16/3/2015
Was a bit restless last weekend to I thought I'd see how to change a tyre on the ZX. Bad decision!
The spare tyre is located BENEATH the car (similar to a Perodua Alza) and requires you to lower it by gradually loosening the screw that holds it in place. The tyre jack looks a lot like and old school manual wood drill with the crank-like hand hold. That should've been alarm No 1.
Opened the boot and searched for the nut to lower the spare tyre. It's located in the middle of the trunk, near to the trunk lip. Found the crank and began cranking. Hard work too cos the recessed portion where the crank meets the nut isn't suited for extended time 'grinding motion' while standing up. Kept on slipping. Blardee process took me about 10 minutes of continuous grinding before the spare wheel was lowered. Nia mah!
We know the ZX sits low on the ground. Alarm No 2. That also means you'll need to be sufficiently limber/dexterous in order to get the tyre. I was in a crawling position, lowered my shoulder slightly at an awkward angle to reach underneath the car AND pull the tyre out. Pulled a muscle at the same time.
The jack is nicely stored in a plastic casing beside the spare tyre underneath the car. It's held on by a few metal clips and such. It'll come down together when the tyre is lowered.
Trying to loosen the tyre nuts is another feat in futility with the given crank. Lucky I got myself a more conventional 'X' jack. Proceed to jack up the car. That took another round of muscle building exercise. Kanasai. FYI, the nuts are 'bolt type' as opposed to the Japanese 'nut type'.
Changed the tyre.
Now the part where I tulan.
![smile_angry.gif](style_emoticons/default/smile_angry.gif)
Putting the changed tyre back to it's place under the car is already difficult. Trying to get the hook (which is attached to the screw, which raises the tyre back so it's flush in the undercarriage is difficult PLUS. A tip for those thinking of lowering the spare tyre ; remember to position the tyre air valve at an accessible spot. I initially placed in further in which made it impossible to fill up the air without lowering the tyre again. Sheeshhh...
Half a day gone changing the tyre on a ZX when it would've probably take me 20 minutes TOPS in a Proton or Jap car. Send to mechanic even faster.