How to Lower the Spare Tire on a 2002 Ford Expedition
Tires are not cheap when you have an SUV like the 2002 Ford Expedition. Ford Motor Company provided this vehicle with a full-sized spare tire. The tire is the same size as the rest of the tires on the vehicle, but the steel wheel may look a little more rugged. Accessing the spare tire is made easier by the lowering mechanism, which does not require very much force or any mechanical skill to maneuver.
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Instructions
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Open the hood of the Expedition, and unsnap the jack handle from the clips on top of the windshield washer bottle and on top of the radiator shroud. Open the rear liftgate, then open the right rear access trim panel. Remove the tire iron from the hold-down clips and set it on the rear deck. Turn the air-ride suspension switch to the "OFF" position, if your Expedition is equipped with air-ride suspension. The switch is located on the passenger side, just forward of the door jamb near the floor.
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Turn the wheel on the jack fastener bracket counterclockwise to release the tension on the jack. Remove the jack from the SUV. Assemble the two-piece tire iron, if equipped, by spinning the straight pointed end onto the bent lug wrench end.
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Remove the access plug from the tire guide tube -- just above the rear bumper -- by turning the plug counterclockwise. Insert the straight end of the jack handle into the guide tube, until the jack handle resists any rotating motion. This indicates that the jack handle is secured in the spare tire lowering mechanism.
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Rotate the jack handle counterclockwise until the spare tire is resting flat on the ground. Lay near the spare tire and lift the tire upward at an angle. Push the tire hold-down retainer through the center hub of the wheel. You will need some slack on the spare tire cord to turn the hold-down retainer sideways to get it through the center wheel hole.
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Loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire while the vehicle is still on the ground, using the tire iron. Place the jack beneath the jacking point close to the affected tire. Insert the jack handle into the provided area on the jack, and rotate the jack handle clockwise until the wheel and tire are about 1 inch off of the ground.
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Remove the wheel lug nuts, then remove the flat tire from the Expedition. Pay close attention to any exposed steel belts, and do not grab the tire directly. Use the wheel face as a gripping point to avoid your skin getting punctured by exposed steel belts. Set the flat tire with the wheel facing downward on the ground, behind the SUV.
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Insert the spare tire on the SUV, and tighten the lug nuts until they are snug. Lower the Expedition to the ground, and tighten the lug nuts further, using your body weight to apply torque pressure. Position yourself to push the tire iron while tightening the nuts, as pulling the tire iron may not provide the right amount of torque. If you are unsure of your ability to apply enough torque to the wheel nuts, drive to the nearest service facility to have them torqued.
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Lower the jack until it completely compressed, using the jack handle. Set the jack handle and tire iron inside the rear of the SUV. Insert the jack handle back into the guide tube, just above the rear bumper. Push the affected tire beneath the Expedition and insert the tire hold-down retainer through the center of the wheel. Rotate the jack handle clockwise until the tire and wheel are pressed against the bottom of the SUV. Do not apply torque pressure to the spare tire mechanism, or you could damage the mechanism.
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Remove the jack handle from the guide tube, and set it in the rear. Insert the jack into the hold down bracket, in the right rear. Spin the hold down wheel clockwise to tightly secure the jack. Separate the tire iron by rotating the opposing parts counterclockwise, if you have a two piece tire iron. Set the tire iron in the retainer, then install the right rear access trim panel and lock the two tabs. Go to the passenger side of the Expedition and turn the air-ride suspension switch to the "ON" position, once the SUV is on the ground.
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Set the jack handle on top of the radiator shroud and windshield washer bottle. Press the jack handle into the washer bottle clips, then into the clips on the radiator shroud. Do not apply excess force to set the jack handle in place, or you could break the plastic shroud or the washer bottle. Close the hood and the rear liftgate. Proceed to the nearest tire service station, to make sure all four of your tires have the right air pressure.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure your spare tire has correct air pressure. When you fill the tires with air or have them filled, make sure you check the air pressure beneath the truck on the spare tire. Having a flat spare tire will not help you in a roadside emergency situation.
Do not raise the Expedition on any sloped surfaces. If the jack and the SUV are not on level ground, contact a towing company and do not try to lift the Expedition on your own.
Loose wheel nuts can cause the wheel to fall off of the Expedition. If you are unsure if you applied the right torque to your wheel lug nuts, during the spare tire change, call a towing company for assistance immediately.
Failure to turn off the air-ride suspension switch prior to lifting the vehicle can damage the air-ride suspension system. The vehicle may not set back down level if you do not turn the switch off.
