your brakes replaced or serviced by GM-vehicle experts. Our Goodwrench technicians are GM-trained to understand your vehicle's brakes better than anyone.

If your brake pedal feels different than normal or if you've noticed any change in the way your vehicle brakes (pulls to one side when braking or requires more pressure on the brake pedal), have the brake system inspected at your local GM dealer immediately.

When Is Brake Noise Signalling A Problem?

Sometimes, your GM vehicle's brakes will alert you when there's trouble. Whistling noises, chirping sounds or grinding are indications that maintenance is required. Here are some common causes of brake noise.

Worn brake pads
Heat cracked or worn "un-true" rotors
Rough finish on resurfaced rotors
Loose fitting brake pads in the caliper
Lack of silicone compound on back of brake pad
Missing springs or anti-rattle clips that should be on the caliper or pad
Improper tightening sequence of lug nuts or caliper hardware

Vehicles often come equipped with a small thin piece of metal attached to the brake pad to act as a warning indicator when the pad material is getting low and the brake pads should be replaced. This device makes a loud noise on brake application, letting you know it is time to have your brakes serviced.

Get more Goodwrench Tips about brakes