I’m getting tired of this UPDATED

"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
10/09/2019 at 12:00 • Filed to: Who has time for this?

Update: I took the tire back to the dealer a week ago. They said they found a previously installed plug that was leaking, and they installed a better patch. Two interesting things about that. First, why didn’t they find that the first time around? Second, they are the ones who installed that plug originally. I mentioned that, but didn’t belabor it. Sounds like the quality of my repairs depends on the tech doing it, phase of the moon, day of the week, whatever...

Anyway, it’s held pressure for a week now, and they didn’t even think of charging me.

I’ve been dealing for a few weeks now with the case of the missing tire pressure. I’ve been losing about 10 pounds a week on average, but it’s been accelerating over that time. This pic was taken on Sunday. It was 30 pounds on Friday.

I took it to my local tire shop and then to the dealer who originally sold it to me. No one can find a puncture or a leak, not in valve tread or sidewall. The only thing I can think of is a deformity at the bead or somewhere that only manifests when the weight of the car is on it. It must be the tire or the rim, and I fear I will have to buy a new tire to test which.

DISCUSSION (48)

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 13:10

I wish I could lose 10lbs a week.

*eats another doughnut*

DipodomysDeserti > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 13:12

Bad bead or rim deformity.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 13:12

Maybe pay to put a new valve stem in first, to rule that out before buying a tire?

jimz > DipodomysDeserti
09/30/2019 at 13:14

this. did they tank it?

maybe even a crack in the wheel.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 13:14

My guess is that someone is letting 5 psi out every day without your knowledge.

facw > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 13:19

Even with the tire as a wear item, if the dealer can’t find a puncture, they should have to replace the tire and/or wheel under warranty if it randomly doesn’t hold air.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 13:20

My money is on a hairline crack in your wheel.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 13:20

My money is on a hairline crack in your wheel.

Shift24 > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 13:20

Could be a bad tim due to porosity. Literally leaking through the rim

Future next gen S2000 owner > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/30/2019 at 13:20

1.5. Sshhhh. Don’t be a nark.

Future next gen S2000 owner > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
09/30/2019 at 13:21

I’ve got a tapeworm I could give you. Works wonders!

Chariotoflove > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
09/30/2019 at 13:33

Well, are you full of hot air, too?

Chariotoflove > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/30/2019 at 13:34

The cat has been looking extra shifty lately, but I can’t prove it.

Chariotoflove > DipodomysDeserti
09/30/2019 at 13:34

My best guess as well.

Chariotoflove > jimz
09/30/2019 at 13:34

They did.

If there is a crack in the wheel, I’m gunning for warranty replacement, since the dealer replaced it year before last.

Chariotoflove > facw
09/30/2019 at 13:36

That is what I’m thinking. If there’s no wear-related damage, I want it replaced. The fact that they didn’t suggest that right off the bat but just put it back on the car tells me I’m going to have a bit more work to do than I should.

Chariotoflove > Shift24
09/30/2019 at 13:37

That’s interesting. This rim was replaced two years ago. If there is a defect, I’m going to be on the dealer for warranty replacement, since they are $800.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 13:49

Have you tried to find the leak yourself with a dish soap solution squirted over the wheel/tyre? I'm a cynic, and cynicism says that if they're even possibly liable and it's expensive, they won't admit to it. Perhaps.

Chariotoflove > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
09/30/2019 at 13:57

It’s extraordinarily cumbersome for me to do this while on the car . I tried. And of course I can’t even reach anything but t he outside sidewall to see. The valve stem is kind of sheltered in the rim, and the stem base is where I’d expect to find the weakest point. What I might do though is take it back to the dealer and examine it with them while they put it in the tub.

Before I do anything like that, though, I wanted to get the Oppo brain trust to help me think of all reasonable bases to cover in my search. Hence this thread.

NKato > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 14:50

I remember some tire shops had dunk buckets for immersing tires to determine if it was leaking. That was usually a quick way to find the source.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 15:06

Even if you can’t reach to see any bubbles forming, covering the wheel and tyre as best as possible by should allow you to hear bubbles forming at the leak(s). I normally use a 2ltr plastic bottle with a couple of holes jabbed through the cap to get a good ‘spray’. Spray it wherever the jet will reach. They certainly shoul dn’ t object to you being present whi le testing, but if they do are there any friendly local tyre shops nearby? They may be able to diagnose the issue for a cash-in-hand buck or two, then you at least have an informed outside opinion on the matter

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 15:12

I once had a tire failure that sounds similar to what you’re describing. In my case, a cord wire inside the tire carcass broke and it punctured the tire from the inside out. W hen the car was sitting still it would be okay because the wire would plug it’s own hole. But when I was driving I guess all the stress on it would cause the tire to flex and let a tiny amount of air out each revolution. However, tire heating caused the air pressure to increase so immediately after drives it was hard to notice, but I’d come back later or the next day, when the tire was cold, and it would be low again.

After a while the cord started working it’s way out and one day I was yet again looking for leaks and poked myself on a piece of wire. I figured it must be the source of my leak, so I got some pliers and gave it a good yank and pulled an 18" long piece of wire out. After that the tire started losing air rather quickly.

Chariotoflove > NKato
09/30/2019 at 15:16

Yes, that’s what I referred to above. Both places dunked it. The first thought it was a leak from a dirty bead and reseated it after cleaning it off. The dealer then dunked it and couldn’t find any leak.

Chariotoflove > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
09/30/2019 at 15:18

Yes, I do have a friendly place, and I may go back to them. Ultimately though, the dealer is the one that sold me the tire, so if I go after the warranty replacement, I’ll make sure they admit to the defect. I’ll definitely update once I find out what happens.

Chariotoflove > Snuze: Needs another Swede
09/30/2019 at 15:27

Wow, that sounds like a fairly exotic solution, but one that would also describe my situation. It’s clear I’m losing when it’s on the car, although it also goes down while sitting in the garage overnight. I’ll keep this in mind.

Shift24 > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 16:38

O uch yeah I would be too for 800 a piece

NKato > Chariotoflove
09/30/2019 at 16:52

I’m gonna say possible manufacturing defect in wheel or tire that causes air loss under specific conditions.

Chariotoflove > NKato
09/30/2019 at 17:24

I’m gonna hope it’s the tire.

facw > Chariotoflove
10/09/2019 at 12:10

Hmm, do you know if they even did a proper plug+patch repair the first time, or did they try to scrape by with just a plug? Either way, they should have been able to find the leak on the first try.

ranwhenparked > Chariotoflove
10/09/2019 at 12:10

Left rear, thats the one that's been giving me grief. I've started calling it Jimmy the Weasel, because it's always making the trouble.

Chariotoflove > facw
10/09/2019 at 12:13

Hmm, do you know if they even did a proper plug+patch repair the first time, or did they try to scrape by with just a plug?

The service rep said it was just a plug the first time, and should have been a proper plug&patch. That was when I said that I remember them doing the repair. He just grunted, and I dropped it.

Either way, they should have been able to find the leak on the first try.

My thought exactly.

Chariotoflove > ranwhenparked
10/09/2019 at 12:14

Ugh.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > Chariotoflove
10/09/2019 at 12:22

For instances like this, I would remount the offending tire on another wheel. Rules out wheel/tire. Or over pressure the tire, something to like 55-60 psi and let it sit in my tank/ or liberally soak it with soapy and water and let it sit, 30-40 minutes . Sometimes I have had to drive the car 30ish miles to get the tires up to temperature and then let them cool with soapy water, I’ve found a few pesky ones that way. Anyway, I have yet to not find/fix a leak. Porous wheels are my favorite, p.s. don’t use fix a flat goop, it can consume the wheel alloys!

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Chariotoflove
10/09/2019 at 12:28

I had the local shop put new tires on the Lancia (don’t ask) I bought out of a backyard last year. One of the tires would invariably leak down over a couple of weeks.

Took it back to the same shop, pulled it and found that there was some residue on the bead. A bit of solvent and elbow grease? Fine since then.

so, yeah, it could be a bead issue. And, yeah, I think 99% of installs go fine without the extra effort-- so once in awhile stuff fails due to lack of rigor. They easily could have cleaned the bead up the first time on my tires... but it didn’t seem worth it. When I complained they took care of it.

Chariotoflove > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
10/09/2019 at 12:29

I was ready to start asking for tests like that if they still hadn’t found the reason on the return visit.

Chariotoflove > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/09/2019 at 12:31

Thought it was a bead issue originally. As I put in the update, it turned out the old plug was leaking.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Chariotoflove
10/09/2019 at 12:38

Oops. Missed the update. Glad they found it.

For awhile I thought I had a cracked alloy on the Lancia, but there was some residual goo on the bead.

Chariotoflove > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/09/2019 at 12:54

Then you dodged a bullet!

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Chariotoflove
10/09/2019 at 13:07

Yeah, I was down to the point of tracking down the Unobtainium spare alloy wheel for a car that never sold all that well here to be begin with— and sadly the ones that sold mostly rusted away during the Reagan administration.

Having whined about all that, I’m rather looking forward to the restoration of The Beta.

Chariotoflove > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/09/2019 at 13:09

Sounds like you should snap one up if you ever come across it, just in case.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Chariotoflove
10/09/2019 at 13:14

Or, see a Mental Health Professional for actually putting money into a Lancia...

Chariotoflove > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/09/2019 at 13:17

Nope. Copays take away from your parts fund.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Chariotoflove
10/09/2019 at 13:19

“Uh, doc, since we’re making progress here so fast, do you have any idea who owns that Karmann Ghia in the far corner of the parking lot? It looks like it needs some attention... and...”

Chariotoflove > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/09/2019 at 13:21

“O h no, it’s worse than I thought. We’d better admit you right away!”

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Chariotoflove
10/09/2019 at 13:54

Reminds me of a time I had an issue with a Lexus dealership. I had arranged a n appointment with a service advisor for something under warranty. Appointment comes and the part isn’ t there , and the same advisor literally looks me in the eye and goes “I guess that last advisor, whoever it was, didn’t document this properly.” like that resolves anything. I was diplomatic, but couldn’t believe that he was swallowing his own bullshit.

Eventually there were like 4 separate failures on their service team and I had to Karen to the manager in order to get shit worked out. It sucked.

Chariotoflove > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
10/09/2019 at 14:00

My service rep is the guy at this dealer who is certified to handle K900 service, so he’s the only one I talk to. But I think different techs actually work on it in the bay. So, any snafus from previous visits he supervised as well, but he’s a good guy and I like him. So, I didn’t press it. He does try to take care of me. For instance, one of the directional headlights is broken, and it’s too expensive to replace. He’s trying to appeal to Kia for me to get them to comp it.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Chariotoflove
10/09/2019 at 15:01

Then it sounds like it wasn’t intentional. You can’t control the variance between different people who look at things that require technical expertise. It just seems like one of those oversights that happens from time to time.

Chariotoflove > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
10/09/2019 at 16:14

My thought exactly. I can bitch when I think it’s worth it, but this was nothing to ruin my relationship with the shop over.