Spare Wheel

[JToh]

In need of some advice. I own a 2003 1.9TDi Galaxy Zetec Auto and had to change the wheel this weekend owing to a small puncture (now repaired). Problem is that I cannot release the steel cable retainer at the back sufficiently to take back the spare wheel. All I heard is a "click" noise as I struggled with turning the ring (hidden under the carpet in the luggage compartment) and the steel cable is only partially lowered (despite pulling with force), not enough to accept the spare wheel back.

 

I know it aims to be space-saving but it seems a cheap and ridiculously stupid way to hold the spare wheel underneath the car. I have now taken the steel cable up without the spare in place so I can drive the bloody thing.

 

Has anybody got any ideas as I am driving with the spare now in the luggage compartment before I take it to my local dealer, which on last couple of dealings provided a crap service???

[Richmond]

It is a completely crap way to store the spare. It sounds as if the cable may be partly wound the wrong way around the spindle (or whatever it winds onto); I seem to remember that if you keep winding it out, it starts to wind back in. Although that shouldn't matter, I imagine that the cable could get tangled around the spindle. Have you tried winding (try both directions) while pulling hard on the cable? (Get a friend to pull your wire while you twist your nut :o .)

 

Although it's crap, it's better than on the Peugeot 306, in which the spare is held under the car in a cage which is lowered by turning a nut in the boot. You then struggle to undo a catch (by lifting the cage with the wheel in, under the car, at arm's length :o ) to open the cage, and drag the spare out. By then you're filthy and knackered. Putting it back's even worse. Why they don't put the thing in a well under the boot, God knows.

[Ivor_E_Tower]

I agree with Richmond - both for a way to try to release the cable and for his comments on the design of the system/proper bin needed under the load area.

Usually I would avoid buying any car with the spare slung under the back rather than being accessed from inside the boot, but almost all MPVs seem to use the inferior storage method.

[Dave-G]

Hmm,and what would you then mount the rear seats on....in a safe/secure tested and approved as safe for passenger use? the spare wheel lid? :(

 

I wonder how much money the manufacturers would have paid out in claims by now if the seats wern't fixed to the floor? :(

 

:huh: why not ditch the rear seats,cut a hole in the floor and plonk some plywood over the hole,and weld some angle iron behind the second row to brace it? :o

[Richmond]

The need to secure the rearmost seats is not incompatible with under floor storage of the spare, although it would require a slightly more complicated structure than usual. Several MPVs store the seats under the floor when they're not in use! (Where do they put the spare? On the roof?)

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Securing rearmost seats - that's why I made an exception and bought a Galaxy even though the spare is exposed. Same reason why Zafira also has underslung spare. Picasso has underslung spare too, even though it has just 5 seats whereas Scenic has spare under boot floor - including the new Scenic 5 seater. The grand scenic could be different - I'm waiting to have a look when it's launched (c April 4) and I think it may have no spare but a can of sealant instead.

[ALARM MAN]

It so simple let tyre down remove from rim shove rubber bit under drivers seat

pit rim in glove box and there you have it.

 

Dont know what you do with real size one

 

IDEA

 

take mother-in-law with you open mouth storage space plenty

quiet journey

 

EVERYONE HAPPY (well almost )

 

TEE HEE :) :) :o :huh: :( :(

[JToh]

Thanks Richmond for the tip, I'll give it a turn both directions to see whether the steel cable could be lowered enough to take back the spare. The "attention to detail" on storage of the spare simply amazes me. Imagine with a full load and you had to change a wheel. With the steel cable playing up and refusing to take back the punctured tyre, you probably end it with somebody carrying it on his/her lap! This of course assumes that the spare wheel had been successfully lowered in the first place!!

 

Anyone out there who has had the whole box (holding the steel cable for the spare wheel) replaced because of this grief??

[Guest nimrod]

Not had it replaced ,but i do have it in a box stashed in the garage! if you need another on try asking at a lpg conversion garage, with the lpg tank fitted where the spare is held the mech is removed they have one kicking around?

[JToh]

:D Just had my jammed spare wheel steel cable box completely replaced after waiting a couple of weeks for the part. Good job it was done under warranty! The mechanic suggested this was a rare problem but admitted the design was "bloody stupid".

 

:rolleyes: Still no joy with the "Alternator Workshop" warning light. Been checked out a couple of times by the dealer but found nothing amiss. Was even invited to see the diagnostic test! The warning light/bleep reappeared again 4 times this morning (cold start?), only to disappear completely once the engine has slightly warmed up!

 

I read elesewhere other owners have had similar experience with this! Anybody would enlighten me as to what the underlying problem is and the solution?

 

Cheers!

[Xenonman]

I have had similar troubles,

 

The alternator light came on when driving off right away on cold mornings, so i gave the wires and plug connected to the alternator a good clean and started letting the engine idle for a few mins in the morning before driving off, this seems to have worked as the warning light has not come on for over 2 months now.

 

I had the car a week when I also got a puncture, the wheel retaining mechanism jammed and that was replaced under warranty.

 

I have also had water leaking in to the well under the passenger seat

I have punctured a hole in the grommet under the passenger seat which lets the water run out and also raised the metal bracket that the electric module sits on under the seat, this seems to work quite well for now but by no means a permanent fix.

 

Really good for a