Gulf States Toyota recall to set spare tire pressure (17V-295)

In my opinion a far BIGGER problem is that they failed to design the spare tire mount so that the valve stem is pointing UP.......therefore requiring you to take the tire loose and turn it over to test the pressure .........therefore pretty much guaranteeing that every car on the road will not have the pressure in the spare checked........EVER.

There probably will be a few exceptions.

 

And as annoying as that is, I still check my spare's pressure at least every month or two. As to the recall, if the distributor's couldn't be bothered to adhere to the pre-delivery checklist, why shouldn't I (if one of the affected) just check and fill it myself, instead of trusting them to do it right "this" time?

 

Just nuts, a recall, for something the dealership was supposed to do from the get go, as part of the Pre-Delivery Inspection. And I mean: even if it rolls off the dealership's lot with the right pressure, 2~3 years down the road, you will need to check the tire pressure. Toyota could instead: include a decent pencil gauge with every car. Nice touch.

FWIW, when we bought our "new" 2010, with about ten km's on the odo, it had been sitting for about 15 months, and the PDI completely missed the spare, it was around 40 psi.

 

but apparently it's okay not to include a spare at all.

at what pressure does toyota ship them and why?

 

I'm just wondering how long the recall takes if you don't have a spare.

 

The way I read it, apparently the wholesale distributor neglected to check the spare. I understand pumping up the tires in use to prevent flat spots during shipment. Are they concerned the spare may have leaked out pressure? I see no need to over or under inflate it.

 

Assuming our spare was at spec (60 psi) at time of manufacture (August 2009), and this is very likely, there's no reason not to, when we bought it "new" in November, 2010, the pressure had dropped to 40 psi. That actually seems a bit extreme, even for that time span, but I guess it points to a need to check it fairly frequently, say every 6 months.

IIRC there's something in the Owner's Manual, or even on the spare sidewall, about the spare being smaller and tending to loose air faster.

Hands up everyone who has a functional tire pressure gauge.

 

:raises hand:

 

it's not the gauge but the difficult. if they were to supply anything, it should be an extension hose, so you don't have to remove the tire to chck it. maybe add tpms.

 

Yeah there is extension hose availabe. But don't you just love hauling everything out, get's you out of the missus' hair for 1/2 an hour, you can make sure the battery's still there, and that there's no water pooling. Man stuff.

 

not too bad in summer, but my garage isn't heated.

 

Same here. IIRC your's has humidity and drainage problems as well? Ours is ok with our mild winters, but gets suffering hot in the summer. In winter we'll store fruit/produce, but in summer fugedaboutit.

 

yes. at least in summer you can park in the shade a fiddle with things. no alternative in winter, just get out there and do it. i don't know what has kept me from buying an extension tube for my wifes hycam, but at leat the pip spare is sitting on the deck, valve up. is that a benefit of no spare?

 

You use your garage for your car?
Lately our double garage has hosed the lawn mower & tractor. I got my car inside there last weekend for only the second time since I got the car last October.

 

Prius TPMS does not report tie tire pressure for comparison. I do not recall whether Gen 4 TPMS accepts 5 sensors.

 

yeah, i'm just thinking of the future. but the future probably means no spare to worry about.

 

I don't worry about it because I have one in my Trim Two.

 

ah, but it's false comfort, your spare may only be at 20 psi as we speak.

 

I'd think about reversing that situation if you can swing it.

Our two car garage capacity has been compromised by a return to the nest son and his stuff, used to be able to put up two cars. But there's no way I'd leave our car parked in front of a garage. For security, ease of maintenance, protection from the elements, UV toll, faster warm up, and on and on.

Turf out those farm implements.