Had new tyres fitted today and the valve (the sensor type that connects to the computer and tells you about low pressure, etc) was corroded and snapped.

Got an extended warranty but Lexus say it doesn't cover it and they're not prepared to stump up. So to get a new tyre fitted I have had to suffer a corroded Lexus part and now have to pay an extra £250 to get a new part and fitting.

Let me just say that there are lots of very helpful Lexus dealers and service centres around (Manchester and Stockport being two of them) but my patience has finally wilted with the one in Bradford...doesn't help when they say they'll call you back but never, ever do.

[quote name='breezeblock' post='706590' date='Jan 26 2010, 04:33 PM']Had new tyres fitted today and the valve (the sensor type that connects to the computer and tells you about low pressure, etc) was corroded and snapped.

Got an extended warranty but Lexus say it doesn't cover it and they're not prepared to stump up. So to get a new tyre fitted I have had to suffer a corroded Lexus part and now have to pay an extra £250 to get a new part and fitting.

Let me just say that there are lots of very helpful Lexus dealers and service centres around (Manchester and Stockport being two of them) but my patience has finally wilted with the one in Bradford...doesn't help when they say they'll call you back but never, ever do.[/quote]


Who changed your tyres, was it a Lexus dealer?

My dealer warned me about having tyres changed anywhere else than at a Lexus garage due to, ie Kwick Fit, snapping sensors. My dealer told me that if they broke a sensor then they would change it free of charge. So I went with them for piece of mind.

Was it corroded or did the garage just snap it? I don't, or can't believe it was corroded, sounds like bull sh.. considering they're made of stainless steel and copper!
If Lexus changed tyres for you and broke a sensor then they should replace it FOC like at other Lexus dealers.

It was my local NTS. Been using them for years and never had a problem. They said it was heavily corroded and therefore snapped. I've got the old valve here and it's hard to tell really but if your dealer says they replace them when they snap them it suggests they're not strong enough in the first place.

I'm probably making more of this than needs be...just a bit p.issed off that a new valve costs more than a new tyre and realising that the running costs of a Lexus are the major downside to owning one.

[quote name='breezeblock' post='706605' date='Jan 26 2010, 05:31 PM']It was my local NTS. Been using them for years and never had a problem. They said it was heavily corroded and therefore snapped. I've got the old valve here and it's hard to tell really but if your dealer says they replace them when they snap them it suggests they're not strong enough in the first place.

I'm probably making more of this than needs be...just a bit p.issed off that a new valve costs more than a new tyre and realising that the running costs of a Lexus are the major downside to owning one.[/quote]

No, you're right, I'd be fuming!!
It's a shame that you didn't know about these valves. It could have happened to me too but luckly I got a quote for tyres from Lexus and they warned me.

Try writing an e-mail to NTS and informing then of what happened and ask for some compensation. Tyre fitters should know better about which cars have these things fitted and should take care.

I'll write to them just to see if they respond (I doubt they will). Looking at the valve I can't really see any corrosion but the end piece is missing so it'll be hard to prove either way.

By the way, I had no idea Lexus did the tyres. Last time I needed one they advised me to get it changed - never made it clear they could could it (maybe only some centres are kitted out?).

[quote name='breezeblock' post='706590' date='Jan 26 2010, 04:33 PM']Had new tyres fitted today and the valve (the sensor type that connects to the computer and tells you about low pressure, etc) was corroded and snapped.

Got an extended warranty but Lexus say it doesn't cover it and they're not prepared to stump up. So to get a new tyre fitted I have had to suffer a corroded Lexus part and now have to pay an extra £250 to get a new part and fitting.

Let me just say that there are lots of very helpful Lexus dealers and service centres around (Manchester and Stockport being two of them) but my patience has finally wilted with the one in Bradford...doesn't help when they say they'll call you back but never, ever do.[/quote]

What sort of price do Lexus centres charge for tyres? my 450h is happily consuming 4 rears and 2 fronts yearly, Lexus have the service contract and extended warranty but I buy tyres ( Pirelli or Bridgestone 245/40 ZR 18 for about £170 ) never thought of asking Lexus. My local tyre company understand these valves and so are carefull, even down to a smear of grease in the dust caps and just tightned with a 10MM spanner to prevent theft. No monkeys employed here !

Blimey! I never even thought they would be a problem.

Was the tyre garage aware of the sensors? Can you post a pic?

Ref getting your tyres changed at the dealer, that's got to be about price. My lexus dealer wanted 50 notes more than my local tyre dealer, so i went to them. My 450H has Yoko's, and looking at the prices and spec on-line then they look like GS tyres only.

[quote name='matt555' post='706638' date='Jan 26 2010, 08:33 PM']Blimey! I never even thought they would be a problem.

Was the tyre garage aware of the sensors? Can you post a pic?

Ref getting your tyres changed at the dealer, that's got to be about price. My lexus dealer wanted 50 notes more than my local tyre dealer, so i went to them. My 450H has Yoko's, and looking at the prices and spec on-line then they look like GS tyres only.[/quote]

My local Lexus dealer was on par with what I was seeing locally, probably cheaper than Kwik Fit. I just got the OE Dunlops fitted, not a bad tyre. I understand going elsewhere if the cost is £50 per rim more but it's just the thought of a sensor at £260 snapping............ooh...

Maybe ask your local Lexus to fit tyres that you supply if you can get them cheaper, ask first if they will cover the sensor if they break it!!

[quote name='knitware' post='706658' date='Jan 26 2010, 10:15 PM']Maybe ask your local Lexus to fit tyres that you supply if you can get them cheaper, ask first if they will cover the sensor if they break it!![/quote]

Not a bad plan, but caution with who or where you get them from! I used a company online, looked very reputable but the Goodyear F1's I bought for the IS were AWFUL! my misses was sure they were rip offs or something... I expected them to be the perfect job on the IS, but OMG they just kept spinning up. so much so i nearly went and bought a set of OEM Dunlops!

I'd like to see a pic of the sensor if anyone has one?

WORD OF WARNING!!!

I decided to fit some fancy lexus logo metal dust caps on mine.

After a couple of months I decided to check the tyre pressures. 1 Cap was do badly corroded onto the valve thread.

I took a spanner to release said valve and sheared off the whole issue.

£250 .......Happy Days..........Plastic dust caps fitted now

[quote name='TonyB' post='706686' date='Jan 27 2010, 09:32 AM']WORD OF WARNING!!!

I decided to fit some fancy lexus logo metal dust caps on mine.

After a couple of months I decided to check the tyre pressures. 1 Cap was do badly corroded onto the valve thread.

I took a spanner to release said valve and sheared off the whole issue.

£250 .......Happy Days..........Plastic dust caps fitted now [/quote]

This is a well known fault, due to silly metal dust covers screwed on to very slim threaded valve stems. The wall thickness on the stem is much thinner than on a normal valve. I saw this mentioned in a previous post by someone, and had a look at my original ones. All were showing white corrosion after 2000miles from new. I've replaced them with plastic ones.
There is an attempt by Lexus to claim the problems are due to fitting after market metal caps when the original ones have been nicked/lost, but it's not true, mine were the originals. And it was corrosion, not white grease.

Lexus Bradford said the car was nearly five years old and corrosion was likely (not word for word but not far off). They said it was common before realising they were talking themselves into admitting it was a fault.

I'm still slightly angry...it hasn't fully subsided yet!

Is this on older GS's

Mines only 9 month old!

[quote name='nedsram13a' post='706949' date='Jan 29 2010, 10:09 PM']Is this on older GS's

Mines only 9 month old![/quote]

Lexus still sell their cars with the metal caps. I'm wondering though if on older cars the caps were aluminium and now they've been changed to steel or anodised aluminium. The problem with aluminium caps is due to Galvanic Reaction between the aluminium and the steel thread of the valve. The symptoms are as described, seized caps destroying the valve. If the caps have seized try a little penetrating fluid then twist off gently, this should work.

Checked mine today, and even washed the motor lol!

No worries at all, but sprayed a little WD40 to keep things nice Just don't tighten then up to much!!!

[quote name='knitware' post='706992' date='Jan 30 2010, 11:21 AM'][quote name='nedsram13a' post='706949' date='Jan 29 2010, 10:09 PM']Is this on older GS's

Mines only 9 month old![/quote]

Lexus still sell their cars with the metal caps. I'm wondering though if on older cars the caps were aluminium and now they've been changed to steel or anodised aluminium. The problem with aluminium caps is due to Galvanic Reaction between the aluminium and the steel thread of the valve. The symptoms are as described, seized caps destroying the valve. If the caps have seized try a little penetrating fluid then twist off gently, this should work.
[/quote]
As I mentioned in my post, mine was new in November 2008. The reason I latched on to this problem is that when I was sitting in the dealer waiting area having my first year's service, I got talking to another customer, same age car, who was in to have broken ones replaced. Use plastic, the metal ones look a bit stupid and chavish anyway!