john, 7/9/2010,9:10:29 PM, wrote:
>
>> Toyota had been working on a remedy for the last three months. But Lyons
>> said the company still has no timing for when it will have a permanent >> fix.
>>
>> The recall covers 220,000 1998-2003 models and 380,000 2004-2010 models,
>> Lyons said.
>>
>> Toyota said the condition may be on Siennas that have been driven in
>> cold climate areas with high road salt use. Prolonged exposure to road
>> salts may cause excessive corrosion of the carrier cable.
>>
>> In a worst case, the carrier cable may fail and the spare tire could
>> become separated from the vehicle, a road hazard for following vehicles
>> that increases the likelihood of a crash.
>>
>> From The Detroit News:
>>
>
formatting link
>The mechanism for the spare tire on my 2000 Sienna seized up when I blew
> out a tire a couple of years back. No matter how much turning of the
> crank or tugging and pulling I did, it would not lower the tire. Finally
> at my wit's end I said a prayer and tried it again. The thing lowered
> down with a bit of effort and I was able to extract the spare! I promptly
> oredered a new one and installed it the next week.
And have been oiling it every few months since....?