C5 tire leak
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Shreveport LA
C5 tire leak
Hey guys and gals. I have a quick question. On my 1999 C5 I have a slow leak on my passenger side front tire. I've had it looked at by a tire shop but never really fixed the problem. They cleaned the rim and re mounted the tire. Checked for leaks in the tire. All I can think of is it's the inflation stem leaking air. My question is the stem a part I can replace by it's self or do I have to buy the stem and the TPMS sensor as a whole. I'm not sure if it's one piece or 2 separate pieces.
Thanks
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
Hey guys and gals. I have a quick question. On my 1999 C5 I have a slow leak on my passenger side front tire. I've had it looked at by a tire shop but never really fixed the problem. They cleaned the rim and re mounted the tire. Checked for leaks in the tire. All I can think of is it's the inflation stem leaking air. My question is the stem a part I can replace by it's self or do I have to buy the stem and the TPMS sensor as a whole. I'm not sure if it's one piece or 2 separate pieces.
Thanks
Thanks
The stem is integrated into the TPMS and cannot be replaced separately. However, the valve CORE can be replaced if that's where your problem is.
Figure out what's leaking first then replace it.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,498
Likes: 1,817
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Check really close because the wheel could have a small crack in it. Most likely the o-ring needs to be replaced and as well and the valve stem is part of the TPMS.
Last edited by jrose7004; Jun 25, 2012 at 07:45 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,153
Likes: 4,165
From: Kannapolis NC
rub some dishwashing liquid over the stem, the bead around the rim, the spoked in the wheel (in case it's a crack in the wheel) then the tread. Even a tiny leak will make the liquid bubble up. Dilute it about 3 to 1 with water and rub it over stuff, it will show even as little as one bubble every few seconds if there's a leak. If you have a big tub of water, you can also stand the tire and wheel up in it about 8 inches deep and roll the wheel around until you see bubbles in the water.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Had 4 different leaks on my wagon wheels
1. Cracked rim INSIDE where you could not see it until unmounting wheel.
2. Bad valve core leaked when installed new tires. Replaced core in TPMS
3. Outside nut not tight enough and leak at stem. Fixed by tightening.
There is also an O ring at the TPMS which might need to be replaced.
4. Otherwise check tire for a small obscure puncture.
I remove wheel and use a hose with just a sprinkle of water to check the beads and then the core and stem of the TPMS. Have found all leaks this way.
2. Bad valve core leaked when installed new tires. Replaced core in TPMS
3. Outside nut not tight enough and leak at stem. Fixed by tightening.
There is also an O ring at the TPMS which might need to be replaced.
4. Otherwise check tire for a small obscure puncture.
I remove wheel and use a hose with just a sprinkle of water to check the beads and then the core and stem of the TPMS. Have found all leaks this way.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The sensor and stem looks like this:
The little O ring is a hardware store part. Its like 50 cents. The stem nut needs to be properly tightened. Its in INCH POUNDS (cant rember and dont want to guess) so, get the value and make sure all of them are properly torqued. If the stem still leaks, replace the O ring.
The 2001 sensors have an improved sensor and seal but, you can not use a newer sensor without up-grding the RFA:
The two sensors side by side:
You can up-grade to 2001+ sensors by doing the upgrades in this post:
- C5 Tire Pressure Monitor Sys Up-Grade 97-2000 to 2001 RFA System: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...e-sensors.html , http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...aded-tpms.html
The little O ring is a hardware store part. Its like 50 cents. The stem nut needs to be properly tightened. Its in INCH POUNDS (cant rember and dont want to guess) so, get the value and make sure all of them are properly torqued. If the stem still leaks, replace the O ring.
The 2001 sensors have an improved sensor and seal but, you can not use a newer sensor without up-grding the RFA:
The two sensors side by side:
You can up-grade to 2001+ sensors by doing the upgrades in this post:
- C5 Tire Pressure Monitor Sys Up-Grade 97-2000 to 2001 RFA System: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...e-sensors.html , http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...aded-tpms.html
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Concord California
I too had a slow leak on my rear left tire. The shop installed new rims & tires and used the old TPMS valve and old rubber valve ring. I was informed that when you replace the rims, you need to order all new valve rings to make solid seal. Apparently the rubber valve ring is formed from the old rim and may leak. This took a while to fix, funny how the other three seemed to work, but it only takes ONE not to work to become an issue.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
General info for all:
It seems Dorman has come up with a clever design a while back, that allows the stem to be replaced separately from the sensor if need be, and they are "retrofittable" to C5 wheels and are compatible with the OEM TPM/RFA receiver.
I like the way they think:
part# 974-051 for '97-'00 Corvettes ($68.95 @Summit)
part# 974-014 for '01-'04 Corvettes ($48.83 @ Amazon)
This is a picture of the 974-014:
This a picture of part # 974-000 replacement stem that works with both sensors ($6.53 @ Amazon and elsewhere)
Keep in mind, you MAY be able to buy a AC Delco assembly for this price or a bit lower HOWEVER, you will HAVE to replace the entire unit if you damage your valve stem. Not so with these.
HTH
It seems Dorman has come up with a clever design a while back, that allows the stem to be replaced separately from the sensor if need be, and they are "retrofittable" to C5 wheels and are compatible with the OEM TPM/RFA receiver.
I like the way they think:
part# 974-051 for '97-'00 Corvettes ($68.95 @Summit)
part# 974-014 for '01-'04 Corvettes ($48.83 @ Amazon)
This is a picture of the 974-014:
This a picture of part # 974-000 replacement stem that works with both sensors ($6.53 @ Amazon and elsewhere)
Keep in mind, you MAY be able to buy a AC Delco assembly for this price or a bit lower HOWEVER, you will HAVE to replace the entire unit if you damage your valve stem. Not so with these.
HTH
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I had this on my '99 with a chromed rim that the chrome was starting to come off, allowing air to leak past very slowly. I ended up buying a new wheel as that was less expensive than re-chroming which isn't available where I live now.
