# Leaking Tire Valve with Pressure Sensor **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 21, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121 "2014-05-21T18:32:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![instock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/22d042/32.png) [@instock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/instock)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/1 "2014-05-21T18:32:46Z")
I have a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee. One of the tire valves has a slow leak. I figured I could get a new valve for about 10 bucks. But, instead, the guy reminds me that the valve has the pressure sensor built in. He could put in a regular stem, but then the light on the instrument panel would never go out and I’m assuming I couldn’t get through inspection like that. I now have to go to the dealer and spend perhaps $250 for the part and an hour of labor? I have a nice spare, so I put that on for now. I’m wondering if there is any good trick to get that valve fixed at a less ridiculous price. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/2 "2014-05-21T18:43:09Z")
The sensor can be re-attatched to the new correct valve stem. ---
**Author:** ![meanjoe75fan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meanjoe75fan/32/552_2.png) [@meanjoe75fan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meanjoe75fan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/3 "2014-05-21T18:44:54Z")
Which state? Some require TPMS for inspection; some don’t. My state (PA) could care less… ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/4 "2014-05-21T18:52:59Z")
Can the Schrader valve in a TPMS valve be replaced with the Schrader out of any stem? ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/5 "2014-05-21T19:04:44Z")
Any local shop that also does tire service should be able to replace your sensor with an aftermarket part for far less than $250. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/6 "2014-05-21T19:05:46Z")
As ken green says, check if the valve is a separate part on your car. For my car, it’s a $13.00 part that a tire shop could throw in quickly. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/7 "2014-05-21T19:19:40Z")
If it’s leaking throught center schrader valve, that’s the same from any valve stem. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/8 "2014-05-21T19:25:24Z")
Meanjoe, 33 states don’t even HAVE inspections! ---
**Author:** ![meanjoe75fan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meanjoe75fan/32/552_2.png) [@meanjoe75fan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meanjoe75fan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/9 "2014-05-21T20:22:03Z")
@TSMB…OP did say he was worried a out passing “inspection”, so I took that at face value…that he has some sort of safety inspection where he lives. ---
**Author:** ![markmast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@markmast](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markmast)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/10 "2014-05-21T20:36:09Z")
I have wondered about the same problen that the OP has. Can’t you just replace the core of the schrader valve and leave the rest in place? ---
**Author:** ![instock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/22d042/32.png) [@instock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/instock)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/11 "2014-05-21T21:15:08Z")
Those sensors seem pretty common nowadays. I don’t know how a tire shop could get away with not having an answer when one breaks. But that shop was pretty ghetto. I did some more research and this is what I learned: 1. The dealer only charges 80 bucks for the part and half an hour of labor. So in reality, it would only cost me about $150. 2. I could buy the part from the dealer and have somebody else put it in for $30 and that would only cost me $110. 3. I live in New Jersey. NJ doesn’t do a safety inspection anymore. They just inspect for emissions. But low tire pressure hurts fuel economy and that does increase emissions. It’s a gray area. If NJ is serious about air quality, they probably SHOULD check the tire pressure. But they do not. If my wife never drove this car, I would be more than happy to put a regular valve stem in there and let that light burn. 4. ETD is a bigger operation and they get aftermarket sensors from Taiwan. They are much more convenient and had the part in stock, so I just had them take care of everything for $130. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/12 "2014-05-21T21:37:23Z")
Is it an aluminum valve stem? If so, these stems are known for leaking. When you have the stem/sensor replaced have a sensor with a rubber valve stem installed. Do the same for the other sensors when the valves start to leak on them. Tester ---
**Author:** ![meanjoe75fan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meanjoe75fan/32/552_2.png) [@meanjoe75fan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meanjoe75fan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/13 "2014-05-21T22:09:24Z")
“But low tire pressure hurts fuel economy and that does increase emissions. It’s a gray area.” Wow would that set a lousy precedent,if anything that lowers MPG would cause one to bust emissions. I.e. [inspector spies golf clubs in trunk] “Hey, you golfing today?”////"Nah, I just leave 'em in there. "////Sorry…FAIL! (I’d have to explain how my tools are occupationally necessary to haul around…) ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/14 "2014-05-21T22:22:55Z")
There is no “gray area”. The TPMS being light on would not fail a car for an emissions inspection. ---
**Author:** ![bloody\_knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bloody\_knuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bloody_knuckles)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/15 "2014-05-22T14:24:09Z")
NYS has a safety AND emissions inspection. TPMS is not part of the inspection so a TPMS light will not fail you. The OP should check the law in their state as this may be true in their state as well. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/16 "2014-05-22T19:27:50Z")
The problem with these safety inspection is that the regulations all have a catch-all clause that allow the inspector to reject a vehicle with any finding that he believes might be a safety issue. Most inspectors stick with the defined criteria, and most even use common sense beyond that, but as with any population there are a few jerks out there. Once they reject the car, you have to go through all the aggravation of appealing it and fighting for a sticker. IMHO safety inspections are just revenue generators. 33 states don’t even have them, and there are no differences in accident statistics. A few states have even discontinued safety inspections with no change in accident stats. I know others here feel differently, but that’s my honest opinion. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 4:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/17 "2014-05-23T04:22:55Z")
I don’t know about the inspection issue, but I know a lot of car owners get fed up with the tps warning messages, when the problem has nothing to do with the tires, but instead simply that the sensors are faulty or the tps system itself is broken, so they simply ignore the tps lights on the dashboard. Not an ideal situation, but with the seeming unreliability of the tps systems out there, sometimes this may be the best solution. It seems like there were fewer problems when this function was done with the ABS wheel speed sensors, maybe the car companies will revert to that method in the future. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 5:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/leaking-tire-valve-with-pressure-sensor/85121/18 "2014-05-23T05:52:25Z")
“Can the Schrader valve in a TPMS valve be replaced with the Schrader out of any stem?” No It has to be a TPMS schrader valve Putting in a regular schrader valve will cause corrosion inside the valve