OMG!! Help? Damsel In Distress!

MoneySavingStudent_2

Hello!
I have a vauxhall corsa, and im about to 'fix' it with a sledge hammer! :rolleyes:
Now, i dont want anything about how crap corsa's are or anything, i just need some help. Its my first car and its doing really well. Until my OH got his hands on it.

We noticed when we brought it, that it didnt have any valve caps on. So we decided to buy a set from ebay. Brought a set of 4 for about £4 and my OH fitted them.

Come to blow my tyres up and i cant get the cheeky mites off! :mad:

Tried everything! Tried plyers, something holding the cap and something holding the tube, tried vasealine to try and loosen it. Nothing works! Its like this on every wheel!

I think they just didnt fit, and my OH has just forced them on. :rolleyes:

Anyway, can anyone help? Is there anything i havent tried? Should i just get it down the garage and let them have a go? Do i need new tyres? Help?

Barneysmom

Get a very fine blade, like a scalpel or stanley, very very carefully slice down the edge of them. If they are really stuck don't try to pull them forcefully, you'll snap the valves.

MoneySavingStudent_2

Thanks Barneysmom! Never thought of that!
Ill give it ago and see what happens. Theyll be ok without the caps though wont they?

The tyres wont go down?

Barneysmom

Give it a go, no the tyres won't go down at all. It's more protection from if you scrape the pavement while parking, good luck xx

Stephen_Leak

No, they will be fine - short term. They are needed to keep cr*p out of the valves, though.

I would suggest popping into your local tyre place (KwikFit, National Tyres), when they're nice and busy, pulling another "damsel in distress", and seeing if you can blag another set of caps. They are just threaded plastic caps after all.

MoneySavingStudent_2

No luck, sorry barneysmom.
Wont come off at all!

MoneySavingStudent_2

the car needs a code read anyway, so i think ill give them a ring tomorrow, and book it in. Were off on a campin hols on monday coming. So i need it done by then. Our locals quite good so ill have a look.

Oh well,
Thanks anyway

MoneySavingStudent_2

OMG i need more help now..

Where do u get spare parts for a corsa C?
I need a filler cap catch? Mines broke
where do i go? non on ebay!

RedBern

For the tyre valves - just go in to your local tyre fitters and ask them to check your pressures .... act daft.

for the filler cap - try your local scrap yard....seriously!

anewman

I suspect you have used fancy metal-look aluminium valve caps. Something happens called bi-metallic corrosion as the aluminium reacts with the copper on the valve and they seize on. This is a common occurrence. If you really want to use aluminium caps the best way to stop them seizing on is a little copper grease on the threads.

If you can't get them off, it will be a case of having to have the tyre removed and a new valve fitted which will cost around £12 per wheel.

goldspanners

im guessing you have the metal type valve caps.
they will have siezed onto the valve.
if you decide to replace them with another set of nice shiney metal caps put some copper slip on the inside of them first,this will save them siezing.
you may find when you take it to the garage they might need to take the tyres off and fit new valves to each wheel.