www.jec.org.uk

ok, never available on the XJS but I'm sure many of us drive other makes/models.

I've got a slow leak on one of the wheels on my Citroen which is coming from where the valve meets the alloy wheel. I've had this twice on the XJS and its been no problem, take the tyre off, dump the valve, ream the hole in the alloy, new valve and re-fit the tyre, cheap easy fix.

Not on the Citroen, oh no, the wheels have these tyre pressure monitors which is an electronic unit which is part of the valve assembly. It is sealed by a small O ring and needs replacing. My local tyre fitter won't touch them which means going to the main dealer. The tyre has maybe a years life left so I will keep adding air weekly for now until the tyre needs replacing. Then it looks like a case of paying main dealer prices for a top of the range tyre, new sensor £40 and programming it into the car £30 oh yes, + VAT They won't/can't use the existing sensor as it has a built in battery which only has a certain life anyway.

The monitoring system can't be turned off (so they say). Seems like a good money making scheme to me.

Rant over, I feel better now!

Citroen and Renault are still revenging for Napoleon it seems if you speak to any car repairer. The bulk of their work comes from those makes.

Pop,

I sympathise with your dilemma. Those costs must make you want to leave the issue until the tyre wears.

I must admit I'm very nervous about slow punctures, rim leaks and valve leaks. I remember when I was 18 and a traffic cop chastising me for not having any dust caps ( he should have been grateful I actually had any tyre tread that day!). He was at pains to tell me how many blowouts happened after dodgy valves and slow punctures suddenly gave out. Was he exaggerating? I don't know but it did have the effect on me that, even to this day, I always have dust caps and get slow punctures fixed asap.

Drive safe, Pop.

Paul

Just as a follow up for anyone who has these sensors on their car. I couldn't find anyone willing to switch off the sensing system but National Tyres were happy to replace the tyre without damaging the sensor. It will need new sensors at some time when the internal battery in them fails, but so far, all is well.

I think I am correct in saying that soon ALL new cars will have to have a pressure sensing system fitted.