C8 Spare Wheel - Unable To Remove

[Mike M.]

When trying to remove the spare wheel on my C8 the hexagon in the boot would only turn slightly then jammed. The spare descended only about 10mm and was free to rotate and rock but despite all my efforts would come down no further, although I COULD take it back up to its stowed position. Any ideas???...Thanks, Mike M.

[stephenhoughton]

When trying to remove the spare wheel on my C8 the hexagon in the boot would only turn slightly then jammed. The spare descended only about 10mm and was free to rotate and rock but despite all my efforts would come down no further, although I COULD take it back up to its stowed position. Any ideas???...Thanks, Mike M.

[stephenhoughton]

Hello Mike,

what year is your C8.

i had an 03 c8 and had the same problem as you. I removed the spare and because a tyre was punctured i left it at the tyre fitters for repair. That was a big mistake. I wound up the cable that holds the spare tyre. Because it was slack the cable came out of the guide runner and was trapped and cut. I had to buy a new carrier from Citroen. The problem on the earlier C8 was that if the cable was wound up slack it did foul. Later model C8 have a plastic fitting that goes inside the spare wheel. If you leave the wheel out and use the plastic fitting when winding the cable up it does not come out of the runner. If yours is stuck, there is a good chance that the cable will be damaged and you will need a new winding mechanism, i cant remember how much it cost but fitting is very straight forward.

[Mike M.]

Hello Mike,

what year is your C8.

i had an 03 c8 and had the same problem as you. I removed the spare and because a tyre was punctured i left it at the tyre fitters for repair. That was a big mistake. I wound up the cable that holds the spare tyre. Because it was slack the cable came out of the guide runner and was trapped and cut. I had to buy a new carrier from Citroen. The problem on the earlier C8 was that if the cable was wound up slack it did foul. Later model C8 have a plastic fitting that goes inside the spare wheel. If you leave the wheel out and use the plastic fitting when winding the cable up it does not come out of the runner. If yours is stuck, there is a good chance that the cable will be damaged and you will need a new winding mechanism, i cant remember how much it cost but fitting is very straight forward.

Hello Stephen, Thanks for your reply, my C8 is a 2006 model and does have the plastic fitting. My problem though is slightly different to yours. I removed the spare wheel a couple of months ago to check the tyre pressure, and both lowering and hoisting it back up went quite easily and completely normally. Recently when trying to lower it again it only came down 10mm and would lower no further, although the wheel itself was free to rotate and rock. I can't either feel or even see above it to investigate the hoisting mechanism, so I think the only option open to me now is to destroy the piece of channel which takes the weight of the wheel and drop it out that way. Thanks for the tip about replacing the mechanism being easy - although I shudder to think what a new assembly will cost!!!....My local Citroen dealer wanted £35 just to look at the problem. Needless to say I declined!! Mike M.

[tripletdad]

Hello Stephen, Thanks for your reply, my C8 is a 2006 model and does have the plastic fitting. My problem though is slightly different to yours. I removed the spare wheel a couple of months ago to check the tyre pressure, and both lowering and hoisting it back up went quite easily and completely normally. Recently when trying to lower it again it only came down 10mm and would lower no further, although the wheel itself was free to rotate and rock. I can't either feel or even see above it to investigate the hoisting mechanism, so I think the only option open to me now is to destroy the piece of channel which takes the weight of the wheel and drop it out that way. Thanks for the tip about replacing the mechanism being easy - although I shudder to think what a new assembly will cost!!!....My local Citroen dealer wanted £35 just to look at the problem. Needless to say I declined!! Mike M.

 

 

hi,dont know if you have fixed this problem,but i bought a complete spare wheel mech a few years ago,just in case,ive now sold my c8,but still have this part avail,i can email you a pic if its of interest ,sure we can sort out a price ,im not a citroen stealer lol

thanks

lloyd

[Mike M.]

hi,dont know if you have fixed this problem,but i bought a complete spare wheel mech a few years ago,just in case,ive now sold my c8,but still have this part avail,i can email you a pic if its of interest ,sure we can sort out a price ,im not a citroen stealer lol

thanks

lloyd

Hi Lloyd, Update is that I've had to partially destroy the lower end of the cable to get the wheel released, but the mechanism is still jammed. I haven't had time to explore further yet but am assuming that a replacement unit is the only way ahead. I'm certainly interested in the one you have for sale therefore, so please could you email a pic, condition, and price to me at mikemaddox@lineone.net and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. They do seem very hard to find, but as yet I haven't checked what Citroen want for this item. Thanks, Mike M.

[tripletdad]

Hi Lloyd, Update is that I've had to partially destroy the lower end of the cable to get the wheel released, but the mechanism is still jammed. I haven't had time to explore further yet but am assuming that a replacement unit is the only way ahead. I'm certainly interested in the one you have for sale therefore, so please could you email a pic, condition, and price to me at mikemaddox@lineone.net and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. They do seem very hard to find, but as yet I haven't checked what Citroen want for this item. Thanks, Mike M.

 

 

hi,email and picture have been sent,thanks lloyd

[beaker141]

I've just had problems with my winch and thought I'd post my experiences to add to the above. 

 

I think the problem was caused by a relative helping my wife out and winding it up empty which has snagged, frayed and generally messed it all up. 

 

The bit I didnt realise, inside the boot is the plastic cover which, when lifted up to get to the bolt actually operates some jaws within the winding mechanism through a small cable.  

 

Our plastic cover has long since snapped off and been lost, I think the absence of this is what started all the problems, as you have to grip a small piece of wire left inside with pliers to release the jaws to allow the wheel to drop out.  Perhaps some of the issues above have also suffered from the lack of knowledge of this small fact!