HELP! Valve caps wont come off!

[danthemanwhocan]

Thought a while back that i'd treat my Leon to some offical SEAT valve caps. £3.99 from my local dealership seemed fair enough so I got some, and the looked great.

Until they went on the valves. A few weeks later, I go to check my tyre pressures and none of them will budge. I've had a pair of pliers on them and still they wont come off. Also, because they're aluminium, they've already discoloured badly and now look a bit pants.

Does anyone know how I could get them off without having to have 4 new valves fitted. Could I head them up with a hair dryer to expand the metal?

I've tried applying WD-40 and thats not helped...

 

[cordobabrendy]

other than taking them to a tyre depot and having them cut off and new valves replaced, you could trya lot of wd40 and leaving them for a few hours each time with the valves pointing down so the wd40 runs into the cap rather than away.

 

[danthemanwhocan]

I did already try a fair old shower of WD-40, but the valve was not point straight down, so that could help.

Would heating them up help? Really don't want the hassle of getting new valves fitted...

Moral of the story - don't use SEAT valve caps, cos they're pap.:w4nk:

 

[vroomtshh]

Heating them might work but u'll need a bit more heat than a hairdryer. And if u use a blow torch, u'll most likely damage the valve or possibly even the wheel. Ur looking at £20 for new valves and ur wheels balanced.

In my opinion I would rather spend the £20 and get it done than damage the wheels. And if you went for this option, go to Kwik Fit (euugh I hate the place) and for £3 you'll get 4 shiny valve covers and caps. They look quite nice and put a small smear of copper grease on the threads this time so you dont get the same problem again.

 

[adam_tdi]

take it the dealer where you got them and tell them to sort it

 

[m0rk]

potential difference between Alu & copper I guess

Heindsight - shoulda lubed em

 

[Getgaff]

Had exactly the same problem with a previous set on my Leon. The only way I could remove them was to cut them off with a small hacksaw blade.

No easy option I'm afraid, sorry.

 

[markmck]

I had the same problem but got a puncture so the guy was able to hold the back of the valve will turing the cap as otherwise everything turned.

Tyres fitter said stick to plastic

 

[Funkyfin2000]

fooking got the same problem and its pissing me off!!

 

[JamesL]

I have the same problem with one of my plastic ones! All of a sudden it won't go anywhere

 

[lc_allan]

I had a security one break once, had to use a dremel with cutting disc to cut through the cap. Ended up with a small nick in the valve thread and was never able to get a decent tyre pressure reading or top up due to the small gap. It's not worth the hassle I'd take it to a tyre place the change. If you can swap over the wheel with the spare. Taking it in off the car should cost you a bit less.

 

[Rookwise]

Also had this problem last year on mine with the SEAT Sport alloy valve caps. They'd completly stuck onto the valve (yes I'd put loads of copper grease on before fitting). Ended up using a hacksaw and a Dremel to cut into the side and top edge of the valve caps and then using thin nose pliers put into the gap and prying open the gap to loosen the cap off. If done carefully you can get them off without damaging the valves.
After taking them off I looked at the inside of the cap and everything had gone moldy and green.

Will never buy any again.