Why won't the spare tire lower on a Dodge Grand Caravan?

Answer 1

There are THREE parts involved here. The first is the T-Bracket. You can SEE the T-Bracket. The t-bracket holds the spare tire up.

The second part is the main (square steel) support column. The main support column, holds the t-bracket to the car. (Specifically, the t-bracket sticks up INSIDE the main support column).

(Now here comes the one essential bit of information.)

The third part is the release latch. The release latch (WHICH YOU CANNOT SEE) holds the T-Bracket to the main support column. Although you cannot SEE the release latch, you CAN REACH IT.

Step 1: Lower the tire as far as it will go (this is probably about two inches). This requires the wrench that came with the car (or a similar one). Use the wrench and the lowering bolt (which is on the carpet in the center-back of the trunk floor.

Step 2: Once the tire is lowered as far as it will go (again, this may only be two or three inches), from the REAR most side of the spare tire, reach your hand up and over the spare tire (in other words put your hand between the tire and the bottom of the car. You will probably have to lie down under the car, or squat next to the rear bumber. Expect to get dirty.

Step 3: Feel around for a bracket-like piece of metal that sticks out of the main steel support column ABOVE the spare tire. The bracket is on the REAR side of the support column CLOSEST TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. On my car, the bracket has two holes on the left and right side. You should be able to feel them with your finger tips.

Step 4: Caution: Read ALL of this before beginning. Using your finger tips, or some tool like a screwdriver, pull the bracket hard towards the REAR of the car. It is held in place with a spring like device. The bracket should pull, or hinge backwards enough for the T-bracket (holding the spare tire) to fall down. DO NOT HAVE YOUR HEAD OR ANYTHING ELSE DIRECTLY BELOW THE SPARE WHEN YOU PULL THE RELEASE BRACKET. The spare should fall down, or at least you should be able to finish lowering it.

Step 5. Finish lowering the spare tire using the wrench and release bolt. The T-bracket should be able to turn sideways and slide through the center rim on the spare tire.

Step 7: While you're still pissed off enough to do something about this, attach a length of stainless steel cable to the release latch (through those holes) and attach a label to it so the next time you have to release the spare, you'll be able to just pull on the release cable.

More Information:

• I had the same problem and after removing the complete lowering mechanism i found that there is a latch that you have to pull that releases the plastic T bracket. The top of the plastic T-bracket is shaped like a mushroom so that it latches when it is raised all the way up.

• I am going to add a cable pull to this latch if i ever need to use it again. It appears to be a very bad design. There is no mention at all about this in the owner manual.

• I called my Chrysler dealer service dept. He said I needed a new winch because the plastic T- bracket holding the tire probably is fused inside its locking box. My spare tire would come down just a little and then stop, but the cable would come all the way down.

• I discovered the following: lower the cable as usual with your tire wrench. With the tire wrench still securely on the lower/raise bolt - hit the head of the wrench firmly with the rubber mallet - after several hits the plastic T- bracket came loose from its locking box and the tire came down.

• I lubricated the plastic T- bracket before I reinstalled the spare. I used the above advise , had to tighten cable up all the way, after a couple good hits with a large hammer on the lower bolt it came down with ease