RE: Losing Air

[wbtczn]

Hi all -- first time poster here. Forgive me for resurrecting an old thread, but we are having the exact same problem.

We have a 2002 Dream Cruiser with chrome rims. From the first week of ownership, we have been in to our dealer because of vibrations in the wheels, and the tires not holding air. In addition to the dealer, we've been in to Sam's as well as to one of our local tire centers that is owned by a friend of ours.

We've had multiple tires and valve stems put on these rims. We continue to lose air daily and have corrosion within the tires. We've tried the grinding of the rims, and even tried high performance compression stems. All to no avail.

Has anyone had any success in getting help from Chrysler? This is so frustrating. It's like having a computer problem. The hardware people tell you it's a software problem, the software people tell you it's an operating system problem, and the operating system people tell you it's a hardware problem.... ARGH!!!!!!!!!!

[all4themutts]

Interesting to see this....
I have an '02 Limited with the chrome wheels. I used to have just one wheel that gave me problems, after an accident where that wheel had to be replaced. I always knew where it was re: rotation etc, and just saw it as a way of life.
I had my tires replaced about 2 years ago, and never really noticed a problem until recently. Still had one occasional slow leak, but not as persistent, so not as easily tracked. But now all of them seem to lose air, at varying rates... but I had a large bit of work done last week and they said that all were nearly 10lbs off!

So I was wondering if it was something like the bead wearing down (who knew that would occur to ME?!?), and ya'll have confirmed it. So take it to a tire place and get the rims cleaned out and rebalanced, then?

Thanks from a newbie...

[coolvirus]

Mine is an 03 GT with 55K miles. I have had no problems with losing air until recently. This started about a month ago and it's only the rear right tire. I took it to a local shop and they checked for air leaks but couldn't find none (they submerged the tire in water and saw no bubbles and they also sprayed the edge of the rims with windex or at least it looked like it but couldn't find anything wrong). The rim doesn't look bent either.

I'm still losing a lot of air, anywhere from 8 to 12lbs every other day and we just can't seem to figure out what the hell is wrong.

I'm having a hard time understanding how the original poster's problem was solved (It's been a long day here at work and I'm tired). Can you guys explain in layman terms what to look for or what to try for this problem?

Thank you in advance.

[CREWZIN]

The original poster had the tire taken completely off the offending rim and then had the rim sanded/buffed all the way around the edges of the tire plus the hole where the valve stem goes through. He collected a pile of grit and rust and never had a problem losing air after that.

[coolvirus]

Thanks crewzin. Pardon my ignorance but how would sanding the rim and the valve stem hole help in preventing air leaks? Is it to make a good seal between the tire and the rim?

[quicksilverdon]

Originally Posted by coolvirus

Thanks crewzin. Pardon my ignorance but how would sanding the rim and the valve stem hole help in preventing air leaks? Is it to make a good seal between the tire and the rim?

Yes.

My daughter's 03 GT is having this problem - 3 wheels all lose air. I don't understand why it doesn't show up on leak test, except that the bead needs the weight of the vehicle to leak??

Anybody tried the goop (not fix-a-flat) that you put in tire? I saw it, but wanted to hear experience.
You take out valve stem, squirt this goop in, and it is supposed to seal punctures.

[coolvirus]

I bought a can of "Flat-Aid" but haven't used it yet. Do you guys think that might work?

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by coolvirus

I bought a can of "Flat-Aid" but haven't used it yet. Do you guys think that might work?

What's the difference between "Fix-a-flat" and "Flat-Aid" ?

If your is to be used after you have a flat or low tire, then there's no difference. QSD asked the same question about anybody who used it.

Don't know if it would fix your problem or not. Just heard stories about unbalanced tires after using it and that you have to let any tire changer know that you've used it before he takes the tires apart.

[04stocker]

'03 GT bought new 3 years ago
Same problem except only on one wheel, started this past summer
Had dealer clean all rims inside when snow tires were put on
If problem persists, I"m gonna put tubes in them

[coolvirus]

Did cleaning the rim fix the problem for you 04stocker?