For 1990-2009 cars

Your 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 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. See Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools 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.

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.

To release the spare tire from the secondary latch:

1. If the cable is not visible, start this procedure at Step 3.
2. If the cable is visible, place the wrench on the hoist drive nut and turn the wrench counterclockwise until approximately 6 inches (15 cm) of cable is exposed.
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 firmly 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.