Check Spare Tire Yearly
 

Hi guys,

It has been awhile since I last posted. I still have my SVX, not going to sell her. My SVX is for keeps. I just wanted to remind you all to check your spare tire to see if you have proper air pressure. Today while I was driving I heard a "POP" sound and did not think anything of it, since I thought I hit a pot hole. So when I got done with what I had to do, got back in my car and less than a quarter of mile I noticed I had a flat on my passenger side rear. I pulled over and decided to get the spare out of the trunk, guess what, NO AIR! I never checked the air pressure for along time, I never had to use my spare at all before. Long story short, got my SVX carried on a flat bed to Bell Tire, they fixed both my flats. Odd thing about my tire that caused me to get a flat, they said they did not find a hole, but where it was leaking was where the weight was mounted to the rim. Bell Tire said, build up of rust started to cause the air leak. The manger at Bell Tire told me to check the spare tire yearly for the air pressure. No charge for both tires! Lucky I had tripple AAA to cover the tow. Anyway check your air pressure on your spare once a year.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I am glad you didn't have to pay for the tow. That would have been a hard lesson, or an expensive one. I try to do it every time I change oil. I may not do it every time, but that way I check it regularly. :)

A lot of the newer cars have tire pressure monitoring systems that use a sensor in each wheel, and some of them include a sensor on the spare.. Every couple of months we get someone that comes in and says "My tire light is on but I checked the tires and the pressure is fine" "did you check the spare" *blank stare* and guess what.. spare is flat :-P

*Insert VERY ANGRY rant about TPMS here*:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Hate.

When I bought my silver SVX the spare had obviously never been used... and it was absolutely flat as could be. (And the threads of the retaining wingnut were rusted fast.) They do go flat after 15 years.

I also try to remember to check mine at every oil change.

dcb

One step further: It was at an autocross that I discovered that my spare is perma-mounted in the car! The bolt thing that holds it in is rusted in place.

I... prob'ly ought to take care of that...

My svx doesn't haul much, so i like to keep a "full size" spare in the trunk. Along with a normal jack and a battery powered impact wrench. My luck, the battery will be dead in the impact wrench when/if I ever go to use it. Anyone know of one that will operate off 12v, so i can clamp it to the battery in worst case scenario?

Lug Nut Wrench
 

I would just carry a lug nut wrench, just in case. Actually all I used last night when I tried to change out my tire, was the tools that came with the SVX. I used the jack and the lug nut wrench, the jack was really easy to use.

But be very careful of it tipping over. I have seen many that have done that. :(

In the instruction manuel, it is stessed that the car be on level ground, before you attempt to jack up the car, which I was fortunetly.

I had a factory jack bend and the car come crashing down once. THe jack shot up dented the fender :mad:

haha the same thing happened to me but it did no damage to the car

I almost used the factory jack to hold the car while doing a brake job, then while searching read the horror stories. I proceeded to buy a proper floor jack and jackstands.

The factory jack is good for roadside tire swaps, but thats as far as I would trust it. Make sure to use the wheel chocks. All your cars came with them, so you have no excuse;)As always, do not for any reason get under a car supported only by a jack.

I don't like it for changing a tire. I like a small floor jack for that, but I haven't had (thank goodness) a chance to use it. :o

Mine didn't:(