Ford Galaxy Seat Alhambra VW Sharan Spare Wheel Carrier Mechanism Gear Repair Fix Kit

The Problem A plastic gear breaks within the spare wheel carrier mechanism causing malfunction of the mechanism. These vehicles have the spare wheel stored under the rear of the vehicle. The wheel is retained by a cable which can be wound up and down by turning a bolt in the boot of the vehicle. During normal operation the bolt can be turned which lowers the wheel to the floor where it can then be detached from the mechanism. It is common for the wheel to be wound up too hard or fast, this is often caused by spinning the release bolt too quickly using a spider tool or a power tool, this leads to the cable kinking or jamming. As a result, a plastic gear within the mechanism splits or breaks a tooth, teeth. Even with careful use of the mechanism the gear can fail as it is a poor quality part. By nature this mechanism is rarely used and isnt serviceable therefore even first use of the mechanism can cause this plastic gear to break. Symptoms of the fault The below are common symptoms