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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 5-80.
To continue changing the at tire,
seeRemoving the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire on
page 5-74.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 5-78.
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.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 5-78.
Service and Appearance Care 5-73
ProCarManuals.com
Page 361 of 432

Notice:If a jack is used to raise
the vehicle without positioning it
correctly, the vehicle could be
damaged. When raising the
vehicle on a jack, avoid contact
with the rear axle control arms.
5. Do not raise the vehicle yet. Put
the compact spare tire near you.
{CAUTION
Getting under a vehicle when it is
jacked up is dangerous. If the
vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed.
Never get under a vehicle when it
is supported only by a jack.
{CAUTION
Raising your vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can damage
the vehicle and even make the
vehicle fall. To help avoid
personal injury and vehicle
damage, be sure to t the jack lift
head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle.
6. Attach the lug wrench to the
jack, and turn the wrench
clockwise to raise the jack head
3 inches (7.6 cm).7. Place the jack under the vehicle
as identi ed in Step 3. Raise the
vehicle by turning the lug wrench
clockwise in the jack. Raise the
vehicle far enough off the ground
so that there is enough room for
the spare tire to t under the
wheel well.
8. Remove all the wheel nuts and
the at tire.
Service and Appearance Care 5-75
ProCarManuals.com
Page 362 of 432

9. Remove the plastic spare tire
heat shield by pulling the rubber
latch. Store the plastic spare tire
heat shield. SeeStoring a Flat
or Spare Tire and Tools on
page 5-80for 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 5-70.
{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.
12. Put the nuts on by hand by
turning the clockwise until
the wheel is held against the
mounting surface. Make
sure the rounded end is toward
the wheel.
13. Lower the vehicle by attaching
the lug wrench to the jack
and turning the wrench
counterclockwise. Lower
the jack completely.
5-76 Service and Appearance Care
ProCarManuals.com
Page 364 of 432

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 5-80
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 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
under the 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. All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle shown
5-78 Service and Appearance Care
ProCarManuals.com
Page 365 of 432