Sorry if this is a stupid question but this is my fisrt f150. I got a problem with gettin the spare tire on my truck down ive looked at it and seems to need a key and i cant find the key in my truck. what do i do? Its a 2002 f150 if that helps.

 

why does it need a key?

you open your hood and pull that giant rod over the plastic cover off. you stick it in the hole on the left side of your license plate and crank it to the left all the way. pull the tire back and bend the cable to get it out.

 

Some had a key over the hole to keep the full size spare from getting stolen. Easy way to deal with it if you dont have the key get a big drill bit and get rid of the key hole. All it does when you turn the key it pulls out leaving an open hole.

 

should be the ignition key...

at least mine was.

 

Nope, the 2002 used a McGard-type key that has to be connected to the end of the rod. I had that, and when I went to the dealer to get the frozen up winch replaced, they replaced it with a standard type where the rod works directly.

My key was in a plastic envelope in the glove box.

 

thanks for the help. Is there any other way besides taking it to the dealer?

 

I personally haven't been under there, but I'd assume there's a way to crank it down with some tools unless the winch is frozen - which is very likely after 8 years. You may have to replace the winch, as I remember a new one from the dealer is about 120 bucks. They only charged me 1 hour labor to R&R it.

 

You could use one of those bolt extractors on a long extension, or a backwards drill bit on a long extension. Eventually the drill bit will seize in the lock and unwind it.