Thanks for posting this. I better check mine now!!!
CaptMax
CaptMax
Check Your Spare Tire Reminder
While performing my early fall maintenance on our family vehicles I always check the pressure of the spare tires. The Buick was fine and the winter beater 2005 GC (non stow 'n' go) needed a little top up and the lowering mechanism checked. I bought the 2013 T and C last fall from a careful owner who had it Krowned. When I lowered its spare I was surprised to find it completely stuck by rust to the metal ring on the plastic cover! The spring loaded release levers were seized in position and had to be treated with penetrating oil and a sharp tap from a hammer to release. The tire obviously has never been out of the van in nearly 10 years and only had 17 lbs /sq in pressure. After a good clean up and a liberal coating with rust preventer I cut an access hole in the plastic cover and installed a valve extender to enable the tire pressure to be easily checked in the future.
It looked like the Krown shop never treated the visible metal parts on the spare wheel lower cover.
If you do decide to lower and raise your spare tire, remember to protect the radio with a cloth because the handle might pivot and scratch the surface! It's a pity the spare has to be dragged out from the driver's side which is more dangerous when stopped at the side of the road.
Rusty
Rusty
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It looked like the Krown shop never treated the visible metal parts on the spare wheel lower cover.
If you do decide to lower and raise your spare tire, remember to protect the radio with a cloth because the handle might pivot and scratch the surface! It's a pity the spare has to be dragged out from the driver's side which is more dangerous when stopped at the side of the road.
Rusty
Rusty
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Looks just as bad as the mechanism on my 07 for the spare I removed last year. I left the spare back home before I moved for college since the tire was too old and dry rotted to be used (14 year old original in the salt belt).
I got a call two months ago from my mother that the tire just exploded on its own one morning and woke her and two neighbors! We’ve no idea how it happened from sitting outside but better to explode there than under the van
I got a call two months ago from my mother that the tire just exploded on its own one morning and woke her and two neighbors! We’ve no idea how it happened from sitting outside but better to explode there than under the van
Hi FabricGATOR, Thanks....I've put a sticky note on my PC to check the mechanism annually. I'm an inspection hole sort of person.... Been cutting access/maintenance holes in things for over 50 years! I think it goes back to my apprenticeship working on aircraft in the UK and my father owning an Eastern European car that had many little removable plates for roadside repairs in Siberia. BTW...these minivans are safer to drag out the spare wheel in the UK because they drive on "the wrong side"
Rusty Donut Wheel.
Been cutting access/maintenance holes in things for over 50 years! I think it goes back to my apprenticeship working on aircraft in the UK and my father owning an Eastern European car that had many little removable plates for roadside repairs in Siberia. BTW...these minivans are safer to drag out the spare wheel in the UK because they drive on "the wrong side" Rusty Donut Wheel.
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