TPMS - Quick check

[kimboy]

Tools needed

12 mm socket wrench
2 minutes of your time

Quick story, I removed some aluminum valve caps that were frozen on my tire valves stems. (Big mistake in using them in the first place) During the process I must have loosened one of the TPMS caps and that lead to a slow leak on my front drivers side tire.

A quick check/tightening of this cap on all 4 wheels may save you a headache especially if you're constantly airing down for off road adventures or swapping tires.

 

[EH007]

Are you talking about the caps or the valve stem itself?

Two of my valve stem cores were leaking when I loosened the caps to check the air pressure. Strangely, the valve stem cores themselves were loose and I just used a valve stem tool to tighten them. I was a bit surprised that the caps were able to hold the tire pressure without leaking. If you look inside the cap of a TPMS vavle stem, you'll see a rubber seal that isn't always present on non-TPMS valve stems. I guess that's why it sealed so well, even with a loose core.

 

[kimboy]

I guess valve cores can loosen over time.

I had two that were loose after airing down and up for beach driving.

In my case my cap came loose and needed to be tightened. It's quite amazing that the air pressure pushing against the tpms rubber washer keeps a lot of the air in.

 

[4boer]

I assumed I had a valve core problem as my spare set off the TPMS once a month. I bought those "NATO" valve caps and hoped that was going to end it. Nope, still leaking. Now I'm guessing it the side seal. The spare is original. Never been used.