2. Flip the carpet cutout that is
located through the hole of
the storage compartment.
3. Attach the lug wrench into the
hoist shaft.
4. Turn the lug wrench
counterclockwise to lower the
spare tire to the ground. Continue
turning the wrench until the
spare tire can be pulled out
from under the vehicle.5. Tilt the retainer and slip it
through the wheel opening
to remove the spare tire from
the cable.
6. Turn the wrench clockwise to
raise the cable back up after
removing the spare tire.
Do not store a full-size or a at
road tire under the vehicle.
SeeStoring a Flat or Spare
Tire and Tools on page 5-78.
To continue changing the at tire,
seeRemoving the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire on
page 5-72.If the spare tire will not lower, the
secondary latch could be engaged.
Do the following to check
the cable:
1. Check under the vehicle to see if
the cable is visible.
2. If it is not visible, seeSecondary
Latch System on page 5-76.
If it is visible, rst try to tighten
the cable by turning the lug
wrench clockwise until you hear
two clicks or feel it skip twice.
You cannot over-tighten
the cable.
Service and Appearance Care 5-71
3. Loosen the cable by turning
the wrench counterclockwise
three or four turns.
4. If the spare tire has not lowered,
tighten the cable all the way and
then loosen it at least two times.
If the spare tire did lower to
the ground, continue with Step 5
under “Removing the Spare
Tire (Vehicles with the Rear
Convenience Center)” listed
previously.
5. If you still cannot lower the spare
tire to the ground, seeSecondary
Latch System on page 5-76.Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check before
proceeding. SeeChanging a
Flat Tire on page 5-69for more
information.
2. If the vehicle has a wheel cover,
loosen the plastic nut caps with
the wheel wrench. They will not
come off. Then, using the at end
of the wheel wrench, pry along
the edge of the cover until it
comes off. Be careful; the edges
may be sharp. Do not try to
remove the cover with your
bare hands.
Store the wheel cover securely
in the rear of the vehicle until
you have the at tire repaired
or replaced.
If the vehicle has aluminum
wheels, remove the wheel nut
caps using the wheel wrench.3. Loosen the wheel nuts — but do
not remove them — using the
lug wrench. For wheels with
a wheel lock key, use the wheel
lock key between the lock nut
and lug wrench. The key is
supplied in the front passenger
door pocket.
Notice:If this vehicle has wheel
locks and an impact wrench is
used to remove the wheel nuts,
the lock nut or wheel lock key
could be damaged. Do not use
an impact wrench to remove the
wheel nuts if this vehicle has
wheel locks.
5-72 Service and Appearance Care
9. Remove the plastic spare tire
heat shield by pulling the
rubber latch. Store the plastic
spare tire heat shield. See
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and
Tools on page 5-78for more
information.
{CAUTION
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, use a cloth or a
paper towel to do this; but be sure
to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the rust
or dirt off. SeeChanging a Flat
Tire on page 5-69.
{CAUTION
Never use oil or grease on bolts
or nuts because the nuts might
come loose. The vehicle’s wheel
could fall off, causing a crash.
10. Remove any rust or dirt from
the wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces, and spare wheel.
11. Place the spare tire on the
wheel mounting surface.
5-74 Service and Appearance Care
Secondary Latch System
This vehicle has an underbody
mounted tire hoist assembly that
has a secondary latch system. It is
designed to stop the compact spare
tire from suddenly falling off the
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 5-78for 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 next.To release the spare tire from the
secondary latch:
{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 under spare.
1. If the cable is not visible, start
this procedure at Step 3.2. Turn the lug wrench
counterclockwise until
approximately 6 inches
(15 cm) of cable is exposed.
3. Attach the lug 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 lug wrench clockwise
to raise the jack until it lifts the
secondary latch spring. All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle shown
5-76 Service and Appearance Care
Storing a Flat or Spare
Tire and Tools
Storing the Spare Tire
{CAUTION
The underbody-mounted spare
tire needs to be stored with the
valve stem pointing down. If the
spare tire is stored with the valve
stem pointing upwards, the
secondary latch will not work
properly and the spare tire could
loosen and suddenly fall from the
vehicle. If this happened when the
vehicle was being driven, the tire
might contact a person or another
vehicle, causing injury and
damage to itself. Be sure the
underbody-mounted spare tire
is stored with the valve stem
pointing down.
{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.
To store the spare tire:
1. Lay the compact spare tire near
the rear of the vehicle with the
valve stem down.
2. Reinstall the plastic spare tire
heat shield on the compact
spare tire.3. Slide the cable retainer through
the center of the wheel and start
to raise the compact spare tire.
Make sure the retainer is fully
seated across the underside of
the wheel.
4. When the compact spare tire is
almost in the stored position,
turn the tire so the valve is
toward the rear of the vehicle.
This position helps when
checking the air pressure in
the compact spare tire.
5. Raise the tire fully against the
underside of the vehicle. Continue
turning the lug 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.
5-78 Service and Appearance Care
6. Make sure the tire is stored
securely. Push, pull (A), and
then try to turn (B) the tire. If the
tire moves, use the lug wrench
to tighten the cable.
Storing the Flat Tire
1. Remove the cable package from
the jack storage area.
2. Remove the small center cap by
tapping the back of the cap with
the extension of the shaft, if the
vehicle has aluminum wheels.3. Put the at tire in the rear
storage area with the valve
stem pointing toward the rear
of the vehicle.
4. Pull the cable (A) through the
door striker (E), the center of
the wheel (D), and the plastic
spare tire heat shield (C),
as shown.5. Hook the cable onto the outside
portion of the liftgate hinges (B).
6. Hook the other end of the cable
onto the outside portion of the
liftgate hinge (A).
7. Pull on the cable to make sure it
is secure.
Service and Appearance Care 5-79