Hey I don't know if this problem is just my truck or everybody's, but my spare is seriously fubared. I just let it down to check the air pressure and condition. Now this L was bulit last March 2000 and has just turned over 4000 miles. The spare has never been used or even let down before today.

I found that the sidewall has melted onto the frame at all contact points. There are now grooves about a 1/4 inch deep in the tire where it was touching the frame. They look like melt marks. On the frame, part of my tire was left behind. The way the frame is shaped it contacts the tire sidewall and rubbed and or melted part way through the tire. It looks like the frame wax may have been part of the cause. I can't believe Ford designed the spare tire holder this way. The way the tire looks right now, I would be afraid to run this tire a half-mile.

I'm taking it to the dealer next week for the clunk TSB repair and alignment, so I guess now I'll have to plead my case for a new spare tire as well. Are they going to give me a bunch of grief about this at the dealer? Anyone else get their spare replaced under warranty for this?

BTW, the service rep I talked to had no idea of any Lightning TSB's, so I told him about the clunk and the intercooler. He will not order the parts without having my truck, so I am being forced to leave it for at least 2 days. I am so pissed off right now I can't even see straight.

 

Id give them the tsbs from this site. you shouldnt have to leave the truck. If you're like me, take a day off from work or even a half a day and dont let it out of your sight.

 

Well, I don't have that option. I can't take 2 vacation days to babysit at the dealer. I desperately need the alignment fixed and I want to give them a chance to fix the clunk, even if it doesn't work. It just really chaps my *** that they insist on having the truck to inspect before they will order the TSB parts. Here I am, the customer, and I am telling the dealer about the TSB's and they still will not listen. I mean, what the hell do I have to do, become a Ford mechanic to fix my own truck?

 

I know it sucks. Just tell them absolutely no joy rides, not to be driven except for moving it around the shop and back lot. p.s. dont forget to jot down the exact mileage in tenths too!

 

Hey, on the Spare issue. I had the same thing when I had a flat. I dropped the spare on my 99 f-150, it was so bad that I was afraid to put it on. I replaced it with a new one.
I complained to my service writer and he filled out a form and I got refunded for a new tire....
So complain!!!

David

 

hey mracer, maybe this will help you somewhat on the spare tire deal. i work at our family owned gas station repair shop and i change many tires and i put on many spares for people. when i take down someones spare from under the truck like your saying, it always has those lines in it, like deep grooves where you can see where the tire was resting on the metal rails. it does make the tire look crappy and it does look as if it wouldnt hold up well, and possibly blow out, but i never had a comeback. i know exactly what your talking about, so dont feel bad, its not only your truck, its every truck with the spare underneath. it is i guess a poor design and i guess the more air the spare has in it, the harder it would be wedged in there and get the grooves easier and/or deeper? hope this helps, plus you should take out the spare and trailer hitch anyway for less weight! LOL later all,Mike

 

I use what I refer to as my spare tire cozy. A piece of carpet cut in the same diameter as the spare with a slice to the center to put the wire through. The spare rests nicely against it instead of the frame. After 5 months, the tire looks brand spanking new.

 

Thanks for the carpet tip and encouragement guys. I'm gonna do that carpet thing after I make them replace the tire. I just get a little worked up sometimes I guess. I wasn't expecting to find this because I have a 92 S-10 Ext Cab, 4.3 5-speed, and it does not have this problem.

I really hate to say this, but I only dream that this 2000 Lightning were built as well and was as trouble free as my S-10. The S-10 is at 115,000 and has faded paint, but other than that it's all been pretty normal maintenence. I am still on my original clutch. I have replaced 4 alternators and 3 batteries, 5 sets of tires, plug wires and plugs once, heater core and water pump once, also the serpinitine belt and hoses 3 times. It has never stranded me in the 9 years I have had it. It has been my daily driver for the entire period.

 

mracer, chevys are very good trucks. my bro had a brand new ford ranger back in 91 he bought new with a plow. kept it a few years, plowed with it and had alot of little problems. he traded it in right after winter and bought a brand new leftover 92 chevy 1500 series 4x4 shortbed with a 350 and fully loaded. he got an excellent deal i think, and had a new plow put on and the truck has been great! we use it at the shop and its his daily driver. its got 124k miles and it had the original water pump up until a few months ago, replaced alternator once, radiator once, tires 3 or 4 times, cant remember, starter once,h but nothing major. he loves that truck, it never lets us down either, plows great too. i know a little ranger doesnt compare to a full size chevy, but he wouldnt trade that truck for a brand new dodge or ford of any model, and if and when he does get a new truck, it will be the new chevy 2500HD. not flaming dodge or ford, cause i like them all, just passing on our good luck with a great vehicle! NOW WATCH, TOMORROW MORNING HE WILL CALL US AT THE SHOP AND SAY HE CANT MAKE IT TO WORK, IT WONT START OR SOMETHING, LMAOOOO, MURPHYS LAW! later guys, Mike

 

SLP97, you're right, I had the same situation with my spare. the first time I used it, it looked ready to disintegrate. It had been cranked up into position for a long time. Never had a problem, and now its back there getting uglier.

Looks to me like it's war surplus.

 

My 97 f150 spare looks fine--I drop it once in a while to check the psi. I've always thought this was a clever mounting system.

My spare, trailor hitch, jack, and jack handle were removed from my L the first wk. I owned it; every lb. counts. The cell phone is in the overhead console if I should get a flat.

Dan

 

Damn firestones why couldnt we get a full size goodyear
spare !!

 

I saw a note posted at a Goodyear dealer that F150's with the Firestone spare tire are able to come in and get a free replacement Goodyear. I'm not sure if it is for our L's, but it was for a 16 inch Firestone Steeltech (what my 01 has) so you may want to look into it.

Later,
Roger

 

My wife took her 97 grand prix to a local G/Y dealer for a tire(G/Y) rotation. They were the OEM tires--31,000 miles on them. Rotation was free. Don't know if it's G/Y or the dealer's policy? This might be a better choice for our Ls than the dealer?

Btw, she told them "no air wrench on the install, and torque them to 90 ft/lbs." Trained her well! Riiight!

Dan

 

My other truck is a 1991 Dakota I bought new. Goodyear Wrangler spare was under the truck for nine years before I inspected it. Was hardly marked and not deformed at all. 76,000 miles on the truck at that point.

So, it is possible to build a spare tire storage rig that will not damage the tire. Dodge managed to do it. What the hell is wrong with Ford?