Last gen Renault Clio spare wheel question

Herzlos

I had to use and replace the spare wheel on a 2008 Clio recently, and after re-attaching it it feels loose (it's attached via the ratchetting cable, so not going to come off, but there's some movement). I'm sure I checked before removing it and there was no wheel movement at all but now I can't remember.

Does anyone with a clio remember how tightly the spare wheel sits before it's removed?

AdrianC

If the tyre is flat, it won't be anywhere near as tightly held in the cradle as if it's inflated.

Herzlos

I'll check that, though I assume it's still inflated (I didn't put it back on myself, but can't imagine why it'd have been let down after coming off the axle).

AdrianC

Herzlos wrote: »

I'll check that, though I assume it's still inflated (I didn't put it back on myself, but can't imagine why it'd have been let down after coming off the axle).

Ah, sorry - this is the spare back in the cradle? I was assuming you meant the one that'd been swapped for the spare...

Horizon81

It should be pretty tight or else you'll hear it ratting around. These are horrible designs as I know from having to use one in the pouring rain. Once you've ratcheted it back up, dont you then have to screw the big handle round, in order to get the big round bit of plastic that sits under the spare to tighten up?

colino

Is this the one with the cable that you pull up with the handle and then have to tighten up the big, white, plastic nut by hand?

Herzlos

AdrianC wrote: »

Ah, sorry - this is the spare back in the cradle? I was assuming you meant the one that'd been swapped for the spare...

Yup this is putting the spare back in the cradle. A pretty horrible task. I mourn for the days when they spare wheel was in the wheel well as it only took seconds to do.

colino wrote: »

Is this the one with the cable that you pull up with the handle and then have to tighten up the big, white, plastic nut by hand?

That's the one. I suspect the problem with mine is that whilst it's been pulled up and the cable locked, that whatever the the big plastic nut deals with hasn't caught properly and it's not been pulled right into the underside of the body. I'm just not sure how it felt before I removed it (and I didn't check because it was dark, raining and I was at the side of a busy road)

AdrianC

Herzlos wrote: »

I mourn for the days when they spare wheel was in the wheel well as it only took seconds to do.

Some cars, it's been underneath for decades.
Some, it's still in the boot now.

jbainbridge

Make sure the big plastic nut has caught and is tight ... otherwise it is just being held on by the cable.

Building_Surveyor

Who changed the tyre? I used to have that car, when I used the spare, once I got a new tyre the company took off the spare and reset it back to where it was. I just about figured out how to release the spare when I needed it, I remember it being a right pain!

Herzlos

I took the spare out and put it on the axle, my dad took the tyre to shop and then did the reverse. It's definitely a pain to use, took me about 5-10 mins to get the wheel to come out, whereas the last time I got a puncture I was back on the road by then.