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Help! What is up with my tires!?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by lgamber1, Nov 19, 2008.

  1. lgamber1

    lgamber1 New Member

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    Hi all,

    I have a 2008 prius that I've had since last September. I absolutely love it and have had no problems until now.

    Here's my issue:

    The other morning I got into the car to find the tire pressure light on (I had to look it up in the manual because it had never gone off before). I went directly to the gas station and checked the tire pressure with my digital gauge, and sure enough, my driver's side rear tire was somewhere around 22 or 23 psi. I filled it up and went about my business for the next 3 or 4 days until the light went off again.

    This time, I checked the tires again and the same tire was low, so I figured it had a leak and I could get it patched when I went in for my 15,000 mile service that weekend. I had them look at all the tires, and the dealer swore up and down that there were no leaks in any of the tires and that they all looked fine. So I chalked it up to the weather getting colder, even though I live in San Jose, and it hasn't gotten below the 50s at night.

    The next week, you guessed it, the light went off again. I went straight to the driver's side rear tire, but the tire pressure was normal. This time it was my front tire that was low! So I filled it up and still hoped it was due to the weather.

    Long story short, the light keeps going off every 3 or 4 days, and I have to stop and fill up one of the tires on the driver's side. This has happened about 6 or 7 times now (in total counting the first few times), and I am starting to get really frustrated! I guess I should take my car back to the dealer to have them look at the tires again, but I was wondering if anyone has any other suggestions or has had a similar experience. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
     
    #1 lgamber1, Nov 19, 2008
  2. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    get a bucket with soapy water.. and coat the tire after filling it.. you'll find the leak, if there is any. you may want to dribble water onto the fill valve, just to make sure it hasn't failed on you in any sort of way. (most of my tire problems have been valves, or punctures... *shrug*)
     
    #2 V8Cobrakid, Nov 19, 2008
  3. Huntceet

    Huntceet Junior Member

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    Could it be possable someone is letting air out of the tire?

    Rod
     
    #3 Huntceet, Nov 19, 2008
  4. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Back in the day, a simple way to drive someone crazy who had justly or
    not earned your emnity was to loosen the valve in one or more of their
    tire stems about half a turn. It's easy to do with a valve tool -- $2 or $3
    at Pep Boys, etc. The tire(s) would slowly deflate, but show no sign of a
    leak in the tire itself. To test for this condition, wet a finger and hold it
    over the end of the stem. If you see bubbles, Bingo!

    Thankfully, this little ruse is easily reversible with the same tool.
     
    #4 Rokeby, Nov 19, 2008
  5. KAR IDEA

    KAR IDEA Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
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    Model:
    Three Touring
    Could it be possible that when Toyota serviced the car and checked the tires for leaks, that they rotated your tires as well? That would explain why it's now the front tire and not the drivers side rear that is losing tire pressure. It's the same tire, it's just been moved. Jack the car up, remove the wheel and tire, and check that tire for a leak (valve too as suggested above...). It's losing too much pressure to be influenced by temperature...
     
    #5 KAR IDEA, Nov 19, 2008
  6. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Schrader valve cores can definitely loosen up a little over time.
    As noted in this thread, I just had a similar problem which is
    now fixed simply by re-tightening them. You should probably also
    check your valve stems for cracking, if you had any replacements
    installed around late '06 / early to mid '07.
    .
    _H*
     
    #6 hobbit, Nov 19, 2008
  7. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    My valve cores were kinda loose when I first took delivery of the car. After I had to add air a couple of times in the first few weeks, I caught on and snugged them up. Now I go several months before I need to add air.
     
    #7 dogfriend, Nov 19, 2008
  8. rigormortis

    rigormortis Active Member

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    lgamber,


    go to americas tire store aka discount tire store in san jose, they are on Steven's creek blvd. they will give anybody who walks in the door 1 free patch even if you did not buy the tires there
     
    #8 rigormortis, Nov 19, 2008
  9. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    How does one snug valve cores?
     
    #9 richard schumacher, Nov 19, 2008
  10. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    There is a tool that you can buy at most auto parts stores for a couple of bucks. It is designed with a slot that fits over the crossbar inside the valve. You use the tool to tighten the valve core inside the stem. The reason I use the word "snug" is because you don't need to apply a lot of torque; if you do, you risk damaging the valve core. Just tighten until "snug".
     
    #10 dogfriend, Nov 19, 2008
  11. lgamber1

    lgamber1 New Member

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    Thanks to everyone for all your thoughts/advice! I am going to go to pep boys or somewhere and find the tool to "snug" up my valve cores. If that doesn't work, I may take it back in to the dealer to have a look, or I could always go to a local tire shop or garage.

    I sure hope no one is letting the air out of my tires! I don't think I have made anyone mad enough to do that. :)
     
    #11 lgamber1, Nov 19, 2008
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