dbnspark 7 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Since there is no spare or jack with the car, the owners manual does specify how to lift car. How are we supposed to change wheels for the winter? Even my Mini with runflats had jacking points on the car. Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 It has the typical points in the typical places on the bottom seam just like ever other car. There is a little notch in the seam (about 2 inches long) where the jack is supposed to sit on the seam. Harbor freight is one of the only places left that has this style of jack. Autozone and Advance Auto only carry a flat top scissor jack which I don't think is very good for this car because it puts all of the force right on top of that seam and it going to bend the seam and may drop the car on top of you. There are also electric scissor jacks with the correct "seam gripping" top, application of some thick rubber would probably protect the paint. So far I have tires and wheels, new wheel nuts (M12x1.50) and the TPMS and TPMS tool, just need to get the jack and a new socket for my breaker bar (lug wrench) and I'm set. Need to deal with this soon too. Also note that I have not found a single TPC rated winter tire, in theory we are only supposed to use TPC tires in this car, I think it has something to do with the tire pressure which is a lot higher than I normally run my snow tires. Guess I find out what happens soon since I had snows from last season that only have about 5000 miles on them, certainly wasn't going to buy new snows again this season if I didn't need to buy them. Link to post Share on other sites
dbnspark 7 Posted December 5, 2012 Author Share Posted December 5, 2012 Thanks for the jack info. Did not know about TPC rated tires. I'll find out soon if it will be a problem. I am having stock wheels powdercoated, the look will be different. When I explained what I wanted done, one guy said it was odd, then said, well different. Another person said I get what your doing. Should be interesting.....I bought colored lug caps so the chrome lugs will not be noticed.http://www.colorlugs.com/ If anything, it will keep the salt off the lugs. Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I think mostly the TPC tires is one more way to try and prevent us from buying outside the dealership. Surprised we don't have to have the computer programmed each time we get new rubber. Link to post Share on other sites
Widget 36 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 In the UK there is only one type of tyre available for the Spark. It is an all year tyre made by Goodyear. No-one else makes or supplies them as they are a weird size. A nice money making collaboration between Goodyear and Chevy there. Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Are you allowed to run a different size tire? 205/50r15 is the same diameter which is what I intend to use once the stock tires are worn out. The 14 inch rim is a little strange in size so I think you need to go a little thinner to get the correct diameter. Link to post Share on other sites
nicksb 2 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 well if you do use a regular jack you could also just get some rubber blocks and put that between so that way it helps it not bend Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 I think that is what I'm probably going to do is buy a thick rubber block and cut a slot in it for the body seam. Link to post Share on other sites
dbnspark 7 Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 The Fiat 500 has the same size tires as the US version 185/55/15. Not sure of the brand, next time I see my sister-in-laws car I will look. Link to post Share on other sites
dbnspark 7 Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 Surprised we don't have to have the computer programmed each time we get new rubber. I installed euro tail lights on my Jetta TDI, the car had to be reprogrammed to make the lights work. Volkswagen/Audi group offers a VAG-COM to DIY'ers. VAG-COM attaches to your laptop, which attaches to your OBD port (if I remember correctly) allows you to program just about everything your allowed to program, windows opening with key fob, drl on or off, etc. I didn't have a vag-com but I found someone local that had one and programmed the car for me. When I sold car, I removed lights, and of course had to have car programmed again..........Wonder if GM offers such a device? Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 I have not found a device like that for under a few thousand dollars. And here is the catch... All of this stuff must connect back to the GM computers, they need dealer ID code and accessory authenticity code in order to complete the programming. There are some third party tools, but I don't think they are up to this modern version which uses keys to activate options. But I am keeping an eye open for something that might work. Link to post Share on other sites
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