It’s a common misconception that the tyre only loses pressure when it gets punctured. There could be multiple reasons behind the car tyres constantly losing pressure. One of the reasons behind pressure leakage can be a bad tyre valve stem.
To fix this issue, one needs to understand what a tyre valve stem is and how to check if it’s faulty. Let’s go through this comprehensive guide to learn the causes, symptoms and fixes of a bad tyre valve stem.
Signs of a Faulty Tyre Valve Stem
A tyre valve stem is located on the tyre’s exterior and serves the purpose of inflating or deflating the tyres. It has a valve to hold the air pressure inside the tyres once inflated. That said, a tyre valve stem can damage over time because of exposure to air, water, dirt and debris.
A small crack or broken valve stem can leak air and become hazardous to safety. However, whether the air will leak out quickly or slowly depends upon the extent of the damage. Once the air from your tyres leaks out, check the valve stem, as it may be broken or damaged.
Let’s go through the causes and symptoms of a bad tyre valve stem and how to replace it.
Causes of a Bad Tyre Valve Stem
A tyre valve stem is usually made up of metal. Speaking of that, it may become brittle and cracked, resulting in air pressure leakage. The following are the causes of a bad tyre valve stem:
- Valves have completed their lifespan
- Exposure to chemicals on roads, such as road salt
- Corrosion due to air and water
- Dislocation when inflating the tyres
Symptoms of a Bad Tyre Valve Stem
A bad or broken tyre valve stem can be difficult to spot. Moreover, it will result in the following bad tyre valve stem symptoms:
- Slow air leaking if the valve stem has a minor damage
- The tyre will damage due to underinflation
- Higher fuel consumption due to an increase in rolling resistance
- Difficulty in handling and cornering due to low air pressure in tyres
Since modern car features include a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), this system helps detect air pressure loss and take measures quickly.
How to Check if the Tyre Valve Stem is Broken
Newer vehicle models feature TPMS sensors that alert you when the pressure is too low. If you are getting a constant warning of low air pressure in tyres but can’t find any damage, there are chances that there is a bad tyre valve stem.
To check the bad valve stems in tyres, follow these steps:
- Pour soapy water on the valve stems
- If tiny bubbles come out, it means that you need to replace the bad valve stems with new ones.
Replacement of a Bad Tyre Valve Stem
Since the only fix of a bad tyre valve stem is to replace it, you will need the following tools and equipment:
- Air compressor
- Jack stands
- A lug nut wrench to dismount or remove wheels
- Needle-nosed pliers
- Sledgehammer
- A valve stem removal tool
The following steps will help you remove bad tyre valve stems:
- Ensure that there is a bad valve stem in the tyre
- After collecting the tools, use a lug nut wrench to loosen the nuts on the wheel
- Using the jack, raise your vehicle and remove the wheel
- Separate the tyre beads with the help of a sledgehammer or a big hammer
- Remove the tyre from the rim
- Remove the valve stem using the tool
- Now replace the bad tyre valve stem
- Place the tyre back on the car and inflate it properly
It is recommended to take assistance from a professional technician to replace the bad tyre valve stems. Moreover, ensure that the TPMS sensor isn’t damaged during the process. Besides, the replacement of the bad tyre valve stems isn’t costly. A new valve stem costs around AED 5 to 10, and there will be service charges for the mechanics.
This wraps our complete guide to causes, symptoms and fixes for a bad tyre valve stem. When you buy a used car in the UAE, always ensure to check the tyres as they are the only part of the vehicle making contact with the road. And, with a bad tyre valve stem, it can become a safety concern.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s leading cars blog to learn more about different car parts and their functions.
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