Tire shop broke TPMS, but it wasn't their fault

[ctrlaltcoupe]

I took my 08 Coupe to a Sears Auto Center yesterday to get 2 new tires put on. After about 30 minutes, I got a call saying that there was a problem. I walked back to the shop, and they tell me that the aluminum valve caps had corroded to the valve stems, which of course is integrated with the TPMS sensor unit.

They tried taking the first one off in a machine and it snapped the tip of the valve stem off. They tried taking the second one off by hand with a pair of pliers, and it did the same thing. This wasn't Sears' fault because they were already corroded. The inner part closer to the yellow sensor is also starting to corrode.

Now I need to get 2 new TPMS sensor units. Would this be covered under warranty? I'm taking my car to the dealer on Monday. The car came with the aluminum caps, and I don't see how this could have possibly been my fault. So I think it should be covered under warranty.

[BlackNWhite]

I agree with you. Plus I haven't heard of this happening to anyone so let us know how it goes.

[LongBeachCoupe]

I think sears broke them lol...

Probably not covered since you didnt bring the corroded ones in, you are bringing broken ones in.

You can get a pair on ebay for pretty cheap though!

[Curtieson]

I think sears broke them lol...

AGREED! They broke them.

Probably not covered since you didnt bring the corroded ones in, you are bringing broken ones in.

Also Agreed, but I wouldn't take it to ebay...

Go to the dealership and get the other 2 fixed, it will be under warranty, but try to get all 4 fixed, just explain yourself. Get a number from Sears that the dealership can call just incase.

The the dealership will give pushback, I am sure...and if they just flat out refuse to pay for them, make them help you go after Sears for the other 2 they broke. In no way should it be your cost...so, have the two companies responsible duke it out between themselves.

[strangebh73]

you should have just went to the dealer, i know the prices are a bit higher, but if you want cheap tires- tirerack.com- have the dealer install them. dealers cover things they break under warranty, other shops can't so they push the cost on the customer. This is a common problem with nissans tpms sensors the valve stem cores coorrode the nuts on the outside coorode go to the dealer or be prepared to pay around 75 a pop.

AGREED! They broke them.

Also Agreed, but I wouldn't take it to ebay...

Go to the dealership and get the other 2 fixed, it will be under warranty, but try to get all 4 fixed, just explain yourself. Get a number from Sears that the dealership can call just incase.

The the dealership will give pushback, I am sure...and if they just flat out refuse to pay for them, make them help you go after Sears for the other 2 they broke. In no way should it be your cost...so, have the two companies responsible duke it out between themselves.

the dealer won't pay for anything that is not broken, such as your two sensors that aren't broke, so nothing to argue over.

as for the sensors that sears broke the dealer will just laugh at you, they'll say "sears broke them, so it's sears problem" so again go to sears b***h at them, it's your best plan of action

[headhunt3r]

The caps are just gray plastics I don't think they are aluminum

[dldjros69]

you should have just went to the dealer, i know the prices are a bit higher, but if you want cheap tires- tirerack.com- have the dealer install them.

Bradly i love your moxie and passion for dealerships. But heck no, i refuse to take my car to the stealership if i dont have to. i dont wanna give those jerkos one more red cent of mine.

Maybe some stealerships are different but i always leave with a bad taste.

In my town there is this tire place that has been there for 30 plus years. Their prices are cheaper and they are always packed. its the reputation they have, customer service and excellent work at a fair price. (Paul B wood tires)

[QR25DE]

Plastic here too...

Althoguh I'm drunk and my memory is not functionknng.

[imdavit]

recently i hit a curb and i cracked my sensor, so i went to the stealership and bought one for 105$. replaced it and everything was fine but now the Tire pressure icon shows up and i dont know how to get rid of it. is this a big deal? kinda annoying seeing the icon there so if anyone has any ideas on how to remove it lemme know. ty

[Curtieson]

recently i hit a curb and i cracked my sensor, so i went to the stealership and bought one for 105$. replaced it and everything was fine but now the Tire pressure icon shows up and i dont know how to get rid of it. is this a big deal? kinda annoying seeing the icon there so if anyone has any ideas on how to remove it lemme know. ty

Inflate your tires

[ctrlaltcoupe]

Thanks everyone for your comments. My valve stems were either aluminum or chrome.

The Nissan dealer replaced both TPMS sensors this morning. They were able to cover one of them under warranty because it wasn't destroyed too badly. But the other one was completely destroyed and they couldn't cover it (the valve stem piece was completely separated from the yellow plastic piece; the yellow piece was cracked; and the end of the valve stem closest to the yellow piece was mangled by some type of machine.)

I went back to the tire shop (Sears Auto Center) and after waiting over 2 hours for the manager to come back, they refunded me for the full invoice price from the Nissan dealer ($175+) - no questions asked, although I lost my entire morning.

[Guappone240]

first of all don't let sears screw you around that mechanic should have seen your valve was corroded and not done the work and let you tke it to the dealer ship so they can take care of. If nissan says it's not covered I would go back to sears. second that happens all the time with the TPMS sensors. when they first came out they used aluminum valve covers Ford did GM did all of them did and they realized it was a mistake they now use rubber grey ones. u think somebody would ave picked up on that...nissan should cover it by the way but that was sears fault the should have thought about that before they did the work.

[Curtieson]

Good to hear! I doubt you make $150k a year ($200 for a morning into Days into yearly) so it was well worth your time.

What about the other 2 though? You had 2 of 4 go bad and sears smashed them...what about the other two on your car that sears didn't touch?

[ctrlaltcoupe]

Definitely worth my time.... i'm actually working the evening shift tonight. The other 2 are just OK... Sears was able to get the valve caps off of them without breaking the TPMS sensors by pretty much cutting them off with a pair of snips, a poking tool, hammer & chisel (i'm not kidding). I will be keeping an eye on them and will definitely have the dealer look at them again before the warranty is up.

[xeene]

have dealership fix it and bring receipt to sears for them to reimburse you.

nm, i should have read to the end since you've already done that