Emergency Tire Repair kit

[stmarys45729]

Regarding the so-called tire repair kit which Ford provides, has anyone out there had reason to use the item, know someone who did, and if so, how well did things work out? On something like this, I am a bit of a cynic. It appears to be A "Smoke and Mirrors" attempt BY FMC for not placing a spare in the trunk. I have worked in the aviation world for most of my adult life and am a firm believer in "Murphy's Law". It appears the purchase of a spare donut tire and wheel is the only solution. If I decide to do that, does the molded plastic houseing below the trunk carpeting have a tire well below it, or is that space taken up by batteries? Many thanks for any inputs.

[mwr]

A donut spare fits in that space. There are many posts here on the subject, including how/where to get the spare and tools.

[murphy]

You can remove the plastic housing and fit a spare tire in the well on a Fusion Hybrid. You also need a jack and a wrench. If you can find a wrecked gas only Fusion, everything you need can come from that car.

 

This can't be done on a Fusion Energi because the battery cooling blowers are located in the well and the 16" donut spare is too small to clear the brake calipers of an Energi.

[Waldo]

The reason Ford doesn't provide a spare tire is because if you get rear ended, the spare can push the battery through the rear seats. Beware.

[Sky14FFH]

I just did this. Got a pretty much new tire for $42 and a somewhat weathered jack "assembly" (meaning styrofoam mounting tray and wrench) for another $42 at a junk yard. Cleaned them up and they mounted up perfectly in the spare tire well. It doesn't look like it could affect the battery in anyway as it sits on a level below it and the backs of the seats are pretty solid. The trunk cover is somewhat elevated, about half a centimeter but that's about it. Wrapped the refill kit in bubble wrap and stowed it in the compartment housing the lead acid battery on the left side. Stashed the fuel filler funnel next to the wheel but thinking of zip tying it to something so nothing rattles. So far so good.

Edited November 17, 2017 by Sky14FFH

[Waldo]

I just did this. Got a pretty much new tire for $42 and a somewhat weathered jack "assembly" (meaning styrofoam mounting tray and wrench) for another $42 at a junk yard. Cleaned them up and they mounted up perfectly in the spare tire well. It doesn't look like it could affect the battery in anyway as it sits on a level below it and the backs of the seats are pretty solid. The trunk cover is somewhat elevated, about half a centimeter but that's about it. Wrapped the refill kit in bubble wrap and stowed it in the compartment housing the lead acid battery on the left side. Stashed the fuel filler funnel next to the wheel but thinking of zip tying it to something so nothing rattles. So far so good.

 

Battery is attached to the floor. Spare tire pushes the floor. Battery moves forward. "Surdy" isn't something you can determine by "eyeballing" when talking about a 30 ton semi hitting you at 50mph.

 

That being said, I've got the spare tire in my car.

[Cobra348]

First note in this thread tells the parts to get from a dealer for a 16" donut spare. "Invoice Part #" is the Ford number that you'd give to the Parts folks for ordering. The tire ... get it thru Ford or go TireRack (like I did. Cost for all this from Ford/TireRack is about $500 or so. Optional and less expensive is a salvage yard - all the listed parts from a 2013+ gas Fusion.

 

As noted, a 16" donut - and all the parts -will fit in the well where the mobility kit is. Put the kit aside in the garage somewhere and put it back in if/when you trade/sell the FFH. Use the holddown bolt from the kit with the spare. I went the full cost route with my '15 FFH and easily swapped it into the current '17. All caveats about having a spare and possible battery issues in a rear-end accident apply.

 

That said, I have a donut spare. I'll chance it. And remember - using the kit will also crap up the TPMS sensor and valve ... and added $65-$95 cost.

Edited November 19, 2017 by Cobra348

[notgonepackin@gmail.com]

GET THE SPARE ...EBAY, DEALER, WHATEVER!

GET A SPARE

We bought one shortly after blowing a tire ...on this road.

At night/no cell service/no fun.

Got lucky, hitched a ride. Came back the next day and took this picture after fixing it.

(Think about it; the silly Ford repair pump 'might' patch a tiny leak; not a puncture like we had)

 

[Butterflylvndr44]

I used the kit yesterday and it is still holding the next day was pretty easy to use as well took about 20 min to inflate to 34 from 4 does anyone know how many times this kit can be used ?

[Cobra348]

I used the kit yesterday and it is still holding the next day was pretty easy to use as well took about 20 min to inflate to 34 from 4 does anyone know how many times this kit can be used ?

Be prepared to replaced the TPMS sensor and stuff when you finally decide to deal with the tire. That goop in the kit doesn't just pass through.

 

And that is why I have a compact spare instead of that crap. I'm too cheap to spend another $70-95 on valve stem, sensor and stuff in addition to a tire (repair or replace).