Air Stem Caps for Tire Pressure Montior System

LoganSix · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:46 am

So, while I was out at Coal Creek I found out that the caps to my tire stems were replaced with crappy little plastic caps. I went back to Discount Tire and showed them and they immediately said that "there was a notice not to use the metal caps anymore". It pissed me off that they changed the caps and didn't notify me. The little plastic caps barely go on and I am surprised that they lasted the trip at Coal Creek.

I have 2004 Renegade with the Tire Pressure Monitor System. The caps from the factory were a metal type, possibly aluminum. I had them for 97k miles before they switched them out without any issue. From my memory, those caps went all the way down on the threads when on. The plastic caps barley covered the top 1/3 and the new metal ones they replaced them with go about 1/2 down the thread.

Can someone take a picture of your caps and show me how far down on the thread they go?

The thing that pissed me off most is that they didn't notify me that they were taking off the caps. I had a feeling to check the caps, but only took a quick glance and the gray color convinced my eyes that they were the same. I have great service otherwise with Discount Tire.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:33 am

The caps that come with the sensors are made to go all the way on. They have a seal in them that keeps crap from getting down into the sensor which will eventually destroy it.

QuestMan · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:57 pm

Me Too!!!!

I had the same thing happen to me, last December! The idiots 'accidently' threw my caps away, only they replaced them with chrome. This spring, one of the caps 'welded' itself to the valve stem. Forturnately, they owned up to it, and replaced the tpms, but they refused to put aluminum caps on.

Here's the deal: aluminum (What the stems are made of) has a chemical reaction, when kept in contact with other metals. I don't know about ALL metals, but it DOES react to chrome - violently. It welds to the chrome.

HOWEVER: aluminum does NOT react that way, when it is in contact with the SAME metal. (Idiots! :shock:

)

I haven't found where I can get the correct replacements, yet, but I will.

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:04 pm

The problem with the metal caps is with people who don't check their air pressure.

The stem and cap will corrode and get stuck together.

Don't cry at them, they did the right thing...and if you JUST noticed this...you are part of the reason for this change.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:18 pm

Its called electrolysis. It has nothing to do with how often you remove the cap, its just a fact that some metals react with other metals.

Best thing to do would be to get the same caps back so that they seal correctly.

Also, if you notice they went to a plastic cap on the 05+ sensors.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:50 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Its called electrolysis. It has nothing to do with how often you remove the cap, its just a fact that some metals react with other metals.

Best thing to do would be to get the same caps back so that they seal correctly.

Also, if you notice they went to a plastic cap on the 05+ sensors.

Yep, my 07 has the grey plastic cap.

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:53 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Its called electrolysis. It has nothing to do with how often you remove the cap, its just a fact that some metals react with other metals.

Best thing to do would be to get the same caps back so that they seal correctly.

Also, if you notice they went to a plastic cap on the 05+ sensors.

Have yours corroded on?

QuestMan · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:00 am

They had NO right to remove his valve caps AND replace them, without some warning. Although it's not the same as removing someone's B&G flash, the idea would be the same.

As for not noticing wether the caps had been replaced, Logan has a reasonable expectation that his Jeep would be returned in the same shape as when he brought it in.

Maybe ADRIAN MONK might notice the change, but Joe average wouldn't usually catch it. Not right away. And EVEN if Logan HAD caught the issue, it was ALREADY TOO LATE.

I DID notice right away when it happened to me and their exact quote was, "Dude it's in a pile of old valve caps. There's NO way we can find yours".

Oh, and I NEVER had a problem with corrosion, until they replaced my ALUMINUM caps with chrome caps.

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:03 am

You're right. Just like they have NO RIGHT to replace the valve stems in the wheels of those of us who have rubber valve stems, and they have no right to take off the lugnuts, remove our old wheel weights and replace them with new ones, or let your old, reliable air out and put in new, untested air.

Now in your case, yes, they were wrong to put the entirely WRONG cap on your sensors' valvestems...but the other case...I'm gonna leave that alone from now on.

LoganSix · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:01 am

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Don't cry at them, they did the right thing...and if you JUST noticed this...you are part of the reason for this change.

"I had a feeling to check the caps, but only took a quick glance and the gray color convinced my eyes that they were the same. "

I had the tires put on two weeks ago. The morning after I had them put on I drove to meet my brother and then we drove his vehicle to Michigan. I left mine for a week. When I got home, I had 4 long days of work and then I went on the trip.

They should have notified me before replacing anything that I did not ask to be replaced. That is NOT the RIGHT thing to do.

Thanks for all the other helpful responses.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:06 am

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Have yours corroded on?

No, mine are doing just fine.

Haha, I love Monk.

LoganSix · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:11 am

QuestMan wrote:

I haven't found where I can get the correct replacements, yet, but I will.

Keep us informed if you find them.
I bet some Chrysler Service Centers still might have some.

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:16 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

Have yours corroded on?

No, mine are doing just fine.

Haha, I love Monk.

And you don't think your anal-retentive (might I say Monk-like?;)) cleaning ritual for your KJ has something to do with that?

Seriously...salt does them in. the caps are aluminum, and even if they're steel, they do a great job of keeping salt between the threads and creating corrosion. You're better off with the plastic caps. Trust me.

Manufacturers don't change things like that for no reason.

Albert · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:19 am

They were still using the aluminum caps with the tps system valve stems in 05 because mine has them. Other car mfg are still using them because the gf has them on her 07 impala.

Anyway, I think they were just trying to justify throwing them out. So, next time you are at the junk yard........

QuestMan · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:37 pm

Quote:

You're right. Just like they have NO RIGHT to replace the valve stems in the wheels of those of us who have rubber valve stems, and they have no right to take off the lugnuts, remove our old wheel weights and replace them with new ones, or let your old, reliable air out and put in new, untested air.

A: non-tpms valve stems are generic. There is NO loss by replacing the valve stems, and it is acknowledged to be safer than leaving old rubber stems, which have a tendency to crack over time.
B: When you get new tires, DTC LETS YOU KNOW that replacement of the valve stems is included, so again. You know it beforehand.
C: Ditto with wheel weights AND air -unless you have nitrogen, at which point you probably wouldn't be getting it done at DTC anyway.
D: Same with the lugnuts - UNLESS they replace your custom lugnuts without your knowledge -then, there would be a problem.
E: You're failing to realize that the valve caps on Liberties - at least on the LTDs ARE custom - NOT generic plastic caps. (At least on MY '04 they were)
F: Aluminum does NOT oxidize the same way that steel does - once aluminum oxidizes, it actually seals, keeping further oxidation out. That, by-the-way, is why they went to aluminum SCUBA tanks. (I still have my stainless one from '64, however and it still gets the OK, every 5 years, when it's hydro-tested, but that's another story).
In any case, aluminum-aluminum contact does not cause an eloctrolytic action like aluminum-to-chrome.

If there is a legitimate reason for replacing the valve caps that's fine - however, common courtesy demands that the owner be informed beforehand, so they can have SOME control over the decisions on their 20-30k bank loan.

Trust me- if someone goes into a tire dealer, and finds their little dice or smiley face caps removed without the owner's knowledge, said owner is going to blow a head gasket.

The point of this is - we don't need to be knocking our own - fix the problem, not the blame. :wink:

(I have now, officially gotten the heck off of my soapbox) :shock:

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:44 pm

Well gee. I didn't know ANY of that :roll:

MtnRunner · **Joined:** Wed May 28, 2008 8:32 pm **Posts:** 89

caps are for keeping doo doo(fod, dirt and dust) out of your valvle stems, yeah?

i dont really care what the caps are made of as long as they come off. does my 03 kj sport liberty have sensors?

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:10 pm

If you have rubber valve stems, then no. if you have aluminum valve stems, then yes.

QuestMan · **Posted:** Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:33 am

1st, the good news: The caps are available at the 'Stealership'.

NOW, the bad news: They're $3.75 a piece! :shock:

(But they ARE available)

mrkake · **Posted:** Sat Aug 16, 2008 3:40 am

I just replaced all five of my tires a week or so ago at DTC. The guy doing my tires came in and told me DC has a valve stem kit which constitutes a new valve core with some kind of seal that can weaken over time, a new plastic cap and an o-ring or something (I don't remember now) and that they recommend using plastic valve stem covers. He said that they had the kits in stock and they usually just do it as a courtesy to the customer. He handed me the chrome caps that I had on when I brought it in and said, "You can put these back on when you get home if you want. DC recommends the plastic ones, but I have never seen a problem with the chrome ones." FWIW...

Air Stem Caps for Tire Pressure Montior System

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