My $300 car wash

Ok, so the other day, after work, I decided to pull through a local brushless carwash and clean up my car (not a British Car). I had gone through this carwash with this particular car many times with no problems. This time, after the wash was done, as I was driving away from the wash, I get a "low tire pressure Right Front" warinig in my cars computer display. Hmmm, I thought I must have picked up a nail, so I pulled into a gas station and went aroung to my right front tire to check the pressure. As I rounded the front of my car, I could hear the "hissss" of air leaking! That's when I noticed my valve stem was c0ck-eyed. As I tried to unscrew my valve cap, the valve stem just came off in my hand and the tire quickly emptied of air. So, I went to check the right rear and found the same problem. As I touched the valve stem there it also broke in half and all the air in my rear tire came out also! Now I had both tires on the right side with zero pressure! It seems that as I drove through the car wash, I must have gotten a little too close to the guide rails that guide you into the right position and both valve stems got caught and broke as I pulled forward. Since I had "run flats" on my car, I was able to limp over to Discount Tire to see if they could help. The good news is, they were able to install new valve stems. The bad news is, my original valve stems are attached to my car's "tire pressure sensors". So, now I need to buy two new tire sensors to the tune of about $150 each! Needless to say, I won't be driving through that car wash again with that car!

Basil

[ 03-27-2004: Message edited by: Basil ]

[ 03-27-2004: Message edited by: Basil ]</p>

So, let me get this right, The valve stems "we" routinely replace every time "we" replace tires now cost $150.00 each!!!! That is definately a design defect! You should go back to the maker and ask HIM to cover this under warranty.

There is Absolutely no reason for the pressure sensors to be attached to the valve stems. This is Absolutely design stupidity i.e. a design defect.

I'm sorry for the rant, but when I hear about silly things like this, it makes my head and eyes spin.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by ThomP:
So, let me get this right, The valve stems "we" routinely replace every time "we" replace tires now cost $150.00 each!!!! That is definately a design defect! You should go back to the maker and ask HIM to cover this under warranty.

There is Absolutely no reason for the pressure sensors to be attached to the valve stems. This is Absolutely design stupidity i.e. a design defect.

I'm sorry for the rant, but when I hear about silly things like this, it makes my head and eyes spin.<hr></blockquote>

You won't get any argument from me, but that's how it is.

Basil

May I ask which non LBC this was?
-William

The price of progress...

If you didn't have some high-tech tires like that, it would be a $2 part! Now in this high-tech age the part costs $150!

Progess... I wonder sometimes

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by William:
May I ask which non LBC this was?
-William<hr></blockquote>

Chevy

Ouch! Corvette I assume?

Yeah. I knew it was a GM product. Don't feel bad Basil. People that own Aleros and a few other GM products feel your pain.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Izual Angel:
Yeah. I knew it was a GM product. Don't feel bad Basil. People that own Aleros and a few other GM products feel your pain.<hr></blockquote>

This was really just my own stupidity, not a basic design flaw (although it would have been nice if the sensors were not attached to the valve stems). Overall, I'm quite happy with the quality of my GM car.

Basil,

Are the tires low enough of a sidewall profile to actually catch on the guiderail? Did you make the people that own the old server mad enough to come and slit your valve stems maybe????

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by steve99:
Basil,

Are the tires low enough of a sidewall profile to actually catch on the guiderail? <hr></blockquote>

Afraid so

Yeeouch. And I was whining about the two tires I replaced on my car for less than one of your valve stems.

I know that the system is hardwired into your car, but there are aftermarket systems that go around the rim itself, it makes it easier to balance as well. Do you think that there might be one like this that would talk to the radio system in your dash? Just a hopeful suggestion.

MattP

I had a similar problem with my Renault. I caught a nail so took it down to my local tyre shop. They refused to do it, sending me to there main site ten miles down the road. Apparently they have a 1 in 10 chance of breaking the sensor when removing the tyre and said they would not be resposible for the cost of replacement. Their main site was right opposite a Renault dealership so if they broke the sensor they could get a replacement at anywhere between £80 and £130 depending on car model!