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Secondary Latch System
Your vehicle has an underbody mounted tire hoist
assembly equipped with a secondary latch system. It is
designed to stop the compact spare tire from suddenly
falling off your vehicle if the cable holding the spare
tire is damaged. For the secondary latch to work, the tire
must be stowed with the valve stem pointing down.
SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools on page 5-81
for instructions on storing the spare tire correctly.
{CAUTION:
Before beginning this procedure read all the
instructions. Failure to read and follow the
instructions could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get hurt. Read and
follow the instructions listed below.
{CAUTION:
Someone standing too close during the
procedure could be injured by the jack. If the
spare tire does not slide off the jack
completely, make sure no one is behind you or
on either side of you as you pull the jack out
from the spare.
To release the spare tire from the secondary latch, do
the following:
1. If the cable is not visible, start this procedure at
Step 3.
2. If the cable is visible,
turn the wrench
counterclockwise until
approximately
6 inches (15 cm) of
cable is exposed.
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Page 374 of 442

3. Attach the wheel wrench to the jack and raise the
jack at least 10 turns.
4. Place the jack under the vehicle, ahead of the rear
bumper. Position the center lift point of the jack
under the center of the spare tire.
5. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the jack
until it lifts the secondary latch spring.
6. Keep raising the jack until the spare tire stops
moving upward and is held rmly in place, this lets
you know that the secondary latch has released.
7. Lower the jack by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Keep lowering the jack until
the spare tire is resting on the wheel wrench.8. Grasp the spare tire with both hands and pull it out
from under the vehicle.
9. Reach under the vehicle and remove the wheel
wrench and jack.
10. Tilt the retainer and slip it through the wheel
opening when the spare tire has been completely
lowered.
11. Turn the wrench clockwise to raise the cable back
up if the cable is hanging.
Have the hoist assembly inspected as soon as you can.
You will not be able to store a spare tire using the
hoist assembly until it has been repaired or replaced.
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3. Tilt the retainer downward and slip it through the
center hole of the spare tire.
Make sure the retainer is fully seated across the
underside of the wheel.
4. Attach the wheel wrench to the hoist shaft.
5. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to lift the
spare tire.
6. When the tire is almost in the stored position, turn
the tire so that the valve stem is towards the rear of
the vehicle.
This will help when you check and maintain tire
pressure in the spare.7. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the
vehicle. Continue turning the wheel wrench until
you feel more than two clicks. This indicates that the
compact spare tire is secure and the cable is
tight. The spare tire hoist cannot be overtightened.
8. Make sure the tire is stored securely. Push, pull (A),
and then try to turn the tire (B). If the tire moves,
use the wheel wrench to tighten the cable.
Put back all tools as they were stored in the rear
storage compartment and put the compartment cover
back on.
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