Hello All!

I've recently purchased my 2004 G35 Coupe and have found this forum to be very helpful in answering many of my questions. I now, however, have a problem that I don't think can be solved with a quick search:

I had my rear tires changed today and the tire dealer handed me my TPMS sensors after giving me my bill. Apparently they could not remove the valve cores from the stems so they removed the sensors entirely and replaced them with regular valve stems. They said they had to come out because they couldn't mount the new tires on the rims with the core still in place. Supposedly, they wouldn't be able to pass enough air through the stem and thereby create enough pressure for the tire to mount properly. This doesn't really make sense to me. So maybe someone who understands the tire installation process can better explain. In any case, I took their word but I let them know I wasn't too pleased. They told me they would install new sensors once I bought them and brought them in. I became really annoyed when I priced these suckers because the best price I was quoted was almost $100.

I guess my first question has to do with whether they were right to completely remove the sensors and if it is absolutely necessary to remove the core of a valve stem to properly mount a tire. They told me that the tire might lose air if they had left them in but I think this is nonsense since I never had an air loss problem before going there. When you try to remove the core with the tool it just spins and doesn't tread out so is there any other trick for removing the core so I can fix the TPMS sensors myself? Lastly, I'd also like to know if anyone knows where to find the best price on new sensors if it is the case that they need to be replaced. Thanks!

 

They are not lying to you as these sensors corrode due to the diifferent metals in them.You having an 2004 should not have TPMS i dont think.

 

Nope I have the TPMS and it functions just as it is supposed to according to what I've read in the owner's manual. I just wonder if it's true that the core has to come out of the stem in order to be able to mount the tire. Any suggestions as to where I can find a good price on two sensors?

 

the reason why they removed them is simple , they where going to brake so for them not to brake them they removed them and put u some cheap black plastic 1's . you could try kijiji i had seen like a month ago all 4 for 125

 

Unless you are doing some serious stretching there is no reason why they would need to 'blast' a new set of tires to get them to seal (the cores can remain in place in most situations). Even then there are ways to get tires to seal if you have the proper equipment. A skilled tire shop should have had no problem with your TPMS. Now if they were going bad then that is an entirely different issue. I would guess the shop in question simply does not have enough experience with TPMS.

Jason

 

Thanks for the reply, that is also what I thought. I looked at the sensors last night and there is no way the cores are coming out but the valve was working perfectly and I had no issue with loss of tire pressure. I suspect they opted for the easy way out - my loss.