I keep getting flat tires! Help me please!

[AmandaA02]

Hi,I have a 1991 Infiniti Q45. It has about 236,000 miles on it, but she still runs like a champ. I do, however, keep getting flat tires. I've had 5 in the past 2 months. I've been told its my Rack & Pinion because I dont have powersteering. It was without powersteering when I bought the car, but if you put powersteering fluid in, it will work and then stop working a week later. Is this just a leak? Or do I need to replace my entire Rack & pinion? If so, how much will something like this cost me?

[qship96]

Flat tires have nothing to do with power steering

Must identify where the steering fluid is leaking from to determine the failed component....could be a hose or the rack itself

Tires must be inspected to determine if they are being punctured by nail,etc or is the slow leak caused by faulty valvestems or other problems{air leak at tire/wheel interface,etc}

Both above issues should be super simple to determine root cause of the leaks....proper lasting repair is impossible without this identification

[maxnix]

Wow, if the steeering was ever high effort due to lack of fluid, then rack may well be worn.

[AlabamaDan]

Whomever told you that the leaking rack was causing flat tires should be avoided in the future. Clean the bottom of the car off really well and try to identify exactly where the leak is coming from. Are the boots on the steering rack torn?

As far as the tires go, I had the same problem and it turned out to be a couple of bad valve stems. The guy at the tire store never could find a leak when dunking my overinflated tires in soapy water. I asked him to change the stems anyway. He did. No more problems.

[oldmako]

I've had two in one year which is two more than in the last 10.

I have either a bad rim, or a defective tire because my flats are caused by a leaking tire balance weight after BAL/ROTATION. It seems as though one tire leaks for some reason. It happens on the same side and ends up being the weight. I have it done every 4 months/5000 miles.

Now I have them leak test it prior to leaving the shop. Sucks.

Pop each tire off and submerge in a tank. Rule out the easy/cheap stuff first.

[Q451990]

How does a weight cause a leak?

Heath

[spuy767]

How does a weight cause a leak?

Heath

When you tap in the inboard wheel weight, not the stick on variety, it can affect the bead of the tire. A good tech will usually use a fluid to check for leaks around the wheel weight before he allows a car to leave the shop. A bad tech, or one who just doesn't care, may let it slide. If you have a tire leaking around the wheel weights, I'd avoid that shop in the future for tire mounting.
Modified by spuy767 at 7:42 AM 1/27/2009

[oldmako]

Bingo on the weight leak....give that man a kewpy doll!

The onliest reason that I keep on going back to the same shop is that they cut me some slack (free rotation every 5K and $5 per tire on the spin balance) on the price because I bought the tires from them. I put almost 25K on them in the last year so I'll just have to wait another year or so to change them out.

I suspect either the rim is bad or that particular tire has a defective bead because it's always on the pax side of the ride.

I'd love to use this as an excuse to pop open the wallet for some new rims and keds but given the current maelstrom in the economy and my lowerthansnake**** position with my employer methinks it not prudent to part with large sums of cash at this particular time.

[maxnix]

When you tap in the inboard wheel weight, not the stick on variety, it can affect the bead of the tire.

Maybe with an out of spec weight, but real ones in no way impede on the bead sealing area between tire and wheel rim.

[oldmako]

Then why are mine leaking? Clearly sumpin' ain't right. What is an out of spec weight? This is a very small lead, the rims spin true.

[maxnix]

It would have to have way too much lip on the weight. No way it should interfere with the bead.

Might be your wheel. Some of the late t models 17" were recalled for cracks.

A most unsafe situation.

[oldmako]

Way too much lip on the weight...

Perhaps, but why has it happened twice? Six months apart. What's the likely hood that these guys got a box of bad weights that in some fashion are unusually long? I suppose that's possible....hell I don't know. All I do now is to insure that they confirm a leak proof seal prior to leaving the shop. Bottom line is that it is the weight.

As far as "most unsafe" I disagree. It's a nuisance to be sure, but it's just a slow leak.

[maxnix]

As far as "most unsafe" I disagree. It's a nuisance to be sure, but it's just a slow leak.

You would drive around on wheels with structural flaws?

Very simple to see if the lip on the weight is impinging under the tire bead. Neither would this be safe!

[Kiven422]

That is POSSIBLE... In fact any time I make a hard right turn in my 93 Q45 my left front tire will lose a considerable amount of air. EVERY TIRE... That is due the suspension parts being old and worn, especially on the left side. Although my steering rack/pinion are good.

My 94 leaks fluid. I have to top it off every 2 weeks. Its more exciting to drive without power steering but also a pain. I think you may need to replace the rack/pinion. You may also be able to rebuild it.