Hey everybody, been a while since I have been on. Well I went to land between the lakes in Ky yesterday, and ended up with a flat tire. I was at the end of a long very rough gravel road by the lake kinda in the middle of nowhere with this flat tire. We get out of the truck and you can hear the air just pouring out of the tire, my guess the rough gravel road had something to do with it. My 5yr old daughter hears it and freaks out that we are gonna be stuck there and never get home. So I get her calmed down and start getting the stuff to change the tire. This is when I discover I dont have a jack, I dont have the special key or socket to lower the spare tire, and the lug wrench that came with the truck doesn't fit my lug nuts! I bought the truck used and guess I should have checked that when I bought it. So stupidity on my part, but a lesson learned. I felt like such an idiot though. Anyway after a couple of hours a guy came in from the lake and had a jack and lug wrench in his truck that worked. My only option was to cut the cable on the winch to get the spare down. We finally got out of there! Now I need to get a new winch for the spare, does anybody know where I could get one. I will check the junkyard tomorrow but just in case they don't have what I need. Any help on this would be great. Sorry for the lengthy story just thought I would share that. Hope everybody has a good memorial day.

 

Wrecking yard sound's like the best option. If you can't find one I'm sure Ford has one on the shelf for you .
For the folks who read this, I was in a similar situation. I did think to check that the tools were there and thought I was ok until I did a tire rotation at home. The little "key" that goes on the crank to lower the spare was missing and the lug nut wrench didn't fit my aftermarket wheels. Would have been dead in water if I had a flat. I did a search here on FTE and found an old post about this. If you put a 9/16 6point 3/8 drive socket on a long extension, slide in in the crank alignment tube and get it setting on the drive nut on the crank, a couple of medium swats with a hammer will drive it over the tapered shoulder of the drive bolt and you can drop the spare with a ratchet or speed handle. Once it is down you can get under the truck with some pliers or a screwdriver and pry the key and socket out of the drive part of the winch. If you leave it out, the crank for the jack will now fit in the drive. If you want the locking feature, take the drive nut to the dealer, there are only like ten different keys. They can match it up and order you one. IIRC it's less than $20. If your jack is there just put something to remove your lug nuts in the tool box and you're good to go.

Did you see the Mythbusters episode (think it was them) with the same premise as your situation? No hope for rescue so they cut a few "windows" in the sidewall of the tire and stuffed it full of grass! I wouldn't have thought to do that, it worked surprisingly well.

 

I read about the socket on my phone while I was stranded, but the biggest I had with me was 1/2 in. I had just done an oil and fuel filter change the day before and didnt put my other socket set and tools back in the truck, that figures! Well if i can find another winch i will be removing the key. My spare jack at the house will now be going in the truck.
I did not see that episode but i will have to track it down and watch. I heard ford did not make those keys anymore. Does anyone know if this is true or false.

 

Think Ford sourced them from McGuard (spelling?). I read also you can press a piece of styrofoam cup into the lock to make an impression of the clover shape and send it to them directly and they'll mail you a key.

 

I called the dealership $165 for a new spare tire winch! I will be going to the junk yard and if I can't find one there the spare will sit in the bed till I find one. Ford also said they don't use the key anymore and that it was optional and it could be removed.

 

WOW I did the same thing cut the spare down with a SawZall since i didnt have the key deal to lower it

I didnt think it would be that much to replace it

Wonder if we could take it apart and install a new cable probably wishful thinking

My spare been riding in the Bed for awhile now and I hate it but Im always hauling stuff in the Bed so IDK

 

Yes sir this works^^^Iv had to do it with another truck I had bought it came from Cali with them locks on the tires

the foam cup thing works good

after that ordeal that the first thing I do when I buy used truck or car is make shure I can change a tire before Im stranded in the middle of no where

 

I've said it before, there's no harm in building a relationship with your local Ford dealership parts dept guys.

The part number is 6C3Z 1A131 AA. My local dealership quoted me $129 and that's to have it by 11am on the day after I order it.

The same part on Tousley is $107. Throw in speedy delivery and they will probably be around the same. With normal delivery Tousley will be cheaper than the local I imagine, but it's all relationship building for when you do have to spend some $$$.

I don't post up everytime I see someone saying how much they paid or were quoted for a particular part and then how dealerships suck, but then I look at my invoices and see that I didn't pay that, I got it within 24hrs and I can go back to a live person if there's an issue.

 

I agree! You can always beat the local dealers price online, but I like dealing local on some stuff. After going in a few times, they got my personal info and my first thought was "great, more junk mail" but the parts guy put me in the computer and I'm not paying the retail price anymore. Also, it's good to talk to a person who will swing the computer screen around and point at an exploded view of somthing your working on and say "is that it"? I'm sure there's some sour ones out there but my local guy is good and only 5 (small town) blocks from my house.

 

I was wondering if I could just crimp the cable back together some how. I may run into not being able to lift it as far up as it needs to go. I may look into that and see if it would work. I may take it all apart and see if is possible to put a new cable in there.

 

Well if you figure anything out as far as repair or new cable Id Love to hear it as Im in the same Boat and would love to get my tire out the Bed

 

Just dont half **** it! There's a lot of potential for danger to you and other folks if that thing drops on the highway or somthing. If you know some aircraft maintenance folks they are used to that kind of work, high quality cable, proper swedge and tools to crimp them with.

 

If I come up with anything I will let you know. I dont really want to leave my spare in the bed either but it looks like it will stay there for now. Well it will stay on the truck for now until I can get the other patched. Thats if I can even get i patched I may have to but two new tires. The ones on it are around $250 a piece so I hope I dont have to get two new ones.

 

When the bodyshop (dealership shop) repaired my truck last spring they had to replace the winch...I should have keep the parts numbers.The parts guy I deal with at my local dealership will meet any online price for a Ford part (must be the exact part) as long as I bring him the price. When I've been in there looking for PSD parts, he's been very helpful and we were able to make sure the right parts where sold/order by comparing part numbers and exploded part views. Add to that this guy and one of the techs in the shop seem to like to see who's got the faster ride; parts guy has late model Mustang...tech drives a '04 PSD like mine. Neither ride is stock, so the racing is always "interesting"

 

Yeah I agree I dont want to half it, you are definitely right that could be dangerous if that spare came off going down the road. I dont really know any aircraft mechanics but I wish I did.