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Low tire pressure
Sent to Car Experts June 18 08:31 AM

I have a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP. The problem that I am having is with my tires. I asked the dealership why I didn't have a spare tire to come with the car, and they explained it to me the best they could. I have sinced gone over tires again in the owner's manual. I had a puncture in my back rear tire on June 7th, 2006. It had to be towed to an out-of-town dealership. They informed me that they had to order the Bridgestone Potenza tire from Nashville, TN. The car wasn't ready until the next Wednesday. Since that time, I have only driven the car two days. Yesterday, my inflate tire pressure light came on.   I put air in the tires at two service stations while I creeped home, but the tire pressure warning was still on. My manual advised me not to reset until I checked the tires cold. All of my tires including the "new" tire were low as low as 28 psi when I checked them last night. I went to the service station and refilled to 42 psi. This morning they are still all 30 psi on the "new" tire and 32 psi on the others.   My tires are P255/45R18 with a service specification of 99W on the front and my rear tires are P225/50R18 with a service specification of 94W. I have only had the car since March 9th, 2006. It only had 12 miles registered. What is going on? I am supposed to be taking a trip over 120 miles away from home? I don't see any evidence of injury to the tires. The tread is still good. Is is safe to drive them, or should I send it back to my local dealership?

 

Optional Information:
2006 Pontiac Grand Prix

Already Tried:
Tire Replacement on puncture tire, and several reinflations on the rest of the tires.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $15
Info Request
June 18 8:37 AM (5 minutes and 41 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark
How frequently are you checking your tire pressure?

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PictureHammer Time -- L1 Master Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 2714 Car Accepts
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Reply
June 18 9:04 AM (27 minutes and 35 seconds later)
         
Reply to Hammer Time's Post: Usually once a week. I fill up two to three times weekly. I am a hospice nurse so I am used to checking my fluids and such so that I don't get stuck in the "boonies" with a problem that I could have avoided. I haven't done any field work since I've had this car, however. I travel 31 miles to work, and the car usually sits. I had taken three fairly long trips back to back prior to this incident:
(1) From Cleveland, MS to Dallas, TX. To Dallas on 5/23/2006. From Dallas, 5/25/2006.
(2) From Cleveland, MS to Memphis, TN. To Memphis 5/29/2006. From Memphis 5/31/2006.
(3) From Cleveland, MS to Mobile, AL. To Mobile 6/04/2006. From Mobile 6/07/2006. The tire puncture occurred on an exit in Jackson, though, and I had to stay overnight there. The car was in Paul Moak Pontiac Dealership from 6/08/2006 to 6/16/2006. I drove the car home from Jackson and returned to work. No problem. The check tire pressure warning came on as I was coming home from work yesterday. I had not checked my tire pressure in these two days because it had just left the dealership. I assumed that tire pressure would have been checked prior to releasing the car since tires were the reason the car got towed in. Before servicing the car, the delaership had told me that the reason that it was taking so long for them to give me a quote for repair is because they were also inspecting the rest of the car before they put me back on the road so that could advise me if any other repairs were needed. They only stated that my oil change was due, which I knew, and I allowed them to do that also.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 18 9:28 AM (23 minutes and 56 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
The tire pressure warning light functions off the ABS and monitors tire rotation. So as your tire goes low it sees that the low tire is turning slower then the others and will set the light on. So because your tires are differant sizes it see a faster rotation on the bigger tires thus turning the light on. You must run the same size tires on your vehicle in order for the tire pressure montoring system to function propley.It will not hurt the vehicle to drive as long as the 45 series tires are on the front and the 50 series tires are on the rear . I hope this helps you. If you look in the door jam there will be a sticker that informs you of the proper tire size for this vehicle. Or also in your owners manual
PictureTelles -- Auto Mechanic -- 100% Positive Feedback on 65 Car Accepts
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Reply
June 18 9:38 AM (9 minutes and 56 seconds later)
         
Reply to Telles's Post: The sizes of the tires are the way they were placed on the car from the manufacturer. According to Pontiac dealers, both in my hometown and the one that serviced the car, those sizes were standard for the GXP model of the Pontiac Grand Prix. I verified that in my owner's manual.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 18 9:39 AM (1 minute and 4 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
Is your vehicle still under warrenty?
PictureTelles -- Auto Mechanic -- 100% Positive Feedback on 65 Car Accepts
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Reply
June 18 9:43 AM (4 minutes and 3 seconds later)
         
Reply to Telles's Post: Yes.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 18 9:44 AM (1 minute and 2 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Some vehicles have sensors inside of the tire that senses pressure if that sensor is not functioning propley then your light will come on. If the light is on then it shouldbeable to be diagnoised. The computer should set a trouble code.
PictureTelles -- Auto Mechanic -- 100% Positive Feedback on 65 Car Accepts
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Answer
June 18 9:47 AM (3 minutes and 7 seconds later)
         
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PictureTelles -- Auto Mechanic -- 100% Positive Feedback on 65 Car Accepts
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Info Request
June 18 9:57 AM (9 minutes and 34 seconds later)
         

What has been the past history on air loss in any or all of the tires?

Have any of them recently lost more air than usual?

What is the average pressure loss over what period of time?

Did the new tire that they mounted lose any air?



Edited by Hammer Time on June 18 2006 at 9:59 AM

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