[yeamac]

A neat trick is to put them all inside an 8 inch little tire from Lowes or Home Depot, pump it to 35psi and store it inside the car.

You can replace the sensors with regular stems and not have the low pressure light.

Have you actually done this? Where in the car would one store the tire?

I like the tire pressure monitor feature, and it was one of those little features that swayed me toward the XL7. Are they really that problematic? I am under warranty for a little over 1.5 years yet, but ended up buying one of these on ebay just in case and I plan to hold on to it in case I need it after my warranty expires.

BTW - the seller accepted my offer of $15 shipped.

 

[yeamac]

Cool Idea!! I think I'll try it. I really think that the problem with the valves is there is some kind of defect. They should not just fall apart in three years. I already discussed this with the dealer and they said how do we know you didn't damage them. Come on - one maybe but two - on opposite sides. No Way!

Have you had new tires put on? I do not know how these install, but it seems to make the most sense that if a tire installer didn't know what they were doing they could damage these or install them incorrectly.

I normally get my tires at Discount Tire and hope they know what they are doing with TPMS.

 

[tiraggi]

Have you had new tires put on? I do not know how these install, but it seems to make the most sense that if a tire installer didn't know what they were doing they could damage these or install them incorrectly.

I normally get my tires at Discount Tire and hope they know what they are doing with TPMS.

No I have not put new tires on yet but Im due. I'm worried that the tire installer might damage the TPMS valve and they are not so readily available if they do get damaged. Thats why I'm thinking of going to the standard valve stem.

 

[Goaterguy]

Have you actually done this? Where in the car would one store the tire?

I like the tire pressure monitor feature, and it was one of those little features that swayed me toward the XL7. Are they really that problematic? I am under warranty for a little over 1.5 years yet, but ended up buying one of these on ebay just in case and I plan to hold on to it in case I need it after my warranty expires.

BTW - the seller accepted my offer of $15 shipped.

No, I don't have problems with my TPMS and I have said before that I like the individual tire monitoring feature, it has helped me diagnose a nail in a specific tire. Even the single idiot light wouldn't have helped until it was too late.

The small tire can be stored wherever it fits, as long as it is inside the suv.

My brother changed the wheels of his SUV and he couldn't reuse the TPMS and needed a solution, the 8 inch tire whas what I found. He hates the idiot light on the dash.

Others suggested placing the sensors inside the spare tire but in the event you need the spare, the TPMS will be destroyed and you may hurt the spare too.

 

[PDbrains]

Got mine replaced under warantee

Cool Idea!! I think I'll try it. I really think that the problem with the valves is there is some kind of defect. They should not just fall apart in three years. I already discussed this with the dealer and they said how do we know you didn't damage them. Come on - one maybe but two - on opposite sides. No Way!

About a year ago one of my stems cracked. Went to the dealer and got 3 replaced under warantee. They would not replace the 4th one because they said it was good. It did have a dark ring where the stainless cap ended. A few says age while refilling the tires I noticed that the one they did not replace had cracked on the ring. I glued it together by placing a bead of LCA9 cement around the stem. Should be good forever.


From what I gather these stems break because of fretting corosion, This happens because the stems are aluminum (should be brass) and the caps are stainless steel. Add road salt and its a gonner. The solution is to replace the stainless caps with plastic caps, no more cracking.

 

[Jeff L.]

About a year ago one of my stems cracked. Went to the dealer and got 3 replaced under warantee. They would not replace the 4th one because they said it was good. It did have a dark ring where the stainless cap ended. A few says age while refilling the tires I noticed that the one they did not replace had cracked on the ring. I glued it together by placing a bead of LCA9 cement around the stem. Should be good forever.


From what I gather these stems break because of fretting corosion, This happens because the stems are aluminum (should be brass) and the caps are stainless steel. Add road salt and its a gonner. The solution is to replace the stainless caps with plastic caps, no more cracking.

Are you talking about the valve stem caps, or the nut that holds it to the rim? All the TPMS sensors, in Canada at least, have gray plastic stem caps from factory.

 

[yeamac]

Are you talking about the valve stem caps, or the nut that holds it to the rim? All the TPMS sensors, in Canada at least, have gray plastic stem caps from factory.

I have the Chrome wheels on my Limited and have metal valve stem caps.

 

[PDbrains]

You should replace those chrome caps with

I have the Chrome wheels on my Limited and have metal valve stem caps.

plastic caps so you don't damage your stems.

 

[yeamac]

plastic caps so you don't damage your stems.

Thanks for that. Gonna find me some gray plastic ones. Function over fashion, I always say.

 

[JoshuaRyan]

Hey All, sorry to revive an old thread but I wanted to add to the list of broken valve stems. I've had 3 break in exactly the same fashion and the fourth just broke tonight. When I called my dealer (Dennis Suzuki of Columbus Ohio "Stay Away from them!" They told me that it wasn't covered under any sort of warranty, not even the 36,000 bumper to bumper.

This also tends to be their standard answer. My suzuki has been terribly problematic. I can't wait to unload this thing!