Get Changing a wheel Guide for Volkswagen Passat SUV Sixth Generation (2005-2010)

Changing a wheel

ꢀIntroduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Preparations for changing a wheel

Wheel bolts

Lifting the vehicle with the vehicle jack

Changing a wheel

After changing a wheel

Change a wheel by yourself only if the vehicle is parked in a safe location, you are familiar with safety

procedures and the technical steps, and you have proper tools available. Otherwise, get expert

assistance.

The vehicle jack can only be safely used to change the wheel on a vehicle that has only one flat or

damaged tire. If the vehicle does not have the support it needs from 3 fully inflated tires, the vehicle

can fall off the jack. If more than 1 tire on the vehicle is flat or damaged, do not lift the vehicle with the

vehicle jack. Instead, get expert assistance.

More information:

ꢀ

Exterior views

Vehicle key set

Tires and wheels

In an emergency

Vehicle tool kit

Wheel covers

WARNING

Changing a wheel, especially on the side of the road, can be dangerous. To help reduce the

risk of serious personal injury:

ꢀ

Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. Move the vehicle a safe distance off

the road where it is safe to change the wheel.

Always make sure that all passengers, especially children, are in a safe place outside the

vehicle and away from the vehicle and traffic (such as behind a guard rail).

Turn on the emergency flashers and set up another warning device about 25 yards (25

meters) behind the vehicle to warn approaching traffic.

Change a wheel by yourself only if you are familiar with the necessary steps. Otherwise,

get expert assistance.

Always switch the engine off, firmly apply the parking brake, and shift the transmission

ꢀ

into Park (P) (automatic transmission) or any gear (manual only) to help prevent the vehicle

from moving suddenly and slipping off the jack.

ꢀ

Always make sure that the ground is level and firm. If necessary, place the jack on a large

and sturdy board or on a similar ground support.

Always block the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel being changed with chocks or other

similar things.

If you are towing a trailer, always unhitch it from your vehicle before starting to change

ꢀ

the wheel. Always apply the trailer brakes firmly and make sure the trailer cannot move

unintentionally.

ꢀ

Always use proper and undamaged tools when changing a wheel.

Once a wheel is lifted off the ground, having the transmission in Park (P) or in gear will not

prevent sudden vehicle movement.

Always use a jack that has been approved by the manufacturer for your vehicle. Never use

other jacks, even if they have been approved for use on other Volkswagen models.

To reduce the risk of losing control, crashes, and serious personal injuries, never loosen

the screws on rims with threaded rim rings.

After changing a wheel, have the wheel bolt tightening torque checked with an accurate

torque wrench.

ꢀ

ꢀ After changing a wheel or tire, reset the Tire Pressure Monitoring System ⇒ꢀpage 178, Tire

Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Preparations for changing a wheel

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Checklist

Getting ready to change a wheel. Follow these steps in the order listed here ⇒ꢀ

:

1. If you have a flat tire, move as far away from traffic as possible. Park the vehicle on a flat and level

surface where no part of the hot catalytic converter and exhaust system can come into contact with

flammable materials under the vehicle, such as dry grass, brush, spilled fuel, etc.

2. Firmly apply the parking brake to help prevent the vehicle from moving, Braking and parking.

3. Automatic transmission: Shift the transmission into Park (P), Shifting.

4. Stop the engine and remove the key from the ignition switch, Starting and stopping the engine.

5. Manual transmission: Engage a gear, Shifting.

6. Have all passengers exit and go to a safe place, such as behind a guard rail.

361

7. Block the diagonally opposite wheel with chocks or other suitable things.

8. If towing a trailer: Unhitch the trailer from the vehicle and park the trailer properly.

9. If the luggage compartment is loaded: Remove the luggage.

10.Take the compact spare wheel and the vehicle tool kit out of the luggage compartment.

11.Take off the wheel covers, Wheel trim.

WARNING

Disregarding the safety-related checklist may lead to accidents and serious personal injuries.

ꢀ Always review and follow the checklist. Follow accepted safety practices and use common

sense.

Wheel bolts

Fig. 208 Changing a wheel: Loosening wheel bolts.

Fig. 209 Changing a wheel: tire valve 1 and installation points for the anti-theft wheel bolt 2 or 3 (where

applicable).

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Loosen the wheel bolts only with the lug wrench that was supplied with the vehicle.

Loosen the wheel bolts only about 1 turn before lifting the vehicle with the jack.

If a wheel bolt does not come loose, carefully push the end of the lug wrench with your foot. Make sure

you are standing firmly on the ground and hold on to the vehicle for support.

Loosening the wheel bolts

ꢀ

Push the lug wrench over the wheel bolt all the way ⇒ꢀfig. 208.

Holding the lug wrench at the end, loosen the wheel bolt by turning it counterclockwise about 1

complete turn (360°) ⇒ꢀ

.

Loosening the anti-theft wheel bolt (where applicable)

ꢀ

Take the adapter for the anti-theft wheel bolt out of the vehicle tool kit.

Push the adapter all the way over the anti-theft wheel bolt.

Slide the lug wrench onto the adapter until it stops.

Holding the lug wrench at the end, loosen the wheel bolt by turning it counterclockwise about 1

complete turn (360°) ⇒ꢀ

.

Important information regarding wheel bolts

The design of rims and wheel bolts is matched to the factory-installed wheels. If different wheels are

installed, wheel bolts with the right length and bolt head shape must be used. The attachment of the

wheels and function of the brake system depend on this.

It may not be possible to use wheel bolts from different vehicles of the same model.

Where applicable: On a wheel with a wheel cover, the anti-theft wheel bolt must be installed at points

⇒ꢀfig. 209 (2) or (3) in relation to the position of the tire valve (1). Otherwise, the wheel cover cannot

be installed.

Wheel bolt tightening torque

Correctly tightened bolts for steel and alloy wheel rims should have a torque of 103 ft-lbs. (140 Nm).

After changing a wheel, have the wheel bolt tightening torque checked right away with an accurate

torque wrench.

Before you check the tightening torque, replace corroded and difficult-to-turn wheel bolts and clean

the threads in the wheel hub.

Never grease or oil the wheel bolts and the threads in the wheel hubs. The bolts can come loose while

driving if greased or oiled, even if tightened to the required torque.

WARNING

Improperly tightened wheel bolts can come loose while driving and cause you to lose control

over the vehicle, resulting in accidents and serious injuries.

ꢀ

Only use wheel bolts that belong your vehicle and to the wheel being installed.

Never use different wheel bolts.

Wheel bolts and wheel hub threads must always be clean, easy-to-turn and free of oil and

grease.

ꢀ

Only use the lug wrench that is supplied with the vehicle to loosen the wheel bolts.

Loosen the wheel bolts only about 1 turn before lifting the vehicle with the jack.

Never grease or oil the wheel bolts and the threads in the wheel hubs. The bolts can come

loose while driving if greased or oiled, even if tightened to the required torque.

ꢀ

Never loosen bolted connections on wheel rims with bolted rim rings.

If the wheel bolts are not tightened to the proper torque, the wheel can come off the

vehicle when it is moving. Extremely high torque can damage the wheel bolts and/or their

threads.

363

Lifting the vehicle with the vehicle jack

Fig. 210 Lift points for the jack.

Fig. 211 Jack in position at the left rear lift point.

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The jack must be positioned at one of the four lift points marked on the vehicle body (2 on each side

as shown in ⇒ꢀfig. 210). You must use the lift point closest to the wheel being changed ⇒ꢀ

The vehicle may only be lifted by a jack positioned at one of the 4 jack lift points.

.

Checklist

For your own safety and that of your passengers, carry out the following steps in the order listed ⇒ꢀ

1. Find a level spot on firm ground for lifting the vehicle.

:

2. Switch off the engine. Automatic transmission: shift the transmission into Park (P)) Automatic

transmission: Selector lever; Manual transmission only: shift into a gear Manual transmission:

Gearshift lever. Then firmly apply the parking brake Braking and parking to help prevent the vehicle

from moving.

3. If towing a trailer: Unhitch the trailer from the vehicle and park the trailer properly.

4. Straighten the steering wheel so that the front wheels point straight forward.

5. Block the diagonally opposite wheel with chocks or other suitable things.

6. Loosen the wheel bolts of the wheel to be changed Wheel bolts.

7. Find the jack lift point on the vehicle frame that is closest to the wheel to be changed.

8. Crank up the jack so that it still just fits underneath the lift point.

9. Position the jack so that its base is directly underneath the lift point ⇒ꢀfig. 211, making sure that the

entire base of the jack rests securely on the ground.

10.Align the jack and wind up the jack claw at the same time, until the claw cradles the vertical rib

underneath the vehicle (arrow).

11.Continue cranking up the jack until the wheel is just a little off the ground.

WARNING

Improper use of your vehicle jack can cause the vehicle to fall off the jack leading to serious

personal injury. To help reduce the risk of serious personal injury:

ꢀ

Use only jacks approved by Volkswagen for the vehicle. Other jacks might slip, even those

approved for other Volkswagen models, but not for your vehicle.

Always set up the jack on firm and level ground. The vehicle may slip off the jack if the

jack is resting on soft or sloping ground. If necessary, place a sturdy board under the jack.

On a hard, slippery surface (such as a tiled floor), use an anti-skid rubber mat or

something similar to prevent the jack from slipping.

Position the jack only at the described vehicle lift points. Before you raise your vehicle,

ꢀ

always make sure the jack claw properly grips the vertical rib under the sill so that the jack

does not slip off when you are raising the vehicle .

ꢀ

Never have any part of your body (such as your arm or leg) under the vehicle when it is

supported by the jack. Never let other persons have any part of their body under the vehicle,

either!

ꢀ

If you must work under a vehicle raised on a floor jack, always make sure that the vehicle

is safely supported on safety stands intended for that purpose that are strong enough to

support the weight of the vehicle.

ꢀ

Never lift the vehicle when it is tilted or inclined to one side or the engine is running.

Never lift the vehicle when more than 1 tire is flat or damaged.

Do not start the engine while the vehicle is supported by a jack. Engine vibrations may

cause the vehicle to slip off the jack.

WARNING

Disregarding the safety-related checklist may lead to accidents and serious personal injuries.

ꢀ Always review and follow the checklist. Follow accepted safety practices and use common

sense.

365

Changing a wheel

Fig. 212 Changing a wheel: remove previously loosened wheel bolts using the screwdriver handle.

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Removing the wheel

ꢀ

Review the checklist Preparations for changing a wheel.

Loosen the wheel bolts Wheel bolts.

Lift the vehicle Lifting the vehicle with the vehicle jack.

Completely unscrew and remove the previously loosened wheel bolts using the hexagonal socket

in the screwdriver handle ⇒ꢀfig. 212. Place the wheel bolts on a clean surface.

Remove the wheel.

ꢀ

Mounting a spare tire or a compact spare wheel

If the tire is a unidirectional tire, be sure to install it in the proper rolling direction Tires and wheels.

ꢀ

Place the spare tire or compact spare on the axle.

Place the anti-theft wheel bolt (where applicable) in position ⇒ꢀfig. 209 (2) or (3) in relation to the

position of the tire valve (1). Hand tighten it using the adapter by turning clockwise.

ꢀ Screw in all wheel bolts clockwise and tighten them slightly using the hexagonal socket in the

screwdriver handle.

ꢀ

Lower the vehicle with the jack.

Use the lug wrench to firmly tighten all wheel bolts (turn clockwise) ⇒ꢀ . Do not tighten them in

sequence! Tighten any wheel bolt to begin, then tighten the wheel bolt diagonally opposite the first

bolt, and so forth.

ꢀ

Install the wheel bolt caps, center wheel hubcap, or wheel cover, if any Wheel trim.

WARNING

Wheel bolts that are tightened or installed improperly can come loose, causing loss of

vehicle control, a crash, and serious personal injury.

ꢀ

Always keep wheel bolts and threads in the wheel hub clean and free of oil and grease.

The wheel bolts must turn easily and must be tightened with the right torque.

Use the hexagonal socket in the screwdriver handle only to turn the wheel bolts when they

are loose, never to loosen them or tighten them firmly.

ꢀ

WARNING

Improper use of a compact spare wheel can cause loss of vehicle control, a crash or other

accident, and serious personal injury.

ꢀ

Never use a compact spare wheel if it is damaged or worn down to the wear indicators.

Never drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h) with a compact spare wheel. Avoid full-throttle

acceleration, heavy braking, and fast cornering!

Never drive more than 125 miles (200 km) with a compact spare wheel that is installed on

the front axle (drive axle).

Replace the compact spare with a normal wheel and tire as soon as possible. Compact

ꢀ

spare tires are designed for brief use only.

After changing a wheel

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

ꢀ

Clean the tools in the vehicle tool kit if necessary and stow them in the foam insert in the luggage

compartment, Vehicle tool kit.

Securely store the compact spare wheel or the wheel you took off the vehicle in the luggage

compartment.

ꢀ

Have the wheel bolt tightening torque immediately checked with a torque wrench, Wheel bolts.

Have the damaged wheel replaced as soon as possible.

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System must be recalibrated after each tire change, Tire Pressure

Monitoring System (TPMS).

367

Changing a wheel for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Sixth Generation (2005-2010)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals