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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 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 stored with the valve stem pointing up.
SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools on page 5-88
for instructions on storing the spare or at 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. Check under the
vehicle to see if the
cable is visible. If it is
not visible, proceed
to Step 6.
5-84
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Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision,
loose equipment could strike someone. Store
all these in the proper place.
{CAUTION:
The underbody-mounted spare tire needs to be
stored with the valve stem pointing up. If the
spare tire is stored with the valve stem pointing
downward, its secondary latch won’t work
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
properly and the spare tire could loosen
and suddenly fall from your vehicle. If this
happened when your vehicle was being driven,
the tire might contact a person or another
vehicle, causing injury and, of course,
damage to itself as well. Be sure the
underbody-mounted spare tire is stored
with its valve stem pointing up.
Notice:An aluminum wheel with a at tire should
always be stored under the vehicle with the
hoist. However, storing it that way for an extended
period could damage the wheel. To avoid this,
always stow the wheel properly with the valve stem
pointing up and have the wheel repaired as soon
as possible.
5-88
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Follow this diagram to store the underbody-mounted
spare tire.
A. Wheel Wrench
B. Hoist Shaft
C. Extension(s)
D. Retainer
E. Spare or Flat Tire
(Valve Stem
Pointed Up)
1. Put the tire (E) on the ground at the rear of the
vehicle.
2. Remove the hubcap, if equipped, from the at tire
by tapping the backside of the hubcap with the
wheel wrench (A). Store in a safe location until the
at tire is repaired. Once the tire is repaired,
replace the hubcap.
3. Ensure the valve stem is pointed up and to the rear.
4. Pull the retainer (D) through the wheel.
5. Put the socket end of the extension (C), on a
45 degree angle downward, through the hole just
above the rear bumper and connected to the hoist
shaft (B).6. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the
vehicle. Continue turning the wheel wrench (A)
clockwise until you hear two clicks or feel it
skip twice. This indicates that the tire is secure and
the cable is tight. The spare tire hoist cannot be
overtightened.
7. Make sure the tire is stored securely. Push, pull (A),
and then try to turn (B) the tire. If the tire moves,
use the wheel wrench and socket end of the
extension to tighten the cable.
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