The moment is not right for a crash course in spare tire removal 101 when you have a flat tire on the side of a dark, icy, and rainy road. For this reason, you need to prepare in advance, find the necessary tools, and become accustomed to the procedure by practicing a few times in your driveway.
In This Article...
Step 2
In the very back of the 4Runner, where the jack is located, look for the spare tire/jack tool package. This is typically in one of the side door panels. The jack and tools could be in a different place on different generations of 4Runners, so you might need to consult the manual.
Step 3
Start with the rounded hook end of the spare tire tool and separate and assemble the other two pieces. The lug wrench will have a 3/8-inch hole in the centre that will fit on the end and produce a T-handle if the straight rod is attached to that first. However, do not attach the lug wrench just yet.
Step 4
Find the spare tire tool chamber on the 4Runner’s bumper or tailgate, close to the license plate. The hole has an oblong form. On even the sunniest day of the year, let alone on a dark night, you will need a flashlight to line up the tool, so turn it on and take a peek inside the chamber. You will observe a slot in the winch device at the conclusion that the rounded hook’s head fits into. Align the hook on the tool with the slot on the winch device before sliding it into the chamber.
To unwind the cable attaching the tire to the 4Runner’s undercarriage, use the lug wrench on the end to form a T-handle and turn counterclockwise. To remove the hub key from the center of the spare tire, you will need to lower the cable far enough. Practice removing it and re-putting it on a few times. Simply replace the hub key and rotate the tools clockwise to activate the winch to elevate the tire.
- Make sure to note which side is up and which side is down when the spare tire is seated in its storage position. Most frequently, the valve stem and top of the tire (or outer sidewall) would both be facing upward. It could be a good idea to ask the mechanic who handles your oil change to check the air pressure in all of your tires, including the spare. You do not want to find out that it is as flat as the tire you have to change in an emergency because it is frequently disregarded. Toyota occasionally included locking mechanisms for spare tires. The process would be the same, except to lower and elevate the spare tire, a key chuck would fit on the end of the tools and into the winch device. Once more, learning about this in advance will only help you get ready.
- tools and a spare tire removal kit (equipped with the jack of the vehicle)
- Flashlight (strongly recommended)
On a Toyota 4Runner, where is the spare tire located?
A Toyota 4-Runner’s spare tire is hidden beneath the rear bumper. Both good and bad things can be said about this area.
The advantage is that it increases your load capacity while preserving the vehicle’s ground clearance. However, for some people, removing the tire may take more time and effort.
It can be difficult to remove the tire if you are changing your own tires. First of all, a 4Runner’s tires are hefty, and the final stepremoving the chaincan be difficult.
Second, it may take some experience to achieve the ideal angle with the straight bars. You will miss the slot underneath the vehicle if you approach it too straight. However, you will feel the bar lock into place when you are at the proper angle.