We are a four-location retail operation in the Boston metro market and are seeing about 30 to 40 cars a day with tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).
We are finding many of these original equipment valves have valve caps and cores that are frozen and seized. I believe the metal cap on an aluminum valve is one problem, and the material used on the valve core does not seem to do well with the valve itself.
What happens is that when you go to remove the valve cap even to do the simplest procedure to either check the tire pressure or remove and replace the tires with new ones, we're finding the valve cap is seizing on the valve stem and we can't get the thing off. We've experienced at least 20 situations where we couldn't get the valve cap off and it snaps the valve stem.
As a result, it renders the valve and the TPMS unit unserviceable.
In other situations, we've been able to remove the valve cap to find that the valve core is seized. This also renders the valve and the TPMS unit unserviceable.
We are unable to get any information from car dealers on this problem, but we are finding they all have replacements on the shelf, which would indicate there is a problem.
We have put up notices in our stores for our clients to be made aware of this issue. Are there any industry memos, service bulletins or any auto manufacturer memos on this topic?
Any information would be appreciated.
Barry Steinberg
Owner
Direct Tire & Auto Service
Watertown, Mass.
Editor's note: Have other readers experienced problems with tire valves and tire pressure monitoring devices? Does anyone know of service bulletins or auto maker memos on this topic? Tire Business contacted several auto makers, industry associations, valve companies and tire makers but could not find anyone with information addressing Mr. Steinberg's concerns. If you have information or comments on this subject, please let Tire Business know. You can e-mail us at: [email protected]