[Voodoo5.2]

Finally got an appointment to have my Shelby looked at. Been having a clicking noise(very loud) on the rear passenger wheel well. And a tire the went flat out of no where in 2 hours ok the same wheel. Head mechanic rode with me and heard the noise. They took apart the wheel the entire brake assembly, the rotor, and moved the parking brake line( the said they didn’t like how it was laying and didn’t want it to kink). After all of that they said the don’t know what the issue was and the clicking has stopped. They also swapped the rims to opposite sides. So my point they took the tire off the rim, and it was full of fix-a-flat. Needs a new tire and a new sensor. I bought it used with 3k miles on it from a different dealership and was unaware that it had a hole in it and had fix a flat in the tire. I guess previous owner ran over a nail and didn’t want to pay for a new tire. New rear tire from dealership is $527, new sensor for tire is $164. Questioning if I am obligated to pay or the dealer I bought it from who sold it to me like that should. I’ve had the car for 3 weeks.

 

[tex929rr]

Finally got an appointment to have my Shelby looked at. Been having a clicking noise(very loud) on the rear passenger wheel well. And a tire the went flat out of no where in 2 hours ok the same wheel. Head mechanic rode with me and heard the noise. They took apart the wheel the entire brake assembly, the rotor, and moved the parking brake line( the said they didn’t like how it was laying and didn’t want it to kink). After all of that they said the don’t know what the issue was and the clicking has stopped. They also swapped the rims to opposite sides. So my point they took the tire off the rim, and it was full of fix-a-flat. Needs a new tire and a new sensor. I bought it used with 3k miles on it from a different dealership and was unaware that it had a hole in it and had fix a flat in the tire. I guess previous owner ran over a nail and didn’t want to pay for a new tire. New rear tire from dealership is $527, new sensor for tire is $164. Questioning if I am obligated to pay or the dealer I bought it from who sold it to me like that should. I’ve had the car for 3 weeks.

$164 for a sensor?

I had to replace one tire that picked up a screw, and the local Discount Tire charged me just over $400, including a new sensor. You were already at that dealer so you were sort of stuck. But I would definitely question that price for the sensor.

 

[johnny1]

I'd say you are the other dealership most likely will say they weren't aware of it and that the previous owner must have done it. If so not the other dealerships responsibility. But obviously if they did/would have checked to see that every thing was in the compartment in the trunk to fix a flat they would/did see the fix-a-flat had been used and checked further. Either way you can't prove they did/didn't know about it. Sorry!

 

[extrachrispy]

I can't recommend highly enough that you get yourself a low-profile jack, a jack pad, a non-marring socket (or a regular one lined with painter's tape), and something long enough to get leverage to get the lug nuts loose.

Add to that either:

• a pair of pliers and side-cutters (to fish the offending object out of the tire), a reamer, and a sticky thread kit to plug the hole, or

• the GT350-specific spare wheel and tire from Automotive Authority (a tick over $500 as-shipped)

or both. Then you can at least get home or get to the tire shop of your choice and deal with it, without ruining your TPMS, and without risking having a flatbed driver show up and damage your car.

 

[tex929rr]

I can't recommend highly enough that you get yourself a low-profile jack, a jack pad, a non-marring socket (or a regular one lined with painter's tape), and something long enough to get leverage to get the lug nuts loose.

Add to that either:

• a pair of pliers and side-cutters (to fish the offending object out of the tire), a reamer, and a sticky thread kit to plug the hole, or

• the GT350-specific spare wheel and tire from Automotive Authority (a tick over $500 as-shipped)

or both. Then you can at least get home or get to the tire shop of your choice and deal with it, without ruining your TPMS, and without risking having a flatbed driver show up and damage your car.

That’s good advice. I would also recommend one of these plug kits - I have plugged several flats on motorcycle tires. You still need to carry a kit with the sticky worm patches for cuts bigger than screws or nails. The kit I linked is just the plugs and insertion tool. You can get kits with a more compact tool that also have different inflation methods - CO2 or a small pump, but you won’t need that.

https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Go-1075...keywords=stop+and+go+tubeless+tire+repair+kit

 

[HotLap]

I'm sure this doesn't need to be said but that is only a temporary fix to get you to a tire shop for a brand new tire. Speed/track rated tires should never be patched/plugged (for perm fix). I'd still go back to your orig dealer and see if they'll help you out, they should have checked out the car before you bought it (all the safety items, which would include tires, brakes, etc.). Seems obvious since there was "fix a flat" inside the tire it was there before.

I dread hearing that telltale "click, click" as you drive down the road...could be a rock in the tread but in my experience it's been a screw or nail in the tire. Our tires are sticky and I had my 1st screw at 2K miles...had to replace driver's rear tire at a cost of $368.00

Good luck!

 

[HotLap]

That’s good advice. I would also recommend one of these plug kits - I have plugged several flats on motorcycle tires. You still need to carry a kit with the sticky worm patches for cuts bigger than screws or nails. The kit I linked is just the plugs and insertion tool. You can get kits with a more compact tool that also have different inflation methods - CO2 or a small pump, but you won’t need that.

https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Go-1075...keywords=stop+and+go+tubeless+tire+repair+kit
View attachment 8778

That's a nice kit for temp repair out on the road. Would fit right down in the spare tire well. I've never trusted the inflators and to plug it first would really increase odds of a successful repair. Plus I think your point is that you wouldn't have to use the sticky stuff and ruin your TPMS...

 

[extrachrispy]

That’s good advice. I would also recommend one of these plug kits - I have plugged several flats on motorcycle tires. You still need to carry a kit with the sticky worm patches for cuts bigger than screws or nails. The kit I linked is just the plugs and insertion tool. You can get kits with a more compact tool that also have different inflation methods - CO2 or a small pump, but you won’t need that.

https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Go-1075...keywords=stop+and+go+tubeless+tire+repair+kit
View attachment 8778

I have that same kit in the top case of my K1300S. I also have a sticky thread kit, as too many of my friends have reported failures from the plugger kit.

I'm sure this doesn't need to be said but that is only a temporary fix to get you to a tire shop for a brand new tire. Speed/track rated tires should never be patched/plugged (for perm fix). I'd still go back to your orig dealer and see if they'll help you out, they should have checked out the car before you bought it (all the safety items, which would include tires, brakes, etc.). Seems obvious since there was "fix a flat" inside the tire it was there before.

If you're tracking it, I'd agree with you. For normal road use, the normal advice is to have a proper mushroom plug installed from the inside of the tire, and then treat the tire as if it were one speed rating lower (Z becomes V, V becomes H, H becomes S, etc.). In fact, nothing less than the owner's manual for my ZX-11 suggested that one could safely run with as many as 3 patches in a tire. On that motorcycle, I actually ran a sticky thread for half of the life of the tire with no loss of pressure.

I dread hearing that telltale "click, click" as you drive down the road...could be a rock in the tread but in my experience it's been a screw or nail in the tire. Our tires are sticky and I had my 1st screw at 2K miles...had to replace driver's rear tire at a cost of $368.00

And that is one big reason why I'd run a plugged tire on the street until it reached the wear bears. I have never, ever had an issue with a repaired tire, and I've had the misfortune of picking up many a screw.

You pays your money and you takes your choice.

 

[HotLap]

EC I hear you, but I (personally) would not be willing to patch a tire on either a sport bike or speed/track rated vehicle (where sudden failure could lead to catastrophic results). If it was the grocery getter then I agree with you 100%. My Porsche dealer refused to even consider patching of any kind as they were not willing to accept even partial liability for a failure. I didn't mean to come across a being judgmental, just had a protracted battle with my tire/wheel warranty company about replacement vs. patch and still a bit "ruffled" from that interaction . Of course they wanted the cheaper patch, but I kept at them and eventually they agreed to pay for the new tire. At the end of the day though, you're right - it's your money/car and up to you.

On another note, I'd recommend anyone looking into a tire/wheel warranty as they will generally pay for themselves over the lifetime of your high performance vehicle. I paid approx. $900.00 for mine and it's already saved me $368.00 in just 7 months of ownership. Imagine hitting a pot hole and damaging a wheel and tire, would pay for itself in just one use. Had one on my Porsche and had 6 screw flats over the 5 yrs I owned it, each tire replacement was $500+, so by flat #3 it had fully paid for itself...

Have a very Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone!!

 

[DCShelby]

I bought the wheel and tire insurance too. Two tires or one wheel gets killed by a pothole and it’s paid for itself.

 

[HotLap]

Hey tex929 or extrachrispy, would you mind posting the name of the "sticky worm" patch kit? I'd like to get both so if I ever have a flat while out (off the beaten path) I could patch/plug and make it to a tire dealer? Not trusting the included "Fix a Flat" kit provided by Ford, thanks!!

 

[tex929rr]

Lots available - one problem is that you need to keep on top of the condition of the stickies. If they sit in your trunk and get heat and cold soaked they might not stick when you need them. This is the most recent kit I bought - it was a little big and heavy for the bike but it would make a good car kit.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tooluxe-...3148308&wl11=online&wl12=161592587&wl13=&veh=

 

[extrachrispy]

Hey tex929 or extrachrispy, would you mind posting the name of the "sticky worm" patch kit? I'd like to get both so if I ever have a flat while out (off the beaten path) I could patch/plug and make it to a tire dealer? Not trusting the included "Fix a Flat" kit provided by Ford, thanks!!

You can find them in card packs at just about any decent auto parts store, or Wal-Mart as a last resort. You need a kit with the sticky threads, an insertion tool, and a reaming tool. The kit will not include the pliers or side cutters you'll need to remove the nail or screw, but those are easy to come by (e.g., Harbor Freight). You will also need a sharp blade to trim the ends of the sticky thread flush with the tire.

[MENTION=2209]tex929rr[/MENTION] is right about the condition of the stickies, though I suspect keeping them in an airtight container so that they don't dry out will do the trick.

 

[HotLap]

You can find them in card packs at just about any decent auto parts store, or Wal-Mart as a last resort. You need a kit with the sticky threads, an insertion tool, and a reaming tool. The kit will not include the pliers or side cutters you'll need to remove the nail or screw, but those are easy to come by (e.g., Harbor Freight). You will also need a sharp blade to trim the ends of the sticky thread flush with the tire.

[MENTION=2209]tex929rr[/MENTION] is right about the condition of the stickies, though I suspect keeping them in an airtight container so that they don't dry out will do the trick.

Thanks EC and tex929rr much appreciated and going to get this set up this weekend. Have a great Memorial Day Holiday!!

PS tex, in my sport bike days I had a CBR100RR was a rocket

 

[Voodoo5.2]

Just thought i'd give an update, the dealer I bought it from is covering the cost of the tire and the new sensor. I have to wait 3 days because Michelin wants there tires ordered fresh and ready to go on the car that day when they get delivered.

 

[johnny1]

Thats great news!!

 

[HotLap]

Just thought i'd give an update, the dealer I bought it from is covering the cost of the tire and the new sensor. I have to wait 3 days because Michelin wants there tires ordered fresh and ready to go on the car that day when they get delivered.

Great news and be sure and Yelp that dealer for doing the right thing for you - excellent outcome!!