DoctorZ

I just purchased a 2010 HHR SS. It did not come with a spare tire hold-down (wing nut). I ordered and received the correct GM part number (GM P/N 25977408), but I cannot get it to install properly.

The replacement wing nut includes a bell-shaped metal piece that contacts the spare wheel but will not let the wing nut contact the threads of the stud coming up through the center of the spare whee/tire. Since I do not have the original wing nut, I am not sure if the replacement is a proper match to the original (even though it is the correct GM part number).

As far as I can tell from the picture in the owners manual, I have all the items placed in the spare tire well properly -- styrofoam tray with jack and lug wrench on the bottom (with arrow facing forward), then spare tire with valve stem up, then the storage tray on top. Tire lays flat in the well, but I cannot get the wing nut to grab the stud threads.

Here is a picture of the replacement wing nut I received (bottom up to show bell-shaped metal piece). Is this the same piece you guys have? Any ideas?

https://flic.kr/p/siXRCd

lasater

Yes, that looks correct.

Oldblue

Yep that's correct , but flip the bottom piece , I think

firemangeorge

Yep. That bottom piece is upside/down.

Just curious. What styrofoam tray ? Mine doesn't have one.

DoctorZ

Ok. Is the bottom piece supposed to be detached from the wing nut and placed in the wheel center hole for the wing nut to push down on? (It will not reattach to the wing nut if reversed).

The tray is a black dense styrofoam rectangle with a hole in the middle to fit over the stud. It has two cutouts, one for the lug wrench and another to fit the collapsed jack upright.

firemangeorge

The metal part of that big wingnut fastener is the bottom.
Still not seeing that styrofoam thing you're talking about. Mine has a padded black liner that covers the entire spare tire well. Maybe the previous owner of yours put that styrofoam in after he/she lost the wingnut.

Anyhow. I bought mine new. i snapped some pics and will post them up shortly.

firemangeorge

OK. Just some pictures that show the correct install. Any questions, just ask.
(Hope Mike doesn't scold me for taking up server storage space. )

DoctorZ

Thanks, the pictures were a big help. Yes I realize the wing nut is inverted in my photo -- I did that to better show the metal piece on the bottom.

I was able to determine why the wing nut would not catch the stud threads -- at some point the spare was replaced with a 16" instead of a 15". So the spare tire diameter is just large enough it won't sit all the way in the bottom of the spare tire well, due to the tapered sides. Mystery solved.

Here are a couple of photos of the Styrofoam jack tray. The stock jack and lug wrench fit nicely.

flickr.com/photo.gne?...
flickr.com/photo.gne?...

firemangeorge

Wrong size spare. That makes sense why it won't fit together correctly.

That styrofoam tray obviously came from another type car since the HHR's did not come with them.

donbrew

You should probably check the bolt pattern on the spare, before you need one.