Ontario woman shocked when cheap car part causes potentially hundreds of dollars damage
Many drivers are currently switching over their winter tires for their summer set, but some who have been using aluminum valve stem caps could find themselves with an unexpected expense.
“Can you imagine you're trying to put in air in the tire on your way home, but you can't because you can't get the cap off at the gas station?" Katie Pfisterer, of Willow Beach, in the town of Georgina, Ont., told CTV News Toronto.
Pfisterer said it was last fall when she noticed one of the valve stem caps on her tires was missing, so she went to go buy some. There was an option to buy either plastic or aluminum caps, which were both sold in a pack of four for about $4.
"The aluminum was 40 cents more than the plastic, so we thought we should splurge, so we bought those," Pfisterer said.
Back in January, two months after putting on the valve stem caps, Pfisterer got a flat tire. When the tire shop tried to repair the tire, she said they couldn’t remove the aluminum stem cap because it had become completely corroded to the valve stem.
When she noticed all her tires had the same problem, she went online and saw other cases of aluminum valve stem corrosion that required mechanics to grind off the aluminum valve stem caps with a grinder.
Pfisterer bought a grinder herself to remove the aluminum valve stem caps, but said she still has to do the same for her other tires.
Alan Gelman, a mechanic and President of GlennAlan Motors, told CTV News Toronto the problem with aluminum valve stem caps is that “in time, water and salt will go inside there and it will cause the two pieces to lock and seize up."
While the caps may only cost a few dollars, Gelman says if aluminum caps become seized, you could be forced to spend hundreds of dollars replacing the valve stems and tire-pressure monitoring system.
With Canada’s winter conditions, Gelman says it’s best to go with plastic valve stem caps.
“Stick with the plastic ones that they came with. [Drivers] have been using these for 50 years without any problems,” said Gelman.
Pfisterer bought the valve stem caps at Canadian Tire, and when CTV News Toronto reached out to the store, they agreed to pay for the grinder Pfisterer had purchased.
“As with any metal-on-metal contact parts on a vehicle, certain materials and conditions can result in bonding or corrosion over time. For best results, we recommend treating metallic valve stem threads with PTFE thread sealing tape, anti-seize or lubricant before installation to help prevent galvanic reaction,” a spokesperson for Canadian Tire said in a statement.
“We also offer valve stem caps in other materials, including non-corrosive plastic, as an alternative solution for our customers and will be introducing three new improved plastic options into our assortment later this year.”
Pfisterer said she wanted to come forward to warn other drivers so that they would know about the potential issues that aluminum valve stem caps can cause.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Court to hear about search for remains as Winnipeg murder trial enters second day
A courtroom in Winnipeg is expected to hear testimony today about the search for the remains of the four victims of Jeremy Skibicki.