1997 FORD EXPEDITION spare tire

Removing the floor mat
1. To remove mat, pull up on rear
of mat to release from locator post.
Compact disc changer (if
equipped)
The compact disc changer is
located inside the center console.
For information on the compact
disc changer, refer to the ªAudio
Guideº.
SPARE TIRE AND JACK
Your vehicle is equipped with a
jack and a full-size spare tire (if
equipped). For instructions on how
to remove and mount the spare
tire, refer to theRoadside
emergencieschapter.
OPEN
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Controls and features
66

CHANGING THE TIRES
If you get a flat tire while driving,
do not apply the brake heavily.
Instead, gradually decrease your
speed. Hold the steering wheel
firmly and slowly move to a safe
place on the side of the road:
²Park on a level spot.
²Turn off the ignition.
²Set the parking brake.
²Activate the hazard flashers.
Spare tire information
Your vehicle is equipped with a
spare tire that may be used as a
spare or as a regular tire. The
spare is identical to the other tires
on your vehicle, although the
wheel cover may not match.
Location of the spare tire and
tools
The spare tire and tools for your
vehicle are stowed in the following
locations:
Tool Location
Spare tire Under the vehicle, just in front of the rear
bumper.
Jack, wheel nut
wrench, instructions,
work glovesBehind the access panel located on the right
rear quarter panel interior trim.
Jack handle On the top of the raditator support at the front
of the engine compartment.
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144

Removing the jack handle
1. Open the hood.
2. Un-snap the end of the handle
that is retained by the clip on the
top of the windshield washer
bottle.
3. Un-snap the shaft of the handle
from the two retaining clips
attached to the top of the radiator
shroud.
Removing the jack and tools
1. Locate the access panel on the
interior trim. Lift and rotate the
two panel retaining clips and
remove panel.
2. Un-snap the wheel lug nut
wrench, instructions and work
gloves from their retaining bracket.
3. Remove the jack by turning the
thumbwheel counterclockwise to
relieve tension against the stowage
bracket.
Removing the spare tire
1. Open the rear liftgate.
2. Insert the straight end of the
jack handle into the rear access
hole located just above the rear
bumper.
²Forward motion will stop and
resistance to turning will be felt
when properly engaged.
3. Turn the handle
counterclockwise until tire is
lowered to the ground and the
cable is slightly slack.
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145

4. Remove the end of the cable
from the wheel and slide the spare
out from under the vehicle.
To re-install the spare tire or tools,
reverse the removal procedure.
On vehicles equipped with
Air Suspension, turn OFF
the Air Suspension switch prior
to jacking, hoisting or towing
your vehicle.
Tire change procedure
Refer to the instruction sheet for
detailed tire change instructions.
1. Park on a level surface.
2. Activate the hazard flashers.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Place the gearshift in P(Park).
5. Block the diagonally opposite
wheel.
OFF
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146

Removing flat tire and installing
spare
6. Use the tip of the lug wrench to
remove any wheel trim. Insert the
tapered end of the lug wrench
behind the wheel covers or
hubcaps and twist off.
7. Loosen the wheel nuts with the
lug wrench. Do not remove the lug
nuts until the tire has been raised
off the ground.
8. Insert the jack handle into the
jack and use the handle to slide
the jack under the vehicle.
9. Position the jack according to
the following guides and turn the
jack handle clockwise until the
wheel is completely off the ground.
²When one of the back wheels is
off the ground, the transmission
alone will not prevent the
vehicle from moving or slipping
off the jack, even if the vehicle
is in P (Park). To prevent the
vehicle from moving when you
change the tire, be sure that the
parking brake is set and the
diagonally opposite wheel is
blocked. If the vehicle slips off
the jack, someone could be
seriously injured.
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147

Rear
NEVER USE THE FRONT OR
REAR DIFFERENTIAL AS A
JACKING POINT.
1. Remove the lug nuts with the
lug nut wrench.
2. Replace the flat tire with the
spare tire.
3. Thread the lug nuts on the
wheel studs with the beveled face
toward the wheel. Use the lug nut
Roadside emergencies
149

wrench to screw the lug nut snug
against the wheel, but do not
tighten.
4. Lower the vehicle by turning the
jack handle counterclockwise.
5. Remove the jack and fully
tighten the lug nuts to the proper
torque specifications in the order
shown.
Never use wheels or lug
nuts different than the
original equipment as this could
damage the wheel or mounting
system. This damage could allow
the wheels to come off while the
vehicle is being driven.
6. Replace any wheel covers,
ornaments or hub caps that your
vehicle may have. Make sure that
they are screwed or snapped into
place.
7. Put the jack and wrench away.
Ensure that the jack is securely
fastened.
8. To stow the flat tire, lay the tire
on the ground with the inboard
side facing up. Install the retainer
through the wheel center and slide
the wheel under the vehicle. Turn
the spare handle clockwise until
the spare tire is raised to its
original position underneath the
vehicle. The spare handle ratchets
when the tire is raised to the
stowed position. It will not allow
you to overtighten.
9. Unblock the wheels.
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150

IMPORTANT TIRE
MAINTENANCE INFORMATION
Information about tire quality
grades
New vehicles are fitted with tires
that have their Tire Quality Grade
(described below) molded into the
tire's sidewall. These Tire Quality
Grades are determined by
standards that the United States
Department of Transportation has
set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic tires for use on
passenger cars. They do not apply
to deep tread, winter-type snow
tires, space-saver or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or
limited production tires as defined
in Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of
Transportation-Tire quality
grades:The U.S. Department of
Transportation requires Ford to
give you the following information
about tire grades exactly as the
government has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire grade 150
would wear one and one-half (1
1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire grade
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Maintenance and care
182