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.

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 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.
2. If visible, first try to tighten the cable by turning the wheel wrench clockwise until you hear two clicks or feel it skip twice. You cannot overtighten the cable.
3. Loosen the cable by turning the wheel wrench counterclockwise three or four turns.
4. Repeat this procedure at least two times.

If the spare tire lowers to the ground, continue with Step 2 of.
5. Turn the wrench counterclockwise until approximately 6 inches (15 cm) of cable is exposed.

6. Attach the jack handle, extension(s) and the wheel wrench to the jack and place it under the vehicle towards the front of the rear bumper. Position the center lift point of the jack under the center of the spare tire.
7. Turn the wrench clockwise to raise the jack until it lifts the end fitting.
8. Continue raising the jack until the spare tire stops moving upward and is held firmly in place. The secondary latch has released and the spare tire is balancing on the jack.
9. Lower the jack by turning the wheel wrench counterclockwise. Keep lowering the jack until the spare tire slides off the jack or is hanging by the cable.
10. Disconnect the jack handle from the jack and carefully remove the jack. Use one hand to push against the spare while firmly pulling the jack out from under the spare tire with the other hand.

11. If the spare tire is hanging from the cable, insert the socket end of the extension into the hoist shaft hole on a 45 degree angle downward.
12. Be sure that the socket end of the extension connects to the hoist shaft.

Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the spare the rest of the way.

13. Tilt the retainer at the end of the cable and pull it through the wheel opening. Pull the tire out from under the vehicle.

Notice: If you drive away before the spare tire or secondary latch system cable has been reinstalled, you could damage your vehicle.

Always reinstall this cable before driving your vehicle.

14. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the cable back up if the cable is hanging under the vehicle.

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.