Your local tire shop might try cleaning up the edge on the rim to ensure better contact? Might also try changing out the stem on the leaker.

 

Get your tires checked at the dealer. I had the thing happen. The dealer "said" they found nothing. When I took it in the 2nd time they "found" a nail.


OK. I'm not trying to play the conspiracy angle here as it is possible to run over a nail just as easily with a brand new car as with a 15 year old beater. It was just that the timing was odd and they didn't find it the 1st time.

 

Yup....pass it off to the dealer to check out, especially on a car so new.

Do they all drop over time...or just one?

Temperature changes can cause weird drops in pressure, so can screwy tire gauges.

I recomend you crank 'em all up to 36-38psi and drive it a lot. :wink:

 

Pass it off to the dealer? Does that mean you think the warranty (or the dealer) might cover it? I thought tires were explicity excluded.

One of the my friends who bought a Brand New Tahoe the same time that I bought my Element says that is now normal for tire to not hold air for a month. What is going on here? Says she has to air her tires every month. She says that is why they sell Nitrogen? now to help your tires hold the air longer.

If this is so, why can't tires hold air anymore. I swear in years past I have ran around on many years old bald cheap tires and never had to air them.

It is just the one back tire that was way low though. Went from 35 to 14 in three weeks. No nails, no wear - less than 300 miles. Should I take off for Chicago and hope for the best?

 

The leaker tire is down again from 37 lbs to 17 in two days. Obviously I can't take off for Chicago. Calling the dealer.

 

Temperature changes?

Being from ME, we have issues with the pressure sensors and cold weather temp fluctuations causing the warning to fire. I do not have these. Many times schrader valves can have grit inside and will slow leak. Blast canned air or pressure hose to clear. I like a bit of powdered graphite for a sticky valve mechanism. I don't know if this is recommended or not for the sensor valves. That's why I like Presta valves (only on bicycles) - no spring! Everything on vehicle should be covered. NOT tire manufacturer, I believe, because it is NOT likely the tire, but rather the mounting of the tire or of the valve stem by manufacturer that is the problem. Deal with Honda. Frustrating, I'm sure!:sad:

 

Is there a Discount Tire in your area? They fix flats for free, customer or not. Good chance you just picked up a nail. The dealer will charge you an hour's labor to fix it. $90 seems a little steep to pay for what's free elsewhere. :-o
If it's something else, like a bad valve stem or something, still be waaaaayyyyy cheaper than the Honda Dealership.

 

MKH, I thought it highly unlikey I had encountered a nail - The only place I have been recently in the E is to the Honda Dealer for a door adjustment. And because I have three other vehicles with 72K, 131K and 160K and have never gotten a nail. Since I have less than 300 miles on the E, I was thinking more likely defect, I went back to the Honda Dealer. Now I wish I had read your post before I went. Honda said it was a nail and charged me a pretty penny. And Discount Tire is right down the street! I wanted to be sure to get it in today to get it fixed as I need to leave for Chicago early Monday morning. Thanks so much, anyway. Next time I'll know.

 

Nailed

300 miles and it was a nail? Did they show this to you? Was hole plugged or tire replaced? We're hitting the road Monday, too; bringing kids back to college after break. Happy Travels!

 

If you run into any problems, BiGal will cover your expenses. Just PM him.

* what I have just posted is untrue *

 

Nails in tires happen. You could pick a nail on any road. Discount Tire will sell you a replacement warranty even if you didn't purchase the tires from them. I think it's $15 per tire if they are new and in good shape (low miles). Stop by a Discount Tire and ask. I've never heard of Discount plugging tires for free unless you purchased from them. $15 is average for having a tire plugged.

 

Here in Texas, Discount fixes flats for free, and rotates tires for free, customer or not. I've had many a flat fixed there at no charge on OEM tires on my MINI Cooper, and on my E, and my wife's SAAB which has tires from TireRack on it, (lots of construction/trucks dropping nails) and just had the tires on both my E and my wife's car rotated there (free) - their idea is that you'll be impressed with their service, and come back in when you need to buy new tires. I do know that this "free" policy varies State to State. Still- having a tire fixed for $15 is way less than what a Dealer will charge (standard shop hourly labor charge).

 

Mocksuede, I asked when I picked the E up at the Honda Dealer to see the nail, and they just said no - like we got better things to do with our time. They just plugged the tire. My friend says for what I paid for that I probably just should of bought a new tire instead. Where are you heading on Monday?

ncd: My neighbor did tell me that the Discount Tire down the street will plug anybody's tire for free (& rotate and air them.)

Does anybody know how much regular tires for the E run?

I normally & have NEVER utilized a dealership for any car maintenance/repairs due to the inflated costs. I have to say though that I was quite impressed with the Service Lounge; Big screen TV, Free Newspapers, Magazines, Free Food & Coffee & Popcorn Machine, Children's Play Room, Individual Quiet Area Cubicles, Free internet and even a glass wall between the lounge and the car stalls so you could see the mechanic's work on your vehicle. And Free rides home and pick-up service when your car is done!

 

If you're leaving Monday (as in a day and a half from now) you don't really have time to shop price. Just find a tire.

 

Who is Big Al?

Rocket Dog, Who is Big AL? And what are you talking about?

 

There's nothing wrong with a plugged tire. My Element has 25,000 miles on it and one of the tires was plugged the first week it was new due to a nail. Don't waste your money on a replacement tire because they aren't good tires. Put the money towards a better set when they wear out around 20K miles. I'm buying a new set this week because the original tires are near limits, and we're coming up on the snowiest months here in Denver.

 

dont worry...and i agree with the dealership, its only a nail there's no time to document evidence like CSI. they prob took the nail out then plug in and out with a glue that will harden.

if u have higher mileage you might need to replace a pair or tires, not just 2...and ideally the same brand / make (for road contact consistency purposes)

dont be suprised that your tire pressure monitor to be on again when driving to chicago, because significant temperature differences will cause a difference in tire pressure. Cold temp pressure will be over inflated in warm temp conditions and vice versa.

both my Es' TMPS went on within a week when temps dropped from 50s to 30.

 

Sorry to send you to the dealer for a nail....I assumed you would have already checked the tire for nails and such. :neutral:

How did they repair the tire? A regular old fashioned plug? Repairs like that run $5 to maybe $25 in most areas (even free at some)

This type of repair is common, and shouldn't affect the serviceability of the tire....why replace?

There are some "fancier" repairs that can be done, that are suposedly better, and cost a bit more. How much did you pay? Somebody has to help pay for all that fancy service lounge stuff. :wink:

BTW....assuming you replace the tire (today or 10 years from now) ask to see it.....the plug will be visable on the inside of the tire. (It may even be visable on the exterior now if you haven't driven it much)

Good luck, have a safe trip.

Will