I got a flat yesterday in the rain and could not get the spare tire winch to lower the tire!! I cranked amd cranked...but zero!! What's up with this, and how do I get at my spare tire? Or at the winch to fix it? :P :P

It's a 1996 Explorer, 4 door, 5.0 engine.

 

If the crank turns and it doesn't lower, then either the cable is rusted inside the winch, the winch mechanism is broken, or there is an aftermarket lock on the spare. Look for a bolt through one of the lug holes.

If you need to replace the winch, you'll need to cut the plate or the end of the cable in the centering hole of the wheel. Don't forget to support the spare first, it's heavy.

It's a good practice to lower the spare and check the cable and tire pressure annually. If the cable rusts through, the spare comes off. Not a good thing going down the freeway.