Anyone elses spare tire fall out?

[ReKleiner88]

So I noticed a weird churping sound coming from my car a few weeks ago, I just figured it was the ball joints that I was getting replaced. But After I got the ball joints fix the churp was still there, so i crawled underneath to check things out, I found my spare tire had come loose and was dangling down a few inches, and would swing if I pushed on it. So I tried to reel it back up with the rod but it would go, So i then spun the tire about four or five times and it got tight again. I figured this fixed the problem, until yesterday when I was driving and churp came back, so I figured I would get back to it and fix it later. But after hitting a few bumps in the road sure enough there she went bouncing and rolling down the road!

Anyone experience this beside toyota tundras?

[01silvapathy]

Thats pretty hilarious, gotta say. But no never had the problem, hope I never do!

[ReKleiner88]

The chain snapped. It was so rusted.

[CanuckQx4]

Thats a crazy story lol, coulda killed someone with that tire

I cant imagine the chain that holds onto the spare on my 01 qx4 ever breaking, its beefy and still looks brand new on my rig and its been thru canadian winters

. Got a pic??

[ReKleiner88]

The short chain on the left is where it snapped.



Closer pic

[KyooX4]

I had the same exact problem, except I was able to tighten my spare tire back up in there. It wasn't loose too badly, but you could definitely see it swinging.

Do you still have that chirping sound? I thought maybe it was the spare, but after I tightened it back up in there I realized that wasn't the case. It was actually the lift-gate where it latches. There was some play in it, as it wasn't very secure. I put some adhesive-backed felt in there on either side of the bar the latch latches onto.
Looks kinda ghetto but it works.

[ReKleiner88]

lol I do have the tailgate squeeking sound, but the spare tire was making its own sound, but not anymore lol.

[funnyman82]

so its the lift gate that makes that squeaking noise!! i always thought it was the tire, and i kept making sure it was tight. How do you reduce the noise on the liftgate? KyooX4 can you post some pics? thx!

[GRNMACHINE]

Now you guys have me wondering. Have similar sound. Always thought it was the spare tire. Chain is definitley rusted like in the pic. Will have to check it out. And NO I never heard of a spare falling off like that.

[funnyman82]

when you said you spun the tire, you mean with the rod right? and not the actual tire...

[ReKleiner88]

Yeah the actual tire. The rod wouldn't work for some reason. I know rotating the tire probably put some tension on the chain but I didn't crank it too hard, just enough so it wasn't dangling down. But still the chain snapped because of rust thats apparent. The spare rim is useless anyway as the holes for the bolts and rusted so bad a nut would go right through them.

[cookies]

so its the lift gate that makes that squeaking noise!! i always thought it was the tire, and i kept making sure it was tight. How do you reduce the noise on the liftgate? KyooX4 can you post some pics? thx!

I have had the same squeaking noise on my 97 Pathfinder,
and then started having a hard time with the latch on the tailgate.
so my husband squirted some WD40 on it and it works great and no squeaking.
(I must open that thing at least 10+ times a day)

[Pwnin O'Brien]

ReKleiner88, it looks like your fuel filter bracket is broken (I'm pretty sure, it's a little hard to tell), I would suggest replacing that. It's only about $30 from the dealer.

[ReKleiner88]

Yeah it is broken, I had to break it to put the fuel filter in, I don't care though its not goin anywhere.