Tire Pressure Question - Slow Leak
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Hamilton Ontario
Tire Pressure Question - Slow Leak
Hi All,
I had a supposed reputable tire/rim place refinish my front left OEM rim on my '97. About a week after I picked up my vehicle, I noticed that I lost about 7 lbs. of air over the course of seven days.
I tightened up the nut around valve stem (it was not snug) and torqued it properly. The tire still leaked some air, but only about 3 lbs. over the course of a week.
I called up the place that did the refinishing, and asked if they remembered to put a new "o-ring" on the sensor after they re-installed it on the rim. The response shocked me: "...the '97 rims do not have o-rings on the sensors..." I told him that I was pretty sure that they did. The fellow I was talking to just told me to bring the car by and they will check it out. Yeah right!
Anyway, to satisfy my curiosity, I recently applied a soapy solution to the whole rim - including the valve stem area. I noticed a few bubbles slowly coming from the area where the nut screws around the valve stem - just behind the "threads" for the air cap. If there was an "o-ring" that needed to be replaced (or added for that matter), is this where air could leak from???? If so, does the tire have to come off the rim to replace the "o-ring"????
Thanks!
I had a supposed reputable tire/rim place refinish my front left OEM rim on my '97. About a week after I picked up my vehicle, I noticed that I lost about 7 lbs. of air over the course of seven days.
I tightened up the nut around valve stem (it was not snug) and torqued it properly. The tire still leaked some air, but only about 3 lbs. over the course of a week.
I called up the place that did the refinishing, and asked if they remembered to put a new "o-ring" on the sensor after they re-installed it on the rim. The response shocked me: "...the '97 rims do not have o-rings on the sensors..." I told him that I was pretty sure that they did. The fellow I was talking to just told me to bring the car by and they will check it out. Yeah right!
Anyway, to satisfy my curiosity, I recently applied a soapy solution to the whole rim - including the valve stem area. I noticed a few bubbles slowly coming from the area where the nut screws around the valve stem - just behind the "threads" for the air cap. If there was an "o-ring" that needed to be replaced (or added for that matter), is this where air could leak from???? If so, does the tire have to come off the rim to replace the "o-ring"????
Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
Your sensors do have O rings. More than likely thats your leak source.
I'd have the tire broken down and checked. The dealer should have the o rings on hand.
Noticed a couple of post via search that said #9 size O ring from Home Depot will work as a substitute.
I'd have the tire broken down and checked. The dealer should have the o rings on hand.
Noticed a couple of post via search that said #9 size O ring from Home Depot will work as a substitute.
Last edited by MAC5; Oct 23, 2006 at 12:19 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Originally Posted by MAC5
Your sensors do have O rings. More than likely thats your leak source.
I'd have the tire broken down and checked. The dealer should have the o rings on hand.
Noticed a couple of post via search that said #9 size O ring from Home Depot will work as a substitute.
I'd have the tire broken down and checked. The dealer should have the o rings on hand.
Noticed a couple of post via search that said #9 size O ring from Home Depot will work as a substitute.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Point of curiousity on my part, do the earlier sensors have actual o-rings? Anyone got a photo? I just put on new rims and sensors (02) and the sensors had a thick rubber washer.
One other note to the original poster, o-rings require a pretty good surface finish. Is this the area of repair for the wheel?
One other note to the original poster, o-rings require a pretty good surface finish. Is this the area of repair for the wheel?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
[QUOTE=vettenuts]Point of curiousity on my part, do the earlier sensors have actual o-rings? Anyone got a photo? I just put on new rims and sensors (02) and the sensors had a thick rubber washer.QUOTE]
The 97-00 sensors have a seperate o ring, below are the part numbers and pricing from a supporting vendor.
Gen I sensors:
10438853 - sensor – 74.61 each
10268439 - nut – 1.36 each (5 pack)
10268438 - washer – 1.36 each (5 pack)
Gene Culley
Director of Internet parts sales
Fred Beans of Limerick, Pa
40 Auto Park Boulevard
Limerick, Pa 19468
610.495.1700
gculley@fredbeans.com
The 97-00 sensors have a seperate o ring, below are the part numbers and pricing from a supporting vendor.
Gen I sensors:
10438853 - sensor – 74.61 each
10268439 - nut – 1.36 each (5 pack)
10268438 - washer – 1.36 each (5 pack)
Gene Culley
Director of Internet parts sales
Fred Beans of Limerick, Pa
40 Auto Park Boulevard
Limerick, Pa 19468
610.495.1700
gculley@fredbeans.com
Last edited by MAC5; Oct 23, 2006 at 09:20 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Hamilton Ontario
Thanks everybody for the responses.
Is there a schematic that shows the correct placement of the "o-ring"??
I am pretty certain that the inner surface of the rim is pretty clean. That being said, I will definitely have this checked out too - thanks!
Is there a schematic that shows the correct placement of the "o-ring"??
I am pretty certain that the inner surface of the rim is pretty clean. That being said, I will definitely have this checked out too - thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 994
Likes: 0
From: South Eastern MA
Originally Posted by Damo97
Hi All,
I had a supposed reputable tire/rim place refinish my front left OEM rim on my '97. About a week after I picked up my vehicle, I noticed that I lost about 7 lbs. of air over the course of seven days.
I tightened up the nut around valve stem (it was not snug) and torqued it properly. The tire still leaked some air, but only about 3 lbs. over the course of a week.
I called up the place that did the refinishing, and asked if they remembered to put a new "o-ring" on the sensor after they re-installed it on the rim. The response shocked me: "...the '97 rims do not have o-rings on the sensors..." I told him that I was pretty sure that they did. The fellow I was talking to just told me to bring the car by and they will check it out. Yeah right!
Anyway, to satisfy my curiosity, I recently applied a soapy solution to the whole rim - including the valve stem area. I noticed a few bubbles slowly coming from the area where the nut screws around the valve stem - just behind the "threads" for the air cap. If there was an "o-ring" that needed to be replaced (or added for that matter), is this where air could leak from???? If so, does the tire have to come off the rim to replace the "o-ring"????
Thanks!
I had a supposed reputable tire/rim place refinish my front left OEM rim on my '97. About a week after I picked up my vehicle, I noticed that I lost about 7 lbs. of air over the course of seven days.
I tightened up the nut around valve stem (it was not snug) and torqued it properly. The tire still leaked some air, but only about 3 lbs. over the course of a week.
I called up the place that did the refinishing, and asked if they remembered to put a new "o-ring" on the sensor after they re-installed it on the rim. The response shocked me: "...the '97 rims do not have o-rings on the sensors..." I told him that I was pretty sure that they did. The fellow I was talking to just told me to bring the car by and they will check it out. Yeah right!
Anyway, to satisfy my curiosity, I recently applied a soapy solution to the whole rim - including the valve stem area. I noticed a few bubbles slowly coming from the area where the nut screws around the valve stem - just behind the "threads" for the air cap. If there was an "o-ring" that needed to be replaced (or added for that matter), is this where air could leak from???? If so, does the tire have to come off the rim to replace the "o-ring"????
Thanks!
Why is it soooo hard to find competent mechnics?
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 1
From: cAshburn VA
Originally Posted by Damo97
Thanks everybody for the responses.
Is there a schematic that shows the correct placement of the "o-ring"??
I am pretty certain that the inner surface of the rim is pretty clean. That being said, I will definitely have this checked out too - thanks!
Is there a schematic that shows the correct placement of the "o-ring"??
I am pretty certain that the inner surface of the rim is pretty clean. That being said, I will definitely have this checked out too - thanks!
It's a no brainer once you see the sensor out of the wheel. There is a round groove around the base of the valve stem, where it meets the sensor. The o-ring may not drop directly in, it may be a little smaller to start, but once you snug it up and tighten it will work right in.
FYI- I think the #9 o-rings from Home depot work just as well.
More than likely the o-rings stuck to the wheel when the sensors were removed and the mech never saw them, still pretty lame though.
Hope that helps... Good Luck!
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Hamilton Ontario
Thanks gang. The joke here is that the place that refinished the rim is the shoppe that all the nearby GM dealerships use for their rim refinishing and repair! Who knows....maybe whoever did my refinish work was loaded that day????
Biggest PITA is scheduling time to have this done! Seeing that the weather up here has been getting pretty crappy, I may just store the car for now and take care of this issue in the spring. I will just make sure that I keep the tire inflated over the winter.
Biggest PITA is scheduling time to have this done! Seeing that the weather up here has been getting pretty crappy, I may just store the car for now and take care of this issue in the spring. I will just make sure that I keep the tire inflated over the winter.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
[QUOTE=MAC5]
WOW real nice post with Great information.... looks very familiar though
Originally Posted by vettenuts
Point of curiousity on my part, do the earlier sensors have actual o-rings? Anyone got a photo? I just put on new rims and sensors (02) and the sensors had a thick rubber washer.QUOTE]
The 97-00 sensors have a seperate o ring, below are the part numbers and pricing from a supporting vendor.
Gen I sensors:
10438853 - sensor – 74.61 each
10268439 - nut – 1.36 each (5 pack)
10268438 - washer – 1.36 each (5 pack)
Gene Culley
Director of Internet parts sales
Fred Beans of Limerick, Pa
40 Auto Park Boulevard
Limerick, Pa 19468
610.495.1700
gculley@fredbeans.com
The 97-00 sensors have a seperate o ring, below are the part numbers and pricing from a supporting vendor.
Gen I sensors:
10438853 - sensor – 74.61 each
10268439 - nut – 1.36 each (5 pack)
10268438 - washer – 1.36 each (5 pack)
Gene Culley
Director of Internet parts sales
Fred Beans of Limerick, Pa
40 Auto Park Boulevard
Limerick, Pa 19468
610.495.1700
gculley@fredbeans.com