Found mysterious keyhole

[85_Ranger4x4]

Completely different truck, but the one for my F-150 was in a really heavy plastic zip-lock bag in the glove box.

I use the spare for a crutch when I rotate my tires, so I have a good excuse to hose the gravel dust out of the top of it and check the pressure twice a year. It is also good for the winch, if they just sit they can freeze up on you (my brother's '97 F-150 did that)

 

[mattpresley]

Completely different truck, but the one for my F-150 was in a really heavy plastic zip-lock bag in the glove box.

Damn buying used sucks for just that reason. my cousin owned the ranger new(asshole gets a brand new truck at age 16 after already wrecking his previous new mustang). If I cant figure it out I will give him a call. cable guys here but immedietly after I will check all over the ranger

 

[mattpresley]

Well cant find it................. I might wanna go down to ford as soon as can afford it. the company i work for is struggling and I haven't got a paycheck for 3 weeks

 

[Frank The Tank]

Well cant find it................. I might wanna go down to ford as soon as can afford it. the company i work for is struggling and I haven't got a paycheck for 3 weeks

Time to find a chicken farm, or tobacco farm to work at.

Frank

 

[mattpresley]

Time to find a chicken farm, or tobacco farm to work at.

Frank

I wish i could

 

[canyoncritter]

No paycheck in 3 weeks? Do you work for the goverment? haha...All jokes aside carefull, company gos tits up, your going to play hell getting whats yours.

 

[mattpresley]

mom and pop own the business(literally) Im helping them find a rental and they are gonna short sale there house(they pay 4000 a month when house is now only worth 160,000) places that blow that away are for rent for 1800 a month. Im staying with a friend but I may move back in because my credits good and i will have to put the lease in my name(Im a budgeting genius ) and they destroyed theirs keeping the company afloat. business is picking back up and shit will work itself out. Arent they lucky I left my beloved Mississippi to come back to this shithole state to work for them . regardless I cannot sink very low as I have fall back plan after fall back plan

 

[triumphrider-1]

Well cant find it................. I might wanna go down to ford as soon as can afford it. the company i work for is struggling and I haven't got a paycheck for 3 weeks

The local Ford dealer here couldn't get just the key (lock with key assembly only). It may be different there, but if they can't you could just knock it out with a hammer (thats what I did).

 

[88gt]

the key for your spare tire lock is located in the owners manual, the zip up one. it is in a little sleeve in the middle of the book when yo open it up. and if ou feel comfortable with this, just get the spare out and leave it in the back of the truck. that tire lowering mechanism is a pain. the little bent part of the jack handle gets stuck in the screw for lowering the tire real easy and can give you a headache trying to get it out giving where it is located. i just pulled mine out and leave it in the bed. never have to worry about it again.!

 

[koda6966]

I just hacksawed the metal piece that holds the spare tire so that I could get it out. It was rusted too bad and I had no idea how to lower it anyway.

Spare wasn't use able anyway.. it was a 210-60R14. I'm gonna look around for a cheap 15" rim with a Ranger bolt pattern so I can throw one of my old tires on it for a spare. I hate not having one, it's like going fishing and leaving your spare hooks at home.

 

[Mark_88]

Rust is the enemy for these things...I removed mine completely, cleaned the parts of rust and then painted them with primer and rust paint...lubricated all the moveable parts and added some grease to the bolt that holds the older style up...goes up and down now easily...something to do while you're not doing more important things...

 

[Slim]

My '99 Ranger had a lock like yours for the spare tire, it keeps people from stealing it. My '02 Ranger came without one. I got both trucks brand new.
On my Rangers and Sport Tracs I take the spare tire out and flip it around so the valve stem faces down so I can check the air once in a while. I suppose the way the factory puts them it keeps the valve stem from getting broken by a rock but then you can't check the air without removing the tire.

I'd like to imagine that Ford somehow decided that it would be a good idea to install it with the valve stem facing up so that you would need to remove the wheel - as pointed out by 85_Ranger4x4, and others, if things get rusty then the one day you need it you might not be able to release it.

I know it's a pipe dream, but sometimes you never know.

 

[mattpresley]

I'd like to imagine that Ford somehow decided that it would be a good idea to install it with the valve stem facing up so that you would need to remove the wheel - as pointed out by 85_Ranger4x4, and others, if things get rusty then the one day you need it you might not be able to release it.

I know it's a pipe dream, but sometimes you never know.

It will never rust in AZ. my biggest concern is getting the pos off. blowouts are common in 110 plus temps. The interstates are covered in shredded tires

 

[mattpresley]

the key for your spare tire lock is located in the owners manual, the zip up one. it is in a little sleeve in the middle of the book when yo open it up. and if ou feel comfortable with this, just get the spare out and leave it in the back of the truck. that tire lowering mechanism is a pain. the little bent part of the jack handle gets stuck in the screw for lowering the tire real easy and can give you a headache trying to get it out giving where it is located. i just pulled mine out and leave it in the bed. never have to worry about it again.!

lol I dont have an owners manual. my cousin ****ed me on that one. I downloaded it online about a month ago cause I needed the fuse box diagram to change my fuses(the moron had wrong fuse after wrong fuse set up)