Spare tire winch on gmc van

You need the head mechanism in order to turn the winch to let the tire down. Its usually a hollow square head without knowing the make and model of your vehicle.

There is a compartment inside the rear hatch (sometimes on the driver's side and sometimes on the Passenger side) that you can open and your tire changing equipment and instructions will be in there. (unless someone removed it) The jack handle must be used to "crank" the winch to let down the cable that holds the spare tire in place.

I got his post from Wiki Answers:

The winch is probably broken and will need to be replaced. You can use a cut-off tool or an hand held angle grinder to cut the cable holding the tire up, then you will have access to the tire and can replace the winch.

Wear safety glasses when operating any cutting or grinding equipment.

Common problem for these trucks is that the tire is pressing up against the tube that you slide in the handle thru. It wont connect to the gearing tool to allow you do drop the tire down. The only way I found to get around this was to rip out the tube from underneath. Then try the handle again.
Happened in all 4 of my trucks, let some air out of the tire, it'll relieve the pressure on the tube so the gears mesh.

I suspect a problem with the winch itself not realeasing the tire down.. If this is so, I believe the spare tire needs to be cut from the cable in order to replace the winch.

CAN YOU PULL ON THE TIRE WHILE YOU LOWER IT. IT MIGHT BE GETTING CAUGTH UP IN THE CABLE HOUSING

What's happening is that the latch is not releasing - a safety feature so the tire doesn't drop down onto the road should the cable or assembly rust/break etc. While researching I got this info from another forum: Jack up the rear of the van. Wind the spare "up". now put your jack under the spare to support its weight. Then "unwind" it. now look up through the spare to the winch assembly. You'll see a latch at the back - towards the rear of the van. Reach in with a long screwdriver and release it by moving it towards the rear of the van. If you've unwound the winch you should be able to move the plastic holder downwards. Once you've done this you can allow the tire to come down and remove it. Now remove the winch assembly - 5 or 6 bolts. Odds are you'll see apiece of wire hanging or it may have fallen out. You'll also see a spring clip - it clips onto the underside so when you unwind the winch it should pull the aforementioned latch to release the tire. You should be able to get this back in place by fiddling with it, or just attach a wire to the latch to work it manually. Or buy a new winch assembly - approx. $150. Good luck

With the new 2008 models, the spare tire was moved from the rear of the van to a spot below the front seats. The lug for the tire winch is located under a round cover in the floor just in front of and between the two front seats. If you look under the van, you will see the black tire-shaped cover for the spare.

I have a '02 TrailBlazer and I had the same problem. When I got a flat and went to change the tire on the side of the road I was not able to get the tire off the winch. Luckly, I have AAA and the driver knew the trick to getting the tire free. The process involved lowering the tire as far as it would go and then kicking it. Wind back up and repeat until the winch free's itself.

When I took the car into the shop to get the tire fixed and the have the spare put back on the car, they were not able to get the winch free enough to put the tire back on. They said that is is a common problem with this mechanism and suggested replacing the winch system (estmated parts and labor $215). From what I can tell the winch accumulates rust up in the cable and locks up.

you'll have to change the whole winching mechanism

best place would be in a junk yard