Is it okay to drive 500 miles with a tire patch?

ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. Depending on the severity of the surface area of the tire that has been patched and the location of the patch, this could be fine, but is not recommended. Sidewall patches are particularly vulnerable to not holding due to the amount of stress that the sidewalls take on. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to you to fix your patch before driving those 500 miles. It can save for costly repairs in the future.

ANSWER : This is likely due to the fact that the person who changed your tires may have broken your TPMS sensor in that particular wheel. If the pressure sensor is not giving a signal at all, this would mean that the sensor has failed or is broken and would require replacement. As long as your tire pressure is correct, it is certainly safe to drive your vehicle as long as the light doesn’t bother you.

The sensor will need to be replaced in order to make the light go off. I would recommend going back to the place that installed your tires and inquire as to why the sensor is no longer working, especially when it worked just fine before the tires were replaced. They may replace the sensor for free.

If they are unable to help you get it fixed or you simply want a second opinion on this, contact a professional mechanic who can diagnose your TPMS light firsthand and fix it accordingly.

ANSWER : This calculation your car performs is a constantly varying calculation due to a couple of things. One part of this calculation is based upon the driving habits of the driver and how the throttle is used in combination with how much fuel is left in the tank. The computer calculates a running average of the fuel used relative to how much fuel is in the tank. As you use more throttle consistently, this average mileage to empty calculation goes down. However, if you feel something is definitely out of the ordinary, have a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose your car’s fuel mileage issue.

ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Chances are there was an existing issue that was amplified by the tire rotation. There are several parts that will cause similar symptoms. You will want to consider the parts that are under load in 4wd, that are free when in 2wd. This would include the axle and sveral joints. There are a couple of tests that can be done. More damage was likely done driving on dry pavement in 4wd. It was a good step in diagnostics, but should be avoided. For more help with diagnosing the sounds, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

ANSWER : If you have used a tire pressure gauge to confirm that the pressure in each tire is at 32 PSI cold, you need not worry. If the spare tire is of the space saving type and thus has a higher required inflation pressure (often as much as 60 PSI; read tire sidewall), simply use a tire pressure gauge to be sure it is set to the higher pressure as printed on the tire sidewall. With regard to the sensor, it may be that pressure is too low in the spare or the sensor in the spare in missing or broken. If you believe the TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) is malfunctioning, please request a warning light diagnostic – TPMS and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The tires need to be evaluated a little further before we justify getting a new one put on, or patching it. Take a look at the tread, and make sure it is evenly worn and still ample. If the tire was older, consider getting a new one. The second consideration is that the tires will develop fit spots after sitting for an extended period of time. If this is the case, you may want a new tires, or 4 new tires if extremely worn and flat. Newer and fresher tires will bounce back from a flat spot better than an older and weathered tire. They will also respond to the patch better. Take a good look at the condition of the tire in question, and then at all of the tires.

ANSWER : A clicking noise on turning is very characteristic of a failed outboard CV axle joint. Sometimes, in such a circumstance, you can see that the rubber outboard boot is actually torn and leaking grease. If you see that (look behind the wheel toward the axle end), the axle for sure will have to be serviced. If you change the axle, be sure to install a new rubber seal on the transmission output side so that you do not have transmission fluid leaks with the new axle (a common mistake is to overlook that seal; if an old, left-in-place seal leaks after the axle is put in the job has to be done all over again). Vibration without actual shaking of the steering wheel "might" be related to the axle issue. On the other hand, such vibration could also be due to a failed wheel bearing, especially with over 200,000 miles on the vehicle and if those are the original bearings. If you were to need both an axle and a wheel bearing at the same time, and on the same side, that’s actually not that bad because the steering knuckle that holds the wheel bearing has to come off anyway to replace the axle. But, backing up here, the very first thing to do is get the issue properly diagnosed so you spend the minimum possible. If you want to obtain a diagnostic, please request a vehicle CV/wheel bearing noise inspection and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Anything is possible with enough engineering. The changes you are looking at would take major structural changes and would definitely not be an easy job. You could possibly consult a manufacturing engineer to get more details on how this could actually be carried out and whether it would be feasible.